Thank you, Ken.
By reading my own limited collection of 'popular' railway histories, and searching various websites, I had more or less come to the same conclusion ie between 1830 and 1840. If the timber props observed are indeed old sleepers, then by their size I conclude they are from 'main line' use, and not from an old mine tramway. The only local line is the London Brighton Railway of 1841, and the private siding into the Merstham Limeworks, which is very close to the old quarry where the timbers have been observed. Although not conclusive proof, I think this evidence strongly suggests a later reworking of the old quarry post 1820. Which now begs the question 'how did they drain the workings'. There is documentary evidence suggesting that there was a later reworking, but nothing conclusive.
Thanks for the replies, everyone.
Peter Burgess
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