| Puttenham and Crooksbury Commons | |
| Aos: | Surrey |
| Interest: | Biological |
| Area: | 113.8ha |
| Notifydate: | 1986 |
| Map: | Magic Map |
Puttenham and Crooksbury Commons is a 113.8abbr=offNaNabbr=off 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 162m (531feet), 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.[5]