Where Is This? No.174

Published on: 2 Sep, 2015
Updated on: 2 Sep, 2015

By David Rose

Some good (and all correct) replies to last week’s images.

The floodlights at Guildford City’s football ground in Joseph’s Road was the vintage picture, while Tunsgate Arch was featured the quirky photo.

Click here to see last week’s post with all the replies and some great comments by Brian Holt who was at the the ground when the floodlights were switched on for the first time in 1960, when the City played a friendly match against a full strength Chelsea side. He still has the programme from the match!

Another of the stack of photos supplied to me by Ade Morley is featured again this week for the vintage picture.

Where was this ‘olde’ shop?

A curiosity indeed and who remembers ‘Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe? So, where was it located in the town centre?

Seen this weather cock wind vane? It’s in a lofty position.

The quirky picture I took today (Wednesday, September 2) on my iPhone. Quality not brilliant, but I don’t think we have featured this ‘weather cock’ before.

It’s on a very well known and very visible building. I shall say no more!

If you know the answers to this week’s mysteries and can perhaps add some extra facts, please leave a reply in the box below. They will be published at about the same time next week along with two more mystery images.

Responses to Where Is This? No.174

John Lomas Reply

September 3, 2015 at 10:53 am

I think the wind vane is on what looks like a bell tower above the southern side of the Lady Chapel at the eastern end of Guildford Cathedral.

West is to the right of the picture so you were probably in the car park to the north or even in one of the buildings (halls of residence?) just north of the car park.

The old photo is a real curiosity, because it isn’t The Olde Curiousity Shoppe on the Onslow Street / Bridge Street junction which was featured some time ago in Where Is This?.
I wonder could this one have been on Friary Street?

Was it an example of two businesses, relatively near to each other, competing in what nowadays would be frowned on as unfair competition?

I think they call it “passing off”.

Or was it the same business having relocated and the sign writer getting it wrong.
Bob Crane Reply

September 4, 2015 at 5:46 pm

The Olde Curiosity Shop was in Friary Street.

It was run by two elderly ladies and, at the back of the shop, there was an elderly gent dealing in coins and medals.

When the street was developed the business relocated to The Quadrant, next to the Plaza.
Chris Townsend Reply

September 4, 2015 at 8:23 pm

The antiques “shoppe” was at 4 and 5 Friary Street, about halfway along on the east side of the street.

From the cathedral’s website: “The bell and weathervane are part of the Lady Chapel and the bell was first rung in December 1947 on the occasion of the dedication of the Crypt Chapel”, and “regular services were held in the Crypt Chapel (the current choir practice room) from 1947.”

The Crypt Chapel, built before the later Lady Chapel above it, was used at that time instead of the parish church of All Saints for christenings and marriages.

Was All Saints being rebuilt at the time, having been a “tin church”?

[David Rose: That would be All Saints in Onslow Village. I am not sure about Chris’ comment about the Crypt Chapel being used after the “tin chapel” had been pulled down and while the current church was being built. I think today’s church dates from the 1960s. However, I have never seen a photo of the “tin chapel”, does anyone know of one?]
Margaret Cole Reply

September 7, 2015 at 6:35 pm

The Olde Curiosity Shop I believe was in Bridge Street at No.5 The Quadrant next to the Plaza, but not too sure.

The weather cock can be found on the buttress of the cathedral, which is on the north-west side overlooking the university.
Pam Butler Reply

September 8, 2015 at 10:16 am

Wow! The picture of Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe brings back memories.

It was owned by my grandmother and great aunt. It existed in three locations in the town over many years.

I reckon that this is the first location. It was on the east side of Friary Street, about where Rush is now.

They ran it as a cafe before that. Then they transferred the business to the opposite side of Friary Street.

The great flood of 1968 caught them while they were there.

When Friary Street was redeveloped they moved to The Quadrant in Onslow Street.

They had to move a massive walk-in safe which caused a bit of a hold up in the traffic!

My nan lived above both shops the Friary Street.
Ray Springer Reply

September 9, 2015 at 10:15 am

Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe was in Friary Street as I recall.
Carol Norris Reply

September 9, 2015 at 1:53 pm

Picture 1 : if this is Ye Old Curiosity Shoppe in Friary Street, my mother usually bought something every time she visited the shop – at least once a week.

I still have some lovely things from there.

Just along the street from Miss Downes’ (later Mrs Dray) lovely florists and greengrocers and round the corner from Massey’s the Chemist and Crosby tailors.

And I think there was also a fishmonger in Friary Street.