Some Guildford History

 

River Wey Floods 1968
On the 16th of September 1968: the Wey flooded it's banks following a deluge of rain with devastating consequences.

The IRA in1974
The bombing of two Guildford pubs occurred on fifth of October nineteen seventy four.

The IRA/Provo's, exploded two six pound gelignite devices at the Horse and Groom and the Seven Stars in Guildford's town center.
They were chosen for their popularity with British Army.

One civilian and four soldiers were killed. Another sixty-five people were injured.

The device at the Horse and Groom (Now The Cafe De Paris) in North Street went off around eight thirty p.m.

Paul Craig lost his life. He was just twenty two years old. Two Women's Royal Army Corps plus two Scots Guards were also killed in the blasts.

The Seven Stars
The property is, I believe now housing the car phone warehouse in Market Street, emptied immediately following the explosion in the Horse and Groom, and therefor no injuries were received. The second device went off at nine p.m.

The bombings started a year of activities initiated by the IRA who were subsequently caught following the infamous Balcombe Street Siege.

Alan Horsley, and Gunner Richard Dunne were murdered in the bombing attack at The Kings Arms on the seventh of November nineteen seventy four a device of the same kind to the Guildford pub bombs, filled with extra shrapnel, was tossed into the public house in Woolwich.

Four suspected IRA operatives were arrested, "The Guildford Four", and were subsequently sentenced to prison in October Nineteen seventy four.

They claimed they had been tortured while in custody and were adamant that they had nothing at all to do with the bombing.

After an extended legal fight, in nineteen eighty nine, they were acquitted and released. After a long police investigation DC Leila Fradley was suspended.
Back