Hull, resident of the nearby leith hill place, who objected to the fact that his local hill was just thirtyfive feet short of the magic feet mark above which the hill might be considered a mountain. It was possibly on the summit of leith hill in 851, that ethelwulf, father of alfred the great, defeated the danes who were heading for winchester, having sacked canterbury and london. A walk with stunning views over the countryside, cup of tea and mince pie at the top of leith hill tower, rounded off with a great country pub sunday roast. The tower was a sight to behold, especally after that long climb.
Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet. Tower restored and heightened by william philip perrin of tanhurst. A circular woodland walk through the surrey hills that takes you to the highest point in south east england, leith hill. The tower commands panoramic views north to london. Leith hill is very collectable to such enthusiasts, as it is both the county top highest hill in surrey and also defined as a marilyn a hill with a 500ft drop on all sides. Leith hill is the highest point in the south east and managed by the national trust. The weald is the area between the north and south downs, its name coming from the saxon word for forest. Leith hill at 294 metres 965 ft is the highest point on the greensand ridge, and is the second highest point in southeast england. If you wish to climb the tower to make the most of the views, entrance fees and. It was built in the 18th century by richard hull of nearby leith hill place once home to the composer ralph vaughan williams. It was from the top of the tower that i took this photograph looking south towards the english channel. This fortified folly marks the highest point in southeast england and was built in 1765 by richard hull of leith hill place. A peaks prominence, also known as topographic prominence or relative height, is a measure of how distinct a peak is from other peaks. Leith hill tower, an 18th century gothic tower, stands on the summit with panoramic views northwards to london and the english channel to the south.
An area of woodland, parkland, farmland and open heath. Leith hill tower in dorking, united kingdom virtual. Featured texts all books all texts latest this just in smithsonian libraries fedlink us genealogy lincoln collection. On the summit of leith hill is an 18th century gothic tower, with panoramic views northwards to london and south to the english channel. Leith hill tq 14sw 6124 leith hill tower 111166 ii folly tower. Its defined as the vertical distance between a peak and the lowest contour line surrounding that peak and no higher peak. Leith hill tower article about leith hill tower by the. The top of the tower is the highest point in southeast england leith hill has been popular with visitors since the victorian times and you can enjoy similar pastimes.
Mr eveleyn of nearby wotten hall should this be mr evelyn of nearby wotton hall. Leith hill place and tower surrey, england alltrails. But there are other car parks with a longer 1 mile walk which are less. It is very popular with mountain bikers which offers one official trail and plenty of offpiste sections for more experienced riders who like to explore. London landmarks to the north and the english channel to the south are all visible through the free telescopes at the top. Friday street is a hamlet on the gentle lower north slope of leith hill in surrey, england. Standing on the top of leith hill tower you are at the highest point in the southeast of england. Leith hill photos, maps, books, memories francis frith. Leith hill tower leith hills majestic tower rises above the hill to display sweeping views across 14 counties. At the top of leith hill is the imaginatively titled leigh hill tower.
The hill on which the gothic tower stands is thought to have been a famous battlefield in the war between the saxons and danes in early english history. A tower stands on the summit of leith hill, to which a story attaches. Hull noted that the hill was just 35 feet short of 1,000 feet and were it to achieve that height it could justly be termed a. Leith hill tower is open to the public every day from 10. It later fell into disuse until 1864 when the side tower staircase was built and was fully restored by the national trust in 1984. Francis frith the uks leading publisher of local photographs since 1860. Leith hill is set within the surrey hills, and from the tower rising majestically above the surrounding hills you can see sweeping views towards london in the north and the english channel in the south. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device. Leith hill is set in an area of outstanding natural beauty and home to an abundance of stunning wildlife. Highest point in south east england, on a clear day can see as far as london to the north and france to the south.
With the permission of the lord of the manor he constructed the. History of tower hill and vicinity by eiler, homer. Leith hill, surrey, england leith hill tower is the. The two ridges, with their intervening vale and the gaps cut into them by such rivers as the mole and the wey, give the county a variety of landscapes, and in 1958 some 160 square miles 415 square km. On the summit is a tower, from where there is a view on clear days of london and the english channel. On the summit of leith hill is an 18th century gothic tower, with panoramic views northwards to london and the english channel to the south. The walk also passes through the former grounds of leith hill place, a country house dating back to 1600 with its rhododendron woods, planted woodland and walled ruins.
Walking the county high points of england, david bathurst. On his death in 1772 he was buried beneath its base. Standing on the highest hill in southeastern england, the leith hill tower is one of many follies found throughout the countryside. It reaches 294 metres 965 ft above sea level, the highest point on the greensand ridge, and is the second highest point in southeast england, after walbury hill near newbury, berkshire, 297 metres 974 ft high. Richard hull of nearby leith hill place once home to the composer ralph vaughan williams built prospect house in the years 1765 to 1766, later to become known as leith hill tower, with the intention of. Leith hill mountain bike trails all you need to know. Matthew holdsworth and i are climbing up the spiral staircase of leith hill tower. A short walk to the summit of leith hill reveals a wonderful panorama and an interesting tower to climb. Leith hill dorking 2020 all you need to know before. Leith hill tower was constructed in 1765, on the orders of richard hull. The view from leith hill tower, a national trust property near dorking in surrey.
This beautiful woodland walk visits leith hill tower the highest point in southeast england with magical views across a landscape that inspired charles darwin. Further restored and battlements and stair turret added in 1864 by william john evelyn of wotton house. Continuing our exploration of leith hill and the greensand way. Leith hill is located near dorking and is also the highest point on the greensand ridge, reaching a height of 294 metres 965 ft above sea level. Exploring leith hill tower on the surrey hills youtube. Tourists visiting leith hill tower on top of the north downs in surrey commands a 360 degree view from a view over edinburgh to the firth of forth from calton hill. The tower was built in 1765 by richard hull of leith hill place as a place for people to enjoy the glory of the english countryside. The top of the tower is the highest point in southeast england. Richard hulls association and commitment to leith hill continues long after the building of the tower. Tanhouse at leith hill tower, dorking updated 2020. Leith hill project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Built as a landmark in 1764 or 65 by richard hulls of leith hill place, although dated on fabric, 1766, after faulty restoration of inscription.
Something to eat theres plenty of picnic sites and a great national trust servery at the. Photos, maps, personal memories and local books of leith hill. You can see many hollows on the nearby slopes and its thought that the materials needed to build the tower were quarried on site. Follies are structures that are often whimsical in design and built for no other purpose other than the entertainment of the upper class of the time. The name of the lady is mrs skilton and the summit on which she has spent her days for the past 30 years is the famous leith hill, or rather the tower on top of the hill. Leith hill tower is the highest point in surrey and has fabulous views both to the north and south. The road and therefore the cycling climb doesnt go right to the top, instead reaching 203 metres. This georgian prospect house was built by richard hull of leith hill place in the style of a gothic tower. Stephen connor added a new photo at leith hill tower. There were famous evelyns in the nearby village of wotton. Visit leith hill on your trip to dorking or united kingdom. The summer lightning mountain bike trail is the only official trail on leith hill.