Puttenham and Crooksbury Commons

Puttenham and Crooksbury Commons

Site of Special Scientific Interest
Puttenham Common
Location	Surrey
Grid reference	SU 911 461[1]
Interest	Biological
Area	113.8 hectares (281 acres)[1]
Notification	1986[1]
Location map	Magic Map

Puttenham and Crooksbury Commons is a 113.8-hectare (281-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest between Farnham and Guildford in Surrey.^[1][2] Puttenham Common is owned by the Hampton Estate and managed on behalf of Surrey County Council. Hillbury Hillfort on Puttenham Common is a scheduled monument. It is a univallate hillfort which probably dates to the Iron Age.^[3]

Crooksbury hill at 162 metres (531 ft), is the highest point on Crooksbury Common. It is the 21st highest hill in Surrey.^[4] Atop the hill lies a triangulation point with views over the valley towards Hindhead and Gibbet Hill. It was mentioned in a Sherlock Holmes short story, "The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist", in which Holmes is called upon to solve a singularly interesting case involving Miss Violet Smith.

The name Crooksbury is of Celtic origin. The fragments 'cruc' or 'crug' refer to burial mounds usually on a hill-top, which may pertain to fact there are earthworks on the flank of Crooksbury hill one of which is called Soldier's Ring.

Puttenham Common is of archaeological interest. There is a hill fort at Hillbury which is a scheduled monument, probably dating back to the Iron Age. The site can be found on the highest point of the hill above Cutmill pond.<ref>

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51°12′25″N 0°41′49″W / 51.207°N 0.697°W / 51.207; -0.697