Chelsham to Nore Hill - discovering an old quarry, anti-aircraft battery and Bronze Age Enclosure

Three main elements to this walk, each with their own story. Great that these pieces of our history are all reachable within a walk of just over 4 miles.
Note that you can do a shorter walk by cutting out the path down (and up!) which takes in Hovings Hole. That would shorten it by maybe 1.5 - 2 miles and be slightly easier on the legs - there is a gate by Worms Heath Cottages.
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Links referred to in this video:
OS Maps Route: explore.osmaps.com/route/2009...
1910 Geological Visit to the quarry: earthwise.bgs.ac.uk/index.php...
Worms Heath Battery CZcams video: • ABANDONED COLD WAR HA...
Derelict Places Forum Post 2009: www.derelictplaces.co.uk/thre...
Derelict Places Forum Post 2011: www.derelictplaces.co.uk/thre...
Derelict Miscellany re Project Igloo: derelictmisc.org.uk/igloo.html
Nore Hill Chalk Pinnacle: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nore_Hi...
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My contact details/links: bio.site/philswallow
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I use Epidemic Sound for the music in my videos and they are excellent, sign up for a 30-day free trial here: www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
#chelsham
#norehill
#wormsheath
#bronzeageenclosure

[@tonyfriend7378]

Thank you Phil .

[@astrostrotch]

Thanks Phil, I appreciate the balance you strike between the more rural and built up areas you cover in your walk and talks. I've walked the byway from Ledgers road to Limpsfield road but never thought of turning left to pass the site of the anti aircraft battery, i really must do that! God bless the Ramblers for that seat on the climb up to Worms heath cottages. We are so lucky to have all this on our doorstop yet be able to get into Central London in about 45 minutes. Keep up the good work 😊

[@philswallow]

Thanks mate. I agree, we are incredibly lucky to get the best of both worlds in this area!

[@MartynMance]

Phil, fascinating to learn of the heavy anti-aircraft gun emplacements on Worms Heath, I'd not heard anything about that before. Interestingly, the OS Explorer Map 146, 2015 edition, still shows a tiny feature which would appear to be the four compounds of the emplacement, presumably based on an earlier survey and before construction of the modern agricultural barn. Two other points of interest: the reclaimed quarry land is actually shown on the OS map as 'Access' Land, as is much of the steep slope of Nore Hill. Secondly, Surrey Wildlife Trust have previously informed me that they no longer manage the Nore Hill chalk pinnacle reserve. Apparently it is owned by the Earl Compton Estate, but who is now managing the site is unclear!
Thanks for another great video.
Martyn.

[@Crepello100]

Fascinating video and it's great you know the archaeolgy as well. I grew up 9 miles west of there, actually just south of Banstead on the A217. It so happened that thanks to a gap in trees about a half mile away we had a view looking east, down to the Chipstead Valley and on to the two ridges beyond, the second one being the ridge you walked along that carries the B269. As a kid this view fascinated me, with the far away red twinkly lights of the masts at Beech Farm and Botley Hill, the round water tower, car headlights on the B269. Also the somewhat nearer gliders flying from the old Kenley Aerodrome. This led to a wider interest in long distance views and maps and in time to a career in cartography. I'm now retired in France but looking back I recon that whole area of the North Downs, the Weald and westwards to Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset and Devon is the prettiest anywhere on Earth. Shame about the traffic though!

[@philswallow]

Thanks, it is a beautiful area, so close to London but when walking the hills it seems like a long way out. I have at least two more walks planned in that general area plus a visit to Tatsfield.

[@jeffreyharrison]

Oh my God, Phil, the place where the rollers are was the wheel wash for the lorries next to the Weybridge are used to work there filling in the quarry with rubbish with AJ Ball if you remember them. I was in my 20s then filling in the quarry, but yes, that was the wheel wash before they went on the Weybridge

[@philswallow]

Brilliant mate, that’s the quickest responses ever to one of my questions posed on a video! 😁 - I will mention it when I do the live show at 7:30 👍🏻

[@LoremIpsum1970]

Loving these local walking videos, and have added the GMT to my bucket list! Think it's 40 years since I've been walking that way (belated apologies to the farmer for nicking all those strings or rookies...) Guess you know, but they also paraglide and balloon from the field next to Harrow Road.

[@philswallow]

Glad you like them, we are fortunate in this area to have a lot of options. I think the GMT and Vanguard Way are good routes for choosing a section and discovering things that way. The North Downs Way is another option too. I’ve crossed them all many times but tend to plot my own route. I may do some late afternoon walks in the summer - the light can be incredible then.

[@LoremIpsum1970]

Thanks👍

[@philswallow]

Thank you too, your kind gesture is very much appreciated! 👍🏻

[@peterclark9677]

Thanks again for a great video always look forward to seeing them 👍all the best

[@philswallow]

Thanks Peter! 👍

[@peterclark9677]

When is your next online chat

[@philswallow]

@@peterclark9677 7:30pm this evening

[@peterclark9677]

@@philswallow thank you

[@iangodden662]

AJBull made the Hills on Mitcham Common

[@philswallow]

Landfill?

[@iangodden662]

@@philswallow yes

[@user-ck3ib5dq2z]

Hi Phil. Do you think you could do another walk to warlingham green? Just off the green there is a turn where it goes to spears close and I’m a bit curious about where it leads to.

[@philswallow]

I had a look on the map, I think it is a dead-end, there are new build houses there but it doesn’t look like it connects to anywhere else?

[@user-ck3ib5dq2z]

@@philswallow I think there is a little footpath right next to R Bullen Auto Engineers. I think I leads to a park or a field maybe?

[@philswallow]

@@user-ck3ib5dq2z ah ok. I’ll take a look when I’m next there and see if I can incorporate it into a walk 👍🏻

[@user-ck3ib5dq2z]

@@philswallow thanks! Really enjoy your videos! They are really calm and just enjoyable to watch.

[@philswallow]

@@user-ck3ib5dq2z thank you!