Dorking, Surrey£395,000 Freehold

Ansell Road

Two-toned brickwork, cambered window reveals and dentil eaves cornicing characterise the façade of this Victorian cottage

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This charming two-bedroom terraced house is situated in Dorking, Surrey, just a short walk from the town centre. It forms part of a row of perfectly formed Victorian workers’ cottages built in c.1900, their distinctive façades characterised by a blend of two-toned brickwork, elegant cambered window reveals, and dentil eaves cornicing. Internally, original pine floors, cast-iron fireplaces, stripped timber doors and painted brickwork add warmth and character to the house. Behind, a private courtyard garden opens to the village green, providing a wonderfully green retreat in the heart of the market town. Dorking (Main) station is a 15-minute walk, with rail links to London in under an hour.

Setting the Scene

Stane Street, the Roman road connecting London and Chichester, traverses Dorking. Archaeological findings suggest that the town may have been a potential resting point along the route during Roman times. Nevertheless, it wasn’t until the Domesday Book of 1087 that the existence of a late Saxon settlement in Dorking was recorded. Nestled in the Surrey Hills AONB, its advantageous position persists to this day, providing a convenient commute to London while being accompanied by a range of local shops. For more information, please see the History section.

The Grand Tour

The green-painted front door of this house opens to a neat hallway with flagstone floors. Leading from the front hallway is the sitting room, with beautifully weathered original pine floors. The current owner has arranged the room around the Victorian cast-iron fireplace, which has a decorative timber surround and stone hearth, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. On the opposite wall, an original boarded door reveals handy storage space beneath the stairs.

A stripped pine door from the living room leads to the bright kitchen and dining room at the back of the house, with white-painted brick walls and ample natural light streaming through the casement window and a glazed back door. At one end of the room is a soft blue-painted kitchen with wooden worksurfaces equipped with an induction hob and a deep butler sink finished with brass fixtures. On the other side of the room, there is room for a dining table next to a built-in matching blue cabinet for storing crockery. A door from here opens to the private courtyard.

A staircase with original pine treads ascends to the house’s first floor. Two bedrooms and a bathroom are arranged around a central landing. The primary bedroom, located at the front of the house, feels spacious thanks to its surprisingly high ceilings. The room has a charming cast-iron fireplace, a dark-painted picture rail, and built-in wardrobes tucked in one corner. Situated towards the rear of the house, the second bedroom has views over the courtyard and communal green below. This room is currently used as an office but would also make a beautiful nursery.

The Great Outdoors

At the rear of the house, there is a private courtyard that can be accessed from the kitchen. An evergreen fir tree sits alongside the white-painted brick walls, while thyme, mint, chillies and lavender are planted along the borders, creating a lush green oasis perfect for enjoying a morning coffee or dining outdoors during the summer months. Additionally, there is a shed located in one corner with storage for watering cans, pots, gardening tools, and firewood.

On the back wall, a gate opens to a communal green area shared between the neighbouring houses. A wild cherry tree has been planted on the central lawn, while climbing flowers line the surrounding walls, contributing to a serene and peaceful retreat in the middle of Dorking.

Out and About

The house is situated in Dorking’s centre, which has an array of amenities, including supermarkets, a post office, and cafes. Every Friday, Dorking’s historic market opens behind St Martin’s Church, a five-minute walk from the house, with plenty of fruits and vegetables, fresh flowers, and plants on offer. Once a month, the Dorking Artisan Market opens in the same spot with artisanal food and drink and selling locally made crafts.

For those seeking culinary delights in Dorking, Sorrel, a one-Michelin-star restaurant in the town centre, has a menu of seasonal dishes that celebrate local producers. There are excellent pubs in Dorking, including the King’s Arms, which dates to 1405 and hosts a live band every week. In addition, the area is home to several microbreweries and distilleries, the fruits of which can be picked up at Cobbett’s micropub and bottle shop. A 10-minute drive north of Dorking leads to The Running Horses, a gastropub where one can enjoy a cocktail on the terrace during the summer or relax with a glass of wine by the fireplace in the colder months. Denbies Wine Estate is less than a 10-minute drive from the house and hosts wine tastings and tours of the vineyard which spans 265 acres on Dorking’s chalky soils.

Surrounded by the breathtaking Surrey Hills, designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Dorking has beautiful views of wooded hills and open downland. Nearby are walking and cycling trails at Leith Hill, the highest point in Surrey, and Box Hill, famous for its River Mole stepping stones. Just north of Dorking is Ranmore Common, with a woodland of oak and beech trees crossed by the North Downs Way National Trail. Slightly further afield, explore the heathland at Hindhead’s Commons and Frensham Ponds, and encounter vibrant heather, native trees, and colourful meadows.

Dorking Main Station is conveniently located just a 15-minute walk from the house. From there, trains run directly to London Victoria Station and London Waterloo in approximately one hour. For international travel, Gatwick Airport is a 25-minute drive away or a half-hour train journey from Dorking Deepdene.

Council Tax Band: D

Please note that all areas, measurements and distances given in these particulars are approximate and rounded. The text, photographs and floor plans are for general guidance only. Inigo has not tested any services, appliances or specific fittings — prospective purchasers are advised to inspect the property themselves. All fixtures, fittings and furniture not specifically itemised within these particulars are deemed removable by the vendor.

History

The origins of Dorking are believed to date back to the late Saxon period, although the first recorded mention of the settlement appears in The Domesday Book of 1087. The book describes a substantial estate with a church, three mills, and a population of approximately 250 individuals. At that time, the estate was under the lordship of William the Conqueror, who assumed control after the death of Queen Edith, the widow of Edward the Confessor. In 1088, William de Warenne, an ally of William at the Battle of Hastings, was granted the estate and became the Earl of Surrey.

Although many markets were granted during the early 13th century by kings seeking to generate revenue, no evidence of a market charter for Dorking from that period has been found. This suggests that the market in Dorking, first mentioned in 1278, existed based on ancient rights.

By 1664, the town’s population had grown to an estimated 1,600 people, and various neighbouring manors emerged, including Wotton House, Milton Court, and Deepdene. Dorking had become an attractive location for the affluent class to own property. During the same period, there was a significant development in Dorking’s brickmaking and sand extraction industries. At one point, sand was even extracted from beneath the houses of High Street and South Street, resulting in the creation of a network of tunnels. These tunnels, now known as the “South Street Caves,” were later utilised for wine storage in the 19th century.