Photo Exhibition Puts Bargeboards Into Focus

Published on: 12 Jan, 2020
Updated on: 12 Jan, 2020

A photographic exhibition at the Guildford Institute takes a look at a much underrated piece of Guildford’s history – bargeboards…

Bargeboards on Caleb Lovejoy’s almshouse in Bury Street, Guildford.

Professional photographer Mike Sleigh has takes all the images on display and says: “We are fortunate in having many interesting buildings in Guildford, although there have been some significant losses of Victorian and Edwardian buildings in the town over the years.

“However, we still have a good selection of housing dating from the 1860s to the 1900s. These range from terrace housing through to Victorian villas set in spacious gardens, many of these houses merit a closer look.

“Special features to be seen are the decorative details ranging from polychrome brickwork, terracotta mouldings, inset flint panels and in particular decorative bargeboards.

“The greatest concentration and the best examples of bargeboards are in the London Road, Waterden Road, Epsom Road triangle, but others can be found along many other roads around the town.”

Bargeboards on houses in Epsom Road, Guildford.

The original idea for the project came from the editor of the Guildford Society’s newsletter who suggested to Mike that a photographic record of examples of bargeboards would make an interesting article.

This led to most of the roads in central Guildford being walked by Mike and examples photographed resulting in an article in the society’s newsletter.

 More than 80 individual and unique designs of bargeboard were originally photographed. The project continues with another 20 or so examples found will be photographed in due course.

Mike added: “Some of the best examples are the set of boards on the Caleb Lovejoy Almshouses. Heritage England dates the building as 1839 – if the bargeboards are original it makes them an early example.

“There are a number of excellent examples along both sides of Epsom Road and the boards on the Prince Albert public house in Stoke Road are also up there with some of the most interesting.”

Bargeboards on the Prince Albert pub in Stoke Road, Guildford.

A selection of 60 photographs (out of 80) has been displayed in the Assembly Room at the Guildford Institute in Ward Street showing the range of styles and quality of design, from simple bargeboards on artisan terrace housing through to over the top designs on Victorian villas. 

Also on display in the Assembly Room is a folder containing prints of the full 80 examples plus prints of architectural details to be seen around Guildford.

The free exhibition continues until January, 25. The Guildford Institute is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, and on Saturdays from 10am to 3pm.

In conjunction with this exhibition, a short course will be run by Mike at the Guildford Institute on March 26. It is titled More Looking At Guildford With Your Camera, and will start with a classroom-based introduction followed by a walk around the Waterden Road Conservation Area to see and photograph interesting architectural details.

And the bargeboard pictures and other architectural details can see on Mike’s website, click here.

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