Dorking’s WWII Refugee Stories Now Available Online
A Hidden Chapter of Local History Comes to Light
For decades, the carefully preserved papers of Dorking’s World War Two Refugee Committee have sat quietly in cardboard boxes at the Dorking Museum, telling the stories of hundreds of people who found safety in our Surrey town. Now, thanks to a partnership between the museum and the University of Surrey, these vital historical records are finally accessible to anyone with an internet connection – opening a window into one of the most remarkable chapters of our community’s past.
Between 1938 and 1949, the Dorking and District Refugee Committee worked tirelessly to help families and individuals fleeing Nazi persecution. What began as an emergency response to an international crisis became a testament to local compassion and practical neighbourly action. The committee members – ordinary people from Dorking and surrounding areas including East Horsley and Horsley – rolled up their sleeves to find housing, secure employment, arrange medical care, and provide emotional support to traumatised newcomers.
Kathy Atherton, chair of the Dorking Museum, explains that these papers rank among the archive’s most frequently requested materials. ‘Families still contact us looking for information about relatives who came through Dorking during this period,’ she notes. The digitisation project ensures that future generations can access these irreplaceable records without risking further damage to fragile originals.
What the Records Reveal About Our Community
The newly digitised archive has been thoughtfully organised into five key themes that paint a complete picture of the committee’s work: solidarity among local residents, the day-to-day caring for vulnerable refugees, the particular challenges facing children uprooted from their homes, the transition period following the war’s end, and the remarkable individuals who made it all happen.
Researchers, descendants of refugees, local historians, and schoolchildren can now explore these themes from home. Unlike the old system where interested parties had to visit the Dorking Museum in person – a challenge for families in Woking, Guildford, and further afield – the digital platform democratises access to this shared heritage.
The records document not just statistics, but human stories. They show how committee members matched refugee skills with local employment needs, how they navigated bureaucracy to secure housing in our tight-knit community, and how they championed the rights of children separated from parents. Each document carries the fingerprints of our predecessors’ generosity during an era when such openness wasn’t guaranteed. This project complements similar digitisation efforts at Surrey History Centre in Woking, creating an interconnected web of local history resources for Surrey residents.
How You Can Explore the Archives and Get Involved
The transition from paper to pixels represents a significant investment in preserving community memory. Beyond simply scanning documents, the University of Surrey team has created a sophisticated indexing system that allows researchers to search by name, theme, location, and date – making it far easier to track down specific information compared to manually leafing through decades-old paperwork.
If you’re interested in exploring these records, whether you’re a family member researching ancestors, a local history enthusiast, a student working on coursework, or simply someone curious about how Dorking responded to wartime challenges, the digitised archive is now open to you. The Dorking Museum’s website provides clear instructions for accessing the material, along with contextual information to help first-time users navigate the collection.
Beyond viewing, there are ways to contribute. If your family has personal memories, photographs, or documents related to the refugee committee’s work, the museum welcomes submissions to enrich the archive further. Local schools in Dorking, East Horsley, and neighbouring areas can use these resources for history lessons and community projects. The committee’s legacy of practical kindness – whether organising housing refurbishments for newcomers or supporting families through difficult transitions – remains relevant today. Consider visiting the Dorking Museum to learn more about getting involved in heritage preservation efforts.
Source: Dorking’s World War Two refugee committee records go online
