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Gomshall

Gomshall photos (30 available)

Old photo of Gomshall

Gomshall maps (2 available)

Old map of Gomshall

Gomshall books (31 available)

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Gomshall memories

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You can also read memories of nearby places in Surrey below.

Surrey memories

Lightning strike

Abinger Common, 1924

Since this photo was taken the top of the large tree in the background has been hit by lightning. Around four or five feet of bare wood sticks out at the top of the tree. I don’t know when this happened.
A memory of Abinger contributed by Edward Ewan

Living in the Squre Shere

Shere, Village 1903

Photograph No. 1. I was born in July l940 – Virginia Le Roux. The house on the left of the picture was where I lived until I was nearly 13 with my parents. The long narrow upstairs window was my bedroom. My mother’s mother and brother also lived in the house. My uncle - John Grover had a shop to the left of the porch, where he sold fresh fish, fruit and vegetables, some of which he grew himself. During the war people would come from Dorking and Guildford to buy fresh fish. The fish came from Harlow’s of Grimsby in wooden boxes, when the empty boxes were returned to Grimsby, ...read more here
A memory of Shere contributed by Virginia Pawlyn

born and raised there

I was born in Shere in 1942 to the youngest child of George and Margaret Bryant. The Bryants were a well-known Shere family, my father being the eldest of nine children born and raised in the village. I had a very happy childhood in the village, attended the village school as did my older brother and sister and several cousins. I remember the Shere bonfire nights which were very enjoyable. I left the village in the sixties and now live in Adelaide, South Australia. My elder sister still lives in in Shere with her husband who was until retirement one of the local postmen. I have only happy memories of my birth place. I was baptised and also had my confirmation ...read more here
A memory of Shere contributed by Rosemary Delia

childhood

Abinger Hammer, Post Office 1936

i was born in guildford in 1986 and my parents had just taken over abinger post office and stores this is the house in the middle of the photo with all the ivy (that wasnt there in my time) the window above the shop was my parents room the spare room and the lounge are the rooms to the left. i loved living here and have many great memories of going to abinger village school, fishing in the stream, playing on the green and in the ruffs going to the abinger arms(probably the 1st pub i ever went to) and the tea rooms at the clock house now apparently i have heard that these tea rooms have moved to my old ...read more here
A memory of Abinger Hammer contributed by paul jeacock

Extracts From Gomshall & Surrey books

Gomshall, Mill 1904

Little girls pose for the cameraman on the ford across the Tillingbourne stream, alongside the old mill. This attractive village sits on the winding road between Guildford and Dorking. Gomshall tanneries were famous, but finally closed in 1988.
An extract from from"English Villages".

Gomshall, Mill 1904

Little girls pose for the cameraman on the ford at the Tillingbourne. ‘Gomeselle’ was mentioned in Domesday, at which time a mill already existed at the site. Gomshall tanneries were known world-wide, but were taken over and closed in 1988.
An extract from from"Surrey Photographic Memories".

Gomshall, Post Office and Mill 1913

Gomshall is also on the Tillingbourne, and its single-storey water mill is uncommon in these parts. The fact that it once doubled up as the local post office is also unusual. Beautifully restored, it is now a restaurant. The mill pond has been filled in, and is now a play area for the children of families who are dining there.
An extract from from"Villages of Surrey Photographic Memories".

Gomshall, the Tilling Bourne 1917

The Tilling Bourne quietly adds its own liquid note to this peaceful scene as its flows past The Compasses, one of two pubs in this small village on the main Guildford to Dorking road. It was built in 1830, and was originally a beer shop before becoming an inn in the 19th century.
An extract from from"Surrey Revisited Photographic Memories".

Gomshall, The Compasses 1917

The sign on the chimney breast reveals that the Compasses was once owned by the Surrey Public House Trust - a firm that owned a number of hostelries and hotels in the county. It merged with Forte Holdings Ltd in 1970 to become Trusthouses Forte. The sign shows a pair of compasses, linked to the carpentry profession. However, it is not known why this particular pub bears the name.
An extract from from"Villages of Surrey Photographic Memories".