Tunsgate Arch was built in 1818 by Henry Garling as the entrance to the Corn Market (demolished 1935). Built in Portland stone, the Tuscan columns were originally evenly spaced but were moved in 1935 to allow traffic to pass through.
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Guildhall
Former town hall and court room, the Guildhall is still used for ceremonial occasions and celebrations. With its turreted bell tower, distinctive clock and frontage it is a truly unique landmark. Pevsner describes it as “superb, the epitome Restoration panache” and the effect is more like the “carved poop of a 17th c. ship than…
New ideas for Guildford Museum
The Friends of Guildford Museum recently listed a set of ideas for taking Guildford Museum forward in leaner times. Ambitious plans for a new extension had to be shelved when the National Lottery Heritage Fund put all new applications on hold. In July I reported on some statements from the Council for a “scaled down…
Marlyn’s House, Burpham
Marlyn’s was threatened with demolition via a planning application that was overturned in 2018. The building has now been locally listed. Marlyn’s and Marlyn’s Cottage are both very old buildings. They appeared on the Tithe Maps of 1838 and there are references to property on the site back to the 17th century. At the rear…
Old Maps
The National Libraries of Scotland has scanned most of the UK Ordnace Survey Maps from the earliest ones available, Here is a link to the Guildford Maps There is also a useful tool that displays a modern satellite view against an old map making it much easier to locate modern streets on old maps from…
Old School House Demolished
Sad to have to say goodbye to the Old Schoolhouse in Slyfield. Dating from 1870 it was apparently once the only building in the area and over the years a community grew up around it. It was an original school building dating from the time of the 1870 Education Act which introduced national education into…
Views of Changing Guildford
This very clever video by Nick Armstrong shows how many well loved views have changed whilst others remain timeless. You can find it on YouTube
Wanborough Barn has secure future in Borough
Writing in the Guildford Dragon, Stephen Callendar says: In support of the GBC Asset Team (reference Burchatts Farm Barn), we have successfully negotiated a long-term lease with them for a fabulous wedding reception (and funeral wake) venue.We manage the building and pay for running costs and maintenance, as well as contributing to repairs. GBC handle…
Burchatts Farm Barn KPMG Report
Burchatts Farm Barn is a picturesque 18th Century barn at the north end of Stoke Park. For many years it was a venue for weddings and parties but in 2017 the Council closed it claiming that bookings had fallen and leased it to a local business. The decision was unpopular and there was a large…
Alan Turing
Despite Alan Turing’s important historical links with Bletchley and Wilmslow, the codebreaker had enduring links with Guildford. The computing pioneer lived from the age of 15, at the family home in Ennismore Avenue, near Stoke Park and, until his death in 1954. Although his work took him to other parts of the country but he…