Where Is This? No.137

Published on: 26 Nov, 2014
Updated on: 26 Nov, 2014

By David Rose

There was a good number of replies to last week’s mysteries, all correctly identifying a close-up view of the building of Guildford Cathedral.

The quirky photo, sent in by Caroline Reeves, showed an upper floor window of the GAP store in Guildford High Street.

Click here to see last week’s post and all the views at the foot of it.

Alan Cooper notes the Queen travelling down Agraria Road by car. I have a photo, taken outside the Guildford Park Road entrance of the railway station, of her sitting in the royal car. It’s probably the same visit he talks about.

Sorry to John Lomas in that Google Street View doesn’t extend to Guildford High Street. I wonder why? It’s only pedestrianised for certain times of the day.

The GAP store was, as Chris Townsend notes, once Burton’s. And yes, I am sure the black polished foundation stone is still there.

Which building is this?

Here’s a picture postcard view from the early 1900s and one of the strangest I have seen! I bought it at the Surrey Postcard Club’s fair held at St Peter’s School, Merrow, last Saturday.

An unusual view of an old building without doubt. But do you know which one?

Do you know where this is?

The quirky view shows part of another old building that is full of history. You can see a wall in the background that is very old. Can you work out where this is?

If you know the answers and can perhaps add some details, 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.137

Chaz Folkes Reply

November 27, 2014 at 10:07 am

The top photograph is St Catherine’s Chapel, just off the Portsmouth Road. I think the bottom picture is of the Guildford Museum…
John Lomas Reply

November 27, 2014 at 3:49 pm

The old is St Catherine’s chapel.

The modern picture is taken from Quarry Street, looking over the museum roof (the curved line at the bottom of the picture is part of the museum frontage) at the building on the left-hand side side of Castle Hill.
Margaret Cole Reply

November 30, 2014 at 9:23 pm

I think the old ruin is St Catherine’s Portsmouth Road.
The unusual roof top is part of the Museum in Quarry Street. The curves at the bottom of the picture are still there and once were part of the bus stop which is no longer in use.
Carol Norris Reply

December 2, 2014 at 4:44 pm

Picture 1 : St Catherine’s Chapel, St Catherine’s Hill
Doug and Bill Staniforth Reply

December 2, 2014 at 5:13 pm

1: St Katherine’s Chapel (easily reached on the river by speedboat)
2: The museum.

[Ed: Interesting use of an alternative spelling for St Catherine’s – with a K. It sometimes appeared like that on early 20th century picture postcards that were printed in Germany! No prize speedboat I am relieved to say.]
Chris Townsend Reply

December 2, 2014 at 5:43 pm

The postcard view is of the interior of St. Catherine’s Chapel, built as a chantry chapel in the early 14th century. On a clear day, there is a fine view of it across the Wey from the Castle mound. Today the building is enclosed by iron railings, but has been open to the public occasionally on Heritage Open Days. More info’ on the chapel and surroundings here:

http://www.weyriver.co.uk/theriver/god_nav_d.htm

The second old building is viewed from Quarry Street, looking above the former bus shelter outside the Museum towards the older part of the building, also headquarters of the Surrey Archaeological Society. In 1611, James I granted the Castle estate to Francis Carter, a Guildford merchant, and soon after he (or his son) built the house adjoining Castle Arch. The rear wing shown is dated 1672.
Paul Hart Reply

December 3, 2014 at 6:31 am

By curious coincidence, I was watching a video of the first mystery location very recently: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EX9NxCfHA4&feature=player_detailpage#t=36
Brian Holt Reply

December 3, 2014 at 5:34 pm

The ruins of the 13th century chapel on top of St Catherine’s Hill, this is the western end of the chapel. The tower on the right is thought to have been the bell tower.

Guildford Museum in Quarry Street. This is above the old bus shelter between the museum entrance and Castle Arch.