Town History
The Romans built a military road Stane Street, from the south coast to London, and where it crossed the east west tracks at the foot of the North Downs a settlement grew up which was recorded in the 11th century Domesday Book as the Manor of Dorchinges. Later Lords of the Manor were the Dukes of Norfolk who lived in Dorking until they moved to Arundel: one Duke is buried in Dorking churchyard.
At the centre of Dorking at Pump Corner a great inn, the Queen's Arms, stood on the corner of North Street - there is a surviving Elizabethan window visible behind the HSBC bank. In the premises of Robert Dyas opposite you can see wall painting from the Lower Chequers Inn which once stood there. In 1750 construction of a Turnpike Road made Dorking a staging post on the route to Brighton and the coast. The Bull's Head in South Street had a famous coachman, William Broad, whose portrait hangs in Dorking Museum in West Street. The inn which now dominates the centre of Dorking, the White Horse, was developed in the 18th century; previous buildings on this site having belonged to the Knights Templar and later the Knights of St John.
Dorking held a big wheat and cattle market in the High Street. The poultry market was held in the corner of South Street and round Butter Hill. Here the famous Dorking fowl were sold. This breed which has 5 claws instead of the normal four, was a favourite for 19th century tables, including Queen Victoria.
Dorking lost its stage coaches when the railways arrived, but now attracted wealthy residents who built large houses in and around Dorking, such as Denbies (now a winery) and Pippbrook House (now the library, with Council Offices in the grounds). Surrounding land and beauty spots such as Cotmandene and Box Hill were donated by landowners for public use and this, together with later planning controls, has enabled Dorking to remain one of the pleasantest towns within convenient reach of London.
Brian Overell
Dorking Local History Group
