Where Is This? No.207

Published on: 28 Apr, 2016
Updated on: 28 Apr, 2016

By David Rose

As featured last week, the funeral procession of the Chief Constable of the Guildford Borough Police Force, William Veal Nicholas, was seen in Portsmouth Road, before turning into Mount Pleasant and on to The Mount Cemetery.

The wind vane, featuring a Norman from the time of William the Conquerer, is on top of Normandy Village Hall, and the character is also the logo of its local history group Normandy Historians.

Thanks to all who replied and added details – especially Dave Middleton, John Lomas, Chris Townsend and Mary Bedforth. Click here to see last week’s post and all the replies at the foot of it.

A bit of a different approach to this week’s mystery vintage picture. The image of a house was emailed to the Guildford Institute by a Christopher Jeans of Cambridge hoping someone there could help. It was then forwarded to me, and I have to say I don’t recognise it, but it might be in the Guildown or Warwick’s Bench areas of Guildford.

Does anyone recognise this house as being in Guildford? Click to enlarge in a new window.

Christopher wrote: “I am editing an English translation of a biography of my father James H. Jeans published in Moscow and written by the Russian astrophysicist, the late Alexander Kozenko.

“James Jeans and his first wife Charlotte lived in a house in or near Guildford during 1912 and 1913.

There is a picture of the house (attached) and it is clearly built on some elevation with good views. Possibly on the Hog’s Back and overlooking the Weald to the south.

“There is no record among his papers of an address. I would be most grateful if you could help me track down the house, perhaps by pointing me towards local historians who might be able to help.

So, over to all – any ideas?

Have you seen this suit of armour? Click to enlarge in a new window.

For this week’s quirky picture I have found another feature as such, and possibly the second suit of armour to have been featured. So, where can this one be found? He stands outside a restaurant that serves Indian food. There’s another clue if you look closely in the reflection in the window.

If you know where this week’s mysteries are, please leave a reply in the box below – and extra details if you have them.

They will be published along with two more mystery images at about the same time next week. Good luck.

Responses to Where Is This? No.207

Dave Middleton Reply

April 28, 2016 at 5:38 pm

Sadly no idea on the house, but the doorman in the armour stands outside the Ashuka Tandoori Restaurant, on the Epsom Road at Merrow. Apparently he has to wear it for ‘elf ‘n safety reasons!
Ray Springer Reply

April 29, 2016 at 10:42 am

The quirky picture is the Indian Restaurant at Merrow opposite the Horse and Groom pub (seen in the reflection).

The old house has no doubt been demolished but I think David is right in thinking it is in Guildown Road or Warwick’s Bench Road
David Raison Reply

April 29, 2016 at 6:05 pm

The suit of armour can be seen outside the Ashuka indian restaurant on Epsom Road, Merrow
Russell Morris Reply

April 30, 2016 at 9:16 am

Is the house Chantry Dene, 18 Fort Road?

This Arts and Crafts house was built in 1907 overlooking the valley to the south of Guildford.

The architect was Thomas Riley Clemence and the client Arthur Moon, a local timber merchant.

The art critic Roger Fry lived there briefly in 1910 whilke his own new house was being built nearby.

The house appears to have a copper-domed turret on its entrance front, perhaps designed to offer views across the town before newer buildings and tree growth intervened.

It would be interesting to locate Clemence’s other commissions. I believe he worked primarily in this area, building mainly houses and pubs.

More senior readers will recall Moon’s timber yard next to the Wey where Debenhams now stands.
Russell Morris Reply

April 30, 2016 at 10:40 pm

The armour besuited guard wards off potential troublemakers from disturbing diners at Ashuka in Merrow. Don’t mess with him!
A Smith Reply

May 2, 2016 at 6:24 pm

Is it the house that used to stand on St Catherine’s Hill, overlooking the old ferry crossing on the River Wey?

It burned down about 40 years ago and rebuilding was refused by the council.
Bill and Doug Stanniforth Reply

May 3, 2016 at 4:40 pm

We think it’s on Warwick’s Bench Road or the photo was taken from the infamous Norman Bates’ motel.

The restaurant that serves Indian food is almost certainly an Indian restaurant, it’s the Ashuka Tandoori on Epsom Road.

Was the suit of armour Mr Giles’ old military uniform?

[Might have been. Were you the two useless stable boys I used to kick before things progressed a bit and you learned how to fix a puncture? Ed.]
Margaret Cole Reply

May 4, 2016 at 9:01 am

The big house picture could be 6 Warwicks Bench, just a guess. How much if I’m right?

The armour can be found outside Ashuka Tandoori in Merrow, you can just see the reflection of the Horse and Groom pub on the opposite side of the road.

(If you are correct we will give you a free annual subscription for a year! We would do the same for our spanner monkey friends but they would only try and negotiate cash to put towards their speedboat fantasy. Ed)
Chris Townsend Reply

May 4, 2016 at 2:50 pm

The suit of armour is outside the Ashuka Tandoori restaurant, 251-253 Epsom Road, Merrow.

The reflection in the window shows the Horse and Groom pub, with Merrow Church spire behind it.

The mystery house has distinctive round bay windows that appear to face in every direction. I don’t recognise it.

E. A. Milne’s biography of James H. Jeans mentions several different homes in the years 1912-1917: “After his retirement from the Stokes Lectureship at Cambridge in 1912 he went to live first at Guildford and then in London.

“He spent the summer of 1913 on Dartmoor, returned to London in 1914, lived for the summer of 1914 at Amersham and spent the summer of 1915 at Brighton. He spent the summer of 1916 at Box Hill, the summer of 1917 at Holmbury St Mary.”

The May edition of the 1913 Royal Blue Book lists Professor James Hopwood Jeans at 8 Ormonde Gate, Chelsea.
Russell Morris Reply

May 5, 2016 at 10:12 pm

I took a stroll past and, yes, I can confirm the house is definitely Chantry Dene.