Historic Dorking

Along the Mole Gap Trail…

A historic market town with Roman and Saxon origins

Although the archaeology is limited, the origins of Dorking are most likely Saxon and the town could well have been established during the Roman occupation. The 5-clawed ‘Dorking’, a breed of hen that features on the town’s coat of arms, was said to have been introduced by the Roman. The distinctive elongated street layout reflects the location sandwiched between the chalk and the Greensand hills. There are many places to stop, take refreshment, browse in the shop windows and take in the history of Dorking. It is one of those English market towns that has successfully melded modern forms of retailing whilst retaining its historic character.