Box Hill, Surrey
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| Box Hill | |
|---|---|
| Elevation | 172 metres (564 ft) |
| Location | North Downs, England |
| Prominence | c. 0 m |
| Coordinates | |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 187 |
| OS grid reference | TQ179511 |
| Listing | (none) |
Box Hill is a well known beauty spot in the North Downs of Surrey, England, close to the southern outskirts of London, overlooking Dorking to the south-west. There is a small village of the same name about 1.5 km to the east. Confusingly, Box Hill School is located in the village of Mickleham about 1.5 km to the north, and is between the towns of Dorking and Leatherhead.
The hill is named after the box trees which can be found on its steep southern and western flanks, especially around the "Whites", chalk cliffs cut by the River Mole.
A country park, owned by the National Trust, now provides for public access to Box Hill, and the Pilgrims' Way long distance footpath runs about 1 km to the south.
At the "top" of the hill there is a car-park and viewpoint, from where the entire town of Dorking can be viewed. However, this location is not actually the true summit of the hill. To the east, the ridge ascends, and most of the village of Box Hill is higher, at an altitude of around 200m. The Ordnance Survey mark a spot height of 224m at the radio mast at TQ20405175.
The former eccentric owner of Box Hill, Major Peter Labellière, who gave it to the National Trust, is buried on the hill just west of the viewpoint at Burfoot slope. He is buried head downwards, and he reasoned for this by saying "the world is topsy turvy, and I'll be the right way in the end."
An important passage of Jane Austen's novel Emma is set at Box Hill.
