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Limpsfield Common
Limpsfield Common lies on the Greensand Ridge on the Kent border. The common, dominated by woodland, includes the Chart, Moor House Bank and Common, Scearn Bank, West Heath and Little Heath. This is a popular venue for walking and includes a network of paths and rides and the course of a Roman road. There are magnificent beech trees, some around 200 years old, and woodland carpeted with bluebells in spring.
Since the 14th-century Limpsfield Common has been used by commoners for grazing animals and collecting stone and firewood. Grazing prevented the spread of scrub and trees and so the common remained as open heathland. Since the decline of commoning earlier this century, woodland has taken over, leaving just a few patches of heath. The Trust aims to preserve these open areas to encourage rare heathland wildlife to return.
Stone was quarried on Limpsfield Common as far back as Domesday times and stoneware was made in pottery kilns near Limspfield Chart in the 12th - 14th-centuries. Two kiln sites have been identified at Scearn Bank and Brick-Kiln Lane is named after a brick works located there from the 1800s to the early 1900s.
Major Baden-Powell and Colonel Cody were said to fly man-lifting kites from the common in the days when men were learning to fly.
137 hectares (240 acres) of Limpsfield Common were given to the Trust in 1972 by Major Richard Leveson Gower. Local people raised funds for its endowment to ensure the common's long-term protection. A further half-acre was bought in 1978 with funds given by the Trust's local management committee.
Facilities
- Refreshments and lavatories in Oxted, Limpsfield and Limpsfield Chart
Harewoods
This is largely agricultural land, let to tenant farmers. However, there are several permitted paths which link the footpaths and bridleways to form an excellent network of walks. Outwood Common is a lovely spot for walking and picnicking. There are over 100 ponds on the estate, ranging from large open ponds to marshes.
The Great Park, between Bletchingley Lane and Gayhouse Lane was a deer park from the 13th-century. Outwood Common was used by commoners for timber and grazing until the mid 1800s and many ancient oaks, almost 200 years old, can still be seen here.
Built in 1665 by Thomas Budgen, Outwood Post Mill (not owned by the Trust) is the oldest working windmill in the country. A second windmill was also located here until 1959 and together they formed an important landmark known as the Cat and Kitten.
Extensive research and documentation of the area's history is being carried out by the Outwood Local History Society.
Harewoods and Outwood Common were given to the National Trust between 1955 and 1963 by Mr and Mrs Lloyd. The Sandhills Estate was left to the Trust by the Countess of Munster in 1968.
Facilities
- Lavatories at Outwood Mill (when open) otherwise in local villages
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