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Alfold
Alfold maps
Historic maps of Alfold and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Alfold maps
Alfold area books
Displaying 1 of 16 books about Alfold and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Alfold
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Surrey memories
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 went onto main drainage. The village boasted six shops, two petrol pumps, a bank, two pubs, a social club, village hall, barbers, allotments, infant school, church, seven ponds, seven dairy herds, cricket and football teams, hotel and Fire Station (still going today run by part time firemen). Sadly many are now gone. The telephone exchange was the first automated exchange in the country. We had an airfield that was used for Mitchell bombers in World War Two and later was used to develop and manufacture the Harrier jump jet. Famous people who have lived in Dunsfold are Diana Dors, Anthea Turner, Gary Brooker (Procal Harlem fame) and the Maskell... Read more
Hope Cottage & 11 Binhams Meadow
My first home was Hope Cottage next to the Sun Inn, Dunsfold. I am pretty sure that the cottage was owned by Lloyds Bank and my parents rented it from them. My grandparents, Stan and Madge Blay, also lived in the village and my father and his 4 brothers all grew up there. When my grandmother died and my grandfather retired to Devon, I moved as a very small child to 11 Binhams Meadow, which was my grandparent's house.
Dunsfold Village Stores
I recognise very well the photo of the Dunsfold village store in 1965 because it belonged to my uncle Bill Cox, who also ran a florist's and a taxi business from there. Before that, it had been run by a Mr Jarvis. The store was one of at least four shops in the village around that period - the others as I recall were the Post Office and draper's-cum-general store kept by Mt Erricker, the Country Stores a few yards further along, and a newsagent's round in Mill Lane. Some good few years before that, a lady named Nellie East had kept a bicycle accessories shop further along the Common. I believe the village is now struggling just to keep its one remaining shop and post office - village life has certainly changed in the last 50 years.
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.
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 man in foreground with the horse is probably Mr Stemp, groundsman for both Cranleigh School and Cranleigh Cricket Club. My Grandfather Albert (Jack) Mercer later took over his job and moved from the common to a tied cottage "Barnside" near Cranleigh School lower fields. The war memorial in Cranleigh includes the name E.A. Mercer, son of Henry Mercer (Edward Allan Mercer) who was killed age 17 in the Royal Navy in what was dubiously called the Live Bait Squadron on one of 4 ships sunk that morning by a German U boat.
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 of this hotel? Many thanks for reading this. Regards, LINDA
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 grave in what is now the churchyard extension at St Peter's of a German airman who had been found dead on Hascombe Hill. I am told that his body has since been returned to his family. Nurse Caines exercising her goats on their leads was a frequent sight if one were walking in the countryside. She ministered to me when my grandfather's terrier bit my wrist. I remember my grandfather made me a little wheelbarrow and small tools and the family stitched dungarees with seed packets attached to take part in a village fancy dress competition. A celebration was held at The Raswell for either VE... Read more
