Where Is This? No. 104

Published on: 9 Apr, 2014
Updated on: 9 Apr, 2014

By David Rose

I am delighted to say that there were many more replies that I thought we’d receive to last week’s mystery vintage image. Definitely a difficult one!

Some readers wondered whether the picture showed Stoke Park Mansion (demolished in 1977). No, it wasn’t, it was in fact Woodbridge House, off Woodbridge Road.

The Stanniforth brothers were a bit off course (all at sea) – but in mentioning the boating lake in Stoke Park they are welcome to join me on a sunny day when I sail my Guildford Victory Industries model boat kindly donated to me by Peter Holt. In fact, you can all come along!

Click here to see last week’s post and all the replies. Brian Holt’s reply gives the exact location – where the bathroom showrooms of C P Hart is today.

Chris Townsend gives some excellent details of the house and its occupants. But does anyone know when it was pulled down?

Also, I believe Guildford Bowling Club had its green thereabouts, before moving to Stoke Park. I have never seen a photo of it. Can anyone add any details?

The dead tree featured in the quirky photo can be sen in London Road, Burpham, at the junction with Woodruff Avenue.

Out of interest, John Lomas left a reply to the letter on this website regarding Safeguard Coaches’ charity open day wondering if there are any preserved vehicles from Guildford operators such as Yellow Buses, Tilingbourne Valley, Brown Buses and Cookes Coaches? Perhaps our bus experts can comment.

Do you recognise this street corner in Guildford?

On to this week’s mystery images and a street scene in Guildford that has changed somewhat, but some features remain. Do you recognise where it is? The photo dates to 1966.

Where can this memorial be found?

The quirky photos shows a memorial to a soldier who died in the First World War outside a Guildford church. There’s quite an interesting story about this memorial and the row it caused when it was erected along with a Calvary cross, later removed. Any ideas where, and the story behind it?

If you think you know the answers, please leave a reply in the box below. The answers, along with the next pair of images, will be published about the same time next week.

Responses to Where Is This? No. 104

Bernard Parke Reply

April 9, 2014 at 7:15 am

1) Martyr Road junction with Chertsey Street.

2) St Nicolas Church.
John Lomas Reply

April 9, 2014 at 10:11 am

Chertsey Street viewed from Martyr Road.
The archway looks similar but appears to be wider now possibly incorporating the doorway to the right. The window at the far right could be the same window that is (on Google streetview) Wright & Wright. The windows in the cottage to the left are the same.
Chris Townsend Reply

April 9, 2014 at 10:57 am

Much detail on Guildford Bowling Club history is given here:

http://guildfordbowlingclub.org.uk/acatalog/Guildford_Bowling_Club_Club_History.html

The bowling green and a pavilion at the north-west of its plot, adjoining Woodbridge Road, are shown on a 1935 large-scale O.S. map, next to the corner site (Morris depot) and immediately south of the reservoir (lake?) which has a boat house (N.B.) and is shown surrounded by trees.

The web-page also sheds more light on the history of Woodbridge House.
John Lomas Reply

April 9, 2014 at 4:22 pm

The war memorial is at St Nicolas Church, my research has so far failed to find out about the controversy, but could it be to do with high church / low church diferrences of opinion?
Kshipra Sathe Reply

April 10, 2014 at 7:13 am

Street corner – Quarry Street leading out to the High Street – Stanley Ellis is where we now have Marks & Spencer.
Peter Bullen Reply

April 10, 2014 at 5:24 pm

It is the junction of Martyr Road and Chertsey Street and I think the memorial is at the back of St Nicolas Church.
I have not heard of the row but as St Nick’s was always regarded as Guildford’s High Church (use of incense was a regular part of worship there) could it be that the crucifix – instead of a plain cross – was too like those outside Roman Catholic churches, i.e. St Jopseph’s in Chertsey Street whose realistic crucifix fascinated me as a young boy?
Colin and Linda Jackson Reply

April 11, 2014 at 8:09 pm

The first photo is interesting but it may well be the corner of Martyr Road and Chertsey Street junction.
As for the second photo, we believe is St Nicolas Church at the bottom of the High Street / Bury Street.
Brian Holt Reply

April 14, 2014 at 9:56 pm

The photo was taken from Martyr Road looking across Chertsey Street, where the Metro Bank offices are now.

Photo number two is the plinth outside St Nicholas Church on the corner at Millmead.
Peter Holt Reply

April 15, 2014 at 12:57 pm

Photo was taken in Martyr Road looking towards Chertsey Street. The memorial can be found in St Nicolas Church, Millmead.
Ray Springer Reply

April 15, 2014 at 3:15 pm

This is the junction of Martyr Road and Chertsey Street.
Couldn’t locate the church.
Chris Townsend Reply

April 15, 2014 at 4:00 pm

The street scene is of Chertsey Street viewed from the junction with Martyr Road. The building in the centre has been replaced, but there’s still an archway in the same location. At number 58 (previously numbered 28) was Stanley Ellis (c.1858-1950), builder and contractor in Guildford for decades, with a yard further down the street.
The buildings to the right remain.
At the right-hand corner of Martyr Road was an antiques or junk shop (since demolished) at the front of and adjoining the cottages of Ivy Place.

The memorial to Second Lieutenant Alfred Erasmus Stuart Ommanney of The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) is at the corner of Millmead, beside St Nicolas Church.
From a distinguished naval family, he was born in 1897, only son of the Rev’d Erasmus Austin Ommanney and his wife Anne, of Branscombe, Castle Hill.
There was a dispute in 1920, reported by the press, because the crucifix was set in consecrated ground “without faculty” or due authority, and it was argued that “the weight of the Reformation was against isolated crucifixes, which tended to superstition”; on the other hand, it would be an “outrage” to remove it, after its dedication by the bishop.
Doug and Bill Stanniforth Reply

April 15, 2014 at 4:47 pm

It’s the corner of Martyr Road and Chertsey Street, the memorial photo is St Nick’s Church at the bottom of the High Street – near the river.
As St Nic is Father Christmas maybe we could ask him for a speedboat as he may be more generous.