Abinger Hammer
Encyclopedia
Abinger Hammer is a village situated on the A25
between Dorking
and Guildford
in Surrey
, England. It lies with the parish of Abinger
which includes Abinger Common
and Sutton Abinger
. Other neighbouring villages are Wotton
and Gomshall.
The village was once a very important centre of the wealden iron industry
and this is commemorated by its most notable landmark, the clock which overhangs the main road. This portrays the figure of "Jack the Blacksmith", who strikes the hour with his hammer. The clock bears the motto "By me you know how fast to go". The clock was given in memory of the first Lord Farrer of Abinger Hall who died in 1899. The clock represents the iron industry and the role played by the county of Surrey in the industrial past. The striking hammer has been out of order since 2005.
The River Tillingbourne
flows through the village where it was impounded in the 16th century into a hammer pond, providing water power for Abinger Forge which worked Sussex sourced iron. It has long since been adapted to grow watercress. Brown trout swim in the stream, which is their natural habitat; the occasional larger rainbow trout
can be sighted. These may have escaped from the fish farm further downstream towards Gomshall. The village is also home to the Michelin-starred Drakes on the Pond
restaurant.
In summer the village green in Abinger is popular with locals and tourists who like to picnic on the grass whilst watching a game of cricket
in surroundings which are quintessentially English. The cricket pitch borders the Tillingbourne - the Post Office sells nets for children to "fish" in this shallow and sandy stream. Annie's tearoom is next to the Post Office and offers lunches and teas seven days a week.
Abinger Hammer village school has been threatened with closure but due to public support it has remained open. It was a state school but after the LEA closed it in 1982, the local community took over the running of it. It is now an independent non-fee-paying school and as of 2008 has only sixteen students. A small group of trustees work tirelessly to raise funds to maintain the building and to pay the staff.
During the years 1925 to 1945, the novelist, E M Forster, lived with his mother Alice Clare (Lily) in West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer in a house designed by his father, the architect 'Eddie' Morgan, and previously occupied by his aunt Laura. Forster was obliged to leave this home on the death of his mother in 1945 as the landlord refused to renew the lease.
Edward Wilkins Waite
(1854–1924), landscape painter, lived for a time at Abinger Hammer. He was born in Leatherhead
, Surrey, and much of his work depicted rural scenes in the county - including at least one painting done in the vicinity of the village (see "Old Willows").
Oxmoor Copse
, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty lies to the south of the village.
A25 road
The A25 road is one of the three cross-country two-digit numbered roads in the southeast of England, the others being the A26 from Newhaven to Maidstone and the A27 along the south coast. It carries traffic from Guildford in Surrey through Dorking, and thence eastward along the southern edge of the...
between Dorking
Dorking
Dorking is a historic market town at the foot of the North Downs approximately south of London, in Surrey, England.- History and development :...
and Guildford
Guildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England. It lies with the parish of Abinger
Abinger
Abinger is a civil parish in the Mole Valley district of Surrey, England. It includes the villages of Abinger Hammer, Sutton Abinger, Abinger Common and part of Holmbury St Mary ....
which includes Abinger Common
Abinger Common
Abinger Common is a village in Surrey, England. Abinger Common was inhabited in the stone-age, and is supposed to be the oldest village in England. The church dates back to Norman times and is the second oldest Parish church in Surrey. The headquarters of the Lutyens Trust is based in the village...
and Sutton Abinger
Sutton Abinger
Sutton Abinger is a village and parish near Dorking, Surrey. Neighbouring villages include Abinger Hammer and Abinger Common. It lies on the B2126. The nearest railway station is at Gomshall. The area has been inhabited for a long time with a mesolithic burial site on the south east of the village...
. Other neighbouring villages are Wotton
Wotton, Surrey
Wotton is a small village located on the A25 between Guildford in the west and Dorking in the east. Neighbouring villages include: the Abingers of Abinger Common, Sutton Abinger, and Abinger Hammer; Friday Street and Westcott...
and Gomshall.
Wealden iron industry
The Wealden iron industry was located in the Weald of south-eastern England. It was formerly an important industry, producing a large proportion of the bar iron made in England in the 16th century and most British cannon until about 1770. Ironmaking in the Weald used ironstone from various clay...
and this is commemorated by its most notable landmark, the clock which overhangs the main road. This portrays the figure of "Jack the Blacksmith", who strikes the hour with his hammer. The clock bears the motto "By me you know how fast to go". The clock was given in memory of the first Lord Farrer of Abinger Hall who died in 1899. The clock represents the iron industry and the role played by the county of Surrey in the industrial past. The striking hammer has been out of order since 2005.
The River Tillingbourne
River Tillingbourne
The River Tillingbourne runs along the south side of the North Downs and joins the River Wey at Guildford. Its source is near Tilling Springs to the north of Leith Hill at and it runs through Friday Street, Abinger Hammer, Gomshall, Shere, Albury, Chilworth and Shalford. The source is a...
flows through the village where it was impounded in the 16th century into a hammer pond, providing water power for Abinger Forge which worked Sussex sourced iron. It has long since been adapted to grow watercress. Brown trout swim in the stream, which is their natural habitat; the occasional larger rainbow trout
Rainbow trout
The rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead is a sea run rainbow trout usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years at sea. In other words, rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species....
can be sighted. These may have escaped from the fish farm further downstream towards Gomshall. The village is also home to the Michelin-starred Drakes on the Pond
Drakes on the Pond
Drakes on the Pond is a restaurant located in Abinger Hammer, Surrey, England. , the restaurant holds one star in the Michelin Guide.- External links :*...
restaurant.
In summer the village green in Abinger is popular with locals and tourists who like to picnic on the grass whilst watching a game of cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
in surroundings which are quintessentially English. The cricket pitch borders the Tillingbourne - the Post Office sells nets for children to "fish" in this shallow and sandy stream. Annie's tearoom is next to the Post Office and offers lunches and teas seven days a week.
During the years 1925 to 1945, the novelist, E M Forster, lived with his mother Alice Clare (Lily) in West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer in a house designed by his father, the architect 'Eddie' Morgan, and previously occupied by his aunt Laura. Forster was obliged to leave this home on the death of his mother in 1945 as the landlord refused to renew the lease.
Edward Wilkins Waite
Edward Wilkins Waite
Edward Wilkins Waite RBA was a prolific English landscape painter.Waite was born in Leatherhead in Surrey, the son of the Rev. Edward Waite, MA, and his wife Cleopha Julia - there were 6 sons and two daughters in total...
(1854–1924), landscape painter, lived for a time at Abinger Hammer. He was born in Leatherhead
Leatherhead
Leatherhead is a town in the County of Surrey, England, on the River Mole, part of Mole Valley district. It is thought to be of Saxon origin...
, Surrey, and much of his work depicted rural scenes in the county - including at least one painting done in the vicinity of the village (see "Old Willows").
Oxmoor Copse
Oxmoor Copse
Oxmoor Copse is just south of the village of Abinger Hammer and to the west of the village of Abinger Common, in Surrey. It is 1.23 hectares and is in an AONB lying within the Surrey Hills. The previous owners gave the copse to the Woodland Trust as a gift....
, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty lies to the south of the village.