The Horsleys Local Countryside - East Horsley, Surrey
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  • The Horsleys Local Countryside - East Horsley, Surrey
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  • A Focus on the Horsleys Local CountrysideThose who live in, or near to, the Horsleys are extremely fortunate to have hundreds of acres of accessible woods, and open countryside, within easy reach. But many residents who are new to the area, or even some of those who have lived here for some time, and have demanding careers, may not yet had time to become really acquainted with the area. This series of occasional articles describes some of the woods and other open spaces adjacent to the two villages. Lets take a look at ......The Great Ridings WoodThe Great Ridings Wood - is in fact is made up of a number of old plantations and cleared fields that have reverted to woodland over the past century or so.The Great Ridings Wood was purchased from funds raised by public appeal in 1996 plus generous donations from the various local councils, etc. The freehold was placed with the East Horsley Parish Council and a lease given to the Woodland Trust to maintain it for the next millennium. The Wood covers some 78 acres and on the north-eastern boundary adjoins Greatlee and Littlelee Woods. However these are still in private hands with no access - not even a footpath!Lots of work has been carried out in the wood over the past six or seven years to improve public access, mainly by volunteers. The wood has become very popular with walkers, and children enjoy building their dens in among the trees - which is just as it should be. This is a great wood with many splendid trees and paths, plus good areas (though not widespread) of bluebells. Orchids are present, as are many other plants including a rather rare Green Hellebore. Some of the old fieldnames exist on old maps - how about Brambletye, Clayhangar, and the Walleps, for starters! The wood is split by the Old London Lane, which is reputed to be an ancient packhorse route from the Tillingborne Valley (Shere or Gomshall) to London. These pack animals may have carried iron products, banknote paper and even gunpowder from Chilworth. Thomas Cobbett the fiery 18th Century farmer, come journalist, writer, and much else, and a native of Farnham, to boot; once said 'Money and Gunpowder - the two most damnable inventions known to Man!' Horses still travel the route today - but only the hacking variety.A very interesting feature that parallels the Old London Lane to the west side and which approximates to the current Effingham parish Boundary, is the old Hundred boundary bank that still stands to a height of six feet in parts. This bank marked the division between the Woking and Copthorne Hundreds. Why a hundred? Because it was the Saxon unit containing a hundred hides. What was a Hide? It was the area of land required to support one family - or more importantly to the Saxons; one fighting male! It was not an exact measure as it depended upon the quality of the land - the better the land, the smaller the area. So; as you can see, this is a very old feature indeed and shows that things have not changed very much around here for centuries.The Wood may be reached from both north and south using the Old London Lane from Effingham Common or from Dirtham Lane, from the east by Orestan Lane in Effingham, from the west by High Park Avenue or Norrels Ride, or by a footpath near to the end of Woodland Drive, and finally from the bridleway that passes between the Tennis Club and Pennymead Lake. This bridleway can be accessed from Lynx Hill or Pennymead Drive.Come back soon for a descripton of the woodlands to the south of the Village, once part of the Lord Lovelace Estate and now largely Forestry Commission land - but all open access, and our personal gateway to the outstanding Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Beauty. 
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