History
A view from Denbies Hillside, Surrey
© Rob Hewer
Historical farming
The land around Denbies Hillside has been farmed for many years and the Hillside is named after John Denby, a 17th-century local farmer. Come and imagine what it was like farming all those years ago...
Throughout the years
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Marks of the military
The North Downs formed part of London’s outer defences during the Second World War. Many robust Pill Boxes were built on the high ridge of the Downs to slow a possible advancing German army.
Join us on one of our re-enactment days – see our events page. The Canadian army also used the hillside for training and tank traps were dug into the hillside.
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The Hillside today
We have owned Denbies Hillside since 1963. We manage the land to maintain the extensive network of access routes, open views and wonderful scenery.
The chalk grassland requires constant maintenance by clearing invasive thorn scrub and grazing cattle to maintain the herb-rich grassland and wildlife habitat.