John Miller
Hilltop view: Box hill, near Dorking
The summit of Box Hill offers arguably some of the most breathtaking views Surrey has to offer. Lieing within the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the hill is also home to fantastic plants and wildlife, including the Adonis blue butterfly.
Move over Downton!
Calling all Box Hill residents! Did you know there was once a mansion to rival Downton Abbey just a few hundred metres from the viewpoint up on the hill?
It’s a story of intrigue for local journalist Graham Whyte who is appealing for information for his social history project charting the life of the village.
Once known as High Ashurst, the house and its estate were sold in 1921 to pay off the gambling debts of its owner, Earl Harrowby and, paralleling the hit ITV show’s recent storyline, the land was sold to developers which resulted in the building of Box Hill village.
Contact Graham if you can help with photos, documents or personal recollections of life and work in Box Hill.
Box Hill history project: Contact Graham Whyte on (01737) 844835 or graham.whyte@virgin.net