Where Is This? No.218

Published on: 13 Jul, 2016
Updated on: 13 Jul, 2016

By David Rose

The only correct reply to last week’s quirky image was from Doug and Bill Stanniforth – and it was they who supplied the picture! So I can’t award them a speedboat as a prize for what was a very tricky picture to identify!

As they pointed out, the tiny building is behind the Champan Indian restaurant in Bramley.

Margaret Cole noted in her reply that she even visited Bramley and went to the library to see if she could find out – only to discover it was closed! Full marks for her determination.

Some good replies to the vintage picture which showed a view along the A322 at Worplesdon with the former Perry Hill School on the left.

Do click here on last week’s post and read the replies – especially those from John Lomas, who identified the car as being French; Marian Fripp, who went to the school and added some interesting memories of a visit by the Queen to Andrew Elphinstone, who was the rector of St Mary’s Church at Perry Hill and the Queen’s cousin; and especially Andrew Backhurst’s comment – a fascinating ghost story of an encounter he had at the very same spot one night in 1988 with a lady in Victorian dress!

The question I posed about what was unusual regarding the car was correctly answered by Chris Townsend. Frith & Co who published the postcard are well known for adding items to their photographs. These include motor-vehicles, horses and carts and also people.

There is a version of the postcard without the car and the car itself turns up on other views too!

Moving on to this week’s mysteries…

Home Guard on parade, but where is the location? Click to enlarge in a new window.

The vintage picture shows a parade of men of the 4th Guildford Battalion Surrey Home Guard. It took place on June 6 1944 on a fairly large open space in Guildford. But where? The tree line on the rising ground in the background may be a clue.

Formerly a school. What is it used for now and where? Click to enlarge in a new window.

This week’s quirky picture is part of what was once a school quite close to the Upper High Street. Any idea which one?

If you know the answers to this week’s mysteries, please leave a reply in the box below – and include 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.218

Jan Messinger Reply

July 13, 2016 at 11:55 pm

I think the vintage picture looks like Stoke Park to me.

Strange it was taken on the date of my birth but not the year!

The copse of trees in the background looks like the ones I remember there as a child when I went with my father to the cub scout football played there on Saturday mornings.
John Lomas Reply

July 14, 2016 at 12:15 am

I think the Home Guard parade is on Shalford Park, there used to be a golf course there according to Old Maps.

I estimate that the group of three trees was about 200m to 250m south of Park Cottages and about 50m in from the road.

I think the hill in the background is the one through which chalk tunnel passes to the railwaystation.

Does anybody know why a big parade was held on D-Day?

The school on Sydenham Raod is now an Adult Learning Centre, that view is of the central gable feature.
Bernard Parke Reply

July 14, 2016 at 7:01 am

1) Shalford Meadows.

2) Adult Education Centre in Sydenham Road .
Sue Warner Reply

July 14, 2016 at 10:58 am

Adult Education Centre, Sydenham Road?
Mike Williams Reply

July 14, 2016 at 5:14 pm

The Home Guard are in Shalford Park I think.

There must have one man from every home.

Jonesy’s van is over on the right and Godfrey is behind the middle tree.

Is the other photo the building of the Adult Education Centre in Sydenham Road?
Steve Pownall Reply

July 14, 2016 at 9:59 pm

Sorry – I’m a bit behind on following this feature. I love the Bond 3-wheeler in the picture of the dairy. (Hope I’ve got that right?).
Mary Bedforth Reply

July 15, 2016 at 8:24 am

Shalford Park? Chantries in the background?

Or Loseley with the Hog’s Back in the background?

Adult Education Centre, Sydenham Road. Formerly a school for girls.
Les Knight Reply

July 15, 2016 at 4:36 pm

Pewley County Secondary School, now the Adult Education Centre.
Bill and Doug Stanniforth Reply

July 19, 2016 at 5:06 pm

Shalford Park, and is that Brigadier Lieutenant now Sergeant Giles in the picture?

The Adult Learning Centre in Sydenham Road, perhaps they do speedboat appreciation classes?

Yes and perhaps they do lessons on Army ranks! “Brigadier Lieutenant” whatever next! And stand to attention when you are writing these comments! Ed
Chris Townsend Reply

July 19, 2016 at 8:27 pm

The open space looks like Shalford Park, with the Chantries in the background. A photo on this webpage shows a similar view:

http://shalfordvillage.co.uk/history/shalford-house-and-thames-water

The school building on Sydenham Road is now used as an Adult Learning Centre, but was built as Charlotteville School, a board school.

It became part of Pewley County Secondary School from about 1945. More information here:

http://www.charlotteville.co.uk/millenium_education.html
Brian Holt Reply

July 19, 2016 at 9:26 pm

Shalford Park, the trees were towards the Shalford Church end. I used to play there.

The old Pewley School, Harvey Road, now Guildford Adult Education Centre, and The Gallery.
Margaret Cole Reply

July 20, 2016 at 7:04 am

The Home Guard picture is, I believe, at Shalford Park with St Catherine’s Hill in the background but obscured by the large oak tree.

The building with the cupola is the Adult Education School in Sydenham Road. I’m pretty sure as it was once my old school Pewley, and this was the roof of my classroom and also the domestic science room where many a disaster was produced. We took our offerings home and ate them for tea, yuk! Happy days.