Dorking

Coordinates: 51°14′02″N 0°19′54″W / 51.2340°N 0.3318°W / 51.2340; -0.3318

Dorking /ˈdɔːr.kɪŋ/ is a market town in Surrey, England, in the valley of the Pipp Brook between the North Downs and the Greensand Ridge 21 miles (34 km) from London. It lies between two hills, Box Hill and Leith Hill.

In the Georgian and Victorian periods, seven foothills and slopes in the neighbourhood became grand country estates: Norbury Park, Denbies Vineyard, Betchworth Castle, Polesden Lacey, Wotton House and Deepdene.

Dorking is a commuter settlement and has three railway stations. In 1911, it was described as "almost entirely residential and agricultural, with some lime works on the chalk, though not so extensive as those in neighbouring parishes, a little brick-making, water-mills (corn) at Pixham Mill, and timber and saw-mills."

Dorking chickens with an extra toe are a major breed. Sand of fine texture and often in veins of pink, used for mortar and in glassmaking, was dug, particularly in the 19th century, and the Dorking Caves were excavated for this purpose under southern parts of the town centre.

Dorking (disambiguation)

Dorking is a market town in Surrey, England.

Dorking may also refer to:

See also

Dorking (UK Parliament constituency)

Dorking was a parliamentary constituency centred on the towns of Dorking and Horley in Surrey. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1950 – 1983. In the eight elections during its 33-year lifetime it was held by three Conservatives successively.

History

The seat was created by the Representation of the People Act 1948 and first contested at the 1950 general election. It was abolished prior to the 1983 general election.

Boundaries

The Urban District of Dorking (the civil parishes of Brockham, Dorking, Mickleham, and Milton), the Rural District of Dorking and Horley (the civil parishes of Abinger, Betchworth, Buckland, Capel, Charlwood, Headley, Holmwood, Horley, Leigh, Newdigate, Ockley, and Wotton), and in the Rural District of Guildford the civil parishes of Albury, East Clandon, East Horsley, Effingham, Ockham, Ripley, St Martha, Send, Shere, West Clandon, West Horsley, and Winsley.

In 1983 parliamentary boundaries were realigned to those of the districts created in 1974: the town of Dorking became part of Mole Valley District, and just over half of the previous area was transferred to the Mole Valley seat for national elections which took in land to the north from elsewhere. The southern area including Horley transferred to a new definition of East Surrey.