Mickleham brings together a Norman church and a history of Roman roads. The paths around Box Hill feature a variety of routes, while The Gallops on Mickleham Downs represents a landscape of grass, woodland, chalk and flint. The themes range from architecture to a local episode from the Second World War.
Paths around Box Hill and on Mickleham Downs
Near Box Hill, the North Downs Way follows a 1-mile (1.6 km) stretch between the famous stepping stones across the River Mole and the village of Box Hill. The route therefore links two specific landmarks: the stepping stones by the river and the village. Path conditions may vary.
A 1-mile (1.6 km) stretch of the Thames Down Link also crosses Mickleham Downs. The two descriptions refer to differently defined sections: for the North Downs Way, the stepping stones and the village are the endpoints; for the Thames Down Link, the route across the Downs is specified. The Thames Down Link also connects the Thames Path at Kingston with the North Downs Way at Box Hill & Westhumble railway station. This connection places the route within a wider network of long-distance paths without treating the two one-mile stretches as the same route.
Cycling has a separate reference point: National Cycle Network Route 22 (NCN22) runs 1.6 miles (2.5 km) from the summit of Box Hill and connects south London with Portsmouth. The descriptions of the walking paths and cycling route therefore cover different routes and scales. Conditions on the NCN22 may change.
Norman architecture and Roman history
St. Michael and All Angels Church in Mickleham is a Grade II* listed Norman building. The church is a specific point of reference for anyone interested in historic architecture. The Old House in Mickleham offers a different perspective on building history: its front is U-shaped, while the rear is E-shaped. The different parts of the building give the house two distinct floor plans.
The Old House’s windows are also described in detail: it has sash windows, except for the attic window in the north gable. This is a casement window with small square leaded-glass panes. The contrast between the building’s form and its window details makes the house’s architecture tangible on several levels, without grouping its individual features under a single architectural style.
The place’s earlier history includes Stane Street, the Roman road from Chichester to London, which passed through Mickleham. It adds a link between two cities to the built heritage. The church, the Old House and the road represent different aspects of the area’s history: religious architecture, domestic building and a Roman transport route.
Landscape and local memory
The extensive park at Norbury Park was laid out by William Lock in the late 18th century. The Gallops on Mickleham Downs describes a different landscape: grassland and woodland lie on a chalk and flint base. The park and the Downs thus offer two different perspectives on designed and described landscapes.
The Gallops is also associated with an event from the Second World War: Winston Churchill landed there in his aircraft to visit Lord Beaverbrook. At this spot, landscape and local history come together in a specific story. When sorting Mickleham by theme, visitors can distinguish between its buildings and Roman history on the one hand, and its landscape and route connections on the other.
More destinations
Discover more destinations: Betchworth, Ockley, Woldingham, Lingfield, Bramley, Chipstead, Cranleigh, Ripley.
For the main travel overview: Surrey.
