Alfold Crossways, Surrey

My Birth place

I was born on the 23rd March 1947 in my grandparents' home, Hope Cottage to the right of the Sun Inn and next to Lloyds Bank.  Nurse Caines was in attendance.  To the left of the Sun Inn lived Lord King ex chairman of British Airways.  In front of the pub was a pond that was filled in when the village... [more]

CRANLEIGH HOTEL

Hi I am researching the Cranleigh Hotel in Cranleigh (presently called the Cranley Hotel). It has also in the past been The Railway Hotel. I have also been told that the hotel was previously in a different place (where the Old Laundry Cottages are now) but I am not sure if this information is correct. Can anyone help me with the history... [more]

Mercer in Cranleigh

The low building to the right was the shop of George Mercer - Bootmaker, the building on it's right with the large chimney was the home of my Great Grandfather Henry Mercer who expanded into 2 then 3 of the cottages as his family grew ( 10 children). Henry worked on the opposite side of the common at the woodyard.
The... [more]

Temporary school

Cranleigh (Junior) School was hit by a V1 rocket at 9 am on a Sunday morning during the Second World War. The following day we started using the Village Hall for lessons. I remember sitting cross-legged on the floor as there was insufficient seating. Had the rocket fallen 24 hours later, the death toll would have been very high indeed.... [more]

Childhood in Hascombe during wartime.

I was born in 2 Pound Cottages in 1940. It was the home of my maternal grandparents Arthur John and Katie May Street. He was a gardener who worked for Col. Harper at Lamberts. I recall a house in Godalming that was hit by a bomb and being embarrassed by furniture on view! There was a lone... [more]

Family Recollections.

My grandfather Edward Chase kept the Windmill Inn on Pitch hill and my father worked for him. My maternal grandfather John Allen kept the Bull Head in the village of Ewhurst and had two daughters, Mona and Lilian.
My father Robert Chase ( Ted ) joined the Surrey Yeomanry during the first World War and served in France with this... [more]

Windmill Inn

In the late 19th century both this inn and the windmill itself, which was a short way away, were run by members of the Coldman family --- brothers I believe.

Temporary home

When my maternal grandparents' house "Hobart", Mount Road, Cranleigh was bombed during World War Two we were housed temporarily above the the Crown Inn whilst the bomb was defused and the house put back in order.