Where Is This? No.23

Published on: 3 Sep, 2012
Updated on: 3 Sep, 2012

By David Rose

Lots of replies to last week’s puzzles with many recognising the plaque as being in the Castle Grounds.

To see all the replies click here and go to the foot of the story.

The wall in the Castle Grounds, near the tunnel, where the plaque with the 1904 date is sited.

Interesting that Tony Bullen mentions that his grandfather was a pal of Murray Mark Boxall, the boy commemorated on the plaque; and Chris Townsend is correct in naming the maker of the plaque as being the Compton Pottery.

Although I do not know who paid for the plaque and whether some initials on it are the potter’s, I have researched the story. I included it in my book Guildford Our Town (Breedon Books, 2001). For the benefit of anyone who has not read it (and, besides, the book is now out of print), here’s what happened:

On June 18, 1904, Gilbert Smith, 13, and Murray Mark Boxall, 18, went fishing at the pool beside the Town Mill (now next to the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre) with a Wilfred Henry Apperton, 12.

The weather was warm so the boys took off their boots and stockings and stood in the water. Apperton said to Smith: “Don’t go any further,”. But unhappily his advice was unheeded. The boy went a little further and at once fell into a hole under the water. Boxall ran to his assistance and also fell into the hole. Smith somehow managed to climb on to his Boxall’s back, but they both sank under the water.

With the alarm raised, Horace Monk, who worked at nearby Harry How’s boathouse, rowed to the place where the boys had disappeared under the water and soon hauled Smith out. By this time a crowd had gathered and although a doctor at the scene tried to revive him, all efforts failed. Not long after the body of Boxall was found.

At the inquest into the tragedy it was explained that the hole on the bed of the river had been formed by extra water pressure being extracted from the turbines of the water mill at the Town Mill. Over a period of time it had washed out this large hole.

The deputy coroner said it was a simple case of drowning and no blame could be attached to anyone. The jury did not keep their fees but asked for them to be given to the widowed mother of Murray Mark Boxall.

On to last week’s mystery photo. Yes, it showed Mann Egerton motor garage’s parts department that was in Walnut Tree Close. CCP Cleaning Services now occupies the site.

Do you recognise these buildings?

And now this week’s mystery photo. Don’t be put off by the lettering on the wagon that appears to read ‘Horsell, Weybridge, Chobham and Uckfield’, the location of this foundry is very close to Guildford town centre. Do you know where it is and what’s there now?

The date below the coat of arms reads 1931. Do you recognise where it is?

The mystery date is one I did not know until I had a good alook around Guildford town centre a week or so ago. It’s quite high up. Any ideas where it is?

If you think you know the answers, leave a reply in the box below. All replies will be posted at the same time in about a week’s time, along with a new post with the answers to this week’s photo and mystery date, and the next pair of images.

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