This legacy version of the site is not maintained.  An updated version of the Chobham description and history site can be found at www.chobham.info

Eric Gardner describes this as a prehistoric defensive earthwork of a well-known type¹ - but in truth, its age and purpose is unknown.  However, 'Albury' suggests that it was already old when first named since the name probably derives from the old english 'alde burh' meaning an old earthwork.

It is a roughly oval enclosure about 100m in diameter.  The irregular shape of the earthwork can be seen in this aerial photograph.  The wide dark lines are a bridleway and footpaths which mutilate the earthwork considerably.  It appears that a bank separates the southern end - which is considerably higher.

The 'defences' comprise a bank with an outer ditch, some 10m across overall by 1.4 m in average height.   There is no trace of the original entrance.

It was most likely a medieval stock enclosure.  However, there are many suggestions for its origin.  It is not unlike the the Iron Age enclosed homestead found at Tongham.  The separate enclosure at the southern end looks somewhat like what was believed to be the chief's enclosure ^{2, p24}.

There is a square corner at the NE end; it is believed that square corners were put into round enclosures to make it easier to drive stock out. Unfortunately there is no sign of an entrance here - or anywhere.  Running roughly east-west just outside this corner can be seen the shadow of a trackway; this may link with the nearby trackway that turns south and rises up Lone Pine hill and continues SW - maybe to Chobham village, but its alignment is more to the west of Chobham village crossing the Bourne at the ford at Clappers (drovers roads tended to avoid village centres).  It has not yet been traced west of Albury Bottom.

References:-

1    Surrey Archaeological Collections Vol 35, 1924, p110.

2    Hidden Depths,  Roger Hunt 2002, Pub: Surrey Archaeological Society.