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]. This is a new service your feedback will help us to improve it. This is the ultimate river walk - you'll feel like you're floating on water as you make your way down this narrow slice of walkway situated in the middle of the Niagara River's famous vibrant waters. 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. Hersham is a charming little station in Surrey, with views over fields, the River Mole and a local golf course. It then swings east and joins the Thames between East Molesey and Thames Ditton at Albany Reach and Cigarette . [92] The bridge was constructed as an ornamental feature in parkland laid out by Capability Brown in the late 18th century. At Boxhill Farm, where access to the river from the north bank was required for the herd of dairy cows, a row of twelve concrete cylinders were cast as an anti-tank measure. About 90% of the energy generated is fed into the regional electricity grid, while the remainder is used to supply the Betchworth Park Estate, where the weir is situated. Downside Mill, Cobham was the mill of the manor of Downe. The parish boundaries run from the South West Main Line railway in the North to the East and through St George's Hill in the West. The undershot wheel at Painshill Park was restored in 1987 and is located at the end of an artificial, Mary Drinkwater Bethune was the daughter of the English army officer and military historian, Shepperd R (1982) The Manor of Wistomble in the Parish of Mickleham, WE Foster WB Harris (1988) Flood Alleviation Scheme for the Lower River Mole, Wooldridge SW (1938) The glaciation of the London Basin and the evolution of the lower Thames drainage system, Bridgland and Gibbard (1997) Quaternary River Diversions in the London Basin and the Eastern English Channel, Ruse LP (1996) Multivariate techniques relating macroinvertebrate and environmental data from a river catchment, P. Follett (1996) Mole Valley Natural History Audit: Survey of, JW Grover (1887) Chalk springs in the London basin, illustrated by the Newbury, Wokingham, Leatherhead and Rickmansworth Water Works, The Fairie Queen, book 4, canto 11, verse 32, Poly-Olbion, Song XVII lines 47-50, 53-57, 59-64, Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, heavy flooding of East Molesey and Thames Ditton in September 1968, A tour thro' the Whole Island of Great Britain, "The Mole Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy", "Our nations' fisheries: The migratory and freshwater fisheries of England and Wales a snapshot", "Urgent fish rescue in River Mole near Dorking after heatwave causes dramatic fall in water levels", "A guide to the industrial archaeology of the borough of elmbridge", "Small hydroelectric power: Betchworth Park", "Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty", "Gatwick Airport Corporate Responsibility Report", HL Deb, 11 September 1972 vol 335 cc138-165, "Water firms 'abusing' sewage law loophole", "Mole (Hersham to R. Thames conf at East Molesey)", "Photograph of swallow-hole in bed of River Mole", "Environment Agency rescue fish from River Mole in Surrey as water levels drop", "In pictures: Environment Agency workers rescue fish from dried-out River Mole", "Excursions to the Farnham Gravel Pits on April 23rd and to the Brickfields and Gravel Pits at Dawley, between Hayes and West Drayton on April 30th 1904", "On a recent Section through Walton Common exposing the London Clay, Bagshot Beds, and Plateau-gravel", "Detail from Rocque's Map of Surrey, c1768", "A late Bronze Age hoard from Norbury Park, Mickleham", "Political Institutions and the Emergence of Regulatory Commitment in England: Evidence from Road and River Improvement Authorities, 1600-1750", "Leatherhead Bridge, Bridge Street (1028646)", "Railway viaduct approximately 15 metres west of road bridge over River Mole (1028596)", "Ornamental bridge approximately 70 metres north of Thorncroft Bridge (1293520)", "Railway bridge and platform over the River Ember", "River Ember: Hampton Court railway station bridge", "A Guide to the Industrial Archaeology of Elmbridge", "Stepping Stones Footbridge over the River Mole, at the foot of Box Hill, near Dorking Surrey", "Flanchford Bridge rebuilding project delayed again", "Bridge over the River Mole, Sidlow Bridge, Surrey", "River Mole, west of Horley from the Lee Street Bridge", "TQ2137: The River Mole gushes out from under Lambs Green Bridge", "The Great Fire At Burns And Co, Lower Green Esher", "Molesey Mills: A history of the mills and milling", Environment Agency: River Mole information, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=River_Mole&oldid=1138898427, Articles with dead external links from July 2021, Articles with permanently dead external links, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from November 2012, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Mole (Hersham to R. Thames conf at East Molesey). [97], A wooden bridge is thought to have existed on the site of Cobham Bridge since the 12th century, the upkeep of which was the responsibility of the adjacent landowners. Built in 1957 as part of the scheme to divert the A23 around the eastern periphery of Gatwick Airport. The Mole where I used to tickle trout in my youth is a drain, and it will remain a drain." The River Mole is a tributary of the River Thames in southern England. [40] The white-legged damselfly (Platycnemis pennipes) is also found along the river, and the downy emerald (Cordulia aenea) is found between Box Hill and Leatherhead. beta [137], The river has captured the imagination of several authors and poets,[7] particularly since in very hot summers the river channel can become dry between Dorking and Leatherhead (most recently during the 1976 drought).[22][50]. [citation needed]. By contraction the name become Haverisham,[4] Haversham,[n 3] Harsham or Hersham before finally settling only on the latter. Named after the Duchess of Albany (resident of Claremont). Within a few minutes walk of this suburban-urban bulk of Hersham in the east are green fields and meadows alongside the River Mole and footpaths by fields used for mixed farming. [1] The next major tributary, The Rye, (which drains Ashtead) joins to the north of Leatherhead, before the river is crossed by the M25 motorway. For the hamlet in Cornwall, see, The artefact-rich manor is at Burhill Road KT12 4BJ, Will of Dame Dorothye Edmondes, widow of Sir Christopher Edmondes, of 'Est Moulsey, Surrey', line 39 of her registered will; National Archives; PROB 11, proved 21 Sept 1615: 'And the lease of the Coppice called the Hurst Coppice, lying & being in Haversham, in the parish of Waltoun, in the said county' (spelling modernized), 'The Memoirs of Herbert Hoover, The Cabinet & Presidency 19201933' (Pub. In more recent times the punk group Sham 69 with lead singer Jimmy Pursey, had its roots in Hersham. Hersham also has three primary schools Burhill, became primary in 2015, Bell Farm, became primary in 2014 and Cardinal Newman. Use our species pages to find the fisheries that suit you. The nearest stations to River Mole Pre School are: Thrupps Lane, Hersham is 89 meters away, 2 min walk. [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. For the river in Devon, see, River Ember Flood Relief Channel and confluence with the Thames. The current stones were dedicated in September 1946 by the then Prime Minister Clement Attlee, replacing those destroyed during the Second World War as an anti-invasion measure. 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. 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. Built in 1990 to replace an existing ford. [6] The catchment area receives 761mm (30.0in) of rain each year; the greatest average level of rainfall is 800mm (31.5in) around Crawley. Finds at Wonham include arrowheads and a plano-convex knife. River Mole in Surrey. [31] The Environment Agency estimated that up to 5200 fish of 14 different species were killed as the pollution drained downstream. 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. Esher play at The Rugby Ground, 369 Molesey Road. [2], Between Dorking and Leatherhead the Mole cuts a steep-sided valley through the North Downs, creating a 170-metre-high (560ft) river cliff on the western flank of Box Hill. Mole (Horley to Hersham) is 60.133 km long and is not designated artificial or heavily modified. At this point, the water table rises enough for the water to flow back into the main river channel. As part of the development of Hersham a new shopping centre was built in the early 1980s with a large supermarket (30k sq feet ) now occupied by Waitrose, although the whole complex is currently under consideration for major redevelopment by the owners. River Mole, West End Recreation Ground NO FISHING. [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. 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. [65] Remains of a further gravel terrace, containing cherts and flints to a depth of 4m (13ft), line the east side of St George's Hill. 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. 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. [8][51][52] At Leatherhead, the river leaves the chalk and flows across impermeable London Clay. 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. Queen Victoria wrote in her diary how she saw her first steam train in Hersham when she was a young girl. The band's biggest hit was Hersham Boys. Up to date as of 3:29pm on 27 February 2023. [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. 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. 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 canoe is preserved at the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford. In 1579 Queen Elizabeth granted to Thomas Vincent "the manor, site, and demesne lands of Morehall, and the wood called Sylkesmore coppice". The major tributaries of the River Mole are the Ifield Brook, Gatwick Stream, Earlswood Brook, Pipp Brook and The Rye, which drains Ashtead. [59] A second survey in 1948 estimated that the same springs were yielding about 5million imperial gallons (23,000m3) a day. Today the Mole and Wey are less than 2km (1.2mi) apart at their closest point near Painshill Park. A severe flood warning means there's a danger to life. 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. [136], East Molesey Lower Mill, also known as Sterte Mill, was associated with the manor of Molesey Prior. [note 3]. Mention of a court held at Hersham in 1272 by Reginald de Imworth and Matilda his wife, may indicate that he was then lord of the manor. [3] The Gatwick Stream is dominated by coarse fish such as brown trout, brook lamprey, and eel. A single track bridge built in 1737 by Richard and Thomas Skilton. River Mole rises in Baldhorns Copse 700 m (0.4 mi) to the south of the village of Rusper in West Sussex. It was used to produce gunpowder from the time of the Commonwealth until about 1780. The following day the Mole Bridge in Esher road, was swamped, with the river bursting its banks across the flatland towards Hersham. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 1 h 32 min to complete. 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. [11], The first mill at Sidlow was built during Saxon times. The first gauging station on the Mole is south of Gatwick Airport (57m[187ft] above OD). The island where it stood now forms part of the ornamental gardens of a housing development called "The Wilderness". Opened in 1927 by Henry Cubitt, 2nd Baron Ashcombe. [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]. 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. Music is "Oxygen Garden" and "Out of the. A large emergency service presence was seen on Esher Road following the report, Sign up to our free email newsletter for daily roundups of the biggest headlines as well as all the latest breaking news. We'll update this page when there's a flood warning in the area. Places within Hersham therefore technically include part of Saint George's Hill, all of Burwood Park and Whiteley Village. Just before the gate take the footpath on the right between 2 tree stumps. 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. [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. A part suspended steel and timber deck bridge, spanning 42 metres (138ft). Esher is located to the east of Hersham, at the meeting point of the A244 and A307 (Portsmouth Road). [1] At the confluence of the Mole and the River Thames at Hampton Court Palace it is possible to catch a wide variety of coarse fish species. [12] At Pixham the Mole meets the Pipp Brook, a tributary draining the northeastern slopes of Leith Hill. It then flows into the River Thames at Hampton Court. [131] It was a corn mill, built in the early 19th century, and has been converted into a bed and breakfast hotel. The chalk aquifer also feeds the springs at the southern end of Fetcham Mill Pond, which have never been known to run dry. The antiquarian William Camden uses the Latinized form Molis in the 1586 edition of Britannia and Michael Drayton is the first to use Mole in his poem Poly-Olbion published in 1613. Another well-established commercial business is the popular Squires Garden Centre adjacent to the Burvale Cemetery in Burwood Road. The proportion of households in the settlement who owned their home outright compares to the regional average of 35.1%. 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 Mole crosses the North Downs between Dorking and Leatherhead, where it cuts a steep-sided valley, known as the Mole Gap, through the chalk. Zander have been caught in the Lower Mole below Dorking since the 1980s. [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". [wa=}k In the 12th century it was written Haverichesham suggesting Haeferick's hamlet or river bend settlement. It also takes in all six ponds of this part of Esher Common, some hidden deep in the woods. [12] The Mole runs under the airport runway in a culvert completed in 1985. 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. Viviparid snails and water scorpions (of the genus Nepidae) are commonly found where the river runs over the London Clay. The culvert was constructed in 1957. Opened as part of the A3 Esher Bypass in December 1976. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Single track bridge built in 1842 and refurbished in 1993. [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. 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. It also takes in all six ponds of this part of Esher Common, some hidden deep in the woods. The first, in 1663, was passed by the House of Commons but was defeated in the House of Lords. The 1st XV play in a black-amber strip. The Mummy was filmed in Hersham. %PDF-1.3 [28], Standard water quality of Mole and its tributaries has improved markedly since the 1990s. However, during the early 1930s, when Hampton Court Way and the bridge were built, the River Mole was redirected to flow into the River Ember and both rivers now enter the Thames in a single widened and straightened channel once occupied only by the River Ember. Sham 69 took their name from the remnants of a piece of graffiti in the area which made reference to when Walton and Hersham Football Club secured the Athenian League title in 1969. [9] In John Rocque's 1768 map of Surrey, the name Moulsey River is used. Extract from The River Mole or Emlyn Stream by Mary Drinkwater Bethune, which was published in 1839. Within Hersham is the mixed, secondary Three Rivers Academy. The North Downs Way crosses the river at Box Hill via seventeen hexagonal stepping stones, which are frequently submerged after heavy rainfall. Hersham is a village in Surrey, . 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 . <> This is part of a larger effort to form a continuous multi-use pathway along Erie County's Lake Erie and Niagara River coast line. Mesolithic sites at Wonham, Flanchford and Sidlow. In the nucleus of the village is Hersham Green, 3.4 acres (1.4ha) of open space on which regular events take place throughout the year. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Barker, J L & D M (1996) 'Hark Back to Hersham' (self-published); Greenwood, George (1986, 3rd Edition Revised) 'Hersham in Surrey' (Elmbridge Museum Service); Pulford, J S L (1988) 'The Church of St Peter Hersham - Monumental Inscriptions' (Walton & Weybridge Local History Society, Paper No. [12] The Mole passes Horley to the west, flowing north towards Sidlow and entering a largely rural area. Cobham Mill, downstream of Leatherhead, consisted of two mills used for grinding corn. [61], At Leatherhead the river leaves the chalk bedrock, moving onto London Clay. This forum belongs to the other rivers. [134] For many years there may have been two mills on the site for corn grinding and industrial use. The bridge was rebuilt in 1991. History along the River Mole Somewhere around 200 B.C. [2] Brickearth deposits are common in the valley around Betchworth and east of Dorking. This was estimated in 2004 to have consisted of around 7,000 birds.[15]. Glacial meltwater from the Anglian ice sheet caused the Thames to divert southwards and flood the valley of the MoleWey river, thus adopting its present route through London. The site is a rich habitat for birds including the redshank and little ringed plover. A flood warning means flooding to some property is expected. 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. [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. King George III visited Weylands farm in Hersham where he saw the first drill plough. [1] The river gives its name to the Surrey district of Mole Valley. The woodland, river and ponds are attractive at any time of the year. The school holds specialist Business and Enterprise College status, and boasts an impressive drama programme. The path leads to the Mole near a concrete bridge. The present bridge opened in 1971. Wed also like to use analytics cookies so we can understand how you use the service and make improvements. The largest STW in the Mole catchment (Reigate STW) discharges up to 118,500m3 (4,180,000cuft) per day into the Earlswood Brook. Four of the victims were never identified but buried in Hersham's Burvale Cemetery and another Vickers worker, 36 year old William E Hunt, was buried close by.