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Hurtmore memories

Here are memories of Hurtmore and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Hurtmore or a Hurtmore photo.

My Childhood Home

I was born in 1952 and lived in this village untill I was 22. My home was no3, the red brick semi in the centre of photo and later no5, the white house right hand side. These houses were called Kerrsland Cottages and were owed by Guildford Council. To the right of the road was a disused bargate stone quary. My father's family lived here for nearly 70 years. Just looking at this photo reminds me of only happy times.

The Dunn Family And The Hancock Family

My family moved to Hurtmore from Kent in 1959. From the first day I loved the place. We lived at no. 6 Quarry Road.  Mr and Mrs Hancock lived a few houses away. I started school at Rodborough which was up Rodborough Hill on the Portsmouth road, an old army camp I believe. I was only there a few months as the new school opened in Milford.  In the 1960s youth clubs were the "thing" and I attended quite a few, Shackleford being one, and Milford also. The bus sevice from Godalming was pretty good, I did however miss the last bus frequently which didn't bother me as I liked walking! The last part of the trip home was usually in pitch darkness as there were very few street lights. I knew the way so well and I was never frightened. It has been many years since I was in Hurtmore but I go there in spirit very often. My parents moved to Cornwall  and I left for Canada.  England... Read more

Memories of Surrey

Gamekeeper's Cottage

I do not know Compton but lived as a child next door to a lady who was daughter of the local gamekeeper.  Her maiden name was Churchill, Hilda Churchill, with two sisters Mabel and Alice.  I have a watercolour painting of her house at Compton done by H J Sage (a local artist) and would be happy to share this with anyone who may be interested.  Also amongst her posessions was a Coronation mug for George V, 1911.  She told me that one of these mugs was given to each child in the school and that after they were made, the mould was destroyed.  I have this mug and it has her name written on its base.  
I would love to know more about her family in such an idyllic house, standing in a field surrounded by a picket fence.  I have known this painting for 60 years and have always admired it.  I would also like to know if any more of the Coronation mugs exist.

My Memories of Compton

My name is Mark Goddard, I lived in Compton for 18 years. I was born in 1966 and I am now 43 years old. All my childhood memories are of my time growing up in this fantastic village. I was lucky enough to attend Compton School, being taught by some very strict but fair teachers who shall stay in my memories for life, until its sad closure. I will always remember the last day of school, all the tears and sad goodbyes, saying goodbye to Mrs Mcalmont and Mrs Gardener. Looking back for the last time as I walked home up the little path towards Almsgate.
We lived in Fowlers Croft for many years, in a corner house looking over the fields up to Watts Cemetery. I'm not sure what the houses were originaly built for but they were pretty cold in the winter but it was home. Compton is surrounded by some of the best countryside, great for walking, as a child we used to go on great walks... Read more

The Licenced Victualler

The White Hart 1906
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My great-grandfather Walter Alfred BEARMAN was the 'pub manager' in 1908. He was married to Helen Mary Bearman and had been resident in Godalming for some time, the earliest I am aware of was 1899 when my grandfather's sister was born. Walter was originally the blacksmith in Godalming. There is a picture in the Frith gallery of two children standing on the streetside under the blacksmith sign. The two children are my grandfather Cyril Wallace George Bearman, and his elder sister Irene May.  When Walter took a change of career I am not sure, sometime between 1903 and 1908. My great-grandmother divorced him in 1908, virtually unheard-of for a woman to do, and she cited violence, drunken ways, and the fact that he committed adultery 'frequently' with a local woman called Annie Simmonds, who bore him a child on 22 September 1908!

'Down Yer 'Wey'.

Old Boarden Bridge 1906
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Moved to Farncombe in 1942 from Datchet, but evacuated originally from Barking, London. I remember arriving at my new home at 1 Tudor Circle. My Step-father was a fireman in the AFS, who's own father, George Elliott, was employed as a Shepherd watching sheep in the top fields on the left before Binscombe. Shepherds in those days were well looked after by the farmer, as a good shepherd could save many a lamb at lambing time. George used to bring home a rabbit or two during the War as he was well practised with a catapult having much time on his hands when sheep watching. I remember 'Pop' Gibson, the Headmaster at the Junior school, who would award a 'George' medal for reciting a poem from memory - the medal being... Read more

Boyhood Memories of Peperharrow Road.

Peperharow Road 1907
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It was the summer of 1946 and we used to go swimming in the river at a spot called "The Ginny" which was up the road a little (towards the camera) on the opposite side of the road to these houses. This part of the river was used as a swimming pool by Charterhouse school. We, that is children from Busbridge School aged 10 to 11 years, were about to start at Meadrow Secondary School at the end of the holiday.
Sadly , my friend Billy Ranger drowned whilst swimming here, we had planned to start the new school together (for mutual support). Billy was a lovely character and lived
in one of Tuesley Cottages between Quarter Mile Road and Minster road. He had two older brothers , one a plumber and the other, a well known blacksmith.

The dental technician I was with , as an apprentice , lived in one of those tall houses pictured on the left of the photo.

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