The newsletters published by the Friends of Guildford Museum are an invaluable resource. They tell the story of the museum since 1996 and contain information on its earlier history. There are also articles on the collections and various aspects of local history. They have been scanned in PDF format and you can look at them here by clicking the underlined headings below. You can also search the summary descriptions using Ctrl + F on a PC. I have also created a basic index in an Excel document which might be useful if it works for you. – Click here FoGM Newletter Index
Using the newsletters I have created a document call Notes on the History of Guildford Museum which charts the story of the museum since 1898
| Issue-01-Friends-Newsletter-1996-01.pdf | ||
| Museum Excvation Unit | Young Archaeologists Club | Stoke Almshouses | p11 Description of the discovery of the synagogue (although it was not known that it was one) | ||
| Issue-02-Friends-Newsletter-1996-06.pdf | ||
| Jews | Museum excavation unit | St Catherines | Georgian Guildford | p10 Mary Alexander wrote an article on Jews in Guildford linking it to the synagogue | ||
| Issue-03-Friends-Newsletter-1997-01.pdf | ||
| Jane Austin letter describing visit to Guildford | Man and geology in Surrey March 1997 | Tudor Exhibition 2 weeks | Hererford Chair replica (in Undercroft – originally in Castle) | ||
| Issue-04-Friends-Newsletter-1997-08.pdf | ||
| Town regalia | Electricity works | Electric theatre | Dr Monsell and St Nicholas church | ||
| Issue-05-Friends-Newsletter-1998-01.pdf | ||
| Edward the Martyr bones at brook wood | Lewis Carroll | Lewis Carroll in Guildford | Possible Synagogue discovered in High Street | Edward the Martry bones at Brookwood | ||
| Issue-06-Friends-Newsletter-1998-07.pdf | ||
| Eric Morgan’s aborted radio interview when lorry nearly hit radio car | Undercroft in High Street | Medieval Counting Table in the Undercroft | ||
| Issue-07-Friends-Newsletter-1998-12.pdf | ||
| Wonderland Stamp Case purchased | Guildford penny of William I purchased | James Price | ||
| Issue-08-Friends-Newsletter-1999-06.pdf | ||
| Guildford in 1000 – long article worth adding to castle report | Mary Alexander on reaching 20 years at museum | PG Wodehouse | Guildford in 1000 – long article worth adding to castle report | Dickens in Guildford | ||
| Issue-09-Friends-Newsletter-1999-12.pdf | ||
| PGWodehouse in Guildford | Surrey Rifle Volunteers | List of items purchased by Friends | Article on the new acquisitions. Good article | Letter about Lewis Carroll by one of his nieces. Nice description of life at Chestnuts | PG Wodehouse | ||
| Issue-10-Friends-Newsletter-2000-06.pdf | ||
| Millmead House | wise words letter by Lewis Carroll purchased with the stamp case | Ideas from past on solving traffic problems in Guildford | ||
| Issue-11-Friends-Newsletter-2000-12.pdf | ||
| History Panels put up round town | Article on the model roundabout, a favourite exhibit for many children. | Extract from Surrey Advertiser about mixed bathing | Wisley Log boat found on Wey in 1907 (dated to Medieval times) | Article on a plan to reassess the Guildown cemetery found in 1929. Good article about how the cemetery was found with anecdotes eg the family lent their gardener and provided lunch to the archaeologists from the Surrey Archaeological Society. | British Museum recently purchased the Sherborne Missal a medieval illustrated manuscript iluminated by John Siferwas a monk at the Guildford Dominican Friary. | 1923 article on history of Holy Trinity Church clock. | Museum extension in 1909 and letter of concern for Gertrude Jekyll | Extract from Surrey Advertiser in sheep fair. Animals to be kept at Fairfield’s. | Index to issues 1 to 10. | | ||
| Issue-12-Friends-Newsletter-2001-06.pdf | ||
| Elections in Guildford | Extracts from The Keep. In 1601 3 men killed in an explosion whilstbtraining in Merrow downs. | Origins of Swan lane | Maureen Wells letter from front | Dennis Lawn Mower restored | Tin glazed tiles display set up | ||
| Issue-13-Friends-Newsletter-2001-12.pdf | ||
| The Victorian schoolroom had is first group of children on 10th October 2001. Details of a typical lesson are given | Wisley dug out boat dated to AD1160. Long article | Archbishop Abbots school | More history panels put up. Full list given. There were now 16. (see also previous issue) | Photo from Guildford city outlook of Haydon Family next door to Chestnuts. | Samuel Pepys and Guildford. | ||
| Issue-14-Friends-Newsletter-2002-06.pdf | ||
| Article Lewis Carroll – more wise words | Article the castle caverns | Sheriffs of Surrey | How the Friends have spent their funds on collections for the museum | ||
| Issue-15-Friends-Newsletter-2002-12.pdf | ||
| The Keep Prison | Highwaymen | Coal in Worplesdon | Guildford in steam exhibition | ||
| Issue-16-Friends-Newsletter-2003-07.pdf | ||
| Lewis Carroll – letter to mayor from Alice Hargreaves | Lovelace Cart Bridges | Guildford boundary markers | Theatre walk | Cricket in Surrey | ||
| Issue-17-Friends-Newsletter-2003-12.pdf | ||
| boundary stones | Christmas 1891 | Letter from HMS Shrapnel. Christmas 1942 by Maureen bolster from Compton but on board ship | Recent Acquisitions | Castle Keep – illustration of what it looked like before restoration in 2004 | ||
| Issue-18-Friends-Newsletter-2004-07.pdf | ||
| Poem about Guildford by a master of Grammar school 1621 | Guildford guides. Amusing tale. Mick Wilson telling how she took party to Guildhall but it was closed due to a function involving the mayor. The disappointment of the young children when the mayor came out and shook hands with them all. | On Donation of Banner created for St Catherine’s WI disbanded in 2003 | Advert from 1931 specialists in rabbit fur nice – pic of rabbit | Farnborough kiln project | Castle Arch | 1944 Montgomery addressed troops in Albuquerque Heath | Oct 1944 telegram to Monty from mayor thanking him for stopping the flying bombs | Memories of D Day | ||
| Issue-19-Friends-Newsletter-2005-01.pdf | ||
| Samuel Wesley | The castle model | Future of the museum | Mary Alexander – 25 years at museum – memories | Recent Acquisitions | Geological dislpay and model of Guildford area | ||
| Issue-20-Friends-Newsletter-2005-06.pdf | ||
| letters From Maureen Wells entertaining Eric | Victorian schoolroom and how it worked | Drawing of 8 quarry street by Mary Butts | More extracts from Maureen Wells book on life in WWII. | WWII home front in Guildford | Photo of Churchill tank made by Dennis | Exhibition on WWII home front | Home front day. A | Home Front August | ||
| Issue-21-Friends-Newsletter-2006-01.pdf | ||
| A new book had been published by the museum on the mount Cemetery by Roger Nicholas | Henry More Molyneux of Loseley | David Hypner. My experience as High Sheriff | New Archaeological acquisitions Bronze Age axes | On Victorian childhood | Victorian school punishments and a boy escaping from a room in which he had been locked | New Museum Manager appointed – Jill Draper | ||
| Issue-22-Friends-Newsletter-2006-06.pdf | ||
| Article my memories of Worplesdon and Fairlands in 1940s by Gladys Ball | Victorian childhood | Making a paper makers hat | Queen’s Maunday Service | ||
| Issue-23-Friends-Newsletter-2006-12.pdf | ||
| Castle Arch was dated via the Surrey Dendrochronology Project It was assumed to have been built around 1630 by John Carter but the testing showed a date of 1554 | Rare Guildford embossed stamp in the National postal Museum | Artist Sydney Simes whose work is in the Simes Gallery at Worplesdon Memorial Hall. | Recycling in the 1920s | On Surrey heaths Jan | History of Jackson Brothers by Marion May Feb to March | Living memory life since WWII in Guildford. July to Sept | Prehistoric and Roman religion in Surrey Sept to Jan | ||
| Issue-24-Friends-Newsletter-2007-06.pdf | ||
| John Masons diary | report Surrey heath | History of Jackson’s | film the Holiday set in Shere which was turned into a winter wonderland. | 80th anniversary of Guildford Diocese | Industrial tokens. Some reflect bigger topics like Wey navigation. | Why the budget is always April 5th | Peaks Pond restored | ||
| Issue-25-Friends-Newsletter-2007-12.pdf | ||
| Pots and potters in Tudor Hampshire. Publication of research on Farnborough Hill Convent site an important site excavated in 1969 by Felix Holling former curator of Guildford Museum. | Limoges buckle plate from 1100 to 1250 found by metal dectectorist. Purchased with help of portable antiquities scheme. | Exhibition report Living Memory | report Roman and medieval religion | by Mathew on unusual Guildford Street names | Fire and incendiaries and fire brigade | Pinkerton shilling | ||
| Issue-26-Friends-Newsletter-2008-06.pdf | ||
| The museum put out the call for volunteers to help behind the scenes | Guildford in living memory by Matthew in association with the exhibition-good article on recent history ie 1962 to 1970 | Marion Jacks dress shop in High Street by Roger Nicholas | Embroidery in miniature exhibition | ||
| Issue-27-Friends-Newsletter-2008-12.pdf | ||
| Staff restructuring at museum | ||
| Issue-28-Friends-Newsletter-2009-06.pdf | ||
| Matthew Alexander’s career and retirement | Guildhall | Few of my favourite things where local people selected objects they anted to see on display | on exhib few of my favourite things | evacuation to Guildford in WWII | Evacuees | on Stores by Nick Booth Assistant Curator | WRAC exhib | WRAC exhib | Benjamin Martin baptised at Worplesdon in 1705 was one of the finest manufacturers of Microscpes | Railway key tokens | ||
| Issue-29-Friends-Newsletter-2010-02.pdf | ||
| on the undercroft | David Irish 18th c quack doctor | Dr Villiese Quack Doctor from Worplesdon by John Russell | Tunsgate Arch | 1930s building in Guildford all now sadly gone | remembrance Sunday 2009 | Baseball and Guildford | Heritage Services Established – museum staff now work across the various sites | ||
| Issue-30-Friends-Newsletter-2010-12.pdf | ||
| Museum Development update | 1852 – Balloon ride landing in Pirbright – article | Bronze Age Axe from St Catherines | Sidney Sime Exhibitions | Murder Trials in Guildford | Memorial to Airmen who crashed at Jacob’s Well in WWII | ||
| Issue-31-Friends-Newsletter-2011-12.pdf | ||
| Museum update | Bottles from St Catherines | Surrey Iron Railway | George Abbot | Guys Bonfire Statue | Gertrude Jekyll Article | Gertrude Jekyll Boots | ||
| Issue-32-Friends-Newsletter-2012-12.pdf | ||
| Long article museum development progress. The Pre-application was submitted to Heritage Lotrery in 2011. | Saxon cemetery | games invented by Lewis Carroll | Article Marjorie Williams exploring the Parish magazinesof st marys and holy trinity has found many references to Lewis Carroll’s sisters | ||
| Issue-33-Friends-Newsletter-2013-03.pdf | ||
| 1st round lottery bid to be submitted in April2013 | Mary Alexander retires | Guildford Prison | Sir Richard Onslow (painting by John Russell) victor of Battle of Camperdown | ||
| Issue-34-Friends-Newsletter-2013.12.pdf | ||
| Museum Development update | Carry on Sergeant | Museum appointments – Catriona Smellie and Andrew Longworth | Joan Drew Collection | Undercroft -article by Marjorie Williams | Eleanor of Province -wife of Henry III and Guildford Castle | ||
| | ||
| | ||
| Issue-35-Friends-Newsletter-2014-12.pdf | ||
| Museum Collections inventory | Heritage Services behind the scenes | Jez Smith Access Offices | Ockham Hoard | Flints | Poem by Guildford WWI soldier | Zepplin Raids | ||
| Issue-35-Friends-Newsletter-2016-03.pdf | ||
| Update on Museum review and Council “negotiations” with Surrey Archaeological Society | Catriona Smellie wedding | Jen Powell becomes Honorary Freeman |Jean Wickens becomes FoGM Secretary | Sandra Morgan, wife of FoGM Newsletter editor, Eric award M.B.E. | Article on visit by Samuel Wesley (youngest son of Methodist Preacher, Charles Wesley) to family of John Russell | Review of Alan Turing book by Paul Backhouse | Roman coin found at Blackwell Farm | Review new book on Surrey Tokens | Article on National Gallery collections hidden in Wales during WWII | ||
| Issue-37-Friends-Newsletter-2017-03.pdf | ||
| Catriona Smellie represents museum on BBC programme Bargain Hunt | Melanie Holliker joins Heritage Services | Tribute to Elizabeth Cobbett former mayor and founder of the Friends and Guildford Guides (?) | New Acquisition – Morris Minor Model from Victory Industries | New Acquisition – post horn from 1785-1840 | Dec 2106 = First Christmas at the Castle event | ||
| Issue-38-Friends-Newsletter-2017-12.pdf | ||
| History of Castle Arch House = new video and exhibit | Take a Closer Look Exhibitions | Medieval Machines Exhibition | Heritage Weekend – long article | Article on Guildford and Lewes | ||
| Issue-39-Friends-Newsletter-2018-11-pdf | ||
| George Crawt (on Guildford War Memorial) died in POW in First World War – Museum Development article by Julia Holberry – Exhibition: Tunsgate Century of Change – Obituary: Eric Morgan, editor of Newsletter – Obituary: Marjorie Williams, founder of Friends and Town Guides – Obituary: Andrew Longworth, Curatorial Assistant at Guildford Musuem – Christmas at Castle event – Inspired by Alice Event 2018 – Carol Brown, new Friends Secretary | ||
| Issue-39b-Friends-Newsletter-2019-03 | ||
| Photo of Bill & Doreen Bellerby unveiled at Millmead | Update on Museum Development Project | AGM and Accounts | Full write up of the AGM with a lot of information on the museum especially “Your Stories, Your Museum” project | ||
| Issue-40-Friends-Newsletter-2020-01.pdf | ||
| Update on Museum Project – Update on Museum Rebfurbishment – History of the Museum article Part 1 | ||
| Issue-41-Friends-Newsletter-2020-03.pdf | ||
| Covid 19 – Closure of Heritage Service Sites – Update on Museum, Round 1 Application submitted – Museum maintenance report on discoveres in Castle Arch House |