Dorking Caves
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Dorking Caves are a network of caves underneath Dorking, a small market town located close to Box Hill in Surrey, England.
Going back in time the High Street was criss-crossed with a maze of tunnels joining many shops out of sight of the world above. These caves were used for a wide variety of activities - including cock fighting and probably the movement of contraband. Dorking has a strong historical link with smuggling being approximately equidistant between the coast and the capital.
Today, the only caves available for public visits are those in South Street - however they are a fine example of this type of excavation. The South Street Caves are cut out of pure sandstone with three distinct periods of excavation dating as far back as medieval times. They have an extremely interesting history which is enthusiastically related to visitors by the knowledgeable Team of Volunteer Cave Guides. Descending to over 50 feet below busy South Street access is gained through a small blue door next to the war memorial. The war memorial is located opposite Waitrose.
The Caves are opened to the public once a month throughout the summer months for pre-booked tours and they can also be visited by special arrangement (Groups of up to 12). Tours can be booked via the Dorking Visitor Information Centre based at the Dorking Halls. A small charge is made which helps to pay for the maintenance and insurance of this valuable heritage site.
