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River Mole


River Mole
 
Wide river flowing from right to left. A series of seventeen hexagonal stepping stones lead across the river to the opposite bank in the distance. Three wide low steps on the opposite bank leading from the river. =
The River Mole at the foot of Box Hill in Surrey
Country England
Counties West Sussex, Surrey
Districts / Boroughs Horsham, Crawley, Mole Valley, Reigate and Banstead, Elmbridge
Towns Crawley, Horley, Dorking, Leatherhead, Esher, Walton-on-Thames, Hersham
Landmarks Gatwick Airport, Betchworth Castle, Box Hill, Painshill Park, Hampton Court Palace
Source Baldhorns Copse
 - location Rusper, Horsham, West Sussex
 - elevation 105 m (344 ft)
 - coordinates 51°7′30″N 0°16′26″W / 51.12500°N 0.27389°W / 51.12500; -0.27389
Mouth River Thames
 - location East Molesey, Elmbridge, Surrey
 - elevation 6 m (20 ft)
 - coordinates 51°24′4″N 0°20′21″W / 51.40111°N 0.33917°W / 51.40111; -0.33917Coordinates: 51°24′4″N 0°20′21″W / 51.40111°N 0.33917°W / 51.40111; -0.33917
Length 80 km (50 mi)
Basin 512 km2 (198 sq mi)
Discharge for Esher
 - average 5.43 m3/s (192 cu ft/s)
 - max 99.9 m3/s (3,528 cu ft/s) (9 December 1994)
 - min 1.00 m3/s (35 cu ft/s) (9 August 1993)
Discharge elsewhere (average)
 - Castle Mill, Dorking 3.74 m3/s (132 cu ft/s)
 - Kinnersley Manor, Sidlow 2.21 m3/s (78 cu ft/s)
 - Horley 1.40 m3/s (49 cu ft/s)
 - Gatwick Airport 0.33 m3/s (12 cu ft/s)
Map of the River Mole, marked in dark blue, running in an S-shape. Towns and some villages are named. At the top of the map, a stretch of the River Thames between Weybridge and Kingston is shown in light blue.
Map showing the River Mole (dark blue)
and part of the River Thames (light blue)

The River Mole is a tributary of the River Thames in southern England. It rises in West Sussex near Horsham and flows northwest through Surrey for 80 km (50 mi) to the Thames at East Molesey, opposite Hampton Court Palace. The river gives its name to the Surrey district of Mole Valley. The Mole crosses the North Downs between Dorking and Leatherhead, where it cuts a steep-sided valley, known as the Mole Gap, through the chalk. Much of the catchment area lies on impermeable rock (including Wealden Clay and London Clay), meaning that the river level responds rapidly to heavy rainfall.

During the second half of the 20th century pollution levels in the river were high, however since 1995 the water quality has improved dramatically and the Mole now boasts the greatest diversity of fish species of any river in England. Twelve Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) that include wetland habitats are located within the Mole catchment area and the stretch of river through Leatherhead has been designated a Local Nature Reserve. The Mole Gap forms part of a Special Area of Conservation and is an SSSI of European importance.


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