Mole Valley Heritage Open Days Brochure 2023

HERITAGE OPEN DAYS

CREATIVITY UNWRAPPED EVENT GUIDE

MOLE VALLEY / 8-17 SEPTEMBER 2023

WELCOME TO MOLE VALLEY HERITAGE OPEN DAYS 2023

This year’s Heritage Open Days programme once more offers an enormous range of interesting locations and activities centring on the people and places that make the Mole Valley region so fascinating.

The national theme of ‘Creativity

Unwrapped’ is taken up with enthusiasm and there are many events which applaud the creative heritage and significance of key places and people. There is still, though, a full programme highlighting the region’s traditional favourite features with a variety of walks and talks drawing attention to these.

Our launch event, taking place at Dorking Halls, will celebrate the internationally renowned artist Mary Branson, known for her large-scale conceptual light sculptures and installations, including ‘Harvest’, a huge site-specific installation at Box Hill.

We feel sure that Mole Valley residents and the many visitors to the area will have some fascinating activities to enjoy during Heritage Open Days 2023.

The Mole Valley Heritage Open Days Committee

Event Information

All Heritage Open Days events are free to attend. Pre-booking isn’t required unless stated. All information is subject to change without notice; please see the Heritage Open Days website for the latest information for each event.

Accessibility: Due to their historic nature, some properties are only partly accessible. Please check the individual property listing for further information or contact the property owner directly.

More information and booking details for all events can be found at www.heritageopendays.org.uk

Top left cover photo: www.emmabrownphotography.com

TALKS

Creativity Unwrapped Launch Event: Mary Branson

Friday 8 September: 7.30pm

Dorking Halls, Reigate Road, Dorking, RH4 1SG

Launch event for Mole Valley Heritage Open Days Festival 2023 – hosted by The Arts Society East Surrey Area.

Award-winning artist Mary Branson is best known for her large-scale conceptual light sculptures and installations. These include the iconic ‘New Dawn’ sculpture in the Houses of Parliament to celebrate the centenary of the Suffrage movement, light and sound works for the London 2012 Olympics and ‘Ladders of Light’ at Salisbury Cathedral.

PRE-BOOKING REQUIRED

Mary tells how she creates her art installations, including ‘Harvest’, a huge site-specific installation at Box Hill in collaboration with Surrey Hills Arts and the National Trust, highlighting the plight of farmers facing climate change.

Photos: www.emmabrownphotography.com

Anthony

Saturday 9 September: 2.30pm

Leatherhead Parish Church, Church Road, Leatherhead, KT22 8BD

Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins, better known as Anthony Hope, was an English novelist and playwright, most famous for writing ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’.

Richard Hughes, former Head of History at St John’s School gives an insight into the life and career of Anthony Hope.

Hope was educated at St John’s School, Leatherhead, where his father was Headmaster, Marlborough College and Balliol College, Oxford. He trained as a lawyer and barrister, being called to the Bar by the Middle Temple in 1887. Hope served his pupillage under the future Liberal Prime Minister H H Asquith, who thought him a promising barrister and who was disappointed by his decision to turn to writing. He died at his country home, Heath Farm at Walton-on-the-Hill in Surrey in 1933 and is buried in the churchyard of Leatherhead Parish Church.

playwright, novelist and diarist. This talk will document her early life and marriage to General Alexandre d’Arblay, and will take place in the church in which she was married.

The talk describes Fanny Burney’s upbringing; her time as Lady of the Robes to Queen Charlotte, her association with the French aristocrats who rented Juniper Hall and her marriage to one of them. Then their subsequent life in Camilla Cottage on the Norbury estate and in France until the fall of Napoleon.

The story of Fanny Burney will be told by Sir Brian Unwin, who had a distinguished career as a senior civil servant and first British President of the European Investment Bank. He is the author of a memoire of his time in Whitehall, a history of Napoleon’s captivity on St. Helena and a book about Fanny Burney titled “A Tale in Two Cities”.

Fanny Burney and the Surrey Connection

Friday 15 September: 7.00pm

St. Michael’s & All Angels Church, London Road, Mickleham, RH5 6DU

Frances Burney (1752-1840) was a successful

PRE-BOOKING REQUIRED

Wednesday 13 September: 7.45pm

Leatherhead Parish Church, Church Road, Leatherhead, KT22 8BD

The Royal Library at Windsor Castle has a fabulous collection of books, variously encrusted with jewels, coloured leather and masses of sumptuous gold tooling. Join us for an expert-guided tour of some of the prize exhibits in the collection.

The Arts Society Leatherhead is delighted to

Hope: Novelist and Playwright

Unwrapping Treasures from the Royal Library at Windsor Castle

offer an introduction to these fabulous books presented by Dominic Riley, a fine binder and bookbinding historian.

Dominic first learned bookbinding at 16 from Benedictine Monks at Douai Abbey in Berkshire and later at the London College of Printing. He has worked at the V&A, and for various binderies in London, New York and San Francisco.

As a sometime teacher of the apprentices at the Royal Bindery, he has led students through a study of the handsome volumes in the Royal Library and will now share them with you, including a special binding from every reign from Henry VII to the current monarch.

the possibly less well-known people who made their mark on society in their day and others whose legacy still lives on.

Mickleham’s Other Creative People

Sunday 17 September: 3.00pm

St. Michael’s & All Angels Church, London Road, Mickleham, RH5 6DU

Over the centuries, Mickleham has attracted many notable writers, artisans and thinkers. This talk will highlight some of these creative people other than Fanny Burney, the subject of an earlier talk.

Considering its size, an inordinate number of notable people have been associated with Mickleham. Some have made it their home and others as visitors to one of the village’s many large houses. In addition to its beautiful surroundings and proximity to London, perhaps it is the magnetic effect of one celebrity attracting others. Considering creativity in its broadest sense, this talk will focus on some of

Undressing Antiques

Friday 15 September: 7.30pm

Letherhead Institute, 67 High Street, Leatherhead, KT22 8AH

Letherhead Institute welcomes back Mark Hill, renowned expert from the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow and Antiques Road Trip.

Mole Valley is a treasure trove of Antiques Centres. Mark will give a persuasive introduction to buying antiques and integrating and using them in today’s homes. He will consider different meanings of the word value and take a look at items current and future generations of collectors are buying, how they are buying them and then displaying them.

WALKS

Dorking Museum – Betchworth

Castle Walk

PRE-BOOKING REQUIRED

Sunday 10 September: 2pm

Entry to Betchworth Golf Course, Reigate Road, RH4 1NP (Opposite Hillier’s Garden Centre)

Join a Dorking Museum guide and walk around the picturesque ruins of Betchworth Castle, built in the 11th century by Robert Fitz Gilbert.

The house was bought by Henry Hope to add to his Deepdene estate in 1834, and much of the masonry was removed for work elsewhere. The Castle was allowed to collapse to create the picturesque ruin we see today.

Dorking Museum – Historic Pub Walk

PRE-BOOKING REQUIRED

Saturday 16 September: 6pm

Dorking Museum, 62 West Street, Dorking, RH4 1BS

Join us in a stroll through Dorking’s past as told around its many hostelries pubs and inns, both past and present.

Hear about how the local residents behaved – and misbehaved – through the words of a heroic policeman of Victorian times. The tour will leave Dorking Museum and lasts an hour and a half.

Box Hill Literary Walk

Sunday 10 September: 11am

Wednesday 13 September: 11am

National Trust Café, Boxhill Road, KT20 7LB

National Trust Box Hill; a special place that has inspired many over millennia. Come and hear all about some of the interesting and sometimes spicy creatives associated with this wonderful hill with one of our literary guided walks and talks.

Both walks will contain different content, so you are welcome to join us for one or both. Sensible outdoor footwear and clothing is recommended, as the terrain can be uneven.

Discover Leatherhead Arts Trail

Available anytime

The trail begins at Letherhead Institute, 67 High Street, Leatherhead, KT22 8AH

Download this self-led walking tour to discover Leatherhead’s rich and diverse artistic heritage.

Since the first stonemasons began their work on Leatherhead Parish Church as detailed in the Domesday Book of 1086/87, Leatherhead has attracted many with creative and artistic skills. You can follow in their footsteps with this online self-led walking trail.

Memory-friendly Trail at Leatherhead Parish Church

Wednesday 13 September: 2pm – 4pm

Parish Church of St Mary and St Nicholas, Church Road, Leatherhead, KT22 8BD

The Arts Society’s Memory Trails are conversation starters to offer a shared activity for people living with memory loss and their carers. The Trails encourage tactile and sensory awareness, with prescribed wording endorsed by healthcare professionals in the field of mental health. They are often based in churches, as people living with dementia may have been familiar with churches during their lifetime; so memories are likely to be more easily recalled.

Memory Trail booklets will be available for people with memory loss, containing conversation starters for accompanying carers to use as guides around the church.

PROPERTIES & EVENTS

Pippbrook House: Gothic Horror or Creativity Unwrapped? PRE-BOOKING

Wednesday 13 September: 11am & 2pm

Reigate Road, Dorking, RH4 1SH

A tour of the extraordinary mansion created by George Gilbert Scott that divides opinion: Gothic horror or work of beauty and craft?

This tour of the Grade II* listed Pippbrook House will tell the story of its creation, its owners, its place in British architectural history and its adaptation to that of a public building.

showcasing the majesty of the trees. As darkness falls, come together to celebrate the wonder of our landscape in a shared minute of silence on Donkey Green.

WonderDusk (previously known as Harvest) is an annual partnership celebratory event between Surrey Hills Arts and National Trust. The inclusive, community celebration, connects people through the arts and the landscape. In collaboration with Freewheelers Theatre, the event will be a promenade ‘happening’ at the Box Hill viewpoint and the surrounding woodlands. The public are invited to explore the woodlands and discover creative responses to the theme of ‘Trees’. Expect puppetry, choirs, art installations, theatre, dance, poetry and an inspiring time!

WonderDusk: Celebrating the Surrey Hills Landscape and Woodlands

Saturday 16 September: 6.30pm

National Trust Box Hill, Boxhill Road, KT20 7LB

Wander through the woodlands at Box Hill and be immersed in creative ‘happenings’

The Hope Mausoleum

Sunday 10 September: 12pm – 4pm

Deepdene Avenue, Dorking, RH5 4BX

Dorking Museum volunteers will open the Grade II* Hope Mausoleum to visitors.

The Deepdene estate first came to prominence in the mid-17th century when the Hon Charles Howard inherited it in 1652. He soon set about building a new house and began creating one of the earliest true Italian gardens in the country.

It was this quite unique setting that attracted the young and very rich Dutch arbiter of taste Thomas Hope to purchase the estate 156 years later. At the heart of the Deepdene Trail is the Hope family Mausoleum. Built by Hope in 1818,

this structure is the last complete surviving building of the estate and the final resting place of Thomas Hope himself. It offers a unique view of this great, lost landscape. The story of Deepdene reflects the tragedy of the loss of so many great estates in the 20th centuryhowever ‘Hope is not broken’.

A brief introductory talk on the history of this historic building and the Hope family will be given on the hour.

Indulge in a delectable assortment of scones, clotted cream, and preserves, served with a perfectly brewed cup of tea. It will be a time to relax, mingle with fellow heritage enthusiasts, and savour the flavours of tradition.

Downs Solicitors

Saturday 16 & Sunday 17 September: 10.30am – 3.30pm

156 High Street, Dorking, RH4 1BQ

As guardians of a remarkable listed building and its enchanting secret garden, we invite you to step through the doors of our esteemed law firm and discover the captivating tales that have unfolded within these walls over the centuries. Our building stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of Dorking, serving as a witness to the town’s remarkable past. Immerse yourself in the fascinating stories that have shaped our community.

Venture into our walled secret garden, a hidden gem brimming with Dorking’s historical charm. Stroll through our small but full of character pathways adorned with vibrant blooms, while relishing in the serenity that can only be found in a space steeped in history.

To make this day even more special, we invite you to join us for a free delightful cream tea.

Saturday 16 September: 2pm – 5pm

Sunday 17 September: 2pm – 4pm

Ranmore Common Road, Dorking, RH5 6SP

St Barnabas Church is a remarkable, ornate church in the middle of the countryside which was funded entirely by the then Lord Ashcombe as the Denbies estate church. George Gilbert Scott was commissioned as the architect with the church finished in 1859.

It is said that the church cost three times the average for a church of this size. Of particular note are the setting, the fine spire containing an excellent ring of eight bells, the Gothic revival interior and the memorial chapel.

Choral Evensong will follow Heritage Open Days on Sunday at 4pm, all are welcome to attend.

St Barnabas Church, Ranmore

St Martin’s Church, Dorking

Saturday 9 September: 10am – 4pm (Bell tower open 10.30am – 12pm) Sunday 10 September: 12pm – 4pm

Church Street, Dorking, RH4 1DW

St Martin’s is a handsome Victorian church by Henry Woodyer between 1868 and 1877. For Heritage Open Days the creativity elements within the building in stone, bronze, textiles, wood, mosaic, ceramics and music will be unwrapped for visitors.

The 210ft spire, visible for miles around, was completed in 1877, but there has been a Christian Church on the site for over a thousand years.

There are many excellent examples of stained glass within two major schemes. The first in the chancel of 1868 by William Wailes and the other, slightly later, throughout the church, by James Powell & Sons, a London firm who also decorated the chancel arch and other parts of the church with their special ‘opus sectile’ – a mixture of mosaics and ceramics.

The church is a treasure trove of creativity and members of the church will be on hand to introduce visitors to some of the features and objects that make the church a very special place. The life and music of Ralph Vaughan William will also be featured, one of England’s finest composers who lived in Dorking and who had a close relationship with the church.

There will be opportunities for younger visitors to unwrap their creative instincts by designing a stained glass window. Self-guided tour leaflets and a quiz for visitors of all ages will be available.

Dorking Halls

Saturday 9 September: 1pm & 3pm

Reigate Road, Dorking, RH4 1SG

Opened in 1931 and designed by Percy W Meredith, the Dorking Halls had a long association with composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, Leith Hill Music Festival and the Dorking Masonic Lodge.

After an introduction recounting the history of this popular venue, which has been refurbished and modernised several times since the 1930s, you will be taken behind the scenes to areas not normally accessed by the general public.

You’ll discover the evolution of the building and its facilities through the decades as well as learning what it takes to keep it running today.

Rampant Rooster Morris Dancing

Saturday 16 September: 1pm – 3pm

Dorking Town Centre

Rampant Rooster Morris Dancers perform traditional, and some new Morris dances in the Cotswold and Border traditions.

They will be performing at locations around the centre of Dorking. Details of locations and times will be available on our website and Facebook pages nearer the event. There may be the opportunity to join in an easy dance, which will be walked through on the day.

Mickleham Church – Textiles and Music

Saturday 16 September: 10am – 4pm

St. Michael and All Angels Church, Old London Road, Mickleham, RH5 6DU

There has been a Church on this site for over a thousand years. Traces of Saxon work remain today but for the large part, the building dates from the Norman period, around 1180.

Mullins House & Coffee Shop

Friday 8 & Saturday 9 September: 9.30am – 4pm

Tuesday 12 – Saturday 16 September: 9.30am – 4pm

58 West Street, Dorking, RH4 1BS

Mullins House takes its name from former Dorking resident, William Mullins, a local shoemaker and Pilgrim Father, who travelled to America on the Mayflower in 1620. The building dates from between 1568 and 1610 and is the only example of a Pilgrim Father’s home still in existence.

See the shop where Mullins used to make the shoes and where his daughter, Priscilla, grew up, including the original stairs to the flat above (not accessible), original fireplace and wall.

You will also be able to read more about the Mullins’ journey to the New World while enjoying a freshly made coffee & cake!

Explore the Grade II* listed church and view the church and chapel textiles recently restored by volunteers from The Arts Society Dorking and Leatherhead.

The parish of Mickleham has some wonderful textiles used to mark the changing seasons of the Church’s year, these include altar frontals, superfrontals, lectern falls, chalice veils and burses. In recent months, volunteers from The Arts Society Dorking and Leatherhead have kindly given their time and expertise to repair and restore some of these beautiful items used at our church and chapel and this is a unique opportunity to view them.

The resident organist David Fishwick will be playing a range of music between 1pm and 3pm.

Surrey Archaeological Society Research Centre

Sunday 17 September: 10am – 3pm

Hackhurst Lane, Abinger Hammer, RH5 6SE

The Surrey Archaeological Society Research Centre will be open for visitors to see a working group that researches medieval pottery collections. Access to the archaeological and local history library will also be possible.

Surrey Archaeological Society regularly uses this old school building to carry out research into artefacts found on their excavations and studies unpublished work from the past in an effort to bring important sites and artefacts to publication. Display boards from other projects will be on view. The library has a large collection of books on local history and archaeology, which are available for members to borrow, while non-members can book a time to view them on site.

Dorking Brewery

Friday 8 September: 3.30pm

Saturday 9 September: 1.30pm & 2.30pm

Sunday 10 September: 12.30pm

Monday 11 September: 3pm

Tuesday 12 September: 3pm

Wednesday 13 September: 3pm

Thursday 14 September: 3.00pm

Friday 15 September: 3.30pm

Saturday 16 September: 1.30pm & 2.30pm

Sunday 17 September: 12.30pm

Aldhurst Farm, Temple Lane, Capel, RH5 5HJ

Visitors to the Dorking Brewery will see where over 20,000 pints per week of exciting, modern style beers are crafted using traditional brewing methods, inspired by the best ingredients, flavours, and techniques from all over the world.

Heritage Open Day visitors will be treated to a tour of a working brewery. This includes a short explanation about the history of beer and brewing in England, a guided tour around the equipment used at the brewery, and an opportunity to sample some of the seriously good beer produced by highly skilled and qualified brewers.

Dorking Brewery has a process of making beer that is as natural and environmentally friendly as possible. 97% of their grain comes from England, and spent grain is used to feed the local dairy herd at Aldhurst Farm.

The tour will start and finish in the Taproom where there will be an opportunity to sample more beer, at an additional cost. Beer can also be purchased to take away in a variety of different sizes from cans to 20L beer boxes!

Keymer Handmade Clay Roof Tiles & Wienerberger Factory Tour

PRE-BOOKING REQUIRED

Saturday 9 September: 9.30am – 2pm

Ewhurst Works, Horsham Road, Walliswood, RH5 5QH

Wienerberger’s Ewhurst factory is one of the largest brick manufacturing sites in the South East of England.

The factory is split into two areas with the main factory making Wienerberger Bricks, and at the back of the factory, we hand make Keymer clay tiles. We have been making Keymer tiles using the same methods for over 400 years. As well as the opportunity to make your own Keymer tile, you will see bricks being both handmade and machine-made.

The factory uses Weald clay from the extensive reserves in the adjacent Smokejacks clay pit. This quarry site is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its geological characteristics and was the source of two of the most significant finds of dinosaur remains in the UK.

In the visitor centre there will be people on hand to show you around and tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided free of charge. Both adults and children will be welcome to come along and look around.

Newdigate Local History Society –St. Peter’s Church

Saturday 9 September: Tours at 11am, 1pm & 3pm

Church Lane, Newdigate, RH5 5DL

We’ll be revealing the creative skills of carvers, carpenters and woodworkers at St. Peter’s Church, Newdigate.

Take a tour of this beautiful church and discover the impressive tower with its cross-bracing that dates from the early 1500s, the parish chest made from a single piece of oak in the mid 1500s and a carved gallery from 1627. There are further woodcarvings throughout the church from the early 1900s and many more fantastic features.

We will also be describing the wooden shingles on the tower and showing a film from the 1980s when they were last made. They now need replacing and a committee called InSpire has been set up to raise funds for this project.

Buckinghill Farm

Sunday 10 September: 11am & 2pm

A tour of a listed medieval hall house, dated 1415, under a Horsham stone roof with early 17th Century three storey parlour wing. The House is located alongside a private section of the ancient Roman road, Stane Street.

The owner will lead the group through the medieval hall house, early 17th Century threestorey parlour wing, various later extensions and an 18th Century separately listed barn, all within the beautiful setting of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

During the tour, the participants will be given a brief account of the architectural history of the property. They’ll be able to see historic features including three inglenook fireplaces, a bread oven, a later brick cooking range, stone flooring and the exposed part of the original crown post roof with its smoke-blackened braces. There are carpenters’ assembly marks, witches and other markings on historic beams and a post with rare carved balls on its capital, plus plenty more.

Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 September: House open 11am to 5pm. Tower open 11am to 3pm

Saturday 16 & Sunday 17 September: House open 11am to 5pm. Tower open 11am to 3pm

Leith Hill Lane, Holmbury St. Mary, RH5 6LY

Leith Hill Place lies hidden in the Surrey Hills, childhood home of the great British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams and a haunt of Charles Darwin. Hear stories of the house’s varied history and have cream tea on the terrace listening to live music.

The hill itself boasts stunning walks and the Tower is the highest point in South East England with views south to Shoreham on the coast and north to the London skyline. The prospect tower is a folly built by Richard Hull who is buried beneath its walls.

The Mansion House (Leith Hill Place) has an interesting history. Charles Darwin was a frequent visitor. A young Ralph Vaughan Williams learnt to play the piano here; and from the 1800s it was a boarding school for young ladies and for young men (not at the same time!) The south terrace of the house boasts views across the Weald and is the perfect place to dream away the afternoon enjoying homemade cream teas and cakes.

Leith Hill Place & Tower

St John’s School, Leatherhead

PRE-BOOKING REQUIRED

Saturday 16 September: Tours at 10.30am, 12.15pm & 2pm

Epsom Road, Leatherhead, KT22 8SP

See displays on the history and heritage of St John’s in the Old Chapel and discover how the school came to be established with a guided tour of the school grounds.

St John’s School was founded in 1851 by the Reverend Ashby Haslewood, vicar of St Mark’s, in St John’s Wood, north London, to educate the sons of clergymen. In 1854, the school moved outside the parish boundaries of St Mark’s into neighbouring Kilburn. This was the first of three moves before the school moved to Leatherhead in 1872 with just 67 pupils. Since then the school has continued to expand and is now a community of over 830 pupils. Set on 50 acres, the school site is a splendid mixture of old and new, with mid-Victorian architecture complemented by a state-of-theart Science Centre, and modern classroom blocks and boarding houses.

Former pupils include the architect Lord Rogers; novelist and playwright, Sir Anthony Hope; legendary dance band leader, Victor Silvester; missionary and modern martyr, Father Vivian Redlich and the renowned archaeologist, Sir Leonard Woolley.

Theatrics! at Leatherhead Museum

Saturday 9 & 16 September: 10am – 4pm

64 Church Street, Leatherhead, KT22 8DP

This summer, the Leatherhead Museum Gallery will be hosting a retrospective of the work of Stuart Stanley, the Head of Design at the Thorndike Theatre in the 70s and 80s. It’s the first event of many planned for 2024/25, reflecting on the legacy of world class theatre in our town.

The museum’s little upstairs gallery will be filled with costume designs, amazing stage set models and theatre memorabilia from the heyday of the Thorndike, when celebrity stars of stage and screen regularly trod the boards of our local theatre (and could sometimes be spotted in the Green Room bar after the performance!)

Join us at the museum when we celebrate all things theatrical, visit Stuart’s exhibition and try a theatre-themed activity in the museum garden, weather permitting!

Fetcham Park

Saturday 16 September: 10am – 5pm

Lower Road, Fetcham, KT22 9HD

Fetcham Park is a Grade II* listed building built in 1705, featuring breath-taking murals by Louis Laguerre and original gardens landscaped by George London.

Fetcham Park will open its doors for visitors to explore the historic ground floor rooms. The house is one of Surrey’s hidden gems boasting elaborate plasterwork, decorative gold leaf and breath-taking murals by the eminent 17thcentury artist Louis Laguerre. Enjoy the tranquil, landscaped grounds with lawns and fountains, pathways, patios, and outside seating.

There will be leaflets available detailing the history of the property, Laguerre’s work and the original gardens.

St Mary’s Church, Fetcham

Saturday 16 September: 10am – 5pm

The Ridgeway, Fetcham, KT22 9AZ

Come and be enchanted by this beautiful church, tucked away next to Fetcham Park.

Folks have been worshipping at St Mary’s for over a thousand years. Interesting features include a small Saxon window which reused Roman bricks in its arch, a fine Father Willis organ and lots of magnificent stained glass. The church has seen improvements and enlargements nearly every century, most recently, with a beautiful and sympathetic reordering of the interior in 2014.

Combine your visit to St Mary’s Church with next door Fetcham Park and its tranquil grounds.

Two Inches of Ivory

Friday 8 & Saturday 9 September: 11am – 5pm

Wednesday 13 – Saturday 16 September: 11am – 5pm

Fire & Iron Gallery, Rowhurst Forge, Oxshott Road, Leatherhead, KT22 0EN

Lucy Quinnell opens the doors of Grade II* Listed ‘Rowhurst’ in Leatherhead, exploring its enigmatic history, its historic links to India and a collection of miniature paintings by her AngloIndian great-grandfather.

Rowhurst is an intriguing private house with sections dating to pre-1346, 1346 and 1632.

This is a chance to see the house itself, and within the house to witness ‘Creativity Unwrapped’ as Lucy opens a box of intriguing miniature paintings - never before exhibited, and painted by her great-grandfather who was a founder member of the Royal Society of Miniature Painters in 1896. The house is usually the curiosity, but here it is the cabinet containing smaller curiosities.

Cecil Watson Quinnell was born in Meerut, India, in 1868, and he emigrated to England when he was 18. He was Anglo-Indian - a product of the Honourable East India Company.

Building on Lucy’s work in 2022 to re-connect modern Leatherhead to its strong Regency story, further exploration of the theme of India’s shaping of Mole Valley will be revealed.

Adjacent Fire & Iron Gallery will be open throughout, with Lucy and her colleagues’ artistic ironwork portfolios highlighted,

and there will be opportunities to see live blacksmithing in the Rowhurst Forge workshop, which is normally closed to the public.

The Library of Art – An art exhibition by Surrey Figurative Artists

Friday 15 September: 10am – 8.30pm

Saturday 16 September: 10am – 4pm

Letherhead Institute, 67 High Street, Leatherhead, KT22 8AH

A for Art, D for Drawing, O for Oil painting, and P for Printmaking!

This exciting and creative exhibition of paintings and drawings by Surrey Figurative Artists, a local group established for over 30 years will showcase a wide variety of their work, many for sale at prices to suit all pockets.

Members will be giving demonstrations in painting and drawing throughout the exhibition and will be there to talk to you about the work, how it is created and for those of you who are budding artists... advice!

Leatherhead Art Club - ‘Creativity Unwrapped’

Friday 15 & Saturday 16 September: 10am – 4pm

Letherhead Institute, 67 High Street, Leatherhead, KT22 8AH

Leatherhead Art Club will be exhibiting a colourful selection of paintings by local artists in a range of styles, all depicting scenes and subjects inspired by Mole Valley.

Greetings cards will also be on sale and members of the club will be available for discussion and comment.

Gertrude Jekyll: Beyond the Boots

Friday 15 & Saturday 16 September: 10am – 4pm

Letherhead Institute, 67 High Street, Leatherhead, KT22 8AH

Gertrude Jekyll is known as a garden designer and writer of books and articles on horticulture but she was also highly accomplished in painting, interior design, photography and many other skills.

After her death in 1932, Gertrude’s nephew Francis Jekyll wrote a biography and this display is based on his memoir. It follows her life as the fifth of seven children living an idyllic childhood in Bramley, her travels across Europe, move to Berkshire and her subsequent return to Surrey.

Slyfield House

Saturday 16 September: 11am

Cobham Road, Stoke d’Abernon, KT11 3QE

Discover the rich history of this Grade I listed Jacobean house during this private tour with the owners. Explore the many original features that remain throughout.

It was then that her partnership with Edwin Lutyens blossomed and resulted in many grand houses and gardens still valued today, including her own home and garden Munstead Wood, recently acquired by the National Trust.

She wrote fourteen books and numerous articles in journals such as Country Life. She is buried in Busbridge churchyard where her epitaph reads ‘Artist, Gardener, Craftswoman’.

Ashtead Rye Meadows Wetlands

Friday 8 – Sunday 17 September: 10am – 4pm

Fairholme Crescent, Ashtead, KT21 2HN

Visit this special wetland site, which is the result of a ten-year programme to enhance the nature conservation value of the Rye Brook and its floodplain. See how volunteers have managed the Rye Brook and surrounding meadows and trees.

In the last ten years, volunteers have been creating a wetland area alongside the Rye Brook. During that time they have planted a Jubilee Wood, reshaped the riverbanks and created ponds and scrapes to encourage the biodiversity of the area. They have laid a hard surface on the public footpaths to enable circular walks to take place without the need to cross muddy ground and ensure buggies and pushchairs can be used. Other East/West paths are mown grass and could be too soft for wheelchairs.

They have also created a Centenary Field commemorating those Ashtead residents who fell in the Great War and constructed a wooden walkway to the ponds where there is new seating.

The Meadows are a very pleasant walk along the Rye Brook. The story of the Rye Meadows and its restoration has been the subject of a new book published this year: ‘Restoring the Great Marsh’.

On Sunday 10th September only, between 10am and 4pm volunteers will be on hand to explain about the Meadows and their history.

Sing and Sign – Introduction to Baby Sign for 0-2 year olds

PRE-BOOKING REQUIRED

Thursday 14 September: 10am

Letherhead Institute, 67 High Street, Leatherhead, KT22 8AH

Sing and Sign draws on our rich cultural musical heritage of traditional nursery rhymes, action songs and familiar melodies to help stimulate language development in babies. Learn a great way to communicate with your baby before they can speak! Combining the benefits of both music and signing, young ones can learn to communicate those important first words of a baby’s world.

You don’t need any experience or prior knowledge of sign language to join the course and you don’t need to be able to sing! Classes are small and relaxed, friendly and supportive.

Come and join our free taster, suitable from 02.5 years - or even if you have a baby bump and are keen to know what we are about!

Lisa Allen Dance & Arts Creativity Classes and Competition

Saturday 16 September: 8.45am – 3pm

Letherhead Institute, 67 High Street, Leatherhead, KT22 8AH

Lisa Allen Dance & Arts would like to invite you to join us for our day full of creativity on Saturday 16th September at the Letherhead Institute.

Fun filled classes available in Ballet, Musical Theatre, Modern, Tap and Street. Our focus this day will be on allowing the children’s creativity to sparkle. We will also be holding a creativity competition with winners receiving certificates and medals/trophies.

Classes run at different times depending on age, please check our website for full details.

St Nicholas’ Church, Charlwood

Saturday 9 September: 11am – 5pm

Sunday 10 September: 2pm – 5pm

The Street, Charlwood, RH6 0EE

A Grade I listed Norman church where much of the religious history of England can be read from the walls and windows.

The dramatic wall paintings were covered in whitewash during the Reformation, then rediscovered and carefully ‘unwrapped’ by the famous Victorian architect, William Burges.

Charlwood Providence Chapel

Saturday 9 September: 11am – 5pm

Sunday 10 September: 2pm – 5pm

Chapel Road, Charlwood, RH6 0DA

A unique and remarkable Grade II* listed nonconformist chapel in an American colonial style, with a veranda and charming interior. Built in 1796 in Horsham as part of a Napoleonic

barracks, it was moved to Charlwood and opened as a chapel in 1816.

Recently the Chapel has been completely restored, mainly thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund and a permanent exhibition that tells the history of the building and the village has been installed.

The following properties are all part of the Effingham/Little Bookham Heritage Open Days Group, most of which can be visited by walking the Effingham Heritage Trail and Bishop’s Walk. Parking is available at Manor House School and Heritage Trail maps are available from all properties.

Lowfield Heath Windmill

Saturday 9, Sunday 10, Saturday 16 & Sunday 17 September: 2pm – 5pm

Russ Hill, Charlwood, RH6 0EQ

Lowfield Heath Windmill is a Grade II listed post mill, originally built in 1737 at Lowfield Heath, it worked until the 1880’s. In 1987 it was dismantled, moved to its present site in Charlwood, and restored to working order over the following fifteen years.

Within the roundhouse there is an exhibition about the mill and restoration and a short film will be running.

Visitors are free to enjoy the grounds and bring a picnic or enjoy our delicious tea and cakes!

Remembering the Dambusters and Operation Chastise 80 Years On

Saturday 9 September: 9am – 5pm

The Tithe Barn, Manor Farm, Manor House Lane, Little Bookham, KT23 4EW

Following the hugely popular exhibition, ‘Not Just Bouncing Bombs!’ in 2022, this year there will be a further opportunity to see the displays about the life of Sir Barnes Wallis and his role as author of Operation Chastise or the ‘Dambusters’ Raid.

2023 marks the 80th anniversary of the Raid. There will also be the opportunity to watch documentaries, which include interviews with him. Sir Barnes lived close by and is buried at St Lawrence Church, Effingham.

The location is the impressive 15th Century Grade II listed Tithe Barn and there will also be displays about its history. The Barn is one of the largest in Surrey at 4,500 sq ft. Refreshments can be enjoyed in the barn or in the terraced courtyard garden which has been recreated from photographs taken in the 1920s.

An elegant 18th century manor house in Little Bookham, extended in the 19th & 20th centuries, and the home of the Manor House School since 1937.

It is set in beautifully landscaped grounds and is adjacent to All Saints’ Church and opposite Manor Farm Tithe Barn. Displays from the archives and self-guided tours of the house, buildings and grounds are available.

Effingham Methodist Chapel

Friday 8 & Saturday 9 September: 10am – 5pm

Chapel Hill, Effingham, KT24 5NB

This Wesleyan Chapel was built from local flint and bricks in 1854 by Non-Conformists who used to worship on Effingham Common in the 1840s.

There will be an exhibition about the Chapel & village history, including; fossils, meteorites, the Surrey dinosaur Baryonyx and local heroes

Admiral Lord Howard of Effingham and inventor Sir Barnes Wallis. Enjoy crafts and quizzes as well as birdwatching with our local RSPB members.

St Lawrence Church, Effingham

Saturday 9 September: 10am – 4pm

Church Street, Effingham, KT24 5LX

Visit this Grade II* listed church with 12th century origins. Parishioner Sir Barnes Wallis, inventor of the bouncing bomb is buried in the churchyard and is the subject of an exhibition at the nearby Tithe Barn.

Displays depict the history of the church and stories of nationally and internationally known parishioners. There is also a walking guide to the church available.

Manor House School

Saturday 9 September: 10am – 5pm

Manor House Lane, Little Bookham, KT23 4EN

All Saints’ Church, Little Bookham

Saturday 9 September, 9am – 5pm

Manor House Lane, Little Bookham, KT23 4EL

Visit this ancient, Grade II* listed church in a beautiful setting with a 1,300 year old yew tree and see probably the finest set of hatchments in Surrey.

The hatchments and memorials in the church are mainly of the Pollen/Maddox/Boileau family who were lords of the manor of Little Bookham from around 1640 to 1935. Discover their family tree and fascinating information about the hatchments.

The Club House of the Golf Club (formerly Effingham House) originates from the early 18th century but was extensively extended and remodelled in the late 18th century. It became the manor house of Effingham manor in 1823. The recessed wings were added in 1880 and on either side of the house are ancient Cedars, which feature as the club emblem.

Inside, early decorative features remain. A feature of the clubhouse is the oak beam in the Armada Room above the old fireplace, which bears the date 1591, and came from an earlier house, possibly Effingham East Court manor house. The room is so named because of the early date of the beam and the Lord Howard association with Effingham.

The course was designed and set out in 1927 by Harry Shapland Colt, perhaps England’s most famous course architect, who designed 300 or more courses worldwide.

Displays will explain the history of the house and the Golf Club.

Effingham Golf Club

Saturday 9 September: 9am – 12pm

Guildford Road, Effingham, KT24 5PZ

Experience the history of this magnificent building from Georgian times through to being the clubhouse to one of England’s top 100 golf courses.

Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church

Saturday 9 September: 11am – 4pm

Lower Road, Effingham, KT24 5AD

Designed in the early English Saxon style and faced in flint, the church was consecrated by the Catholic Bishop of Southwark in October 1913.

The Church was funded by Mr George Pauling, a railway engineer, who made his fortune in South Africa and who lived at The Lodge,

Lower Road. His grave, along with several other family graves, can be found in the Church’s cemetery, along with a Pietà, which was carved in Carrara marble, as used by Michelangelo, as a memorial to him.

Bring a picnic and seating and watch the day unfold in the wonderful grounds of The Grange. Step back in time by joining tours of our site, which is steeped in local history, culminating in our Heritage Room where we have many artefacts on display, including those connected to royalty.

We will be holding a range of events throughout the day, from unveiling the creativity found at The Grange to holding creativity workshops for all. There will be a variety of entertainment, in the form of music, a raffle, tombola, games, a Grange merchandise stall, and much more. There will be plenty of refreshments on sale including a pizza van and an ice cream van along with The Grange’s famous teas.

Saturday 16 September: 11am – 4pm

Rectory Lane, Great Bookham, Leatherhead, KT23 4DZ

The Grange at Bookham is holding a birthday event as it celebrates its 85th year of being based in Bookham and everyone is invited! Full of history, creativity and fun for all the family.

The Grange

We’re always on the lookout for new and exciting properties and events for our programme. If you’d like to get involved then please email: