Scrapbook History No.2

Published on: 9 Aug, 2020
Updated on: 9 Aug, 2020

William Whitbourn pictured at about the time he was compiling a scrapbook of cuttings from Guildford newspapers and magazines.

By David Rose

Here is the second in our series of Guildford newspaper and magazine cuttings people long ago pasted into scrapbooks.

In the 1920s and 30s there appears to have been a bit of a craze to do this on the topic of local history as well as notable events people wished to remember.

These featured here date from around 1922-23 and are all from a newspaper called the Surrey Weekly Press, published by Biddles of Guildford. It is believed the scrapbook was complied by William Whitbourn, who, for many years, was in charge of Guildford’s Castle Street Baths.

These cuttings reveal the Surrey Weekly Press published a series titled BYE-GONE GUILDFORD. Some of the images were photographs, others illustrations such as this one looking up Guildford High Street. Click on pictures to enlarge in a new window.

This one harks back to the coaching era, the caption stating during its heyday 19 coaches ran to and from Guildford to London.

The former Holy Trinity Church in Guildford High Street.

The re-built Holy Trinity Church as opened in 1763, note the octagonal market building.

Baker’s Market House that stood in front of Holy Trinity Church. It is possible that the Surrey Weekly Press obtained these images from the collection at Guildford Museum.

An early photo of the turnpike road toll house and gate that stood in Portsmouth Road. The view looks south with the entrance to Guildown Road visible on the right.

A cutting in response to the toll house photo naming the toll collector as a William Turner.

And as we know now, as they knew then…. there’s nothing new under the sun! Pneumatic tyres as far back as 1847 from Guildford coach makers May & Jacobs Ltd.

Click here for Scrapbook History No.1

Responses to Scrapbook History No.2

John Lomas Reply

August 10, 2020 at 9:11 am

I wonder if Messrs May and Jacobs knew Robert William Thomson.
https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/Robert-William-Thomson/
Pearl Catlin Reply

August 10, 2020 at 3:49 pm

I love this kind of history. I live in an old house in Shalford and am one of just a few – it comprises: manor house, stables, coach house and groom’s cottage. An estate was built around it in the 50s and 60s. How we’d love to see old pictures of those days before the estate was even thought of.
Jan Messinger Reply

August 10, 2020 at 9:47 pm

These pieces are a joy to read. Keep them coming
Brian Creese Reply

October 5, 2020 at 9:26 am

A great set of photos which really evoke a sense of the past. The Guildford Institute has some Victorian scrapbooks in its archive which are individual collections made up from people’s lives – very random and absolutely fascinating. https://www.guildford-institute.org.uk/collection/