Welcome To

Talbot House Antique Centre

Our Location

Address :
51 - 52 West Street
Dorking
Surrey
RH4 1BU
England

Telephone :
+44 (0)1306 888855

How to find us : Discovering Dorking at the heart of the Surrey Hills.
Around a 45 minute journey from London in an area of great beauty and variety - at the heart of these hills, lying between the North Downs and the Greensand Hills, is the historic market town of Dorking. Dorking is an easy place to find - the town has three railway stations and is at the intersection of two roads - the A24 connecting London to the south coast and providing a link to the M25, and the A25, carrying east-west traffic. London Heathrow airport is approximately 45 minutes and Gatwick airport is approximately 25 minutes from the town, making the area easily accessible to international travellers.

View Location Map

We have customer car parking and additionally adjoin two public car parks.

Welcome To Surrey
Carpeted with beautiful countryside and inland waterways, all just a stone's throw from London, Surrey offers a wealth of world-class attractions, contemporary arts venues, unique events, mouth watering restaurants, cafes and pubs. Vibrant towns nestle perfectly alongside historic villages. Whether you're visiting Surrey for business or leisure, relax in our beautiful hotels, cosy inns or comfy bed and breakfasts. Take in the breathtaking scenery of the Surrey Hills or marvel at stunning and historical Country Houses and Gardens or simply explore the many waterways that meander towards the Thames.

The Surrey Hills
The Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is one of 37 nationally protected landscapes in England, and was one of the first landscapes to be designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1958, with its beauty being considered equivalent to that of a National Park. This nationally treasured landscape stretches across a quarter of the county of Surrey and includes the chalk slopes of the North Downs from Farnham in the west to Oxted in the east and extends south to the deeply wooded Greensand Hills which rise in Haslemere. The Surrey Hills is not only rich in wildlife, woodland, attractive market towns and villages but also provides some of the best walking in southern England.

Dorking - A Town and Landscape steeped in History
Situated on the A25 between Guildford and Reigate - A visit to the historic market town of Dorking and to the surrounding Surrey Hills is a special experience. Almost anywhere within Dorking there are glimpses out towards the Surrey Hills providing a dramatic backdrop to the day-to-day activities of the town.

The countryside in turn provides panoramic views of Dorking. The spire of the parish church of St Martins is one of the tallest in the country and it acts as a landmark for visitors and local people alike. Dorking boasts a unique mix of well-known High Street names and a spectacular range of independent retailers, offering a unique selection of goods and services, and a renowned antiques quarter.

Dorking hosts a remarkable range of festivals and events. Music in Dorking will forever be dominated by Ralph Vaughan Williams, one of England’s most famous composers, who lived in the town for many years. The Leith Hill Music Festival has continued for 100 years and Vaughan Williams conducted and premiered many of his own works for the festival.

Nestling in the most beautiful countryside England has to offer, a glance at a map of the area shows a town surrounded by the Surrey Hills. Within minutes it is possible to walk from the hustle and bustle of a busy town centre to the tranquillity of open countryside and this is what makes Dorking special.

Visitors to Dorking will see a town that reflects historic roots that go back beyond Roman times, throughout the medieval period to the present day the town has provided a focus for trade and commerce. A large corn and cattle market was once featured in the High Street, a poultry market was held in South Street where the famous ‘Dorking’ fowl were sold and the irregular medieval streets radiating from Pump Corner, that are such a pleasure to walk today, reflect the traditions of trading and service to generations of visitors.

The magic of Dorking is the mixture of architectural styles and the patterns of its streets. The High Street, meandering like a river, gradually reveals building frontages that range from the picturesque medieval houses to robust Victorian properties. This variety is given greater colour and texture by the palette of traditional building materials, themselves a reflection of the surrounding landscape.

Within the countryside, estates such as Deepdene and Norbury Park inspired wealthy gentlemen in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries to build large country houses in dramatic settings. Blessed with a wonderful array of green spaces and with glorious countryside on its doorstep.

The streets and alleys of Dorking provided a home or inspiration for people such as Ralph Vaughan Williams, Charles Dickens and Daniel Defoe and many others. Cotmandene, behind the High Street, was singled out by Daniel Defoe in 1724 as having the ‘best air in England’ . It also became famous for its cricket in the 18th century and a painting of an early cricket match on Cotmandene hangs in the Long Room at Lords Cricket Ground.

Historic West Street
West Street is one of the oldest streets in Dorking. As its name implies , it provides the main link into Dorking from the West. Those entering the town from this direction will encounter a street full of history and atmosphere, and one that from medieval times has been a home for traders and merchants. Many houses were expanded or rebuilt in the Tudor period. William Mullins, a shoemaker, lived in a house, originally built in the mid-16th century that still stands today. He is celebrated as one of the Pilgrim Fathers who sailed to America in 1620 on the Mayflower. In the 18th century a number of the tenement houses became public houses, of which the Kings Arms and the Star remain, providing historic settings for a traditional pint of ale and wholesome food.

Antiques and West Street
West Street is home to one of the largest concentrations of antique dealers to be found anywhere in the country. In this one, historic street there are quality antique shops and centres whose 100 dealers cater for all tastes and budgets. This combination of an internationally renowned centre for antiques, together with an eclectic mix of boutiques, art galleries, modern cafes, restaurants and traditional pubs in a lovely market town setting makes West Street  a must for collectors, dealers and browsers from all over the world.

Once in Dorking there are a huge variety of places of interest and visitor attractions making the town an excellent base from which to begin an exploration of the area. 


Antiques
Dorking Town Sign Outside Inn Dorking Church Notices Dorking Tourism Countryside Town Scenery Scenic Door House Church