Where Is This? No.134

Published on: 5 Nov, 2014
Updated on: 5 Nov, 2014

By David Rose

Plenty of correct replies to last week’s vintage photo taken from Yorkie’s Bridge (that connections the University of Surrey campus to Walnut Tree Close) and a QI class engine with a parcels train.

And also many correctly identified the plaque as being in Quakers’ Acre, off North Street.

Click here to see last week’s post and all the replies at the foot of it. There are some great details about the train and the engine hauling it!

The story goes that Yorkie’s Bridge is so named due to the fact that when the railway came to Guildford in 1845 it cut a farmer’s land in two. He was not best pleased, so persuaded the railway company (guess that was the London & South Western) to build him a bridge. He was a Yorkshireman by birth – hence the bridge being locally named after him and his origins. I wonder whether it is the original bridge or a later structure? Does any railway buff out there have the answer?

The view from Yorkie’s Bridge today, from the same spot as last week’s mystery vintage photo. Picture by Mike Bennett.

Mike Bennett has visited Yorkie’s Bridge in the past week and took these photos. He says: “There seem to be only half the number of tracks now on the two London lines and no wagons.” He too correctly identified the CI class engine.

Mike also took this picture from the bridge looking back towards the station. The car park on the left was once a goods yard full of wagons.

On to this week’s…..

Do you know where this was?

The vintage picture dates to 1965 and shows some demolition going on. Some of the regulars may recognise the view straight away. For anyone not so sure, the clues – place of health care and a cleaning business might just give it away. Also, on the horizon you may just glimpse the tower of Christ Church – a clue for those who use Google Maps to home in on locations.

Have you seen this plaque and can you say where it can be found?

The quirky photo was sent in by Bernard Parke. It shows a plaque, of which the writing on it gives some good clues. You may think we have had this one before, but not quite!

If you know the answers, please leave a reply in the box below. Replies and the answers, along with two more mystery images will be published at about the same time next week.

Responses to Where Is This? No.134

Bernard Parke Reply

November 6, 2014 at 9:07 am

The Alexandra Laundry.
John Lomas Reply

November 6, 2014 at 4:08 pm

Hi
From your clues I would say the old picture is either St Luke’s or Mount Alvernia, I’m going to guess at St Luke’s.
The plaque is alongside the plate glass frontage of the St Nicolas Church extension.
Brian Holt Reply

November 10, 2014 at 4:29 pm

(1) This photo taken from the old St Luke’s Hospital site is looking across Cooper Road to the Alexander Laundry, which was on the corner of Warren Road and Cooper Road. You cannot see the laundry chimney in the picture which is behind the trees.

(2) St Nicolas Church, this stone is on the corner of Millmead.
Margaret Cole Reply

November 11, 2014 at 10:13 am

Not sure at all on the demolition picture might be St Luke’s entrance with Alexandra Laundry in the background but who knows. Someone will.
Bernard Parke’s photo of a plaque can be found in St Nicolas Churchyard and commemorates the Reverend John Monsell who was rector there and famous for Hymn writing i.e. Fight the Good Fight. He fell from the church roof in 1875 and was buried in the Mount Cemetery.
Chris Townsend Reply

November 11, 2014 at 5:21 pm

The 1965 photo shows demolition of part of St Luke’s Hospital, possibly the porter’s lodge and original entrance archway of what had been the workhouse. Opposite at the junction of Baillie Road and Cooper Road was the Alexandra Laundry, which has been replaced by Alexandra Lodge. The gap in the wall for access during demolition has been rebuilt.

The plaque commemorates Dr John Monsell, rector of St Nicolas, featured in Parke’s People No.13, and is the second on that spot by Millmead, replacing in 1977 a block of stone from the old church, with an inscription.
Old newspapers report that in March 1875 Dr Monsell was inspecting progress of the building of the present church, while standing on a large piece of stone or boulder, when the stone moved under his weight and he fell, dislocating his shoulder and fracturing his left arm. He was attended by Dr Stedman, but died from septicaemia in April that year.
Doug and Bill Stanniforth Reply

November 12, 2014 at 9:01 am

Picture 1 is part of St Luke’s Hospital near the Alexandra cleaners.
Picture 2 is a plaque at St Nicolas’ Church at the bottom of the High Street.
We would like to remind the editor that St Nicholas is also known as Santa Claus so maybe a speedboat for Christmas?
Les Knight Reply

November 12, 2014 at 8:17 pm

1st Alexandra Laundry.
2nd Not sure Christ Church?