Where Is This? No.58

Published on: 21 May, 2013
Updated on: 21 May, 2013

By David Rose

Many readers correctly identified last week’s mystery vintage photo as being the site beside the River Wey at Millmead while the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre was being built.

But only Julia Funnell recognised the sculpture picture as being outside the BOC building in Priestley Road at the Surrey Research Park.

Thanks for all your replies and some good historical comments too. To see last week’s post and the comments at the foot of it, click here.

John Perring's Guildford store was where?

Where was this John Perring’s store in Guildford.

This week’s mystery old photo has been extracted from an advertisement for furniture company’s John Perring’s Guildford store. Well the advert states that it’s the Guildford store, but I have to say I don’t recognise the building. Can you say where it was as I am sure the building no longer stands? Must be in the town centre somewhere.

The original advertisement appeared in the Guildford Outlook magazine in the mid-1930s.

Do you recognise this?

The photo of a piece of public art, taken by Peter Bullen, stands on a nice piece of grass with some tress surrounding it. Do you know where this is?

If you know the answers to this week’s, and perhaps have some comments to make, please leave a reply in the box below. All replies will be posted at about the same time next week, along with a new post with the answers to this week’s vintage photo and sculpture / statue picture, and the next pair of images.

Responses to Where Is This? No.58

Bernard Parke Reply

May 22, 2013 at 6:52 am

John Perrings furniture shop was once at the lower end of North Street were the Metro Bank is now situated
Norman Hamshere Reply

May 22, 2013 at 8:15 am

John Perring Ltd, house furnishers 35-37 North Street, opposite the library.
Peter Bullen Reply

May 22, 2013 at 10:08 am

Surely this is Perrings’ original site at the bottom of North Street, roughly on the spot where the new bank has just opened on the former sports shop site.
David & Ann Bailey Reply

May 22, 2013 at 12:50 pm

The photo shows the corner of North Street and what is now Phoenix Court,the new Metro Bank is now on the site.

The sculpture is in the grounds of the University of Surrey.
Barbara Howarth Reply

May 22, 2013 at 6:03 pm

The sculpture is “The Spine” on the University campus opposite Senate House, near the lakes. The campus has several interesting works of art on outside display.
Julia Funnell Reply

May 22, 2013 at 10:26 pm

John Perring was at the bottom of North Street. Here is a link to another photo of it courtesy of Francis Frith: http://www.francisfrith.com/guildford/photos/north-street-c1950_g65015/

The sculpture is on the University of Surrey Campus and is “Spine 3” by Diane Maclean.
Angela Gunning Reply

May 23, 2013 at 6:15 pm

University grounds.
Dave Peters Reply

May 24, 2013 at 12:48 am

Corner of North Steet and Market Street.

Surrey University – near the lake
Ray Springer Reply

May 25, 2013 at 2:53 pm

Perrings used to be at the bottom of North Street, about where the recently opened Metro Bank is now, alongside Phoenix Court.

It disappeared some years ago and the site has been in various guises since.

The sculpture in in the Surrey University grounds not far from Senate House.
Brian Holt Reply

May 26, 2013 at 4:38 pm

John Perring’s store was in North Street.it was on the corner of Phoenix Court and was next door to Woolworth’s store (until recently it was JJB Sports shop).

The piece of art on the grass area, is next to the lake on the perimeter Road which runs through Surrey University Campus.
Chris Townsend Reply

May 26, 2013 at 5:01 pm

John Perring’s are listed as house furnishers at 36 North Street in 1934, but not listed in a Kelly’s directory of 1930. By 1955, they had expanded into numbers 35, 37 and 39 (the higher numbers further up the street) just below the Little White Lion at number 41 (now Robert Dyas), the rear entrance to the Lion Hotel (on High Street) and the Lion and Crown at number 40 (a pub with a large spitoon visible from the doorway.) The site of Perring’s later became part of the “new” Woolworth’s, after the demolition of the Lion. Perring’s were not as up-market as Pimm’s, or even the Co-op, but on a par with Court’s. Today the site is occupied by the new bank near the junction with Friary Street, by part of White Lion Walk, and by the shops in between.

The tall sculpture is called “Spine”, and is on the University of Surrey campus.