Buckland Estate
The Buckland Estate is a diversified farm business, with a traditional game shoot, fishing club, residential and commercial property interests. The Estate comprises about 1100 acres and over 40 tenanted houses, a significant proportion of the c.250 dwellings in the Parish of Buckland.
Since the cessation of quarrying in 2014, the main activities of the Estate have comprised real estate (principally the letting of residential properties in Buckland), the management of a small investment portfolio and low intensity farming. The Estate is keen to preserve Buckland’s quarrying heritage and a major new project for the Estate is Buckland Park Lake, a former silica sand quarry located to the south of the A25 Reigate Road.
To contact Buckland Estate please use this contact form.
Buckland Park Lake
Buckland Park Lake, is home to a 50-acre lake, bounded by dramatic sand cliffs and almost 50 acres of mature woodland and offers a range of activities for all ages that the Estate team hope will provide an enjoyable day out in nature for all the family. To learn more visit Buckland Park Lake.
Fly Fishing on Buckland Estate
Our 2021 fly-fishing season operates between April and November; our members enjoy fishing for trout on a choice of three lakes. If you are interested in joining our fly-fishing syndicate read more about Fly Fishing on Buckland Estate.
Nature Initiatives on Buckland Estate
An article summarising work being carried out at Buckland Estate towards conserving and improving our beautiful environment is published within the Going Greener section of this village website. Follow this link to read all about the measures that have already benefitted a variety of flora and fauna.
Tapwood Lake
Though quarrying at Tapwood was completed some time ago, a number of issues have arisen in its restoration, most notably the erosion of parts of the quarry walls as the equipment and pumps have been removed and water levels have risen. Hanson, as tenant and operator, has undertaken considerable remedial work and it is hoped that the site will soon transition into an aftercare regime.
Trespassing and criminal damage
Unfortunately, the cessation of quarrying at Tapwood has resulted in capturing the attention of young people on social media, resulting in persistent unlawful incursions and unauthorised swimming. Aside from the trespassing and criminal damage suffered from break-ins, unsupervised quarry swimming is extremely dangerous, irrespective of the competence of the swimmer, due to the deep cold water. Additionally, with the steep quarry walls, there are very limited exit points.
The Estate and Hanson have sought to put in place a number of measures to counter unlawful incursions. In addition to the use of the lakes for exercising by police dog units and training by the fire and water rescue service, the installation of security cameras and considerable efforts to improve fencing, Hanson have several security guards on site with dogs. The police are aware of the situation and a number of civil and criminal prosecutions have been made.
It must be emphasised that Tapwood Lake is hazardous and that there is no public right of access to or through the site. Visitors to Buckland Park Lake are welcome and tickets can be purchased through the Buckland Park Lake website. To swim, please pre-book with the operator, The SHAC (Surrey Hills Adventure Company).
A number of residents living near to the lakes have had to put up with disturbance as a result of this trespass. The Estate is extremely grateful for the support that many have offered and continues to encourage communication with the Estate Office if unlawful activity is observed. If criminal damage or public order issues are in evidence, residents should of course contact the police.
History
Buckland Estate was purchased in 1654 by George Browne using wealth earned from the Wealden iron industry in Brenchley in Kent. George married his cousin, Elizabeth Browne, a daughter of Sir Ambrose Browne, who lived at neighbouring Betchworth Castle. Since that time the Buckland Estate has passed down through one family, with several changes of name, but without sale to a third party. The family names are Browne (1654-1735), Jordan (1736-1750), Beaumont (1750-1923) and Sanders (1923-date).
The Buckland Estate is now owned principally by Dungates Farms Limited. Dungates Farms Limited is a private company with some 20 shareholders, all of whom are members of the Sanders family. It is run by a small team from the Estate Office in Lawrence Lane, Buckland, RH3 7BE. The Estate’s Managing Director is Dominic Sanders who took over from his father, Adrian, in 2016 on the latter’s retirement.
Modern day quarrying in Buckland began at the time that Buckland Sand & Silica Ltd was formed in 1925 by Robert Sanders. The business was run by the Sanders family until its sale in 1978 to Consolidated Goldfields, now Hanson plc. Quarrying to the south of the A25, at the site now known as Buckland Park Lake, commenced in the late 1950s and finished in 1990. The processing plant continued to be used for washing and preparing sand produced at the final quarry, Tapwood, located to the north of the A25.
Visit the Buckland Park Lake gallery