However the river's name is unlikely to have derived from this behaviour: The Oxford Dictionary of English Place Names suggests that Mole either comes from the Latin mola (a mill) or is a back-formation from Molesey (Mul's island). The River Mole near Esher Road in Hersham. It also takes in all six ponds of this part of Esher Common, some hidden deep in the woods. [33], The marsh frog (Pelophylax ridibundus, a non-native species introduced from Europe in the 1930s) is now commonly found in the upper Mole and its tributaries around Newdigate and Gatwick. [36] There is no evidence that the presence of the frogs has had a deleterious effect on indigenous amphibians. An epic 9 hour paddle/tree climb/portage-fest, down the River Mole from Fetcham to Hersham with friends from London. Youve accepted analytics cookies. Grade II listed. The bridge was rebuilt in 1991. It is home to Sandown Park Racecourse. Mole (Horley to Hersham) is a river in Surrey. Not all of the water removed from the river by the swallow holes is returned to the channel at Leatherhead. [27] During this period, the Mole is thought to have merged with the River Wey near Byfleet and then flowed in a north-easterly direction via Richmond to meet the proto-Thames near Ware in Hertfordshire. Both barbel and brown trout are extremely sensitive to water quality and pollution. The island where it stood now forms part of the ornamental gardens of a housing development called "The Wilderness". The canoe is preserved at the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford. Allaboutangling.net: built by anglers for anglers. There's also a correlation between the . Named after the Duchess of Albany (resident of Claremont). [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. It was used to process corn, brass wire, iron, paper, linoleum, and books. Their first men's team is notable in the region and saw 2012-14 among the upper 50% of clubs in RFU National League 1 (the third level of the sport in England), having been relegated in the previous season. 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. Own label and private label building products. Hersham began as a strip of woodland beside the River Mole. Constructed between January and March 2008, replacing an earlier bridge on the same site. There are around 3,500 measuring stations, and most are along main rivers and the coast. Places within Hersham therefore technically include part of Saint George's Hill, all of Burwood Park and Whiteley Village. Crayfish are common in areas associated with high alkalinity, particularly around Brockham, and the tributaries which run over the Weald Clay provide an excellent habitat for stoneflies, caddisflies, fast swimming mayflies and riffle beetles. Zander have been caught in the Lower Mole below Dorking since the 1980s. Robinsway, Hersham is 634 meters away, 9 min walk. [74], The Mole Gap and North Downs do not appear to have been settled until the late Stone Age: A large axe, typical of a "rough-out" axe produced during the Neolithic period, which was discovered in 1952 during building work in Westhumble,[75] A flint mine of the same period has been discovered at East Horsley along with Neolithic flakes of flint at Fetcham and Headley Heath. Own label and private label building productsWe produce, brand and supply for some of the biggest names in the industry. The Ember flood relief channel has a diverse fish population, including chub, dace, roach, bleak, large pike and barbel. [12] There is only one aquifer in the drainage basin, at Fetcham, which means that the majority of the water in the river is from surface drainage, particularly from Gatwick Airport and the urban areas of Horley and Crawley, and that the flow rate responds rapidly to rainfall.[1]. A severe flood warning means there's a danger to life. Col. Terry of Burvale, Hersham. Esher is located to the east of Hersham, at the meeting point of the A244 and A307 (Portsmouth Road). It rises in West Sussex near Gatwick Airport and flows northwest through Surrey for 80km (50 miles) to the Thames at Hampton Court Palace. [12] The Earlswood Brook, a tributary draining the urban area of Reigate and Redhill, joins the Mole at Sidlow. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. [1] The river gives its name to the Surrey district of Mole Valley. The first gauging station on the Mole is south of Gatwick Airport (57m[187ft] above OD). This forum belongs to the other rivers. River Mole at Stoke D'Abernon, Cobham and South Hersham flood warning area. [10][11], Horley Mill was first mentioned in a deed of the early 13th century. Its roll holds approx. A similar trench is runs up several of the Mole's tributaries, notably along Deanoak Brook which follows a local strike. vGc+R~g^Dq|( [62] The river meanders across an alluvial plain between 400 and 800m (440870yd) wide towards Cobham, where it begins to descend to a lower flood plain, which broadens as the river turns in an axehead meander. I made up the walk using O/S Explorer Maps from a series of paths, tracks and roads which followed the course of the River Mole as near as possible. Its housing is relatively low-rise and diverse and it has four technology/trading estates. There are around 3,500 measuring stations, and most are along main rivers and the coast. Esher RFC is a multi-pitch rugby union club in Hersham since approximately 1939 (see notes). [93], A few metres downstream of Leatherhead Bridge stands the GradeII listed railway viaduct which carries the Leatherhead to Dorking line over the river. 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. 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. The remaining red brick mill dates from the 1822 and was in use until 1928. [44], Molesey Heath Local Nature Reserve lies on the west bank of the Mole, west of the Island Barn Reservoir. The 360 acre estate is known both for its extensive wildlife more than 150 species of birds and mammals have been recorded in the woods and parkland around its lakes and communal areas .as well as the high level of security and privacy provided to its residents; it is one of the few remaining residential areas in the United Kingdom never to The River Mole rises in West Sussex and flows for 50 miles until it meets the River Ember. Luftwaffe bombers also dropped various bombs on and around Hersham and six V-1 flying bombs exploded in the parish. The gauging station south of Gatwick Airport was installed in 2005, replacing an earlier station located 200m (220yd) downstream. large bittercress (Cardamine amara) and the non-native Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera). [citation needed]. A website by Gorge Services Ltd. All rights reserved. stream Viviparid snails and water scorpions (of the genus Nepidae) are commonly found where the river runs over the London Clay. [60] The water table in the chalk of the Wey Gap is significantly higher than might be expected from natural rainwater percolation alone. 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. Two golf courses are within its bounds, Burhill Golf Club and Hersham Village Golf Club; considerable other land is wooded, used for mixed farming or Esher Rugby Club,[n 1] much of which is Metropolitan Green Belt. Initially the surveyors tried to fill the holes with rubble to prevent the foundations of the new road subsiding. A seven-span 170m long (190yd) reinforced concrete viaduct, cast. The sudden change from impermeable Weald Clay to permeable chalk and the increased gradient[note 4] of the river, allow the water table to drop below the bed of the river. The proportion who owned their home with a loan compares to the regional average of 32.5%. We'll update this page when there's a flood alert in the area, which means flooding to low lying land is possible. 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]. Esher play at The Rugby Ground, 369 Molesey Road. Surrey Fire and. [wa=}k 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. Part of a guide to angling in Surrey. Post Reply . [28], Standard water quality of Mole and its tributaries has improved markedly since the 1990s. The path leads to the Mole near a concrete bridge. 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. This area of the County has a wealth of natural, recreational and scenic . Colonel Sir William Heaton Horrocks, KCMG, CB, was buried in St Peter's Churchyard in 1941, as was his late wife, Lady Minna Horrocks in 1921. 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]. [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]. It is home to Sandown Park Racecourse. [note 2], From Sidlow the Mole turns north west towards Brockham. River Mole rises in Baldhorns Copse 700m (0.4mi) to the south of the village of Rusper in West Sussex. [2], During the second half of the 20th century pollution levels in the river were high; however, since 1995 the water quality has improved dramatically and the Mole now boasts the greatest diversity of fish species of any river in England. [11], The first mill at Sidlow was built during Saxon times. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 4 h 51 min to complete. [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. The airport was fined 30,000 by Lewes Crown Court. [80], During the 17th century, two bills came before parliament to make sections of the river navigable. %PDF-1.3 The woodland, river and ponds are attractive at any time of the year. In more recent times the punk group Sham 69 with lead singer Jimmy Pursey, had its roots in Hersham. John Milton (c. 15621647) described the river as, In a similar vein, Alexander Pope (16881744) wrote in his poem Windsor Forest (first published 1713). This page was last edited on 12 February 2023, at 07:13. [1], The geographical distribution of many species of invertebrate in the river reflects the geology of the catchment area. Concrete anti-tank dragon's teeth were built on both sides of the river, a short distance upstream of the bridge, as an obstacle to armoured vehicles.[89]. Hersham is in the borough of Elmbridge, in northwest Surrey and has no particular sub-localities except for Burwood Park, which alongside certain other addresses in the village is, when published for any purposes, due to its proximity to Walton-on-Thames railway station, done so under the name of Hersham's post town only, Walton on Thames. [7] A planned community also exists in the south almost entirely for the retired, Whiteley Village. The nearest tackle shops are Esher Angling Centre at Pond House, Weston Green, Thames Ditton KT7 0JX, and Surbiton Angling Centre (31 Station Approach, Esher KT10 0SR). [note 3]. [47] A survey in March 1883 estimated that the Fetcham springs were producing about 3.6million imperial gallons (16,000m3) every day. [2], Between Cobham and Esher, the Mole's historic courses have deposited gravel on top of the London Clay. Flood warning area: River Mole at Stoke D'Abernon, Cobham and South Hersham, Surrey. [13] [note 8]. [86], The river crossing at Sidlow Bridge was heavily defended and a line of pill boxes was constructed on the north bank of the river. It then runs along the west side of Horley, and heads north west towards Dorking. <> 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. You can change your cookie settings at any time. [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. The most recent mill was demolished in 1959, although the mill house still stands. These levels can help you understand your flood risk now and over the next few days. 0.7km (0.4mi) south of Sidlow the mean flow is measured as 2.21m3/s (78cuft/s) at Kinnersley Manor gauging station (48m[157ft] above OD). ?Pp9sJA_s^quN9&tx\R8Mx5s_u`:{,;.$0c )]}6>w~ByK_~_ Vj>&5HSQvPu|w_?~M6 /q$|;3Lq8SqN)?=LHI}sAZ]uesS6z3E i!+=yj}1z%H#4H:M[Wj\#\gDG/`ujzpa:yO(K+:3`~~j?u{?-@%qExtKste_/EX:n[xv[?8w{~fo?2,W`)_(rF z~~6VGS8_];qssWSn_n*,o lDu>>X\$=vlP[~gCLp? View map of the flood alert area. It then flows into the River Thames at Hampton Court. The medieval bridge was rebuilt by Gwilt in 1786, but was washed away during the September 1968 floods. % [53] A few much larger swallow holes were also observed separated from the main river by a channel[clarification needed] of about a metre. [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.