Letter: Stoke Mill Needs Protection

Published on: 10 Aug, 2025
Updated on: 10 Aug, 2025

From Niels Laub

retired architect

See: Stoke Mill To Be a Pub If Plans Are Approved by Borough Council

A planning application (25/P/00654) has been submitted to convert Stoke Mill from office accommodation to a restaurant and a public house.

While I am in favour of anything that will prolong the useful life of this iconic building, I am disappointed that the proposals will involve the demolition of one of the original outbuildings and some unfortunate and unnecessary alterations to the main entrance.

The mill’s history dates back to the Domesday Book, which lists a mill at Stochae on the King’s land. Around 1635, Sir Richard Weston built the first paper mill in Surrey at Stoke Mill.

Initially, it was used for papermaking but by 1740, the mill had a dual purpose, and it was used for grinding corn alongside paper production.

Unfortunately, the original mill was destroyed by fire in 1863. After this incident, in 1879, the new five-story brick-built corn mill that you see today was constructed alongside an older mill. The new mill replaced the papermaking function, and the older mill became a store.

The mill continued to operate until 1957, after which it ceased working. Following its commercial use as a store and boatyard, the building was converted into offices, initially housing the Crown Prosecution Service and later occupied by the Surrey Advertiser Group.

Stoke Mill is situated off the Woking Road, just north of Guildford town centre. It forms the centrepiece of a small group of buildings that includes the Grade II listed Stoke Mill House and is an important and well-loved local landmark.

It is interesting to note that the River Wey catchment area had one of the densest mill populations in the country. Of those Stoke Mill is probably the best-preserved brick built Victorian mill along the river. Moreover, historic photographs show that the mill is substantially as built, except for the replacement of shuttered openings by windows.

Sadly Stoke Mill is not listed either nationally or locally; having been de-listed as a Grade II building in 1988. Many of the other existing mill buildings along the Wey have either been demolished or modified substantially, for instance at Eashing, or are of a very different form for example Byfleet Mill, which is grade II listed but is of lapboard construction though of the same date as the Stoke Mill building.

Elstead Mill which is grade II* is of an earlier date and incorporates much of its original mill equipment.

Stoke Mill still retains the original turbine building and internally all the original cast iron columns and the original timber trusses supporting the roof. Stoke Mill is unquestionably a well-loved local landmark in Guildford and in my opinion, it is astonishing that it is not nationally listed nor even locally listed and therefore is lacking the protection such an important building ought to be afforded.

If you feel as I do that this building ought to be protected from any needless and unfortunate alterations, I ask you to voice your objections to this application 25/P/00654 on the GBC Planning Website as soon as possible while you still have a chance.