Places in Surrey

Significant landscapes in Surrey include Box Hill just north of Dorking; the Devil's Punch Bowl at Hindhead; Frensham Common, heathland with a variety of plant, animal and birdlife plusthe Great Pond and Little Pond dating from the Middle Ages when they were constructed to provide food for the Bishop of Winchester's estate. Leith Hill to the south west of Dorking is the highest point in south-east England. Witley Common, heathland south of Godalming, is run by the National Trust and Surrey Hills is an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB).


Lawns at RHS Garden, WisleyMore manicured landscapes can be seen at Claremont Landscape Garden, south of Esher (dating from 1715). There is also Winkworth Arboretum south east of Godalming which was created in the 20th century. Wisley is home to the Royal Horticultural Society gardens.

Surrey has important country houses such as Clandon Park, an 18th century Palladian mansion in West Clandon to the east of Guildford. Nearby there is Hatchlands Park in East Clandon, east of Guildford, was built in 1758 with Robert Adam interiors and a collection of keyboard instruments. Polesden Lacey south of Great Bookham is a regency villa with extensive grounds. On a smaller scale, Oakhurst Cottage in Hambledon near Godalming is a restored 16th century worker's home. There is a museum at Rural Life Centre, Tilford.

The county is linked to the sea by the River Wey and the Wey and Godalming Navigations. Dapdune Wharf in Guildford commemorates this and is home to a restored Wey barge, the Reliance. Furthermore on the River Tillingbourne, Shalford Mill is an 18th century water-mill.

There are many typical English villages including Holmbury St Mary which lies in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, close to the Greensand Way and North Downs Way. It was developed in the 19th century and still has a mainly Victorian character as on the whole no new building is allowed. The youth hostel, constructed in the village in 1935, was the first purpose-built by the Youth Hostels Association.


Runnymede where the Magna Carta was signedRunnymede at Egham is the site of the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215. Waverley and Chertsey Abbeys were very significant in medieval Surrey.

Guildford Cathedral is a post-war cathedral built from bricks made from the clay hill on which it stands.

Brooklands Museum recognises the motoring past of Surrey. The county is also home to Thorpe Park, a sister theme park of Alton Towers; and Legoland Windsor.


[edit] Culture, arts and sport

Brooklands was the first ever oval style race track built for cars.The first known record of cricket was in Guildford, Surrey (see History of English cricket to 1696). Currently, the Surrey County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Surrey, although its largest ground, The Oval, which was once in Surrey, has been made part of Greater London. Surrey has numerous football teams (mainly non-League) including Woking F.C., Kingstonians, AFC Wimbledon, Weybridge F.C. and Guildford City F.C..

Surrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Brown Caps (formerly the Surrey Lions).

The club is based at The Oval cricket ground, within the Kennington region of Lambeth in south London. Before the formation of the London metropolitan county, the ground was in the county of Surrey. Some home games each season are played at Whitgift School, Croydon and at Woodbridge Road, Guildford.

The club colours are chocolate brown and silver. The club badge is the Prince of Wales' three feathers. Lord Rosebery obtained the permission to use this symbol from the Prince of Wales, owner of the land on which The Oval stands, in 1915