Abinger

Geography

Streams and forest

The upper reach of the Tilling Bourne runs through Abinger Hammer from east to west and is joined by the Holmbury St Mary stream on the western border. In the southwest by Sutton Abinger are Pasture Wood and Oxmoor Copse, lower forested slopes of the Greensand Ridge, projections from the Winterfold/Hurt Wood forest.

Hills

Southeast the land approaches the highest point in the Greensand Ridge, climbing through Abinger Common, more than halfway up Leith Hill, reaching in the south-east corner of the parish an elevation of 248 m above sea level. Similarly to the north the parish reaches the top of the North Downs, in the protruding arm of Mole Valley shown in the map above, across Abinger Roughs including the highest point before the northern boundary, in Oaken Grove, at Dunley Hill 227 m above sea level; the parish here has the 11th highest 'hill' in Surrey along part of the fluctuating North Downs scarp.

Lowest elevation

The lowest point is where the Tilling Bourne flows into Gomshall at 85 m.

Unusual size

Abinger – including the much-dependent 'villages' of Forest Green and Walliswood, ranks third in size (after the two largest civil parishes): Farnham and Cranleigh. Its list of localities is as set out in the introduction and altogether make up what is called a strip parish reaching to the border of West Sussex. As such this is the only parish in Surrey to reach from the North Downs to the West Sussex border. The entire area is in the Surrey Hills AONB.

Transport

Roads 

Only Abinger Hammer lies on the A25 Guildford to Dorking road, while the remainder of the area is served by more minor roads. No dual carriageways bisect the area.

Rail 

The nearest railway station is nearby to the west at Gomshall on the Reading to Gatwick line.

History

A mesolithic burial site on the south east of Abinger Common is testament to the long time in which the area has been inhabited. There is also evidence of strip farming. Remains of a Romano-British villa, a Scheduled Ancient Monument, lie approximately 120 m east of Abinger Hall stables.

Abinger is recorded in the Domesday Book as the location Abinceborne held by William de Braiose, with assets of 4 hides, 1 church, 1 mill worth 6 s, 7 ploughs, 3 acres (1.2 ha) of meadow; and woodland worth 40 hogs. The total rendered was £7.

The church of the Abingers is the C of E church of St James at Abinger Common, which is a II* class listed building whose nave is 11th century, chancel and north chapel built 1220 CE, bombed in World War II, restored 1950 by Frederick Etchells. The headquarters of the Lutyens Trust is based in the village at Goddards (designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens). Lutyens also designed Abinger Common War Memorial. Opposite the church is the 19th century Evelyn Hall which has recently been completely refurbished and can be hired for events. Next to the Hall is the village pub, the Abinger Hatch. To the west of the village is Oxmoor Copse which is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The church of St John the Baptist in Walliswood also has class II* listed building status.

Sutton Abinger has a pub called The Volunteer and 0.5 miles (0.80 km) east in Abinger Common is the Scheduled Ancient Monument Motte "Castle" at Abinger Manor, the grade II listed manor itself and opposite St James Church, see above, are three-person stocks and a public house The Abinger Hatch with a green picnic area is 17th century, Timber framed, clad in whitewashed brick with whitewashed render, shown right.

Abinger Hammer contains two grade II* listed buildings, Paddington farmhouse, which is 15th century, listed as possibly earlier, extended in the 16th century, which is also whitewashed; and Crossways farmhouse built 1610, clad in sandstone blocks with brick dressings with a panelled 17th century door.

Fulvens House which also lies between the Abingers actually over the western border and it may date back to 1628.

Demographics, economy and housing

In 2001, Abinger had a population of 1,858 in 717 households. Abinger covers an area of 30.17 square kilometres (11.65 sq mi). Of the population 12.2% were aged over 65; 3.8% of the population were in full-time further education; 85.1% of all men were economically active whereas 2.8% were unemployed, 6.1% worked part-time; 60% of all women were economically active whereas 2.7% were unemployed, 34.6% worked part-time.

As to ethnicity, 99.94% of the population identified themselves as being white, 6 residents identified with one of the other main categories.

In terms of religion, 77.7%% of the population responded as being Christian, 0% as Muslim, 0.8% other religions, 13.7% as atheist and 8.2% declined to answer.

Abinger's economy is predominantly one in the service sector reflected by a low concentration at one end of the official categorisation table of occupation stated, compiled from the 2001 census:

Whereas 25.5% of the population worked in lower managerial and professional occupations and 9.2% in higher professional occupations.

Housing and home ownership

The average level of accommodation in the region composed of detached houses was 28%, the average that was apartments was 22.6%.

The proportion of households in the civil parish who owned their home outright compares to the regional average of 35.1%. The proportion who owned their home with a loan compares to the regional average of 32.5%. The remaining % is made up of rented dwellings (plus a negligible % of households living rent-free).

Education

Abinger Common First School merged with Westcott School in 2010 to become a two-site all-through primary school.

Sport and amenities

Cricket is played across the parish, with a notable team at Abinger Hammer.

There are three village halls with activities and events and three playgrounds across the parish.

Other than the public houses listed above, there is also the Abinger Arms (see Baron Abinger in Abinger Hammer) and a pub in Walliswood.

People associated with Abinger

Baron Abinger

E.M. Forster lived at West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, 1925–1945

Prunella Scales was born in Sutton Abinger in 1932.