Market Town Tradition
Dorking has a long history as a market town – its market rights are claimed to date back to 1278 – and the modern farmers’ market continues that tradition. Held on the second Saturday of each month in St Martin’s Walk, the market draws producers from across the Surrey Hills and the Weald, selling seasonal fruit and vegetables, free-range meat, baked goods, preserves and locally roasted coffee. The location at the foot of Box Hill means the market benefits from passing trade – walkers and cyclists heading to or from the famous climb are a regular sight – and the town’s independent shops provide further incentive to linger.
Surrey Hills Produce
Dorking’s position at the heart of the Surrey Hills gives its farmers’ market access to an unusually rich pool of local producers. The chalk grassland of the North Downs supports sheep farming, the clay lowlands are suited to dairy and arable, and the wooded slopes harbour small-scale producers of charcoal, wild game and foraged goods. This diversity is reflected in the market’s stalls, which offer a broader range of produce than the town’s size might suggest. The Dorking cockerel – a heritage poultry breed named after the town – occasionally makes an appearance on the butcher’s stall, adding a touch of local distinction.
