Where is This? No.231

Published on: 20 Oct, 2016
Updated on: 20 Oct, 2016

By David Rose

The floods of September 1968 are still remembered by many, so it was probably no surprise that those who replied to last week’s mystery vintage picture identified it as being from that date and the door of the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre through which scenery is taken.

The iron work featured in the quirky picture can indeed be found surrounding 1 Farnham Road on the corner with Guildford Park Road. Thanks to those who identifed the locations and added extra comments.

See last week’s post here with those comments at the foot of it.

Name the Guildford street and add some details about what can be seen. Click to enlarge in a new window.

This week’s mystery vintage view may not be too difficult for the regular responders to identify, but I hope other readers may well recognise this Guildford town centre street and will also reply adding some comments – and particularly memories of the shops seen the picture that dates to about the early 1950s. The motorbikes are certainly of interest too.

Where can this be found and what occasion does it commemorate? Click to enlarge in a new window.

Well, well, well, the quirky picture is a feature that may also not be too difficult to place. Do you know where it is and for what occasion was it put there?

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.231

Dave Middleton Reply

October 20, 2016 at 11:41 pm

The street scene is North Street with Swan Lane being the gap between the shop awnings on the far side of the street.

It’s interesting that with all the changes to the street scene, the circular repair to the roof tiles of the shop on the far corner of Swan Lane is still visible.

WJ Bayne on the corner of Angel Gate and North Street, was a clock and watch repairer and seller.

The quirky picture is of the Millennium Well outside Jacobs Well Village Hall.
John Lomas Reply

October 21, 2016 at 10:03 am

The old photo shows North Street.

The Currys van is parked at the bottom of Angel Gate, The gap, just above the lower height buildings, is the entrance to Swan Lane.

The photographer probably stood outside the old post office.

I think it is reassuring to see that many of the buildings are still there. Today’s street view from about that angle only seems to show one carbuncle immediately beyond the old Vintners Arms.

Interestingly the Vintners is shown on the Lost Pubs website as No 36/38, whereas the Oldmaps 1963 1:1250 shows it as No 49.

I can’t picture where the well head or spring is, but why is there what looks to be an overflow pipe immediately above the plaque and appearing to have left a watermark on it?
Pat Shaw Reply

October 21, 2016 at 1:05 pm

This is North Street and I remember Baynes the Jewellers.

That was where I had my ears pierced in a small back room, about 50 years ago.
Colin Checkley Reply

October 21, 2016 at 3:53 pm

It’s got to be in the university grounds, as to why I do not know.

Don’t keep me guessing too long.
John Lomas Reply

October 21, 2016 at 7:14 pm

Car suggestions from a classic car forum.

This side of the road, from left: Triumph Gloria, Ford Prefect, Jowett (prewar)

Far side, fron left: Morris Minor van, pre-war Morris Minor, ?, Fordson 5cwt van and a Triumph Roadster (Bergerac’s car).

Nothing on the bikes yet.
Carole Sherwood Reply

October 23, 2016 at 9:17 pm

North street. Angel Gate to Swan lane
Jacobs Well millennium
Jackie Montague Reply

October 25, 2016 at 8:15 am

I think the first picture has been taken at the top of North Street, not sure about the second picture could be somewhere in Send opposite the Surgery.
Bill and Doug Staniforth Reply

October 25, 2016 at 3:18 pm

North Street, looks like the photo was taken from outside the post office. The shop on the corner of Swan lane was Withey’s Fish shop (we think).

The quality of parking doesn’t seem to have improved much.

The quirky photo is the war memorial at Jacob’s Creak. Did Mickey Giles receive the DFC during this conflict?

[Ed: you’ve obviously been looking at the wrong map or on the vino sauce again lads!]
- Bridget Sinclair Reply
  
  January 27, 2019 at 12:21 pm
  
  The fish shop was George’s.
Brian Holt Reply

October 25, 2016 at 8:19 pm

Picture of North Street taken from outside of the old post office..

The first shop on the left, no 56 North Street, is W J Bayne, who sold watches and clocks. Next door Burnetts, then Bernards meat shop. On the corner of Swan Lane was George & Son Fishmongers, then I think next was a haberdashery shop, then the Vintners Arms pub, and next to that was the back entrance to Robert Dyas Ltd.

Jacobs Well Millennium Monument outside the village Hall. Unveiled on 1st May 2000. Inscribed on the Plaque: UNVEILED BY THE MAYOR OF GUILDFORD DR ROBERT BLUNDELL ERECTED BY JACOBS WELL RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION WITH KIND
SUPPORT FROM GUILDFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL WORPLESDON PARISH COUNCIL CHAMBERS WASTE MANAGEMENT PLC.
Chris Townsend Reply

October 25, 2016 at 8:58 pm

The vintage view shows North Street between Angel Gate and White’s, with the awning.

White’s was a draper’s and outfitter’s, a cut above Gammon’s, but not as up-market as Harvey’s.

W.J. Bayne was a jeweller’s, next to Burnett’s boot repairers.

Bernard’s fishmonger’s and butcher’s shops were on the top corner of Swan Lane, featured here:

https://guildford-dragon.com/2014/10/21/bob-the-butcher-at-bernards-in-the-1970s/

On the lower corner was a fishmonger’s open to the elements (and flies). Thomas’s, a good old-fashioned draper’s, crammed with goods including Liberty bodices and the like, was next to the Vintner’s Arms, the tall building. Moffat’s outfitters was next, occupying part of that building, beside the back entrance of Carling, Gill & Carling’s ironmongers, which extended through from High Street.

Not too much has changed above the shopfronts, except lower down the street. Curry’s shop was in Swan Lane back then.

The quirky feature is the Jacobs Well Millennium Monument, unveiled on the 1st May 2000 by the then Mayor of Guildford, Dr Robert Blundell. It’s on Jacobs Well Road, near the Village Hall.
Margaret Cole Reply

October 26, 2016 at 9:44 pm

The first picture shows all the cars bikes and motor bikes all parked outside the old post office, opposite Angel Gate with Bayes the Jewellers and Burnetts,the boot repairers next door to Bernards the butchers and Bernard bacon dealers.

Here is Swan Lane. George the fishmongers and a sweet shop. I think The Vintners Arms is next, can’t see Choppy Ayling selling his cockles but this is a good late 1940s picture.

I can’t find the second picture probably Riverside area who knows?
John Lomas Reply

October 31, 2016 at 2:39 pm

Just out of interest, the Morris Minor van wasn’t introduced until 1953.
Aubrey Lehay Reply

November 6, 2016 at 6:38 pm

Yep, Look like every one has already nailed it. What struck me is that none of the bicycles seem to be locked!