Guildford Snippets – Do You Know? No.10

Published on: 9 Jul, 2018
Updated on: 9 Jul, 2018

By Nick Bale, Guildford Town Guides

In Tunsgate Arch, near the meeting point for most of our guided walks, there is a memorial plaque to Captain Francis Grenfell, who was awarded the Victoria Cross in the early days of the First World War.

Plaque commemorating Captain Francis Grenfell VC.

Grenfell’s action of recovering British guns captured by the Germans was widely publicised at the time. Indeed, the Illustrated London News featured this exploit in a double page spread in September 1914.

A visitor on one of our walks last weekend asked the related question “Is there any link between Grenfell Tower, the block of apartments in North Kensington destroyed by fire a year ago, and Captain Francis Grenfell?” 

A bit of research suggested three possibilities:

a. Grenfell Tower might, indeed, be named after Captain Francis Grenfell VC.

b. Grenfell Tower might instead be named of Field Marshall Francis Warren Grenfell, the uncle of the Captain Francis Grenfell VC.

c. Grenfell Tower might be named after, Joyce Grenfell, the British actress and comedian who was very popular in the decades after World War II. 

Which do you think is correct?

If you know the answer, please leave a reply in the box below. The answer will be given in a week’s time with the next Guildford question.

The theme for this week’s Tuesday afternoon walk is Guildford and its Art and Artists. This will start at Tunsgate Arch at 2.30 pm on Tuesday, July 10. Do have a look at Captain Grenfell’s plaque if you go along for the walk.

The answer to last week’s question was Welsh Rarebit. It being the election night speciality at the White Hart Inn in Georgian times.

Visit www.guildfordwalks.org.uk for further information.

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