DORKING, an ancient market town in the Reigate parlia mentary division of Surrey, England, with two (and, including Box Hill, three) railway stations on the Southern railway, about 26 m. S.S.W. of London. Pop. of urban district (1931) Io,1o9. It lies at the edge of the North Downs in the sheltered valley of the river Mole, near the base of Box Hill, and is noted on account of the beauty of its countryside. It is the centre of an extensive residential district. The parish church of St. Martin's is a hand some edifice rebuilt in 1873. Lime of exceptionally good quality is burnt in the neighbourhood, and is derived from the Lower Chalk formation. Dorking gives its name to a well-known breed of fowl distinguished by its having five toes. Several fine mansions are in the vicinity of the town, notably that of Deepdene, con taining part of a gallery of sculpture collected here by Thomas Hope, the author of Anastasius. The Roman road of Stone Street, which crossed from the Sussex coast to the Thames, passed near the present churchyard of St. Martin. The district has many literary associations, including the names of George Meredith, who lived and is buried here, Fanny Burney, Malthus and others.