Where Is This? No.24

Published on: 10 Sep, 2012
Updated on: 10 Sep, 2012

The former pearl assurance building with the plaque and coat of arms with a date of 1931 right at the top.

By David Rose

Several readers had no trouble at all correctly identifying last week’s images.

The vintage picture showed the Church Acre Ironworks in Leapale Lane and the mystery date appears on the former Pearl Assurance building in the High Street. The American Express Travel Services shop is now on the ground floor.

Click here to see last week’s post and the replies at the foot of the page. Thanks go to Ray Springer and Chris Townsend who have supplied some useful additional details.

The photo of the ironworks dates to 1911 and the time of George V’s coronation celebrations in Guildford. The men are pictured before taking part in an old ceremony known as Firing the Feux de Joir – firing gunpowder off the tops of anvils. In recent times it has been the Bellerby Theatre.

Any idea where Jackson’s garage was?

This week’s mystery vintage photo shows Jackson’s motor garage in Guildford town centre which, at the time the picture was taken, sold Rover and Lagonda cars. The building and the motor dealership survived here until at least the late 1950s (at a guess). Do you know where it was and what is there now?

Do you know where this is?

The mystery date can be found on a building in a Guildford town centre side street. It’s the oldest actual sign that I have featured here. An original from 1762 no less!

Off the top of my head I can’t give any more details about it. A boundary marker perhaps? However, the letter ‘G’ is very similar to the one used in Guildford Borough Council’s logo. Was this the inspiration for it?

If you know the answers and can supply any more fascinating details, please 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.

Responses to Where Is This? No.24

Ray Springer

September 11, 2012 at 2:02 pm

Jackson’s garage was at 97 High Street, and they also had a garage in Onslow Street.
Jackson’s cycle shop in Portsmouth Road also belonged to the same family.
A.Oliver

September 12, 2012 at 8:32 am

Is the photographer standing at the end of Friary Street, looking towards where Debenhams now is?
Chris Townsend

September 14, 2012 at 7:23 pm

Jackson’s was at 97 High Street, facing Friary Street, and was demolished to make way for Millbrook. The part on the right had the words “Penny Bazaar” set in tiles across the floor of the entrance. The salvaged tiles were on display at the Museum for a time, but, from memory, in a modified form with the words set one above the other. Jackson’s had occupied that shop since 1919.

The boundary stone is on the east side of Haydon Place, near the junction with North Street, where Pizza Hut is today.
Brian Holt

September 14, 2012 at 7:41 pm

Jackson’s Garage was at the bottom of the High Street
opposite Friary Street which was a traffic light junction.
now days there is only the Millbrook road & pavement there.
Dave Peters

September 16, 2012 at 10:57 pm

Jackson’s were in the Upper High Street opposite the old library, now restaurants.