Horsell Common SSSI
Encyclopedia
- For the music band, see Horsell Common (band).
Horsell Common is a Site of Special Scientific Interest
Site of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
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
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, UK. It is 355 hectares (877.2 acre) and lies near Horsell
Horsell
Horsell in Surrey is an ancient village nearby to the more modern 19th century Woking, probably best known because of its association with the story The War of the Worlds, written by H. G. Wells. It is the home of the book's narrator , and the landing site of the first Martian transport vessel...
, an ancient village nearby to the more modern Woking
Woking
Woking is a large town and civil parish that shares its name with the surrounding local government district, located in the west of Surrey, UK. It is part of the Greater London Urban Area and the London commuter belt, with frequent trains and a journey time of 24 minutes to Waterloo station....
. It includes a Muslim Burial Ground
Muslim Burial Ground, Horsell Common
The Muslim Burial Ground, Horsell Common was the original resting place of two dozen Muslim soldiers who died during World War I and World War II. It measures about by 30 metres and is located at in the southeast corner of Horsell Common about 100 metres off Monument Road...
and a number of Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
barrows
Tumulus
A tumulus is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, Hügelgrab or kurgans, and can be found throughout much of the world. A tumulus composed largely or entirely of stones is usually referred to as a cairn...
and heathland. The common has thousands of trees. There are parts of the common all over Horsell, isolated from the rest of the common by roads. The common is a great place for people to go out on walks as it is very scenic. There is a large amount of wildlife on the common.
Horsell Common Preservation Society
The Horsell Common Preservation Society look after all parts of the common and maintain it. You can apply to be a member.The Sandpits and War Of The Worlds
Horsell Common was chosen by H.G. Wells as the site of the first Martian landing in The War of the Worlds, The Martians landed in the sandpit in the book, TripodsTripod (The War of the Worlds)
Tripods or fighting-machines are a type of fictional three-legged walker from the H. G. Wells' classic science fiction novel The War of the Worlds, used by Martians to invade Earth.-Novel:...
come out of the cylinder they land in and start attack the bystanders with the Heat-Ray
Heat-Ray
The Heat-Ray is the primary offensive weapon used by the Martians in H. G. Wells' classic science fiction novel The War of the Worlds and its offshoots.- In the novel :...
. The sand pits are one of the most recognisable features of the common. The sand their has been used for houses in the nearby area. The sandpit is a site of pilgrimage for many Sci-Fi fans.