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Alfold

Alfold photos (7 available)

Old photo of Alfold

Alfold maps (2 available)

Old map of Alfold

Alfold books (32 available)

Alfold memories

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

Surrey memories

My Birth place

Dunsfold, the Sun Inn c1955

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 ...read more here
A memory of Dunsfold contributed by Alec Bryan

Mercer in Cranleigh

Cranleigh, view on the Common 1904

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 ...read more here
A memory of Cranleigh contributed by Alan Mercer

Temporary school

Cranleigh, Village Hall 1933

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.
A memory of Cranleigh contributed by Gerry Warrington

Childhood in Hascombe during wartime.

Hascombe, the White Horse 1906

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 ...read more here
A memory of Hascombe contributed by Hilda Jean Waddington

Extracts From Alfold & Surrey books

Alfold, the Village c1950

Here we see another Crown Inn deep in the Fold country, and this one is still a licensed premises! The road through the village follows the route of the Guildford to Arundel turnpike, completed in 1809. Medieval glass was also made near here in Sidney Wood. Jean Carre, one of the last of the French glassmakers to work in these parts, is said to be buried in Alfold churchyard.
An extract from from"Villages of Surrey Photographic Memories".

Alfold, the Crown Hotel c1950

Like its near neighbour Dunsfold, this cluster of weather-tiled cottages close to the Surrey-Sussex border derives part of its name from the term for a cattle enclosure. But in the 16th century, Alford was also a major glass-making centre. The tile-hung Crown Inn on the Loxwood Road was on the smuggler's route from Sussex to the north.
An extract from from"Surrey Revisited Photographic Memories".

Alfold, the Village c1965

East of Chiddingfold the lanes wind to Alfold, which lies close to the Sussex border. This view looks south-west down Loxwood Road towards the parish church, whose spire can just be seen amid the trees behind the last chimney-stack. The houses in this view are for the most part late Victorian, apart from the one on the right; the prettiest part of the village is nearer the church and the Crown pub at the bottom of the hill.
An extract from from"Surrey Living Memories".

Godalming, Church Street 1906

Three of Church Street’s five pubs are in this photo - the Corn Meter extreme left, the Star centre left, and the Live and Let Live just beyond the archway on the right. The arch led to the rear of the Angel Hotel yard, owned at that time by John Jasper Taylor, who also had a temperance hotel, Deanery House, further down Church Street.
An extract from from"Godalming Town and City Memories".

Godalming, Church Street 1906

In Edwardian days cyclists frequented Godalming, especially at weekends. There was a demand for teashops, and Church Street had three - one is on the left here. Also very popular was the sending of picture postcards, which served people much as the telephone does today - Eatons paper shop, on the left, claimed to have the largest selection.
An extract from from"Godalming Town and City Memories".