My list is as follows:
Birthplace of Lawrence Olivier
Oliver Reed used to drink in Dorking. He would often be seen with his wife Josephine Burge in the bar at the White Horse Hotel. Rumour has it he was banned from every pub in town, most notably the Bull's Head where he climbed the chimney naked shouting "Ho! Ho! Ho! I'm Santa Claus!"
Picture of Oliver Reed, Broome Hall, Coldharbour Lane, Dorking
Famous residents in and around Dorking include:
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Daniel Defoe
Emma Holland (Musician)
Jane Slaughter (Tracy the barmaid from Eastenders)
Christian O'Connell (DJ)
Prunella Scales
Graham Gouldman and Eric Stewart of the band 10cc opened a studio, Strawberry Studio's, in a former cinema in Dorking at the end of South Street in 1976 following the departure of Kevin Godley and Lol Creme. Songs recorded here include 'The things we do for love' and 'Good morning judge'. Songs recorded here by other artists include 'Ebony and Ivory' by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder. The building was later demolished, the site used as a builders yard for a time and a housing development now occupies the site
Their first album as a 3 piece was 'Deceptive Bends' named after a sign on the A24 Michleham Bends. Other groups recorded there including the song Ebony and Ivory, with McCartney and Stevie Wonder.
10cc's Eric Stewart at work in 1975/6 on converting the old cinema in Dorkingg
- Charles Dickens wrote most "Pickwick Papers" whilst staying at the White Horse Hotel.
- Denbies is the largest Vineyard in England
- St Martins Church spire is the second tallest spire in England after Salisbury Cathedral
Got any other interesting facts about Dorking? Please post a comment
Evan Davis of Dragons Den fame went to the Ashcombe School.
ReplyDeleteVirginia McKenna ("Born Free" actress, animal rights activist) lives near Dorking.
ReplyDeleteAndre Previn, world famous pianist and composer, used to live near Leigh, Dorking.
John Logie Baird, inventor of television, lived on Box Hill and performed some early TV experiments from there.
Stane Street is a Roman Road from London Bridge to Chichester, passing through the Mole gap at Box Hill. A very well preserved section still exists at Mickleham Downs.
There is an oil painting hanging in the Long Room at Lords cricket ground. It shows a very early game of cricket taking place on the Cotmandene, Dorking.
There is a tunnel beneath West Street in Dorking. It links two buildings, one was a pub and the other was the town brothel.
William Mullins sailed to America on the Mayflower in September 1620. His house is still there in West Street, marked by a blue plaque. It is now a coffee shop.
Small correction about Strawberry South needed here (by one of the team who worked at Strawberry South 1977-78). Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder recorded Ebony & Ivory at George Martin's Air Monserrat Studios in the West Indies. McCartney DID some vocals recording at Strawberry South - he loved the high-ceiling, mirrored and marble-floor isolation area, and the huge natural echo chamber that was built above the roof of the control room.
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