Edited anonymously, ‘The Abinger Monthly Record’ was apparently produced for William John Evelyn of the Wotton estate, and Philip Muggeridge of Wotton Hatch, one of the Abinger churchwardens, stimulated primarily by their feuds with the Rev TP Hill, rector of Abinger. The rectors anonymous publication by ‘Puss in Boots’ (here cited as “The Cat-call’) against Evelyn in his conduct as patron of the parish, was here countered by repeated attacks inter alia on the rectors attempts to sell part of the glebe land, his absences from the parish, appointments of the schools committee and his position as Poor Law commissioner. Other controversial issues of the day are also addressed, including the Abinger and District Anti-Compulsory Vaccination League (which ‘AMR’ supported, following prosecution at Dorking Magistrates Court of Joseph Harrison for refusal to vaccinate his children), tithes and Unionists and the Irish Home Rule question. The publication comprises editorial comment, published letters, historical ‘notes and queries’, report and comment on national and foreign political matters, national events, local events including reportage of local cricket and football matches and meetings of local societies, satirical poems (including by ‘Zeta’), record of the temperature in Wotton House garden, extracts from the diary of John Evelyn (‘Sylva’).

Originals are retained by the Dorking Museum.