Where Is This? No.90

Published on: 2 Jan, 2014
Updated on: 2 Jan, 2014

By David Rose

A lifeboat at Guildford railway station and an angel at the hotel of the same name in the High Street, add up to the answers to last week’s pair of pictures. All those who replied were correct.

And some useful additional information too. Click here to read last week’s post and all the replies at the foot of it. To answer John Lomas’ question – the lifeboat came from Dover.

Let’s move away from images of a watery nature and climb up a bit for this week’s mystery vintage photo.

Do you know where Pimms was?

This is an aerial view on a picture postcard from about the 1920s showing the premises of Pimm & Co in Guildford. It’s an early and somewhat crude form of doctoring photos. It’s as if the surrounding buildings have been ‘air-brushed’ out or faded out, at least.

I guess many readers will be able to name this once famous landmark. Others who may not remember Pimms, might be able to work out where it was by features of the surrounding buildings – particularly to the bottom and the right.

Extra details you may like to add on the line of business Pimms was in, will be welcome.

What is this a part of and where can it be found?

The today photo of something ‘quirky’ or from an unusual viewpoint is almost a silhouette and shows the corner of a structure that commemorates something very important. Do you know what it is?

If you know the answers, please leave a reply in the box below. This weekly feature has run on a day or so over the past couple of weeks. To get back on track, the answers to this, along with the next pair of images, will be published by next Wednesday.

Responses to Where Is This? No.90

Bernard Parke Reply

January 2, 2014 at 9:30 pm

1) Top of North Street almost opposite the back garden of Abbot’s Hospital.

In The back work area they used as an undertakers making coffins and Peto Television cabinets in the mid fifties.

2) The War memorial
Calum Shaw Reply

January 2, 2014 at 9:38 pm

The first is site is Eagle Radio, TGI Fridays etc, and the second is the war memorial by the bowling green at the castle? Nice pictures!
John Lomas Reply

January 3, 2014 at 8:25 am

Top of North Street where Milners and TGi Friday are located now.

Nice additional clue with the Q appearing on Friday.

I think they were a furniture store, possibly selling at the high end of the middle class market.
Jean Wickens Reply

January 3, 2014 at 4:44 pm

I remember Pimms being at the top of North Street on the opposite side of the road to the back of Abbot’s Hospital, in the late 50s and 60s. Roughly where the large building is now TFIs? There was also a pub on the corner at the junction of North Street and Chertsey – the Dolphin?

Pimms did removals, sold furniture and I think had a funeral business.
Chris Warner Reply

January 3, 2014 at 7:43 pm

On the top of one of the columns of the War Memorial located in the Castle Grounds ahead of the main entrance.
Pete Brayne Reply

January 3, 2014 at 8:22 pm

I seem to recall Pimms sold furniture and the picture looks like the top part of North Street.

I think the sculpture sits on top of the war memorial in the castle grounds bowling green.
Ray Springer Reply

January 3, 2014 at 10:23 pm

The Pimms store was at the top of North Street, opposite the rear of Abbot’s Hospital and the old Cloth Hall which is evident from the photo. Next door to the shop, just out of the picture, was the pub, the Horse and Groom.

Pimms were house furnishers, removal contractors and funeral directors. I think they are still funeral directors.
Still working on the quirky structure…
Carol Norris Reply

January 3, 2014 at 10:47 pm

Picture 2 : War memorial in the Castle Grounds, Guildford.
I have a picture of this taken in the year that my grandfather was Mayor of Guildford. Was the Mayor’s name picked out in flowers in front of the Memorial – or maybe I made that up?
Colin & Linda Jackson Reply

January 4, 2014 at 1:53 pm

Pimm’s furniture stood opposite Abbot’s Hospital and the Edinborough Woollen Mill in North Street. The Dolphin pub stood where the Slug and Lettuce now stands and this was next to Pimm’s.
The second photo is of the war memorial in the Castle Grounds.
Colin Jackson Reply

January 4, 2014 at 2:05 pm

Pimm’s was at the top of north street by the Dolphin pub. They took up the triangular area where the Slug and Lettuce, Eagle Radio now stand.

Bottom photo is of the war memorial in the Castle Grounds.
Clitherow Kid aka Peter Holt Reply

January 5, 2014 at 4:17 pm

Pimm and Son was located in North Street. One part of their business was removal contractors. The other photo is part of the war memorial in the Castle Grounds.

For my prize this week can you e-mail a pair of Wellington boots for my butler. Thank You.

You getting wet down in Eastbourne? Ed
Ray Springer Reply

January 6, 2014 at 11:32 am

The quirky picture is possibly part of the war memorial in the Castle Grounds, just inside the entrance in front of the bowling green.
Doug and Bill Staniforth Reply

January 6, 2014 at 3:17 pm

The first pic is the top of North Street by the Cloth Hall (the roof outline can be seen). Don’t know when the outlined building was knocked down and rebuilt in wonderful concrete, but it used to house Fads that later became Marleys and of course the nightclub that opened as Intercon and later Cinderellas.

A bit further up on the corner of Chertsey Street was the Dolphin pub which we think had a curse put on it when it was demolished. By the way it is said that dolphins can go faster than speedboats, but we don’t think so.

The second pic is the War memorial in the Castle Grounds.

Dolphins can go a lot faster than pedalos. Ed
Brian Holt Reply

January 6, 2014 at 10:24 pm

Pimms furniture store and removal contractors was near the top of North Street, the building was replaced in the late 1960s.

The buildings there today includes Milners carpet and curtains shop, TGI Fridays and 96.4 Eagle radio station.

The other picture is on top of the war memorial, designed by Frederick Hodgson, and unveiled in the Castle Grounds on 6th November 1921.
Chris Townsend Reply

January 7, 2014 at 5:28 pm

Pimms were at the top of North Street, and were at various times cabinet makers, upholsterers, house furnishers (with large warehouses), removers, funeral directors and estate agents. In 1839 Pimm and Holt were cabinet makers at 22 High Street, but in 1843 William Pimm and George Holt, then cabinet makers and upholsterers, went their separate ways. By 1871 Pimms were at Northgate House, the 18th century building set back from the street a little in the photo. The business finally closed in 1977.

The quirky photo shows part of the war memorial in the Castle Grounds. It was built in 1921, and the pillar in the centre with WW2 names was added in 1995. A close look shows that a few alterations to the list have been made. W. H. Oakley’s “Guildford in the Great War” contains a roll of honour with some details. An on-line list is at http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Surrey/Guildford.html
Mark Knight Reply

April 18, 2014 at 7:55 pm

Pimms was run in the mid twentieth century by Guv Pimm, who with Hug’s brother Doc, founded Guildford Crusader Bible Class.
This was for time at his then home, 5 Dapdune Crescent.
It’s still going today as Urban Saints in Stoke Park.
I think Pimms’ shop moved in the 1960s to new premises next door to the Royal Grammer School (new part) in the upper High Street.
Theresa Kerr Reply

November 18, 2016 at 12:05 pm

I have a piece of furniture of their’s and was wondering how i could find out more about them and the piece that i have ???
Charlie Stevens Reply

September 1, 2024 at 2:50 pm

My great grandparents were the Pimms of Guildford. My cousins retain the name.