Darking Bank was started in 1803, in Dorking, by the partnership of Robert Piper senior, George Dewdney & Thomas Piper. Dorking was known by the name Darking during the first half of the nineteenth century; no explanation of this has been generally accepted although it might have been due to the accent of the people of the time in that part of Surrey. Robert Piper died later that same year and the bank was run by George and Thomas until its failure, in 1825.

Piper & Dewdney issued their own notes of £1, £5 and £10 denominations. The bank was situated in premises that are now nos. 93-95 High Street and drew on Messers Gill, Thomas & Co., of London. The bank also had branches in Reigate and Horsham.

In 1825, the bank failed due to the national ‘bank panic’, Thomas Piper and George Dewdney being declared bankrupt on February 28th, 1826, at a hearing in Basinghall Street, London. Amongst other debts, the bank owed £415 to Joseph Woodroffe, a victualler, and £8 to the Right Honourable Countess of Rother. The creditors eventually received four shillings and sixpence half-penny in the pound.