Where Is This? No.182

Published on: 29 Oct, 2015
Updated on: 29 Oct, 2015

By David Rose

The demolition of Guildford’s Friary Meux brewery in 1974 to make way for the Friary Centre was last week’s mystery vintage picture.

A fascinating photo indeed, as noted by Andrew Backhurst. And a fun fair was held on the site after it had been cleared. I have a photo of it.

The quirky picture featuring some Second World War anti-tank concrete blocks can be seen nearly opposite Dapdune Wharf beside the River Wey Navigation towpath and near Walnut Tree Close and the ‘seven arch’ bridge.

Some research is being undertaken into these, more details to follow, and who knows….. the Stanniforth brothers may be proved right in that they had something to do with speedboats, but unlikely!

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

What’s being demolished here?

Another demolition picture this week, and again an image taken by the late Dave Salmon and kindly supplied by Geoff Burch, the custodian of Dave’s photos.

Do you recognise this building being pulled down. I guess it dates to the 1980s?

Where is this and what are these holes high up in the wall?

The quirky picture relates to the two dark ‘holes’ on a rather important ancient building in the centre of Guildford. Where can they be found and what are they?

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.182

Bernard Parke Reply

October 29, 2015 at 8:05 am

1) Dennis Bros.

2) Garderobes (lavatories) on the wall of Guildford Castle.
John Lomas Reply

October 29, 2015 at 2:32 pm

The older photo is the Wooden Bridge end of the Dennis works. The blue oil drums are just about where the vehicle entrance arch was.

The quirky pic shows the outlets for a two seater garderobe (or long drop toilet) at Guildford Castle.

I don’t think there was an inner moat round the keep, but if there was, it would not be a good idea to moor a speedboat under this feature!
Ray Springer Reply

October 31, 2015 at 9:38 pm

This is the demolition of Dennis Bros Office building, My dad used to work there for many years before and again after the war.

The quirky picture is Guildford Castle. The holes in the wall are in preparation for the installation of cash machines by one of the banks.
Chris Townsend Reply

November 2, 2015 at 3:07 pm

The building being pulled down looks like part of the Woodbridge Hill works of Dennis Bros, the far left-hand side as once viewed from the railway.

The holes in the south-east wall of the Castle Keep are drains from a garderobe or privy – perhaps a 2-seater – built into the thickness of the wall.
Brian Holt Reply

November 2, 2015 at 8:37 pm

1. This was the frontage to the Dennis works, opposite the Guildford to Waterloo railway line. The road is now called Midleton Industrial Estate Road.

Pictured is the far left of the building. Where the rubble is, there was a arch into the factory and next to the arch on the right was where the factory’s own two fire engines were kept. The offices were also in this building.

2. Guildford Castle, these two dark holes are near the top of the south wall.
Margaret Cole Reply

November 4, 2015 at 7:24 am

Picture no.1 might be the demolition of Dennis Bros’ Woodbridge factory 1986, not too sure.

Picture no.2 is the Castle Keep showing the drainage holes lined with lead, on the south face.
Bill and Doug Staniforth Reply

November 4, 2015 at 3:22 pm

Picture 1 is the old Dennis Bros office building in Hospital Hill.

Picture 2 is probably something on the castle unless your clue about being ancient refers of course to Martin Giles, cos he falls into this category!