[3] This chalk downlands site is part of the North Downs and the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

In 1865 the Dorking Greystone Lime Company was incorporated to open a large quarry at Betchworth by William Finlay an engineer.

A standard gauge siding was laid from Betchworth railway station to the lime kilns built at the foot of the North Downs escarpment.

In 1805 in "A Compendium of Modern Husbandry", James Malcom stated that "the best limestone pits in the country, if not England, were at Dorking and the lime from these is sought after by every Mason and Bricklayer in London.

Chalkpits and limeworks have existed for time out of mind and the very extensive works of the Dorking Gray Stone and Lime Company, are in the parish, where lime is burnt and cement manufactured on a large scale" These early kilns were fired by wood obtained from the then extensive nearby forests and were worked by both men and women.

[6] In 1984, permission was granted for part of the quarry to be filled with spoil excavated during the construction of the Gatwick Airport North Terminal.