Where Is This? No.81

Published on: 30 Oct, 2013
Updated on: 31 Oct, 2013

By David Rose

The Castle Grounds and the plaque that records its official opening in 1888 was shown in last week’s vintage photo – and a number of readers correctly identified that.

The quirky photo was taken by the footbridge over the river beside Shalford Road, near Guildford Rowing Club. The ‘rope roller’, as several readers pointed out, was used by the bargemen’s horses to help pull the barges around the bend in the river. Click here to see last week’s post and all the replies.

More of these ‘rope rollers’ can be found still in situ on parts of the River Wey Navigations. I saw one recently at a sharp bend between Bowers Lock and Triggs Lock, near where the drive goes to Sutton Place.

They are a reminder that Stevens’ Wey barges were horse-drawn. The Stevens family owned the navigation and gifted it to the National Trust in 1964. The last commercial load on the navigation was as late as 1969.

Where is this view in Guildford town centre?

This week’s vintage photo shows the Olympic Cafe and The Olde Curiosity Shop. Do you remember on which corner they stood?

A lot of night life goes on around there now.

Do you recognise where this is?

The ‘quirk’y photo shows a stag moulded in relief above a shop in the High Street. Do you know which one and what stood on the site previously?

If you know the answers to this week’s, and perhaps have some comments to make, please leave a reply in the box below. All replies will be posted at about the same time next week, along with a new post with the answers to this week’s vintage photo and quirky picture, and the next pair of images.

Responses to Where Is This? No.81

Bernard Parke Reply

October 31, 2013 at 7:13 am

1) The Quadrangle, Now part of the casino

2) Sainsburys. Site of the Old Stag Hotel
Norman Hamshere Reply

October 31, 2013 at 8:53 am

The Quadrangle, Corner of Bridge Street and Onslow Street, canopy of the Plaza cinema just visible on the right hand side. I would date this early 1960’s.

Turners toy shop was here in the 1940’s, an early supplier of Hornby trains after the war.
Ray Springer Reply

October 31, 2013 at 11:50 am

The Olympic Café and the Olde Curiosity Shoppe were on the corner of Bridge Street and Onslow Street, now occupied by the Casino Night Club and associated bars.

The commemorative stone plaque is of the White Hart Hotel, which was demolished in 1905 to make way for Sainsbury’s. The plaque is now in a brick panel above the entrance to the shop.
Chris Townsend Reply

November 3, 2013 at 6:29 pm

The shops were at The Quadrant, a group of five units on the corner of Bridge Street and Onslow Street. The name in the stonework and most of the original features have gone.

The shop on the right (no.5, next to the Plaza) was a Red Cross charity shop in the ’50s, uncommon then, and a good source of children’s books and jigsaws for 6d or so. Was there once a pram shop, possibly in nos. 2 to 3 to the left? I have a vague memory of one, but if it existed it had gone by 1955, according to a Guildford directory.

The stag is above Sainsbury’s, which followed the White Hart Hotel, demolished in 1905.
Brian Holt Reply

November 4, 2013 at 5:58 pm

The shops was at the bottom of Bridge Street next door to the old Plaza Cinema.
The Old Curiosity Shoppe as it is spelt in the picture was next to the cinema, now the nightclub.

The stag is above Sainsbury’s High Street shop, this is to mark where the White Hart Hotel was. Sainsbury’s open the first shop there in 1905.
Sue Bushell Reply

November 5, 2013 at 6:31 am

The first photograph is of lower Bridge Street and was next door to the Plaza back in the 60’s, where I worked some evenings as a teenager. I worked at the Plaza during the time of Long John Baldry, Georgie Fame and Alan Price a teenagers dream!

The White Hart I believe is above Sainsbury’s in the High Street, on the site of the old White Hart Hotel.
Stuart Green Reply

November 5, 2013 at 6:33 pm

The Olympic Cafe and and The Old Curiosity Shop are on Bridge Street, where now stands The Casino Nightclub (that was Zetters Bingo Hall – you can just see the canopy). These shops are the now empty Cazino Bet shop and Bar Mambo.

As for the stag….its a relatively new build, above the passage way between what was Budgens and Toni and Guy on Upper High Street – I think.
Stuart Green Reply

November 5, 2013 at 6:35 pm

And forgot to say – if I’m right the old Guildford Borough Council offices stood on the site before..
Pam Butler Reply

September 13, 2015 at 1:34 pm

I notice that you have featured Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe twice in these features. But in fact the business had three sites in the town.

There was another incarnation in Friary Street, which was flooded in 1968.

I have seen a picture of the interior, with my mum and nan cleaning up (it appeared on the front of The Surrey Ad, I believe) but I cannot find a pic of the exterior. I know one exists, because I remember seeing it, many years ago.

I wondered if you had a copy? I would love to see it again.

[David Rose: According to the Kelly’s Directory of Guildford and Godalming, 1959 edition, Ye Old Curiosity Shoppe was then at number 5 Friary Street, proprietor V. G. Trower (east side). In the 1968 Kelly’s at number 17 Friary Street (west side) the occupant is listed as Mrs V. Trower, antiques. Now I know which shop was which I can have a look for a photo. I have images of Friary Street during the 1968 floods mostly looking down from Onslow Street, but no pictures that show the shop straight on. I’ll keep searching! The cleaning up photo you mentioned I have seen somewhere. I have a copy of the Surrey Ad from the 1968s floods – just need to locate it!.]