Save Chilworth’s West Lodge As A Monument To WWI And Women’s Suffrage

Published on: 15 Feb, 2018
Updated on: 16 Feb, 2018

By Gavin Morgan

founder of the Guildford Heritage Forum

Members of the Guildford Heritage Forum are talking to Guildford Borough Council about preserving the building, West Lodge, in Chilworth at the entrance to the former historic gunpowder works.

See previous story Parish Makes Further Plea As Borough Decides to Sell Gunpowder Mills Lodge House.

Two of the women who worked at the Chilworth Gunpowder Works during the First World War. Published in the book Damnable Inventions, by Glenys and Alan Crocker (Published by Surrey Industrial History Group, 2000).

The forum is proposing to have it saved as a closed monument to the First World War and Women’s Suffrage. This year (2018) there are big commemorations happening for both.

West Lodge stands at the entrance to one of the most attractive spots in the borough – the Chilworth Gunpowder Works Conservation Area. This is a scheduled ancient monument and contains ruins of the gunpowder works dating back to the 19th century.

The gunpowder works played an important role in the First World War and many of the workers were women. The involvement of women in the First World War munitions industry is often quoted as one of the reasons why they won the vote in 1918.

West Lodge was the entrance to the works where employees would hand over items likely to cause sparks in return for tokens (now in Guildford Museum). Recent research endorsed by English Heritage has shown that the rear section of the building was added in the First World War, at a time of heightened security.

West Lodge at the entrance Blacksmith Lane entrance to the Chilworth Gunpowder Works.

For some reason West Lodge (unlike all the other monuments) was left out of the scheduled monument although the council included it in the conservation area. However the big problem is that, presumably due to an administrative error, it was put under the asset management team at the council who now wish to dispose of it.

I totally sympathise with their dilemma. It should be a heritage asset and not on their books. Unfortunately, they seem to be looking for a commercial solution rather than the best solution, which is to preserve it as is and leave it alone.

The local St Martha’s Parish Council has tried to help, but the council has insisted on a commercially viable solution which after two years it has concluded is impossible on a building that size. The only other option according to the council is to sell the building for residential use.

Guildford Heritage Forum objects to the selling the building simply because it will ruin the entrance to an attractive spot the council has done so much to improve.

The money raised would be insignificant compared to sums spent elsewhere and the damage caused.

The building is too small for a home and lacks parking. The gate that adjoins the property is part of the scheduled monument and the building is grade II listed, so building an extension would be complicated.

If the building was enlarged then it would restrict the entrance to the woodland walk and harm the historical integrity / atmosphere of the conservation area.

The council should be rightly proud of all it has done at Chilworth. It even features the Chilworth Gunpowder Works in the town’s official promotional video!

We need to find the best solution. We are not asking for money, just support in finding funds to retain this attractive and important historic monument.

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