Abinger

Abinger
Arable field of crops at Abinger Common looking towards Abinger Hammer
Population	1,958
OS grid reference	TQ 112014
District	Mole Valley
Shire county	Surrey
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Dorking
Postcode district	RH5
Police	Surrey
Fire	Surrey
Ambulance	South East Coast
UK Parliament	Mole Valley

Abinger is a large civil parish in the Mole Valley district of Surrey England between Dorking, Gomshall and Ewhurst. It includes Abinger Hammer, Sutton Abinger, Abinger Common, Forest Green, Walliswood, Oakwood Hill, and outskirts of Holmbury St Mary (most of which is in Shere).

St James's Church, Abinger Common

Geography

The upper reach of the Tilling Bourne runs through Abinger Hammer from east to west and is joined by the Holmbury St Mary stream on the western border. In the southwest by Sutton Abinger are Pasture Wood and Oxmoor Copse, lower slopes of the Greensand Ridge. Southeast the land approaches the highest point in the Greensand Ridge, climbing through Abinger Common, more than half way up Leith Hill, reaching in the south-east corner of the parish an elevation of 248 m above sea level. Similarly to the north the parish reaches the top of the North Downs, in the protrusion part of Mole Valley shown in the map above, across Abinger Roughs including the highest point before the northern boundary, in Oaken Grove, 227 m above sea level. The lowest point is where the Tilling Bourne flows into Gomshall at 85 m. The entire area is in the Surrey Hills AONB.

Transport

Only Abinger Hammer lies on the A25 Guildford to Dorking road with the remainder of the area served by more minor roads. The nearest railway station is nearby to the west at Gomshall on the Reading to Gatwick line.

History

Abinger Manor Motte

The area has been inhabited for a long time with a mesolithic burial site on the south east of Sutton Abinger. There is also evidence of strip farming.

There are remains of a Romano-British villa 120m east of Abinger hall stables, a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Abinger appears in the Domesday Book as Abinceborne. It was held by William de Braiose. Its Domesday Assets were 4 hides. 1 church, 1 mill worth 6s, 7 ploughs, 3 acres (12,000 m²) of meadow, woodland worth 40 hogs. It rendered (in total): £7.

St James, Abinger Common

The church of the Abingers is the C of E church of St James at Abinger Common, which is a II* class listed building whose nave is 11th century, chancel and north chapel built 1220 CE, bombed in World War II, restored 1950 by Frederick Etchells. The headquarters of the Lutyens Trust is based in the village at Goddards (designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens). Opposite the church is the 19th century Evelyn Hall which has recently been completely refurbished and can be hired for events. Next to the Hall is the village pub, the Abinger Hatch. To the west of the village is Oxmoor Copse which is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The church of St John the Baptist in Walliswood also has class II* listed building status.

The Volunteer

The Abinger Hatch

Sutton Abinger has a pub called The Volunteer and 0.5 miles (0.80 km) east in Abinger Common is the Scheduled Ancient Monument Motte "Castle" at Abinger Manor, the grade II listed manor itself and opposite St James Church, see above, are three-person stocks and a public house The Abinger Hatch with a green picnic area is 17th century, Timber framed, clad in whitewashed brick with whitewashed render, shown right.

Abinger Hammer contains two grade II* listed buildings, Paddington farmhouse, which is 15th century, listed as possibly earlier, extended in the 16th century, which is also whitewashed; and Crossways farmhouse built 1610, clad in sandstone blocks with brick dressings with a panelled 17th century door.

Fulvens House which also lies between the Abingers actually over the western border and it may date back to 1628.

Demographics, Population and Economy

It has a population of 1,858 and covers an area of 30.17 square kilometres (11.65 sq mi).

Education

Abinger Common First School is a non-denominational primary school with around 50 students aged 4–8 years. Sports clubs include football, cricket, golf, and rugby. The school has also been represented at the Dorking Schools' Swimming Gala. Other extra-curricular activities include French, drama, choir, first aid, gardening, and art.

Sport and Amenities

Cricket at Abinger Hammer

Cricket is played across the parish, with a notable team at Abinger Hammer.

There are three village halls with activities and events and three playgrounds across the parish.

Other than the public houses listed above, there is also the Abinger Arms (see Baron Abinger in Abinger Hammer and a pub in Walliswood.

Notable Inhabitants

• Baron Abinger
• Prunella Scales was born in Sutton Abinger in 1932.

References

Abinger Common First School Homepage
Abinger Common First School 2008 Ofsted Report
Abinger Common School Profile

External links

• Stained Glass Windows at St. James Abinger, Surrey
• St James's Church, Abinger
• Abinger in the Domesday Book