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Monks were rather more withdrawn than Friars, they even held services in Latin.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!

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!

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

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

Haslemere Nr Guildford

Haslemere Surrey


To day we will find two pubs in Haslemere High Street: The Swan and The White Horse. I've not visited for a while but when I did they were both charming old public houses.

The Town Hall sits at the far end of the High Street
towards the south.

There is a good selection of privately owned shops, cafes, estate agents, restaurants, clothing shops and banks.

Waitrose took over the old Somerfields site in Two thousand and nine.      Haslmere

The High Street has always been a broad high way, as in days gone by it was used as a cattle market.

Wey Hill is situated around 3/4 of a mile from the high street past the main line station with fast trains to London and Portsmouth.

Sauce/More good old pictures of Haslmere

Wey Hill is to all intents and purposes the same town. ( I hope I'm not putting anybody out by this remark.) There are more banks, shops and pubs plus takeaways, restaurants, a town library and a Co-op and a Tesco's. Haslemere / Wey Hill are mostly set along the B2131 with various pubs and greens.    

In Kings Road Back in the nineteen ninety's Haslemere built a new leisure centre The Herons Leisure Centre to replace the old centre in Lion's Green Wey Hill where the Tesco store is now situated.

The new centre resides in In Kings Road, now called The Herons.
The Herons offers many facilities including, a hot tub, jacuzzi, steam room, sauna and a fitness suite.
The Herons also boasts a twenty five meter swimming pool, plus a kiddies pool, tennis courts and squash courts Outside there is a skate park and basketball court.

The sports ground in The Edge Leisure Centre Woolmer Hill boasts a clubhouse serving local sports such as, 2 football pitches, 2, hockey pitches and 4 rugby pitches. That's quite a lot for a small town, pretty good stuff if you ask me.

The Haslemere Hall resides in bridge road off west street to the West of the high street and can sit some three hundred and forty customers. It's often used as a consort hall, a theater, a cinema and hosts the local Am Dram societies performances.
 
Find Amateur Dramatics Societies near Haslemere

Guildford to Haselmere Driving directions - Google Map
It's also a nice little train ride from Guildford to Haslemere

Hindhead Nr Guildford

The Punchbowl at Hindhead (Known as: Little Switzerland) owned by the National Trust, has many beautiful walks and panoramic views. (Just 11 Miles South of Guildford via the A3.) 

Some History of Gibbet Hill Hindhead.
An area of disrepute because of the lawless activities of robbers and highwaymen.

On the 24/9/1786 Three bodies were found at Hindhead murdered for their meagre belongings. There was also the the remains of "the unknown sailor"

The perpetrators were en-caged in a gibbet (An Iron Cage) as was the way in those dark old days. Wow! Crime never pays.
 
On Gibbet Hill there is a Celtic Cross and was placed there where it stands today during the nineteenth century.

It is said it was placed there sometime around 1850 as a device to lull the concerns of the Hindhead population. Re their belief in bad spirits, all to common in those days.

Others say it's a memorial to the late Sir William Earle

If anyone can through light on the origins of the cross, please let us know.

The Devil's Punch Bowl

Hindhead also has a beautiful 18 hole Golf Course
Peter Alliss on Hindhead Golf Course, Surrey, England

Hindhead Golf Club

The Hindhead Golf Club, Churt Road, Hindhead, Surrey. GU26 6HX
CLUB HOUSE Telephone: 01428 604614     Fax: 01428 608508     email: secretary@the-hindhead-golf-club.co.uk
PRO SHOP Telephone: 01428 604458

National Trust Hindhead

 There is a cafe and car park.

Devils Punchbowl Cafe

YHA Hindhead

Guildford to Hindhead Driving directions - Google Map

Back

Godalming Nr Guildford

Godalming    

 Sensational Historic News!

 The Amassing Mary Toft Gives birth to "Rabbits"! 

Well, so the story go's. The truth is a little less sensational*, and more a story of  "I want to be noticed" a bit like those people who say they've been "Abducted by Aliens" sort of thing.

Or may be, "Let's do something outrageous and try to earn some cash out of it sort of Blag." 1. A violent robbery or raid.   2. An act of using clever talk or lying to obtain something".   

I recon that's it, just "clever" talk. So Onward with the Story.
In* seventeen twenty six a local maid-servant going by the name of Mary Toft, hoaxed the nation into believing that she had given birth to some sixteen Rabbits! Well goodness me, what's going on here then?

The truth of the story was uncovered when a porter was see delivering dead Rabbits into Toft's bedroom. Mary soon owned up to the deed. Though I don't know if their "Blag" worked for them, if they had the "Kahunas" to go through with their "cunning plan", and after all it brightened up the day for a good few incredulous people. So why not?

Life would be really rather glum without a little sensation in the mix. Good for them, they hurt nobody to my knowledge. A bit Alice in Wonderland if you ask me though, but who cares?

Can you believe it? The whole nation was hoaxed, and the "stupid" doctors believed it too. Well what can one say? Times have moved on a bit since then :-)

Mary Toft was subsequently imprisoned as a fraud. But what about here conspirator? Justice? The whole thing was a queer/strange thing if you ask me.

Now for a little Background History of the Town
In the years before thirteen hundred Godalming was probably just another small settlement of a few dozen families that then became a Village and then a Town in the Saxon era. As is the case for many of our English Towns.

Godaming's name is thought to originate from the Saxon "Godhelms Ingus" and comes out in English as something like "a family called godhelm" who were thought to be the first lords of Godaliming.

Godalming is situated by the River Wey as is Guildford and surly owes its original prosperity to the fact that it's midway between London and Portsmouth.

A Fair was held in "Godalming" which had to be granted by the King. I recon that makes it quite an important place for those days.

Several Inns and many businesses sprang up and thrived, servicing the needs of the weary travelers, Blagging, Stealing, Robbing, Good time girls, and without a doubt, there'd be gambling and Murder! Just an up and coming town of the middle ages. "Cripes... I'm glad I live now :-)" Blame it on the Chines is what I say. LOL

I couldn't find a more descriptive picture to try and take us back to those dark old days.
 
Trading in old Godalming Between the years thirteen hundred and the nineteenth century, Godalming plied the trades of cloth making, knitting, weaving and leather-work, they even had paper making in the town that started in the seventeenth century. Paper making was continued rite into the twentieth century.

There was a skinnery at the south end of the high street,
I remember it as a kid. You see, it was rite next to the
"Fish & Chip Shop" and it was important to know that kind of stuff as a kid.

Hum mm I can still taste those chips.
Yummy good memories.

I only tell you this because while waiting in the Que you could see the big old pulleys and wide leather belts as they drove the machinery that tanned the skins, as I remember it, rabbit skins.

The smell was nasty, a take your breath away musty smell. Can you imagine it, Lovely Fish Chip smells, mixed with dead skin smells... No wander I remember it vividly.  

The Sake Making business was carried on at the mill in Okford Rd, rite up onto the sixties. Between "The Inn on the Lake" and the railway bridge. I can remember the smell of that place as well. It was on the left going towards Milford.

You know what? I've just properly cottoned on to the fact that smell really dose aid one's memories. I guess most of us forget about smells in lieu of "Concentrating on the important things of life". Yeah Rite...
Don't forget to smell things as one go's along the way.

Hey back to the Plot:  
Alan Paine Ltd had a factory in Cattershall Lane, the Industrial Estate, which was one of if not the biggest employer back in the day. Unfortunately they closed in June 2004.

Believe it or not Godalming was a larger and more successful Town than Guildford rite up until the railway came to Farncombe, where it terminated in eighteen forty nine. It was then extended on to Portsmouth in eighteen fifty nine, when Guildford started to became the more important town. 

Around Godalming

Guildford To Godalming Google Map 
Godalming is just a short two stop hop by train. Catch yer later :-)

Guildford Castle & History

Hey Guys! Where is the Castle?

If you don't already know the best way to find the Castle from the station: go out of the main entrance and turn right, cross over walnut tree close it's on your left, after crossing turn right, and then  left down bridge street.

Cross over towards the Friary Centre and skirt around to the right. Cross over at the bottom of North Street and on through Friary Street. (Pedestrian only?) At the end:

Turn left up the cobbled High Street, 3/4 the way up you'll see Tunsgate.

Opposite the old town hall/court house, it's where the town clock is.

Turn right through Tunsgate where you will find the castle entrance at the end of the street.

The Keep is just across the road to the right.

Go and have a look when you're next in town, have a peek at the gardens and the bandstand while you're there.

It's a great place to have a rest from all that shopping. "It's Beautiful and Peace-full" and great for a picnic :-)

Guildford Castle ITV Meridian 10/8/99

Some of the Castles History
The Battle of Hastings in 1066 (And we all know that!) was fought at a place near Hastings called "Battle" By  William the "Conqueror".

After the Battle, William's troops pushed onto Canterbury, sacking the towns down along the Pilgrims Way, this included our lovely Guildford. Some time after all this he constructed a Mott and bailey in Guildford.

Hey, I'm glad he did, it's a lovely place, with lovely gardens, and loads of interesting history.
So go and see our enchanted Castle, as most of us Guildford people do from time to time.
Join the crowd that knows a good thing when they see it.

"The Dogie Danes"
The Danes continued to be a threat during this period, attacking the east coast in many towns and villages. They also pillaged and raped dozens of towns and villages far away from the coast, threatening just about everyone and everything in their path. Not very nice people back in the day.

I'm assuming Guildford's Castle was used as a stronghold, enabling troops and men to be directed to many of the threatened towns and villages. This is what I'm told, if you know better, please let me know :-)

The First Part of a Castle be Constructed
Would certainly be the Mott. (a small hill, a mound / high ground)

What they'd do is, they'd dig a ditch, pile the earth up on the inside to construct a Mott, and then they'd construct a Bailey which would in turn be made safe with a Palisade, constructed from wood in the early days.

So Exactly What is a Bailie?
A Bailie is an enclosed courtyard, usually surrounded by a wooden fencing, and were called palisades, and would be overlooked by the Mott.

The Bailie
Most usually used as the living area for servants who serviced the lord and or the farmers etc. There would also be a miller a blacksmith, and most of the important craftsmen of the time.

The Boundary for Our Bailey
would have cut along by Castle Street and South Hill, It is now called Racks Close.

A tall gate house constructed from wood would be used as a watchtower for protection of the troops stationed there.

In the early 1100s
a chalk wall was constructed, surrounding the Mott as an extra protection.

Then some time later in1130 the Keep  was completed. constructed from chalk quarried from Godalming.

(A tower stronghold containing an Amery and stocks of vital day to day stuff, in case Mr Knob from Nob Hill tried anything on...)

Guildfords Keep
consisted of a floor at ground level plus a first floor with an entrance at this level, probably as an aid to defense. The most likely use of the first floor was probably as the Kings lodgings.

At the first floor
there was the large main chamber, consisting of a place of worship, with a wardrobe plus a latrine.
Another floor was constructed some time shortly after this and it contained a... "dual-seater latrine"!
Wow! I bet they sat there "kicking up a stink" arguing, reading up their important papers and swapping "good ideas..."

During the Twelfth Century
the important Bailie buildings would have been completed, including the Kings and the Queens residents, plus two chapels and the Hall. They had it all. The rest of the town would be living in what amounted to "Mud Huts"

The roof
was constructed of lead, the inside walls were finished in plaster and then covered in whitewash. Pretty posh for then I'd say.

The Sheriffs headquarters resided in the Tower
Surrey county jail, including Sussex jail was moved during the twelfth century to the tower,
well if you can keep them out you can keep them in. Then it became the sheriff's headquarters. The Kings apartments were then moved to the Bailey, being a more suitable position.

The great hall and Quarry Street Gate,
is believed to have been situated inside under the chalk arch at the spot where the these two houses behind the the museum in quarry street reside.

(See the print here on the right )

at the bottom of Castle Hill now, stand and the hall was constructed in stone.

Henry the Third
completed many quality upgrades during the thirteenth century, and was now rightly given status as a Palace.

At the same time the Queen's lodgings,
were revamped including bigger windows plus two beautiful marble columns.

The great hall,
decorated with works of art, stained glass windows and probably fine tapestry's. Imagine it, Warm dappled light from the windows, soft bright tones inflected on the floor.

The smell of  Apple log fires, crackling, and may be something like Incense, Wafting all around the place...
Yep that sounds good to me.

Honestly, it was news to me, that we had an "Opulent Palace" rite here in town. I can't believe how much I don't know about our lovely town... Any how, on ward and up ward.

King Henry's,
apartment was finished with silver and gold stars on a green background, can you imagine that? The Kings room Probably had large coloured windows too. Warm dappled light, silver and gold stars on a green background...
Sounds a bit psychedelic to me.

I wondered, did they have a drugs problem back in the day? I reckon he must have been suffering from a dose of ergot trip when he decided the colour scheme...

Ergot comes from the mould that grows on bread, and apparently gives a similar effect as LSD. That probably accounts for all the mad profits of the day then.

The King placed many magnificent columns of marble, surrounding a beautiful garden.
Sounds pretty good to me. I'll have some of that!

There Was a Nasty fire,
that gutted the hall in twelve fifty four. Not so good, but the upgrading and building works were taking place at a pace.

Henry bought more land,
in twelve fifty four and enlarged the Bailey enabling him to construct a sweet of rooms for his son Edward The work was finished in around twelve forty six.

The Quarry Street  Gate,
was finished by twelve fifty six. Suggesting Henry made some changes to the castle.

It seems there is no trace of the original gate, as no remains have been found.
(Tho rumor has it situated behind Tunsgate in it's original position nearer the castle, though the facts are a bit sketchy and hard to come by.)

Our little gem
Though now a residence was still important in the the protection of the realm, and still a place used for gathering troops in support of Edward and his foreign wars.

Although Guildford Castle was never under any kind of attack, it was still very much a stronghold.

"Rebellion of the Barons"
Guildford was allied to the barons rebelling against King John's rule.You know, Robin Hood and all that. Though during the Simon de Montfort rebellion, Guildford saw no action.
They seem to had a pretty good old time of it at the Castle. Sound like a job for me :-)

Henry III's son
Edwards troops did capture the rebel named Adam Gurdon in a skirmish at Alton though. There you go, they did do some important work after all.

Gurdon was taken to Guildford Castle... (Jaws Music) I wander what happened to him then?
I don't think it could have been very good. Nasty dark damp cell, bread and water only, and a damned good spanking to go with it. Hum, not a spot for me.


Castles like Guildford situated Inland
were of no great importance by the fourteenth century, and the resulted was it fell into disrepair. Just about all of the Castle had crumbled by thirteen seventy nine with the exception of the "King's great chamber".

It was still in a sorry state until our local council got around to fixing it up. Well, they've made a good job of it, so all is forgiven :-)

Guildford's Great Tower
In twelve forty seven the sheriff's building was placed by the tower, and was probably constructed from timber. The tower continued to be the county jail for Surrey and Sussex though:

In the Sixteenth Century,
the tower jail was relocated to Southwark. At this point John Daborne became keeper of the gardens, in fifteen forty four he became Mayor of Guildford and in fifteen twenty three,
and again in fifteen twenty eight.

Who was he paying? Or was he a good chap? I don't know.

The Daborne family was part of the Castles history up until the sixteenth century, and it's thought that the brick windows and fireplaces were part of their contribution .

In sixteen eleven,
the estate was given to Francis Carter by James the first. Wish I knew the King. I doubt
Queen Liz would give an estate away, not even too some well connected and appreciated bod.

All they do these days is, rest that sward on each shoulder and say,: Arise Sir Pat.
Lol! Still, they don't chop heads off any more.

Sixteen thirty
The roof of the tower was removed in sixteen thirty.
Some parts of the castle grounds were used for farming and leased out to local bods.

Lord Grantley of Wonersh
owner of the larger portion of Guildford Castle soled his share to the Guildford Corporation in eighteen eighty five.

The walls and the tower were renovated in 1888 and given over to public use as.

In Two Thousand and Three / Four
the keep was renovated revealing crenellations and other important original features.
A new roof plus the first floor were re-built. The rest of the Castle was completed in twenty eleven. Nice job Guildford!

Now Open From April to September Every Year
So we can again visit the tower and view some pretty interesting exhibits re the history of the Castle plus some of the walls and rooms up close and personal, all for a small fee.

At the top of the tower
Reaching the top of the tower is a via an original stone spiral staircase, you will see some lovely views over the grounds and some parts of Guildford.

The old chalk gatehouse (A Norman Arch)
is a part of Guildford's Museum, housing interesting Archeology and local history including a truly outstanding collection of needlework.

That concludes today's little chat on history :-)

Now for a little light entertainment. Some very old Modern magic. Mr Oon Visits Tunsgate. (Feng Sui Video)



Well Mr Oon, there's a lot in Feng Shui. Natural balance is always going to be important...
Nice Video. The view in the video above is the back side of the picture below. ( Tunsgate )
In The High Street.

Tunsgate
was "moved from it's original site. I believe",  and now resides 3/4 the way up the lower high street too the right.

Help
Dose anyone have any extra info on this?

Hey, but wait, while we're in Tonsgate, Visit Ben's Collectors Records

Give Ben A call, you'd be surprised at what he's got there. 
+ (44) 1483-301165



Nice one Ben.

Is there anything else we could use the Castle grounds for? What can we do for Guildfords
"Big Society?"

Catch Yer Later :-)

Guildford Castle from the main line Station - Google Map

Back