Beautiful Walks and Views Witley Nr Guildford

This is my Bluebell Walk in Witley,

it's a favorite spot of mine, I remember being taken with the whole infant class by Miss Ward on a lovely warm summers day. She was a lovely caring teacher.

The girls gathered great bunches of bluebells, while we the boys would just run about making a load of noise.
Mindless boys and pretty girls just having a good time.

I don't recommend picking the Bluebells these days, as it's not legal, plus, they droop and die very quickly.

Read more »

Guildford Friary History

Yo, Brothers and Sisters :-)                                                                              © St Dominic
This page is the story of the Friary in Guildford, starting from the late twelve hundreds up until the building of the Friary Shopping Centre.

So let's get cracking and see what it's all about. 

History
From the beginning of the thirteen hundreds there were Dominican Friars
(An Order from France) preaching from the Guildford Friary.

The people called them, "Black Friars" because they wore black clothing. They arrived here in Guildford around twelve seventy four.


(When the Friary Shopping Centre was first constructed, there was a public house called "The Black Friars". Where the main entrance is today. I had a lot of fun there, with the girls and the notorious squaddies, say no more...)

Monks were rather more withdrawn than Friars, they even held services in Latin. Some still do, so how do/did they think their message was going to get through too the man on the street?

The Friars on the other hand would go out onto the streets to preach the word, something they were not getting from the priests who also mumbled in Latin, brimstone and fire.

Come on guys, surly it's the spirit and intention of the word that matters? It's all very well having tradition, but stop all that smoke and mirrors stuff and teach us the message with today's language. "I don't intend any disrespect" but if the Friars could speak plain English, Nine Hundred years ago, don't you think it would serve the Latin speaking Church well to come into the twenty first century. Sorry I'm rambling.

Instead of being couped up inside, the Friars brought the word to the people, in English... 

                                                                                                                      © The BBC 

The Friary was excavated in nineteen seventy four, and nineteen seventy eight, when evidence of a previous building was uncovered beneath the Dominican building.

(I remember there being a window cut in the perimeter boarding allowing the public to gaze at two skeletons before they were removed. Gruesome stuff.)       

Hey, what do they think their Laughing about? :-)
  

The house was probably that of the "Friars de Ordine Martyrum", the original order of Friars in Guildford.

They were granted permissions to construct their house in Guildford in twelve sixty and it was their only known place of residence.

The Dominicans crossed over from France in twelve twenty one. They made their way to many of our larger towns and cities, where they founded friaries.

Guildford's friary was a little on the small side when compared to many other friaries, and never really had more than twenty four friars. The friars made their living by begging in the street.
How times Chang? 

When Guildford's Friary site was excavated in nineteen seventy four, through into nineteen seventy eight, just prior to the construction of our shopping centre, many interesting facts were unearth.

The friary was also an infirmary, and boasted latrines! Hey that's modern! Although they were never found. Well how do they know then?Maybe they found a work sheet saying stuff like "Cleaned the latrines and scrubbed the floors, etc?

There would of course, been stables for the visitors, plus buildings where the friars would repair tools and various other equipments.

The western part of the friary could not be investigated, though there would have been stores and cellar's plus cells for visiting guests there.

Guildford friary had a large plot set aside for growing food stuff, which would have included orchards and the growing of lots of veg.

Usually a friary's churches would be placed on the northern side, so as to get the maximum amount of sunlight.

Though the Guildford friary's church was situated towards the south side, so as to be closer to the town, as it was back in the day. Everyone was welcomed to attend the sermons and services. You bet they were, I mean, where were they to get their daily bread, if they didn't "educate" the locals?

The friars would tuck into a daily dose of pottage
(Pottage from old French "pottage" - A dish made in a pot.)
and is a thick vegetable stew or soup, a bit like porridge, sometimes containing meat.
 (An unsightly thick goo if you ask me. Yuk!)
Usually taken with a healthy injection of beer and wine.
Ah, that's better :-)

Beer was often drunk back in the day instead of water,
as it did not contain bacteria and all those other nasty grubby water bound diseases. "Good Excuse! Let's go to the pub!! Type of thing."

They would all sit around the table in complete silence.
Yeah Rite!
I bet there was some kind of trivi chat, and snickering going on... Or were their lives really that mundane and boring? Pottage and prayers!

Ah well, they Were of course served by the underling lay brothers.
Class distinction!! How Very dare they! Burp, Trump! There that's better now.
Is this why they say "Good Food is conducive to good conversation?" 

Poor old Lay Brothers. Not that much fun for them I'd of thought. Lol. Nothing much changes. Just a different hat :-)

Hey, back to the story:
The friary dorm was situated on the eastern side, and guess what, they were actually aloud to have conversations before going to by, by's, And in the "Chapter House"! (Steady on.)
it was the place to talk out important friary business, like, you're teaching the boys, you're scrubbing the floors, you're in the garden and you Tuck, you're out of the kitchen, period!

Yes, teaching the boys... Not girls, they were supposed to be seen and not heard. Now that's something they've defiantly changed.

Talking was also allowed while in the "Sacristy" the place where vestments are stored. Where hushed voices speak of: Who's sandals fitted the best. Would it be sunny today. Yes that must have been the life back in the day.

Crammer and theology is thought to have been taught, and it is also thought that the dorm housed the school. Most friaries had a separate school room for books and learning. Our town was not that important in those days. Just a little dot on the then very inadequate map.

It also seems that the friars may have been teaching boys in Guildford. Hum... Teaching them what? Latin?

Seven church services were every day and all friars attended. I'm surprised they had time for the boys...

On the other hand I suppose they worked from dawn, to some other ungodly hour of the night. Glad I'm alive here and now. I mean, look at that spooky old place. Burrr, not for me mate.

On with the story sir.
In nineteen seventy four remains of the choir pews were uncovered, plus quiet a few little things like book covers were recovered. They probably slipped down through the floor boards, lost by an inebriated friar

The remainder of the cloisters and church were tiled in red and yellow ceramics tiles. That sounds good.

The Priors were buried in the cloisters as an honor to their position. Many burials were uncovered in the church and churchyard.
© Copyright

"Cloister: A covered walk way with arches on the side of a building usually monastery or church open on one side and usually facing into a courtyard."

It seems that friars were laid to rest on the eastern side of the churchyard. Laymen were also interred in the churchyard. Lay burials were forbade in twelve fifty, but were still carried out due to the popularity factor.You know, nearer to heaven and all that.

The lay burials were of people who would have been the rather more well healed than the majority, and evidence of bones and teeth in good order confirm this.

Going by the evidence of the skeletal remains, it seem as though the people found at the Friary churchyard were of a similar height as today's population. More evidence that this lot were well fed, well healed middle class types.
                                                                                                                © Copyright
The remains were interred at St Mary's following expert attention.
(St Mary's is in Quarry Street, just off the High Street, and is the oldest surviving building in Guildford.

Probably the first church in Guildford, and it still stands today! You should see the wonderful stained glass window. It really is a beauty.)

Members of the Royal family occasionally stayed at the Friary, after the Castle was decommissioned.

Henry the fourth lodged at the Friary in fourteen thirty four, racking up a bill of damages by his lovely follower's, to the sum of Forty Shilling! Naughty, naughty, what a load of rabble raiser's!

Forty shillings was a really large sum in those days. Anyone want to have a guess at what that might be today?

Then there was "good" old King Henry the Eighth, who had a pad constructed in the Friary grounds.  A bit damn cheek don't you think?

After all wasn't it he who Dissolved the Monasteries in fifteen thirty eight! Sacking and burning the Churches. Still the King was jealous, so I suppose that's O.K. then?

Many of the buildings, excluding the church, still existed rite up to the seventeenth century. They made things last in those days.

If they'd invented the iPhone I suppose it would have been about two hundred years before they invented the iPad. Still you did know where you were back in the Day.

Sometime in about sixteen ten a Manson house was construct on the site which and stood up until the year eighteen eighteen. See, I told you.

Following this it was used as an industrial area which included the Friary Brewery, built in eighteen sixty eight.

Unfortunately Brewing ceased in nineteen sixty nine, and the old Friary Brewery was unceremoniously pulled down in nineteen seventy three. To make way for the Friary Shopping Centre. Da dd da da Daaa! Enter the future!!

But I wonder what the Firers would make of this lot tramping all over the Hood :-)

I could write more but I reckon that's enough on this one, by!

Beautiful Walks and Views The Mount Guildford

This is a view across Guildford from The Mount. 

How it's changed, it looked a bit dodgy to me :-)

 

View From The Pilgrims Way Guildford

The Hogs Back                                                                        Looking Towards Godalming.

Known locally as The "Hog's Back", gets its colloquial name as a result of its likeness (viewed from the air)
to  the bony ridge that runs along a hog's back.

To be honest, it sounds a bit like an insult to me.
It's outstandingly beautiful. Well, that's what I think.

The green road across the Hogs Back from Farnham too Guildford and was constructed by the Romans, way back in the day, along a stretch of the Pilgrim's Way, or more correctly,
"The Harrow Way", well I bet Yer didn't know that then, did you? :-)

The Mount Guildford Looking Towards London
The Mount is a approximately 94 acres of grass covered chalk down, and is open to the public for leisure. It really is an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. 

Unfortunately there is no parking, and one must walk up from the town, or find suitable parking in the road leading to the Mount. It's called "The Mount".

Below is a View Looking over to St Martha's
This view looks south towards St Martha's. On the second hill to the left, above the the yellow field of "Rape".

On a clear day you can see all the way, clear across the Sussex Weald to the south downs.

Boy O' Boy we really are spoilt for views and places of outstanding beauty around here!

The Mount Looking Towards Guildford, It's Cold!
When snow falls heavily in Guildford, everyone who loves sledding, snowballing and silly games heads off up to the mount.

It's a great place to get stuck in or just watch, that's what I do and the view's real good.

The Mount Driving directions - Google Map
 

Guildford UK

Shopping and things to do all day long...

Guildford can offer you some great shops and  shopping Centres.              

So what or where do you want to discover today? There's so much to do:                
                                                                                                              © Copyright

You can get here by Rail to Guildford Station and all its history, By Bus, and of course by road. We have plenty of car parks if you know where they are... There is also Park and Ride

We can offer you places such as: The Friary Centre, North Street, White Lion Walk,

The High Street, Tunsgate Shopping Centre,
Swan Lane, The Shambles, Market Street,
The Upper High Street, and Milk House Gate
To mention but a few.

Beautiful walks and views around our lovely town.
If you're interested at all about, take a good look at this blog, and if you have a story, a video, or some photographs you'd like to share with us, please feel free to contact me at the bottom of this page :-)
                                                                                        
We have Information on many subjects and here just a few:      © Copyright P L Chadwick

Economic Development in Surrey.
The old Civic Hall and the new venue "GLive"
The famous GSA
The River Wey Navigation and its history

We also have the Castle Grounds and its history. You can have a picnic half way through your exciting shopping day here in the town.

There many good Restaurants and Caffs dotted around the town if a picnic is not up your street.
                                                                                                           © Guildford Boats

You could go boating on the River Wey
in the afternoon, or even take a trip on one of our pleasure boats.
Take the kids!

Check out the Sports Leisure Activities offered in Guildford.

O.K. Carrie on with the shop and in the evening you might want to go to the flicks, or take in a show in one of our Theatres, and yes we have some good night spots to round off your visit to Guildford.

Guildford has something to offer people of all ages, if you just want to hang out with your friends and or go window shopping. Want to get serious about blowing some cash on a new pair of whatever? You can find it in our lovely town.

The High Street is paved with granite sets (Cobble Stones) and we have more History than you can shake a stick at, Ghost tourers, ancient crypts, there is so much to do in our town, and so many different fun possibilities.
                                                                                                                © Keith Parkins

Fashion clothing, baby clothing, stuff for the switched on teenager, from cosmetics to trainers, shoes, wedding dresses and everything else you can imagine. Hard wear, soft wear, computers, phones, the list is endless.

In the side streets you'll find so many virtually secret gems, such as: Independent places to eat and drink, national stores and shops, privately owned hairdressers, florists, jewelery modern and classics, many of which can be seen spilling out over the pavement in the summer months.

When it's colder, you'll find many comfy little bars with open fires offering the cold and weary a warm and safe harbor to regenerate the inner soul.

Yes Guildford offers something good for everybody. From shopping to, Thetas, the world beating Odeon, the Surrey University, The Spectrum, clubs, pubs, the River Wey Navigation, Guilfest and so much more to discover.Come beautiful Guildford set in some of the U.K.s most outstanding countryside.

This is Just one of the many really good informative videos on this blog



Take the tourer around our Guildford Blog and see what's on offer here.

Rodborough Buildings / Dennis Brothers

"Punks" in the seventies, looking over too the backside of Rodboro Buildings.

I took this pic in around 1970. Do you recognise any of the Punks?

Dennis Bros. Ltd, was established by John and Raymond Dennis from North Devon.

The "Dennis Works" used to operate from the Rodboro Building built, by the Dennis brothers, and were constructed in nineteen hundred and one. The factory soon became one of Guildford's biggest employers.

The works were enlarged two years later during nineteen hundred and three, though this also became too small, when they started manufacturing Buses.
Surrey Fire Stations History

During nineteen hundred and five the works was slowly moved to Woodbridge Hill, named after the original wooden railway bridge that crossed at, "Woodbridge Hill".

The works were situated on what is now the Middleton Industrial Estate, at the intersection of Woodbridge Road and Middleton Road, just under the railway bridge.

Sometime during nineteen hundred and eight Dennis's started to manufacture their world renown fire engines and completed their move from the old Works in Bridge Street in nineteen eleven.

The motor works in bridge street were kept on until nineteen eleven as offices and show rooms. In nineteen thirteen Dennis's stopped the manufacturing their cars.
                                                                                                                Classic Buses
(I loved riding in the old single deck Lancet buses as a kid. I'd sit and watch as the driver would double de-clutch while changing gears, and some drivers would crash the gears.

The distinct sound of the whirring back axle and the throbbing sound of the engine like, some kind of giant sowing machine, as the bus would wait at the bus stop. Good memory's.)

The old Dennis Works were bought by the Rodboro Boot and Shoe Co in nineteen eleven and it is obvious that this is where the building got its name. Dennis Coachbuilders have moved again to westfield road in the Slyfield Industrial Estate. Log Live our Dennis legacy!

The Buildings have been used by various businesses since nineteen twenty eight, rite up until nineteen eighty four, when it was bought by the local council and was left to carry on rotting...

There was talk of pulling it all down to make way for a "lovely" new building... Yeah Rite!

When I was a kid my mum would take my brother my sister and I to look at the animals in the pet shop, at Rodboro Buildings. I wanted a monkey or a Parrot! I just got to have a look. Not surprising rally.

It used to be just out of the picture to the right, and the Tobacconists were just inside the picture, under the inscription "Freehouse". Mother would buy 1/2oz of loose tobacco. That's how they sold it back in the day. I remember the smell of the Tobacco it was a lot sweeter than the pet shop...

Wetherspoons run from the Rodboro Building and in December nineteen ninety eight an overall sum of £3.3 million was spent on refurbishments.

One hundred and forty five piles were driven in to stabilise the foundations. A reinforced concrete ground floor slab was also laid at the same time. Should last another hundred years then?

The building is a very important part of the town's history, and I'm glad it was saved. It now has the protection of a grade two listing.

I loved the sounds of the old Dennis Lancet. But there we are, boys will be boys!

Some More Dennis Heritage

Shalford Nr Guildford

Shalford

is a short 3 minuet drive, or train ride from Guildford, and resides along the A281 Horsham road south of Guildford and has many good features including a lovely green and duck pond.

Shops
These are the shops I know of, though there are many more.        
Has anyone got a list?                                                                   © Copyright Colin Smith

Moss Pharmacy
G Cocchiarella Clothing Repair & Alterations in Shalford
Dapper Dry Cleaner in Shalford
Barnes Engraving Signs & Trophies Engravers in Shalford
Wild At Heart Florist in Shalford
Propatious Aviation Gift Shop in Shalford
Access Communications Mobile Phone Shop in Shalford
Toy Shops in Shalford
Carousel Enchanted Wood
Wing Hung: 29 Kings Road, Shalford, Guildford, Surrey. Tel: 01483 567111

                                                                                                       © Copyright Kevin Gordon

The River Wey

and the Tillingbourne both join up by St Mary's, constructed in eighteen forty six.

The river was very important to Shalford  giving much employment and wealth to the village.

In the good old days "the Great Fair of Shalford" is thought to have been run on a plot of some one hundred and forty acres. That's big!

Buyers and sellers would come from a wide area of England. In those days it was a very important trading post indeed. That's something else I didn't know. Large and small barges laden with produce and consumables, docked at Shalford for hundreds of years. These days it is more a stop for pleasure boats.

                                                                                                   © Copyright Colin Smith

Shalford is a very pleasant little Surrey village and bastes a good selection of ancient oak framed properties, on of the finest was Shalford House an dated rite back to the late fourteenth century/early sixteen hundreds. It was pulled down in nineteen sixty seven.

Of the original three Mills, only one now exists and is owned by the National Trust and was donated in the earlier  nineteen thirties. The Mill resides on the other side of the rad too The Sea Horse pub
along the A281.                                                                                © Copyright Colin Smith

Constructed somewhere around seventeen fifty and is a typical oak framed building. The two Mills, yes originally there were two Mills at this spot in Shalford. One of which ceased operating back in the nineteenth century and is now a beautiful private home.

The rest of the building houses the other mill which ceased operating in nineteen fourteen. More info 

                                                                                                         

© Copyright P L Chadwick                  © Copyright P L Chadwick

Shalford To Albury (Via Chilworth) By Car. Get The Flavour of the Area

Guildford Lido Present & Past

I know... "It's not our Lido!" But what the heck, it's kids having fun at the pool!

© Cool Poolslide
Has anyone got a picture like this one at our Lido? One of yours that we can use here.

The Lido opens for business at the end of April up until mid September, 7 days a week.

Guildfords green and blue oasis maintains a heated temperature of not less than
23 centigrade.

The water is defiantly Cristal Clear, and warm. Offering water slides and paddling pools to keep the kids happy all day long.

(© Flexpools-guildford-lido)

I know how good it is, I remember having so much fun swimming diving and chatting to the girls. All good old fashioned harmless fun. Yep makes for good memories.

There's a Cafe and plenty of hot and cold snacks, you know, big fat juicy "Hamburgers" and "Hot Dogs". Yum! Plus the got to have Ice cream selection.

Close to the town centre, though a good 15 minuet walk from the main line station.
The Lido gardens still retain a good amount of the early 1930's feel.

It's a great place to just chill out, take the kids and have a picnic.

Here's a first: Free parking!
The Accountants missed this one while cutting back, a good job too. 

Keep an eye open on this One...

Still open as we speak. Let's keep it that way.

Meaning of the word Lido
So what dose Lido mean in English?
"A public place for recreational use, that includes a Swimming Pool for swimmers
and or water sports".

From the Latin, litus, (Shore). Lido, an island beach for bathing near by Venice.
My, my, that's a bit romantic.

History
The Guildford Lido first opened for business in 1933 at a cost of £13,000, and was built by locally unemployed men. In todays prices this represents a price of around £2,340,000. 2.3 M. Please correct me if I have this wrong...  Zeal Speculation and Investment

So Instead of all this cutting back, why can't we take a leaf out of the 1933 book?

Our Lido was one of 12 Lidos opened between 1870 and 1939. The first one was the Newbury Lido. The Banbury - Wood Green Lido the last Lido to open in 1939

In the old days
we had a 3 stage diving board. Great fun. But P.C. has taken them down,
just in case, well we'd better be safe say the lawyers. What if someone got hurt?
I don't personally remember anyone getting seriously hurt, a bit of bent pride,
that's all I remember.

There's too much mamby pamby cottonwood coddling for my liking these days.
Let the kids have some fun, and just put a plaster on the little injured soldiers.
They'll be better off in the long run.

Alas not only the diving boards but the lovely fountains are now gone.
Filled with some sort greenery, not very good, they used to infused the atmosphere
with sound, and that clean water smell.

© Guildford Borough Council

Shame on Accountants
and their ugly savings of point % this, and point that %, I'd happily pay another 50p to keep them, but no, no one ever asks us. I bet 50p per party, of say 4 people would cover it...

When applying this "Saving Money" stuff, why not give us an alternative, and let us vote on it! That's what I say. What about you? What do you think?

Come on Guildford, have your say, make a comment!

You can get the times and prices at the link below.
 
Guildford Lido Stoke Road,
Guildford, Surrey.
GU1 1HB 01483 444888
guildfordlido.co.uk

Has anyone got some videos or stories of our Lido, there doesn't seem to be many about!

Jacobs Well Nr Guildford

Jacobs Well
is a small village a little to the north of Guildford.

Dose anyone have some stories about the village?

Guildford Station Past and Present

Guildford Station documentary

Guildford Main Line Train Station
was opened in eighteen forty five. It's first operators were: LSWR, London & South Weston Railways. Thirty years later in eighteen eighty, the station was rebuilt to a much larger scale.

In eighteen forty nine, lines to Reading and Rigate were opened, they were run by South Eastern Railways.

Then later on in eighteen forty nine, another new line began services to Farnham by way of Tongham, and if that's not enough, in eighteen eighty five they opened the Leatherhead & Epson Downs line. That's a lot of work for the navvies. Probably good pay though...

Hey, and all done in just thirty six years! Wah! Good Grief, they must have been exciting days! "Ordinary" people traveling?! What ever next?!

No excuses for not visiting Grannie now, well I suppose in reality the "ordinary" people didn't really get much of a look in, I mean, people were earning a patience back then, back in the day. But hey, some more affluent bods filled up the carriages, one could now visit "far off places". The World's moving on a pace... 

Our Other Station

London Road was the terminus for the old Cranleigh line, witch ran all the way to Horsham via Bramly - Wonersh, Cranleigh, Loxwood, and others?. Sadly closed now by our "friend" Dr Beeching in nineteen sixty five.

That's virtually one hundred years after it was completed, god rest Beechings soul. The line was operated by the London Brighton & South Coast Railways.

It's a great shame though, that everything has to pay it's way, every single day, or else, it's torn down, ripped up, and discarded, branded as: "No longer of any value".

How short sighted it is to discard so much for the sake of today's fancy. Instead of reacting to every ripple, Take the longer view. What do you think?

It was obvious to even me, way back then, that a longer term view, is a lot more reliable than the mean, itchy trigger fingered society we've become.

Back to the future, I wish. But hindseight is a wanderfull thing :-)

How good would it be to still have a Railway Connection to Cranligh and Horsham?

The roads would surly be a whole lot better! Everyone along the line would have prospered, that little bit better don't you think?

In turn the country as a whole would have prospered in the long run. Everything could have been just that bit better, if it were not for Dr Beaching, hummm?

From Cranligh to Guildford by Steam

Shurly, if we had only kept the line open as far as Cranleigh, Cranleigh would have now been a town, prospering in a way not possible without here rail connection to Guildford and London.

Just think about it, Horsham doesn't need us, and we don't need them. This has always been obvious to me, and I bet if you have lived or live close to Cranleigh, you'd most probably agree. Would you not?

Still, Beaching could only do his best, and his best didn't turn out as we expected. In retrospect though, "It would have been a jolly fine thing, had we still had a fully functioning Cranleigh line...

Any How. Have a peek at Guildford Station back in the old Steam days. Romantic, Exhilarating, Masculine, Dirty, Smelly, Sweaty, Hissy, and Magnificent. Personally... I still lean a little to the romance.

Any how! Without more adoo:
This is how guildford Station used to go about its business in the days of Steam, back in the early 60's. It looks a bit shabby and run down, but we are looking at B+W, Silent film.
It's quiet Hypnotic...

Southern Steam Days at Guildford

Below: 
35028 "Clan Line" Departs from Guildford, 
This Video is Colour & has Plenty of Sound
Snorting and Rasping like a Giant Blood Hound. A fiery Dragon, Magnificent in all here
Ungodly glory?

Yes I'm owning up, I like Steam. There's something about the shire power, and should I say, So Evocative of some God of Fire? A Fenix, alive, Vibrant, Majestic, with all those Distinctive Smells of Steam and Sulfur, that used to permeate the air. They all ad up to something truly emotive, especially as they hale from a distant and different era to the one we live in now. So: 

Nostalgia... Take a look at this video. I hope you like it :-) 

These next videos are for those of you who have some love of Steam Trains.

If you liked the last video, then I'll bet you like this one...
Steam and Fire and Smoke and Flames, This thing's got Attitude, Get Out of My Way!!

I enjoyed that, it brought back some happy memory's. But now for the Early Electric Years.

Southern Electric - Classic Traction in Green Heading for Guildford

You know, it's not the uncomfortable, noisy, tinny, plastic trains we all have to travel in that makes me think,  "Let The Train Take The Strain". Yeah Rite! I wish... The Trains are still noisy, bumpy, and too expensive. Sometimes, dirty, smelly and crowded! But hey! What could we do without them? It's a shame though that there's no romance left. A bit like everything else these days.

Take a look at some of the "Beautiful Places" we can go by Train

But you know what?
We in Guildford have a great deal to be grateful for, putting aside all the money stuff we have to attend too, I wish ;-)

You know, we've got some of the most beautiful countryside around, and virtually none of it more than a short Train Ride, or a Bus Journey, or the Car trip away, even Shanks Pony can get you to many of the beautifully walks.  

Sorry, I'm digressing again, I'm supposed to be talking about our lovely Guildford Station...

Our Line has now been operating for (As I speak) One Hundred and Sixty Six Years, and when you look around the evidence is all too obvious...

Why can't they grow wild flowers along the banks, they'd only have to seed it once. Hey, they left it a bit late in this picture, but look, nature can take care of it for us if we take care of here.

What about tidying up the rest of the infrastructure while were talking about it, people judge our country from stuff like this. Where's our pride gone? Down the shoot like everything else these days?

But Hey! I love Guildford, I'm definitely a genuine Guildfordo'phile :-)

So do you wander about the future of our railway station, and the beautiful line that wends it's way through some of the most quintessential of British countryside?

This is where we're at today.

Railworkers 2 Cab Ride - Portsmouth Direct Line

Not that bad after all :-)

I couldn't even have imagined I'd enjoy making this post, but writing this story has really been very interesting.

I'm finding out stuff that amuses and interests me. Who'd think this Guildford Station journey could have turned into being so "interesting?" Dam. Well I liked it! Yeh! Yeh! I know.
Self recommendation and all that. Lol :-)
Catch-yer-later!

Why Guildford?

Economic Development in Surrey Film

The big idea for this blog is to give you the best information possible, therefor I will not be personally writing this page up.

The link below will give you just about everything you're looking for.

But please do come back and get some of the other interesting info, re Guildford and the surrounding areas. Thank you :-)

http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/sccwebsite/sccwspages.nsf/LookupWebPagesByTITLE_RTF/Economic+development+in+Surrey?opendocument

Empowering the Future - Guildford Youth Council

The Guildford Youth Council
Caters for young people between the ages of thirteen and nineteen, and anyone of these ages can represent themselves, giving a voice to our youths.

If you're in this age group, then you can voice your opinion about anything that maybe troubling you.

We at the youth council are truly interested in the things you may or may not have. We're trying to understand your needs and weather you're achieving the things you want to archive. We understand that you have a valuable point of view, and we want to hear it.   

You can be a valued member by joining via the youth council coordinator. Most of the schools around the borough are represented.

When you join, you'll have a voice that's listened too. You will meet other like minded people from various schools and make friends you'd probably not meet otherwise.

Decisions have been taken by people like you, and stuff has been done... Adults will not be speaking for you, you'll be doing the talking, and they will be genuinely listening. You can make a difference. You'll learn how to get your point across. You will become more confident. Importantly you'll learn how to make your point, without having to shot about it. Nobody listens when they're shouted at.

You will not be patronised. Your voice will be recognised by those who have the power.

Did you know there are Fifty Four Video on youtube that will tell you all about it. Go and have a look now.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7lSoEKRIIo
You've seen the video on this page, so when you go to youtube, click on the chevron at the top"54 videos" Go on go get some power.

Contact Guildford Youth Council 

Death of The old Civic - Reborn GLive

The old Civic Hall.

Please send us some picks and give us the low down from the past.

In the mean time I'll dig up some interesting stuff, but for now this is all there is...

A little more info

Guildford's New Entertainment Venue

"G Live" is finally ready to open during September this year (2011) and will become the premiere entertainments centre for Guildford. Hu Ra! At last. Glive

Our brilliant new venue boasting a one thousand seven hundred / one thousand seated auditorium. Offering the town, and surrey, Seminar facilities, a Bar, plus a caff to boot.

 

What's on offer, well go and see for yourself, Tickets

I believe it's going to be a "Star Spangled" beginning to a new and era of the best kind of in entertainment.

Bottom right. © Copyright Colin Smith and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

GSA (Guildford School of Acting)

 

The GSA
Originated in London, circa nineteen thirty five and was called: Grant-Bellairs School of Dance and Drama. It then moved to Guildford in nineteen forty five due to the devastation's of the last world war.

It ran from nineteen sixty four as a charitable organisation. At the same time it's name was changed to "The Guildford School of Acting And Dance". Again in the first 1/4 of the nineteen nineties it was renamed "The Guildford School of Acting, "GSA".   

Originally owned and run by Bic Bellairs and Pauline Bick. Do you have any history on these two people?

These days the GSA is housed on the Surrey Universities campus and is a Ltd Co. As a result the GSA has moved on into a bright new era.

A new performing arts centre is due to be finished in twenty eleven and will be ready for some regular performances private and public. It really dose look the biz, and something else to be proud of I'd say.

The GSA also stage a yearly performance at the renown Yvonne Arnaud Theatre.
Plus regular visits to, the Mill Studio 01483 440 000

The Electric Theatre: Sadly no more
The Bellerby Theatre Long Gone: See the planning proposal here

This is truly very sad, cuts, cuts, cuts is all we hear these days,
I am so angry about the way things are going in our green and pleasant land.

If everybody owes all this money, Who do we owe it to? Plc's? Insurance Co's? Banks? You tell me. Please.

Isn't it time they took a hit, so as to let the world breath a little easier? Before long they'll have us all living in Mud Huts!

Sorry I digress, so back to the plot:

Rite up until the late nineteen nineties the GSA used as may as eight separate venues incorporating, dance, music studios, drama, technical workshops, a library covering all relevant reading, and a resources centre, rehearsal rooms, a wardrobe department, plus 2 in house theaters. That's the whole shebang I'd say! 

The GSA specialise in, drama, production, musical theatre, lighting, stage management, and sound designs. These are all professional highly acclaimed full time courses.

The GSA is one of the uk's top specialist performing arts schools, and is one of a just a handful of institutes qualified to offer our lovely or not governments Dance and Drama Awards course, which is validated by Trinity Collage.
Good stuff indeed

Over the years the GSA has acquired a truly sparkling international reputation and boasts many successful graduates.

Did you know that just about all the west end shows have performers who learn their art from Guildford's

GSA? Here is a list of a few other highly successful professionals who trained at the GSA: Tom Chambers, Brenda Blethyn, Vera Chole Hart, Chris Green, Ellie Paskel, Claire Cooper, Rob Kizinsky, Ian Kelsey, Justin Fletcher- MBE, Isy Suttie, to name but a few.

Guildford certainly has a lot to offer everybody, from the top to the bottom.
I love Guildford. But not the cuts!!

Guildford School of Acting

Planning issues around Guildford

Chantry View Road Guildford.
It would seem that there's still pockets of possible building land scattered around Guildford 

if you're in the know...

On the face of it, I feel that this video represents a very sensible use of the old Quarry.
What do you think?

Do you know any spots around our area? would you like to like to comment on what's going on re planning. Have you got a story? Let's share our eyes and ears on this subject!

Make a short video, or send me some pictures of places you think would or would not be a good spot for a property around our town. Make comments on each others thoughts.

"Planners I feel, can sometimes be a little odd with their decisions." Why don't we put forward our opinions here and see what others think of our "odd" thoughts on the subject.

This may or may not be true.
"Some years ago this old stable was up for sale as a possible conversion project. I could have purchased it at the time, and so I asked the council planning department, "do you think I could get planning permission to convert the stables?". They said "No".

So how do you think I felt when I was told that someone from the council bought and converted it? This may not be true, but it did come from a friend working inside the council at the time. If you know the truth of the matter, and it turns out that my information is not correct, please let me know and I'll withdrew my comments.

Non the less I've been told: "It wouldn't be the first time this sort of thing has happened..." I'm not trying to cast bad dispersions, but I'd just like to know if there any similar storeys going round. Or am I alone here?"

Make a comment and let us know.

A good buy-to-let investment? ( Beware the dreaded HMO - Planning required )
This video was posted on the 16 Oct 2008 and things have moved along a bit since then, especially in Guildford.

If you're going to get into Student letting, "and it can be lucrative" or any other kind of HMO ("Houses in multiple occupation") you will now be required to have planning permissions... 

Properties that are already in use as "HMO's" are I believe exempt from HMO planning permission. 

Call the local planning department before you get stuck in.

It's always wise to have all the latest information. http://www.guildford.gov.uk/planning

Or call the Guildford Council on: 
01483 505050 and ask for the planning department, or any other department / sort of quire.

The River Wey Guildford

The Wey South of the Town
 
Guildford Boat House
The River Wey Guildford 
The Wey navigation  managed to prosper from sixteen fifty three when it was first opened, all the way up into the nineteen fifties. No small feat, considering the onslaught the railways brought to the canals.

The National Trust were bequeathed the Wey navigation by it's last owner in nineteen sixty four, (Stevens and Son) and is now a thriving waterway making no call on the trusts finances. One of the very few to be self supporting in the country

The Wey Navigation was first used for moving heavy loads in barges between Weighbridge and London to Guildford and onto Godalming, and was the most southerly point that the canal waterways extended in the UK at this time.                   Sauced at St Catherines Web

Many goods were transported, including all the usual stuff such as, Gun Powder, wood, flower, corn, cole, and things like salt, were all carried. The barges would chug up and down day in and day out. Originally the barges were pulled along by Horse power alone.

In eighteen sixteen the Wey navigation was connected to the Basingstoke Canal via Stonebridge and the Arun Canal also became part of the network at this time. The Basingstoke Canal was finished in seventeen ninety six and made all this time. One hundred and sixty three years later!

 

Dapdune Wharf Guildford
Was the boat yard responsible for most of the barges built for the Wey navigation's. When you visit Dapdune you will find out the history of the bargeman's life on the Canal. How he and his family coped with the lack of space and other facilities. They were usually called
"River Gypsies".

You will also find a wealth of interesting facts through the use of models and displays. How the Canal was serviced and maintained. It's really interesting stuff, and I think you'll be glad we live in the twenty first century, as bad as it seems...

Dapdune Wharf heritage center

Some Beautiful Photography - Along the Wey Nr Guildford

"A selection of landscape photos taken by Kevin Holding, mostly of the Wey Navigation Canal and Basingstoke Canal. Areas covered include Byfleet, Weybridge, Pyrford, Woking and Ripley. Background music is My Immortal By Evanesence.
Please go to www.surreyphoto.co.uk for more information and contact details. Available for weddings and all events in Surrey"

"A very nice job indeed Kevin! Fantastic Autumnal colour."

Go and find out about the Wey.
Have a Cruse, it's one of the best ways to see our beautiful unspoiled surrey countryside.

Dorking Nr Guildford

Dorking Town


Dorking

has uncommonly managed to retain a great deal of it's ancient qualities escaping most of the usual banal "Development" although easily manages to keep pace with the twenty first century. Well done Dorking!

The town is definitely on the Antiques radar, having quite a few good dealers. Well worth a look if you're into quality old stuff.
High Street, West Street plus South Street are the main shopping hubs of the town including St Martin's Walk which                       Copyright
is an open air market place, and can be found by turning right, (while walking to the east) down Mill Lane and into Church Gardens.

Dorking Halls contains a cinema plus a theatre. During the latter half of the nineteen nineties a brand new swimming pool and leisure centre were constructed.

Just down the street on the Deepdean roundabout resides a large statue of the "Dorking Cockerel". Not to every bodies satisfaction. I say let the Cock stay, if it's a distraction to "some" drivers, well, they shouldn't be driving if all it takes is a Cockerel to put them off. I mean come on what are they talking about?
Wikipedia
Box Hill receives more than 3/4 of a  million visitors a year. The views are truly panoramic, and one can see clear across the Sussex Weald to the South Downs.

So that's from the North Downs clean across to the South Downs. It's an amassing view, and well worth a visit.                                    Wikipedia

There is a small Cafe, a gift shop and a car park plus the National Trusts visitors centre. There are several good walks in the area and a great "Family Fun Trail".

Though non of this is at the top most point. Box Hill Village actually stand higher up at an altitude of seven hundred and thirty five ft. Good grief they're virtually Sherpa's :-)

As you probably know the twenty twelve Olympic cycle race wrought will pass over the Box Hill beauty spot. Be there or be square.

Above: Best-views-in-surrey-Guildford-to-dorking-walk

Box hill is a Site of Special Scientific Interest - bats - lepidopterans and orchids.
Box Hill was, I believe named after the box tree that grows over much of the hill,
buxus sempervirens.

The video below is of a very nice quality, and will give you a taste of the vistas from Box Hill.  

Box Hill Dorking Nr Guildford    
Guildford to Dorking Driving directions - Google Map