Surrey Archaeological Collections
Surrey Archaeological Society, 2003. (updated 2023) https://doi.org/10.5284/1000221. How to cite using this DOI
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- ADS Collection: 379
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1000221
- How to cite using this DOI
SURREY ARCHAEOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS
Polesden Lacey and Ranmore Common estates, near Dorking: an archaeological and historical survey
CHRISTOPHER K CURRIE
This article is based on a survey of the Polesden Lacey and Ranmore Common estates carried out by the author for the National Trust. It examines the historical and archaeological evidence for their development from prehistoric times. A notable feature of the estate revealed by the earliest written records is the presence of âhatchesâ or gates where ancient tracks leave the farmland to enter Ranmore Common. The majority of these hatches have ancient farms next to them, seemingly situated to take advantage of the extensive grazing on the common. The records appear to date from the period when medieval expansion into the common was reaching its furthest extent. Since the 14th century at least one medieval farmstead has disappeared. By 1614 the Polesden estate had grown from a medieval farmstead to a substantial estate of 391 acres, forming the basis for an important post-medieval county house estate. Following the death of Mrs Margaret Greville in 1942, the estate was granted to the National Trust.
