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Encyclopedia :
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SUR :
Surrey |
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Surrey
Due to its proximity to London there are a great many commuter villages in Surrey, the population density is very high and the denizens of the county are more affluent, on average, than other UK citizens. Much of Surrey is in the Green Belt and, since the soil is very sandy and agriculture not intensive, there are a large number of footpaths, bridleways and commons or Access lands. Therefore Surrey provides much in the way of rural leisure activities, the horse population being very large. Much of Surrey is rolling downland, the North Downs Way being a scenic long-distance path. There are many notable beauty spots including Box Hill, Frensham Ponds and Puttenham Common. The highest point in Surrey is Leith Hill near Dorking at 965 feet (294 m) above sea level. HistoryMain article: History of Surrey.The name comes from the Old English suther-ge meaning southern district and is first recorded in A.D.722 as Suthrige. Surrey was anciently divided into the fourteen hundredss of Blackheath, Brixton, Copthorne, Effingham, Elmbridge, Farnham, Godalming, Godley, Kingston, Reigate, Tandridge, Wallington, Woking and Wotton. Until 1889, Surrey contained the present-day London boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark and Wandsworth. In 1965 the boroughs of Croydon, Kingston, Merton, Richmond and Sutton were made part of Greater London, and Spelthorne acquired from Middlesex. In the 1974 local government reform caused Gatwick Airport and some surrounding land to be transferred to West Sussex. In the enactment of Local Government Act 1972, Horley and Charlwood were also to be transferred, but fierce local protests led to a reversal of this decision. Towns and VillagesPlaces of interestNational Trust propertiesBox Hill just north of Dorking is woodland and chalk downland withsuperb views from the top of the hill. The eminent British myrmecologist and coleopterist Horace Donisthorpe freqented this location during his studies of British ants. Clandon Park, an 18th century Palladian mansion in West Claremont Landscape Garden, south of Esher. The gardens date from Dapdune Wharf on the River Wey in Guildford is home to a restored Devil's Punch Bowl at Hindhead is another common with fine views and Frensham Common home to a variety of plant, animal and birdlife. Hatchlands Park in East Clandon, east of Guildford, was built in Holmbury St Mary is a charming village 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 Hostel Association. Leith Hill to the south west of Dorking is the highest point in Oakhurst Cottage in Hambledon near Godalming is a restored 16th century worker's home. Polesden Lacey at south of Great Bookham is a Regency villa with River Wey & Godalming Navigations from Godalming to the Runnymede at Egham is the site of the signing of the Magna Carta Shalford Mill is an 18th century water-mill on the River Winkworth Arboretum south east of Godalming was created in the Witley Common is heathland south of Godalming. Wotton Wotton House was the family seat of John Evelyn, the 17th-century diarist and horticulturist. Other places of interestYouth Hostels
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