The growth of Surrey
efore World War II, the proximity of London as a source of employment and the attractions of Surrey as a place of residence led to the biggest explosion of building in Surrey's history.  Use of the county as a dormitory by rich men from London was not new, but the railways made the county accessible to a wider number of country lovers, whole new towns were created to meet their demands such as at Horley, Woking and Surbiton.   

Electrification of the suburban railway lines from 1910 onwards made the desire of Surrey living even more practicable.   The coming of the motor car also made its mark, but not as dramatically as the railways.  The first motor racing track in the England was at Brooklands and the Kingston By-pass was one of the first C20 motor roads.  The proportion of cars to houses rose higher than that of any other county in the country.   Many square miles of semi-detached houses were built along the line of the Kingston By-pass and this seemingly endless view began to produce a public revulsion against the spread of London and a  thought that further growth ought to be prevented by some ‘green belt’. 

The sudden depopulation of London during World War II followed by planning controls sharply reduced the population growth in Surrey and in more recent years it has risen more slowly.   The official designation of the Metropolitan Green Belt and then the “areas of outstanding natural beauty” (mostly the Surrey Hills) successfully prevented more London sprawl. Large areas of countryside were thus saved in spite of the planned expansion of Camberley and less planned expansion of Woking and Guildford - particularly for the new University of Surrey.  

With the expansion of the railways, better road networks and ever more comfortable cars,  the renowned ‘Surrey stockbrokers’ have found it possible now to spread also into Sussex and Hampshire.  However during recent history Surrey has made the most valuable  contribution to London by providing its closest and most enjoyable “national park”.  

Photo: Cranleigh views

  

Photo: Cranleigh views

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