Flood alert area: River Mole and its tributaries from Kinnersley Manor to South Hersham, including Sidlow, Leigh, Betchworth, Brockham, Pixham, Dorking, Mickleham, Leatherhead, Fetcham, Stoke D'Abernon and Cobham. Below Leatherhead the river has historically supported larger predatory fish including chub, perch, pike, and eels, however in recent years chub and eel numbers have begun to decline. Mole (Horley to Hersham) is 60.133 km long and is not designated artificial or heavily modified. [1] The river gives its name to the Surrey district of Mole Valley. It is home to Sandown Park Racecourse. KT10 9RA. History. This area of the County has a wealth of natural, recreational and scenic . The River Mole is a tributary of the River Thames in southern England. large bittercress (Cardamine amara) and the non-native Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera). The present bridge opened in 1971. The author Daniel Defoe, who attended school in Dorking and probably grew up in the village of Westhumble,[56][57] described the swallow holes in the River Mole in his book A tour thro' the Whole Island of Great Britain (first published in 1724): the current of the river being much obstructed by the interposition of those hills, called Box Hill it forces the waters as it were to find their way through as well as they can; and in order to do this, beginning, I say, where the river comes close to the foot of the precipice of Box-Hill, called the Stomacher, the waters sink insensibly away, and in some places are to be seen (and I have seen them) little channels which go out on the sides of the river, where the water in a stream not so big as would fill a pipe of a quarter of an inch diameter, trills away out of the river, and sinks insensibly into the ground. Something went wrong, please try again later. The original road bridge on this site was destroyed during flooding in 1968. When Henry VIII built Nonsuch Palace in Cheam as many as eighty loads of timber were obtained from Southwood, or the South Woods, for it. Up to date as of 3:29pm on 27 February 2023. Hersham is served by Hersham and Walton-on-Thames railway stations with a minimum of two trains per hour and differing types of services on the South West Main Line. [55] When the Dorking to Leatherhead railway was constructed in 1859, a fossilised swallow hole was discovered in the cutting at the south end of Box Hill & Westhumble railway station, suggesting that even in its early history, the river had swallow holes.[53]. Very little angling is available in this area as the local lakes are closed to fishing and the River Mole is controlled by the local authority who do not permit fishing on their land. [68] This name is probably derived from the Old English word men meaning misty or causing mists,[67] and the name of the River Ember probably has its origins in this name. A police spokesperson said: "Officers were called to the riverside at Esher Road in Walton-on-Thames by Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, after a report of what was believed to be a body part in the water this morning. The Mole winds its way past Leatherhead and under the M25 then runs beside the boundary of the Chelsea FC training ground & then through the wealthy village of Cobham (with many "Chelsea Tractors"). [2] Much of the catchment area lies on impermeable rock (including Weald Clay and London Clay), meaning that the river level responds rapidly to heavy rainfall. The original viaduct was washed away by floods on 15 September 1968. Get to know this 15.9-mile out-and-back trail near Buffalo, New York. [25] Finally the Mole splits into two branches at the Island Barn Reservoir near Molesey: the northern (and smaller) branch continues as the River Mole and the southern branch is known as the River Ember. [68] In John Speed's 1611 map of Surrey this stretch of the river is denoted by a series of hills accompanied by the legend "The river runneth under". Hersham Village Golf Club is on the opposite, south side of the village, where snooker player John Virgo has been a longstanding president. [6] From the source to Dorking, the river drains an area of 340km2 (130sqmi), of which approximately 60% is on Wealden or Atherfield Clay, 20% is on Tunbridge Wells Sand and 20% is on greensand. [60] The water table in the chalk of the Wey Gap is significantly higher than might be expected from natural rainwater percolation alone. ), Prior to the last ice age, the River Thames followed a more northerly route to the North Sea, from Reading via Marlow, Chorleywood, St Albans, Hertford and along the present SuffolkEssex border. Robert Bloomfield (17661823) writes the following lines about the Mole Valley in his 1806 poem Wild Flowers. In the 18th century and until 1802 at least, the estate, then known as 'the manor of Southwood and Silksmore,' appears to have been held by the Frederick family. However, the road remained open and the site was clear of parked vehicles by mid-morning. A number of minor tributaries join the river from the west and are typically second order streams draining the woodland and arable land between Horsham and Dorking. [16] Most important to the local economy is the accessibility of Central London see Rail below, with more than 500,000 train entries and exits per annum recorded across the two stations bordering and in the village itself. [88][90] The location is popular with anglers and families, but swimming is strongly discouraged as the water is polluted in places. Emergency services conducted a search at the scene but were unable to locate anything. [8][51][52] At Leatherhead, the river leaves the chalk and flows across impermeable London Clay. Turn left, signposted Hersham and follow this almost to the gates of a caravan site. In The Faerie Queene (first published in 1590) Edmund Spenser wrote of the river: In Poly-Olbion (first published in 1612) the poet Michael Drayton described the journey taken by the River Thames to the sea: This Mole runnes into the earth, about a mile from Darking in Surrey, and after some two miles sees the light againe, which to be certaine hath been affirmed by Inhabitants thereabout reporting triall made of it. You have a choice here. These levels can help you understand your flood risk now and over the next few days. Col. Terry of Burvale, Hersham. Get flood warnings by phone, text or email. At the east end of Painshill Park, the flood plain narrows into a trench about 60m (66yd) wide, in which the river runs northwards for 6.5km (4.0mi) towards Hersham, where the river enters the flood plain of the River Thames. The bridge was designed by the architect Howard Humphreys and the westernmost section is a drawbridge which may be raised to prevent access to Painshill Park. Part of a guide to angling in Surrey. Not all of the water removed from the river by the swallow holes is returned to the channel at Leatherhead. Downside Mill, Cobham was the mill of the manor of Downe. The flood alert is in place until 1pm tomorrow (November 28) (Image: Ben Birchall/PA Wire) Two flood alerts have been issued for the River Mole on Wednesday (November 27) warning that flooding is . Mole (Horley to Hersham) takes in water from an area around 151.017 km2 in size and is part of the Mole Lower and Rythe catchment area. [note 1] The mean flow is 0.33m3/s (12cuft/s) and the river ran dry at this point for the first time in the summer of 1995. [20] The meander was reinstated in 1997, in an attempt to enhance this area of the Park, although it has since become blocked by silt. Allaboutangling.net: built by anglers for anglers. The geology of the local area is complex, since the river leaves the chalk of the Mole Gap at this point and flows over gravel and clay, creating a patchwork of different habitats including scrub, woodland, hedges, banks, and meadows as well as the water itself. The river flows initially southwards for 1 km (0.6 mi) to a small lake at Baldhorns Park, before running eastwards through a largely rural area towards Crawley. An epic 9 hour paddle/tree climb/portage-fest, down the River Mole from Fetcham to Hersham with friends from London. [23][24][note 5], From Painshill Park the river flows northeastwards to the Thames, passing to the west of Esher Commons and then forming the boundary between Hersham and Esher, where the mean flow of the river is 5.43m3/s (192cuft/s). [10] The bridge has nine low arches and is primarily built of red brick with stone coping. The manor remained in the possession of the Crown, and was granted by Philip II of Spain and Mary I of England to David Vincent. The Beaches sections of the Shoreline Trail consists of the construction of a multi-use pathway in the Town of Evans and Town of Brant. It was occupied by pre-historic folk whose flint instruments have been found in large numbers beside the River on Southwood Manor Farm[n 2]. [43] Although much of the surrounding land has been taken by residential and commercial development, this section of the Mole supports 20 different mammal species, 20 butterfly species and 15 species of dragonfly. [134] For many years there may have been two mills on the site for corn grinding and industrial use. The bridge is largely composed of flint and has a large inverted scallop shell in the place of the keystone and similar shells in the spandrels at each side. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. [9] Domesday Book lists twenty mills on the river in 1086, of which Sidlow Mill was the oldest, dating from Saxon times. The very modest High Street contains almost entirely only convenience and socialising stores; fashion and leisure shops are to be found less than 2 miles (3.2km) to the north, in Walton on Thames. Frederick Loring Vaux (1842-1933), local resident and a significant village benefactor. The River Mole rises in West Sussex near Gatwick Airport and flows north-west through Surrey for 50 miles. A full list of the tributaries is given in the table below. Erected in 1992 to replace the original bridge presented by the, A five-arch brick viaduct constructed by the. [44], Molesey Heath Local Nature Reserve lies on the west bank of the Mole, west of the Island Barn Reservoir. North of Esher the old river channel is dominated by floating pennywort, a highly invasive weed, which cuts off all light to the river bed, reducing oxygen levels and resulting in a poor habitat for fish. Just before the gate take the footpath on the right between 2 tree stumps. [81][82] The only Surrey river to have been made fully navigable is the combined lower section of the River Wey. Hersham is also home to Britain's largest colony of parakeets near Esher Rugby Club. Its housing is relatively low-rise and diverse and it has four technology/trading estates. [36], The Mole catchment area includes twelve Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) that include wetland habitats,[6] The Mole Gap forms part of a Special Area of Conservation and is an SSSI of European importance. A severe flood warning means there's a danger to life. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. [38], In the Mole Gap between Dorking and Leatherhead the river supports populations of chub, dace, barbel, and brown trout. Post Reply . The journey to Waterloo takes about 50 minutes. beta Always check you can fish lawfully before starting. Frederick Wicks (18401910), author and inventor, retired to the village and died there. This is a new service your feedback will help us to improve it. [9] In John Rocque's 1768 map of Surrey, the name Moulsey River is used. In more recent times the punk group Sham 69 with lead singer Jimmy Pursey, had its roots in Hersham. Hersham has an interesting industrial history with notable companies such as ABC Motors, Air Products, Faulkners, Hackbridge & Hewittick and Vickers-Armstrongs all having factories in the village during the last century. Hersham's large second golf club is Burhill Golf Club (with North and South courses, the latter of which has been added near Burwood Park. The average level of accommodation in the region composed of detached houses was 28%, the average that was apartments was 22.6%. Find a river, sea, groundwater or rainfall level in this area, Telephone: 0345 988 1188Textphone: 0345 602 6340Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a weekFind out more about call charges. The path runs between high wire fences. Bronze and Iron Age burials have been found on the slopes of the hill which was clearly a feature of some importance in ancient times. Mole (Horley to Hersham) is a river in Surrey. This site, like many others, uses small files called cookies to help us improve and customize your experience. The second-largest Sewage Treatment Works (STW) in the Mole catchment is located on the Gatwick Stream 3km (1.9mi) upstream of the confluence with the Mole: Crawley STW discharges 15,000m3 (530,000cuft) of water per day, and in prolonged dry periods it accounts for up to 75% of the flow of the Mole downstream of the confluence. It was restored to full working order by the Cobham Mill Preservation Trust, and is now open to the public from 2pm to 5pm on the second Sunday of each month (between April and October). [28], Standard water quality of Mole and its tributaries has improved markedly since the 1990s. [30], Highly polluting discharges have become less common but have taken place since 2000. [131] It was a corn mill, built in the early 19th century, and has been converted into a bed and breakfast hotel. [71], In common with much of the rest of the Weald, the earliest evidence of human settlement along the Upper Mole is from the Mesolithic Period (20,0007000BC). Today the Mole and Wey are less than 2km (1.2mi) apart at their closest point near Painshill Park. [59] A second survey in 1948 estimated that the same springs were yielding about 5million imperial gallons (23,000m3) a day. Four technology/trading estates exist in Hersham: A major nearby conjoined set of trading estates spans the Weybridge/Byfleet border at Brooklands and Heathrow Airport also has a range of employers, though this is across Walton-on-Thames itself and the borough of Spelthorne. This website is a guide and cannot guarantee full coverage of venues, nor accuracy of the information provided. [37] A second non-native species, the edible frog (Pelophylax kl. [64], The river is first recorded in the Red Book of Thorney in AD 983 as Emen and in the AD 1005 Cartulary of the Abbey of Eynsham as both Emen and men. By contraction the name become Haverisham,[4] Haversham,[n 3] Harsham or Hersham before finally settling only on the latter. Leaving Dorking, the River Mole skirts the south west of Leatherhead and then Cobham, before heading north between Hersham and Esher. [136], East Molesey Lower Mill, also known as Sterte Mill, was associated with the manor of Molesey Prior. It was used for fulling woollen cloth and milling corn. An old timber structure was replaced by a brick building in the 1820s which can be seen from the bridge over the Ember in Hampton Court Way. Google Adsense runs on our website; your personal data will be used for personalisation of ads and cookies may be used for personalised and non-personalised advertising. The final mill on the site was demolished in 1790, however remains of the mill leat are still visible. Constructed between January and March 2008, replacing an earlier bridge on the same site. [6] The catchment area receives 761mm (30.0in) of rain each year; the greatest average level of rainfall is 800mm (31.5in) around Crawley. Youve accepted analytics cookies. [95], The single-span Shell Bridge stands in the grounds of Thorncroft Manor, to the south of the Town Centre. 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(mVg! <> [72] The Lower Mole appears to have been settled during the same period and a flint axe dating from Mesolithic period found on spit of land close to River Mole in Cobham in 1965. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 4 h 51 min to complete. [73] Remains of a flat-bottomed dug-out canoe were found at the confluence of the Mole and Thames in 1877 by a local boatman. Esher is located to the east of Hersham, at the meeting point of the A244 and A307 (Portsmouth Road). The Mole skirts the northern suburbs of Crawley where it is joined by its first major tributary, Ifield Brook, which drains Ifield Mill Pond. [13] The first tributaries to join the young river drain the northernmost part of St Leonard's Forest, between Horsham and Crawley, although much of the forest is in the catchment area of the River Arun. River Mole in Surrey. Pages on this website do NOT confer a right to fish, nor to fish in a certain way. 1200 students. South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) also attended the incident. . You can change your cookie settings at any time. [40][41] The Mole is one of only three locations in England where the river shingle beetle (Meotica anglica) is found. Both barbel and brown trout are extremely sensitive to water quality and pollution. [78], It is not clear to what extent the Mole was used for navigation in the past: In the late 13th century, Thorncroft Manor (south of Leatherhead) purchased a shout, a type of boat up to 16 metres (52ft) in length used to carry produce to market[79] and it has been suggested that stone cut from quarries in Reigate was transported to London via the river. [11] It has been used for many purposes including the processing of corn, paper, iron, tinplate and flock and the generation of electricity. The 1st XV play in a black-amber strip. Between Dorking and Leatherhead the Mole cuts a steep-sided valley (the Mole Gap) though the North Downs, carving a 170-metre-high (560ft) river cliff on the western flank of Box Hill and a smaller 50-metre (160ft) cliff at Ham Bank in Norbury Park. The trail is open year-round and is . It then swings east and joins the Thames between East Molesey and Thames Ditton at Albany Reach and Cigarette . Mole (Horley to Hersham) is a river in Surrey. Tributary of the River Thames in southern England, This article is about the river in south east England. [29], In 1972 a sub-debate on the future cleanliness of the Mole was had by the House of Lords, involving a member of the South-East Strategic Committee of the Thames Conservancy (succeeded by the Environment Agency) and four others. In 1990 the Environment Agency assessed 23% of the watercourses as Grade B (good) or better. [13] River Thames Bookmark All 85 planned road closures in Surrey this week including Farnham, Reigate and Walton-on-Thames Traffic and Travel Bookmark 54 Surrey road closures this week including. The Mole descends 15m[49ft] in the 10km[6mi] stretch between Brockham and Leatherhead, compared to 3m[9.8ft] in 19km[12mi] between Horley and Brockham. In 2003, Gatwick Airport Ltd pleaded guilty to charges of allowing chemical pollution to enter the River Mole after a detergent, used to clean rubber and oil from the runway, was washed into Crawters Brook by airport workers. The Heath is an area of rough scrubland and, despite its name, is a reclaimed landfill site hence its large but artificial mound and small plateau. [81], In 1798 William Marshall advocated the canalisation of a short stretch of the River Mole between Betchworth and Dorking to facilitate the movement of chalk from quarry to market. [12] The Mole runs under the airport runway in a culvert completed in 1985. [98], Domesday Book listed twenty mills on the River Mole in 1086. A severe flood warning means there's a danger to life. [96] The bridge was renovated and strengthened in 1999 by a group of Canadian engineers working on the Terra Nove project. The band's biggest hit was Hersham Boys. Within a few minutes walk of the village centre in the east are green fields and meadows alongside the River Mole and footpaths both through and by fields used for mixed farming. The present bridge was constructed by George Gwilt in 1792, after responsibility for maintenance had been transferred to the county council by Act of Parliament. [note 3]. It was occupied by pre-historic folk whose flint instruments have been found in large numbers beside the River on Southwood Manor Farm.These date mostly from the mesolithic period. [81] Between 1825 and 1828 the architect and civil engineer Nicholas Wilcox Cundy proposed a Grand Imperial Ship Canal from Deptford to Chichester passing through the Mole Gap, however he was unable to attract sufficient financial interest in his scheme.[84]. The nearest stations to River Mole Pre School are: Thrupps Lane, Hersham is 89 meters away, 2 min walk. yes that is it olly had a walk round the pond as well did find some intense feeding going on in one corner very few fishing it in fact the third person . We produce, brand and supply for some of the biggest names in the industry. There were a series of fires over a century and after the last in 1978 the buildings were demolished. A multi-span composite deck supported on steelwork tresses with a total span of 48m (157ft) and a main span of 22m (72ft) over the river itself. The water table rises at this point and much of the water which drained out of the channel through the chalk returns through springs in the riverbed. [91] In Defoe's time, there was a footbridge at this point, but carts and waggons had to cross the river by a ford. The island where it stood now forms part of the ornamental gardens of a housing development called "The Wilderness". This was estimated in 2004 to have consisted of around 7,000 birds.[15]. The school holds specialist Business and Enterprise College status, and boasts an impressive drama programme. Sun times, moon times, lunar phase, weather. The River Mole rises in West Sussex and flows for 50 miles until it meets the River Ember. Music is "Oxygen Garden" and "Out of the. Gun mounts were also installed to protect both Boxhill and Deepdene bridges and several pillboxes were installed. [63] The depth of the deposits generally varies from 2.5to 7m (823ft);[64] the lower layers are generally highly compacted and cemented together with brick-red iron oxide, whereas the upper layers are loosely packed with angular flints and sand. Luftwaffe bombers also dropped various bombs on and around Hersham and six V-1 flying bombs exploded in the parish. Enjoy this 5.3-mile out-and-back trail near Tonawanda, New York. [11], The first mill at Sidlow was built during Saxon times. During the Second World War several sites along the course of the Mole were fortified for the defence of London against invasion from the south. Places within Hersham therefore technically include part of Saint George's Hill, all of Burwood Park and Whiteley Village. River Mole at Stoke D'Abernon, Cobham and South Hersham flood warning area. When the Burford Bridge was rebuilt in 1937, excavations revealed a "flint-surfaced approach to [a] ford at low level having all the signs of Roman workmanship" suggesting that Stane Street (which ran from London to Chichester via Dorking) crossed the river at this point. The Thames was lapping the edge of Hurst road, but fortunately that major river had reached its peak. During the following year (1664), an act was passed by both Houses of Parliament to make the River Mole navigable from Reigate to the River Thames, but was never executed. In 2003, the upper River Mole near Meath Green Lane, Horley, was enhanced to create a gravel spawning area to encourage chub and dace in addition to roach. It then runs along the west side of Horley, and heads north west towards Dorking. During the Commonwealth it was used for gunpowder manufacture, but after the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 it reverted to corn milling. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 1 h 32 min to complete. Similarly congregationalists had a Round Chapel which existed from 1844 until 1961, the year in which the single dual carriageway in Hersham was created, and enabling its construction.[5]. The path leads to the Mole near a concrete bridge. Mole Valley - Walking London's Waterways Home Mole Valley This walk was rather different in that it didn't follow an existing long distance path. [10][11], Horley Mill was first mentioned in a deed of the early 13th century. ", "Manchester United's Luke Shaw signs new contract at Old Trafford until 2023", Parakeet population booming in borough Molesey News & Mail, 7 July 2004, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hersham&oldid=1134823525. The North Downs Way crosses the river at Box Hill via seventeen hexagonal stepping stones, which are frequently submerged after heavy rainfall. [11], Castle Mill at Pixham is a Grade II listed building. Within Hersham is the mixed, secondary Three Rivers Academy. [83] In 1810 the engineer John Rennie proposed a canal linking the River Medway to Portsmouth which was to have a branch to London following the Mole for much of its length. It then swings east and joins the Thames between East . [note 8]. [4], Hersham's first chapel of ease (Holy Trinity church, which was demolished in 1889 having been superseded) was built of yellow brick in Anglo-Norman style in 1839. Instead of merely (for vestry and property owning matters such as poor relief, road maintenance, manorial ownership, land tax and tithes) being the southern hamlet of Walton, Hersham became an ecclesiastical parish in 1851. Use our species pages to find the fisheries that suit you. and is not designated artificial or heavily modified. The bridge has a 15m (49ft) span with mass concrete abutments and a pre-stressed concrete deck. Another well-established commercial business is the popular Squires Garden Centre adjacent to the Burvale Cemetery in Burwood Road.
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