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WORK IN PROGRESS: See separate entries for The Old Parsonage, St Michael & All Angles, Upper Highfield, Lower Highfield, Hedge Farm, Hall Farm Barns, Hill Farm House: *denotes separate entry Photograph by Sean Edwards THE OLD PARSONAGE* ST MICHAEL & ALL ANGELS* Photograph by Andrew Kaplanovsky HILL FARM HOUSE* Photograph by Sean Edwards Highfield Bungalows and Cottages. Photograph by Jill Fry Photographs by Sean Edwards HIGHFIELD BUNGALOWS 1 Highfield Bungalows, the home of Adrian, Teresa and George Linegar in 1997 2 Highfield Bungalows, this photograph of Ray and Peggy Stokes was taken in 1993 4 Highfield Bungalows, Eddie Gale photographed in 1997 Eddie Gale Mr & Mrs Arthur Gale on his son Jim's motorcycle outside Highfield Bungalows. Nos 3 & 4 Highfield Bungalows. Surnames of previous owners of No3 include: Winter and Dobson; of No4 include Avis, Woodger, Grant and Gale These, more recent photographs, were taken by Sean Edwards: HILL FARM COTTAGES HILL FAR BARNS* Photograph by Sean Edwards COPPER BEECHES Sale particulars in September 2025: https://www.knightfrank.co.uk/properties/residential/for-sale/highfield-lane-thursley-godalming-surrey-gu8/gld012456244 THREE ACRES Thursley born and bred at Three Acres HALYCYON FIELDS, formerly THE BRIARY Information to come Brian and Mary Sharp, The Briary, 1997 AMBLESIDE Sale particulars in September 2025: https://www.knightfrank.co.uk/properties/residential/for-sale/highfield-lane-thursley-godalming-surrey-gu8/gld012510005 FOUR WINDS Taken from 2018 sale particulars. View of Four Winds from Highfield Lane HOMEFIELD Dick Winter and wife, Homefield Cottages HILL HOUSE David and Catherine Phillimore, 1997 Surnames of previous owners of Hill House include: Middleton; Drewery; Edwards; RONARY Ronary Bungalow was built in 1994 and named after Mary Rapley's original home nearby Mary Rapley, 1994 HILLDOWN Home of the Smarts and the Emersics in 1997 Anne Marie Emersic lives there now LOWER HIGHFIELD FARM* UPPER HIGHFIELD FARM* UPPER HIGHFIELD COTTAGE Sale particulars prepared by Knight Frank in 2024: LITTLE COWDRAY FARM COWDRAY CROSS Cowdray Cross under construction.

The Thursley Women’s Institute (WI) was founded in 1915 and by the mid-twentieth century a well-established and active organisation within the village. By 1965, the Institute had reached its Jubilee year, marking fifty years of continuous activity. The WI provided a structured social and educational framework for women in Thursley, offering regular meetings, lectures and practical demonstrations that reflected both national WI priorities and local interests. As recorded in Thursley Today, 1965 , the Institute played a significant role in village life, particularly through its support of communal facilities and its contribution to social cohesion. The WI was closely associated with the Village Hall and other shared spaces, and its members were actively involved in organising events and preserving a sense of continuity within the community. Through these activities, the Thursley Women’s Institute became an enduring presence in the village, balancing social engagement with a growing awareness of local history and identity. Thursley Women's Instutute, undated. Womens' Insitute at Cosford House in mid 1950's Women's Institute Play Womens' Insitute prize winners Cover of a book that was compiled through the efforts of the Thursley Women’s Institute to commemorate their Jubilee Year, 1965. See separate entry.

From Kay Cottle's postcard collection 'Farewell to the Pylons across Thursley?', from a calendar dated January 2014. Truxford Cottage and barns Painting by the Moat The Moat, c1990

Hankley Common is a large 560-hectare (1,400-acre) area of open heathland and woodland in west Surrey, lying between Thursley, Elstead and Tilford. Managed today by the National Trust, it is part of the wider Thames Basin Heaths landscape and is valued for its rare heathland habitats, wildlife, and panoramic views. The site is part of the  Thursley, Hankley and Frensham Commons   Special Area of Conservation , Special Protection Area  and  Site of Special Scientific Interest . The Atlantic Wall as it is today. Detail from a Ministry of Defence brochure

The Village Hall was open from 10am to 4pm for visitors to view the fascinating memorabilia, read the villagers' stories and remember the lives of all who lived through the war years at home and overseas. Later there was a dinner in the Village Hall (photographs courtesy Valérie Ferris)

The history of Bowlhead Green dates back to the 16th century when it was a small hamlet. The village was named after a local landowner, John Bowlhead, who owned a large estate in the area. https://earth.google.com/web/@51.1398953,-0.68751104,112.63724356a,4518.48894138d,35y,72.17247331h,0t,0r/data=OgMKATA Listed buildings and conservation area. A view of the Chapel taken from Corner Cottage in the early 1920s. Holly Cottage, formerly Yew Cottage can be seen. It belonged to Heath Hall, the estate of the Yalden Knowles and used to be two cottages. A view of "Timbers", which used to be two cottages. The Gale family once lived in the right hand side, which had two bedrooms. The Walkers lived in the left hand side. Timbers A view of Forge Cottage which dates from the 16th Century and an anvil stands outside as a memento of the forge site. Forge Cottage was the home of the Gale family from 1932 to 1938. Miss Fulford built the extension for the Gale family. The little shed housed the engine for the pump of the well of Corner Cottage. A group by Bowlhead Green's village seat taken in the late 1930s. On the left is Margaret (Mag) Gale and Bill Cooper who married her. He was Parish Clerk from 1948 to 1983. He was also responsible for the Thor sign. On the right are friends of theirs from London. The oldest part of Emley Farmhouse which can bee seen on the right hand side. It was a four-bay timber framed house with many characteristics of immediately post-medieval period called the smoke bay period, i.e. 1550 - 1590. The house featured in an episode of "Foyle's War". Emley Farmhouse in the early 1920s. The wisteria on the front can be seen and the bay tree on the left. It was lived in by Colonel and Mrs Vesey. Mrs Vesey was the daughter of the Loring family who lived at Emley from the early 1800s. The Veseys lived at Emley until 1929. Emley Hill House in the 1980s Emley Hill House, Bowlhead Green, 1990's The herbaceous border of Emley Farmhouse which once boasted the best garden in Surrey. Unfortunately, in 1948 it was let to Mr Pentcheff, a Bulgarian diplomat. He completely ruined the garden by allowing poultry, ducks and pigs to free range. Emley Farmhouse showing the chimney from the bread oven. The bread oven is one of the best preserved and has an iron door hinged at the bottom. The building on the right was built to house. a pair of mongoose given to the Lorings in 1914. The barns at Emley Farm. The extensive farm buildings show that in the past a traditional mix of arable and pasture farming was practised. The driveway of Emley Farm leading to the garage and cart shed, the old granary can also be seen. Chapel Cottage was a former Congregational Chapel which became residential in 1906 Holly Tree Cottage Painting of Holly Tree Cottage by Helen Allingham (1848 - 1926) Soldiers from the Royal West Surrey Regiment resting in Bowlhead Green with Holly Tree Cottage in the background Ian and Gill Mclellan, Blackhanger Farm, 1996 Blackhanger Farm in the 1980s Tom and Grace Ranson, Bowlhead Green Farm, 1997 Ian and Aly Warner, The Old Post House, 1997 Emley Hill House and its garden (below), 1997 Robin Hill The Clockhouse, 2024 with sales particulars below https://www.knightfrank.co.uk/properties/residential/for-sale/bowlhead-green-godalming-surrey-gu8/GLD012219749 Greenacres Halnaker Hall, Bowlhead Green (Hall's Cottage) Lower House Video from when the house was put on the market in January 2026: https://thecountryhousedepartment.com/properties/lower-house-bowlhead-green/

The report was delivered by Sally Scheffers, Chairman, at the beginning of the THS meeting on 20th November 2025 where Paul McCue gave a talk on 'Secret Surrey in World War 2". Thursley History Society AGM A week after the Horticultural Society held its AGM in the Village Hall the History Society followed suit on Thursday, 20 th  November, 2025. We started with a quick introduction of the Committee. I took over as Chairman in July last year and am learning more and more about our village and the surrounding areas.             Jackie Rickenberg writes a monthly page in the Parish Magazine for the History Society and these are always both fascinating and entertaining. Jackie spends a great deal of time thoroughly researching her chosen subject matter. Done quietly, the rest of us are always in for a treat to read her articles which are always written with a great love of her subjects. Jackie has been inspired recently by the wartime letters of Sukey Langdale’s father, David Man, writing home from India and Ceylon at the end of the war.             David Young is our Secretary and Webmaster, and he spends hours of his time uploading our digital archive and Jackie’s articles onto the website making sure the entries are correct, adding information to existing entries and monitoring the traffic to our website. David told the meeting that our website is incredibly popular in Singapore! David can see which entries are the most popular and how many new visitors the site is attracting. Peter Rickenberg is our long-standing Treasurer and reported on our modest balance and how, as a Society, we have contributed to the new AV system in the Village Hall as well as the proposed updated AV system to be installed in the Church very soon. Peter also project managed the Village Hall system in May ‘24 which was greatly appreciated. Alie Hanbury heads up “The Archive Angels” comprising of Alie, Sue Ranso n and Sukey Langdale . Our hardworking trio are sorting and rearranging the physical collection of papers, photographs, pictures and objects. Alie told the meeting that they are now reaching the point where they will be fine-tuning the collection which will then be re-catalogued. Alie said that the back of this immense task has now been broken but again many hours have been dedicated to this. Chris McClements , our computer wizard was unable to make the AGM, but his help has been invaluable in scanning material for both the website and for last May’s exhibition. Simon Treadwell is our liaison with the Church and in charge of the Church noticeboard. We are trying to keep it updated regularly so do take a look. Simon and the Church came to the Society’s rescue last year in providing a home for the archive and we are very grateful. The committee said goodbye to John Luff who secured a Parish Council grant for the A3 scanner.  Also to Tim Walsh who had been the archivist for many years and started the long and laborious task of digitising our archive. Not only does this make the archive more accessible but is also an essential means of protecting and safeguarding all the information we hold. Finally, our previous Chairman, Leon Flavell , who took over from Anthony Langdale and encouraged with his love and enthusiasm of all history. A big thank you to past and present committee members. May 2024 : a busy month with the Village Hall AV system and the start of the move of the archive from Bowlhead Green to the Dame School. Our much-missed friend, Hilary Barr, spent hours clearing and cleaning the Dame School prior to the move. June 2024 : the launch party for our new website. Constructed by the hugely talented Helena Traill who charged us a very small fee for all her professional work and has constantly provided back up help to David who then had the task of adding the content. November 2024 : a group of us travelled to Southsea to the D-Day Experience. And it was terrific. The museum is fascinating and the tapestry poignant and heartfelt. We ended with fish and chips in the sunshine.   February 2025 : a talk in the Church about the Church and Churchyard presented by Marion O’Brien and Amanda Flint-Roberts. Marion guided us around the oldest building in the village. The tiny chancel would have been the original Saxon Church with the priest living in a loft above. Marion talked lovingly about the Church that she and Michael have worshipped in for the last sixty years. Amanda then took us to the graves and described the work that she, Mike and Guy Singer have done to uncover and decipher graves and to learn more about our departed villagers. Joan Pearl Wolfe the young victim of “The Wigwam Murder” lay in an unmarked grave but thanks to Amanda, Mike and Guy her family came to Thursley in September 2023 to have a blessing on her new gravestone. That was just one of Amanda’s recollections and we were all captivated by Marion and Amanda’s knowledge. May 2025 : the History Society was a major part of Thursley’s VE & VJ 80 th  commemorations. Our contribution was a two day exhibition, “Victory Euphoria”, featuring friends, family and neighbours’ recollections of World War II. There was such a range of global experiences. Many contributors said how much they enjoyed learning more about their family members and felt that the stories needed to be passed down. The exhibition can now be viewed on the website.    August 2025 : A walk to the Atlantic Wall on Hankley and a talk by Paul McCue on the story behind the crumbling concrete remains. And what an incredible story involving a deceptively clever French painter and decorator and a stupidly deceptive German General. Despite the August heat wave there was a very large and appreciative audience who then enjoyed Sarah Grillo ’s tea and cake.   November 2025 : After the AGM another talk from Paul McCue from Secret World War 2 describing the clandestine warfare on our doorstep here in Thursley. David has written a resume of this riveting illustrated talk which can be found on the website. 2026 : It is the centenary of the first British Grand Prix at Brooklands in Weybridge. The committee plan to concentrate on all things to do with transport. Hopefully, a film about the building of the Hindhead Tunnel; a visit to Brooklands Museum; a visit to a local private car collection; an exhibition including the changes to the A3, the old Toll House and Turnpike, the Thursley bridge, the tunnel, the old road through the village. And the Bugatti of Emley Farm. We would love to have volunteers to help with our research so please do put your hand up as we really want to hear from you. And thank you for your support and encouragement. www.thursleyhistorysociety.org.uk Sally Scheffers, Chairman 20th November 2025

This powerpoint presentation, along with the script that was used, was presented by Michael O'Brien, then Chairman of the History of Thursley Society, and Tim Walsh, its archivist. It presented to Normandy Historians in 2009. Some examples from the Here is the narrative to support the slide presentation:

This walk, if followed in full, will guide you to thirteen destinations in Thursley, starting in The Three Horseshoes pub and finishing at St Michael and All Saints Church. It should take around one hour of gentle walking on mostly level ground, including stops, and covers about half a mile in distance. Please note that none of the houses or gardens are open to the public. Grateful thanks to Sally Scheffers, along with current and previous members of Thursley History Society for their help in compiling this walk. Download the full walk... Published in 2022

To view the whole Census, please download the PDF document...

This article written by Jackie Rickenberg was published in the Parish Magazine in August 2021 After reading about Shepherd’s Cottage in last month’s article, Anne Treadwell, a Bowlhead Green resident, wondered whether we could shed some light on the origins and past residents of Emley Farm, in Bowlhead Green. Some of you may be familiar with this, now National Trust owned, property as it is one of the oldest and most prominent houses within the Parish of Thursley. The oldest portion of the Grade 2 listed Emley Farm is the rear section. It was a four-bay timber-framed smoke bay house with many characteristics of immediately post medieval period, circa 1550-1590. The remainder of the house is early seventeenth century, with the front porch being added in the later nineteenth century and then the timber framed bathroom wing added in the 1920’s. The bay window in the study is believed to have come from nearby Cosford House. The house also boasts one of the best-preserved bread ovens and a brick lined well 140 feet deep, the deepest in Thursley. Access to the well would originally have been at floor level and is now built around. It is said that donkeys were used to raise the water and they were reportedly kept in the cellar. The house has five bedrooms and bedroom 4 is known as the Witches Room as it was the dressing room used by the children for dressing up at Halloween. Outside there are wonderful barns, a granary and extensive farm buildings, used for the traditional mix of arable and pasture farming (although at the turn of the 1800’s, it was predominately a turnip growing farm). Emley was once part of Witley Park Estate and from the early 1800’s was lived in by the Loring family. A Loring daughter married Colonel Vesey and they lived at Emley until 1929. Emley was the Vesey’s country house as the following advertisement in the West Sussex Gazette of 31st July 1924 would indicate; “Cook and betweenmaid wanted end Aug. Cook about 30, betweenmaid about 15. Two in family; two in nursery. House-parlourmaid, nurse and nursery nurse kept. Town and country. Apply Mrs Vesey. (Two things. How employment law has changed and secondly, remarkable really that I have lived until this age without the services of a betweenmaid being essential!). Shortly after the Vesey’s left, the farm was then occupied by Mr Bertram Austin, a retired Royal Artillery Colonel who, tragically, had two prosthetic legs after being blown up in the Great War. In those days prosthetic li mb technology had, sadly, not quite reached the awe-inspiring levels it deserves today. It was reported that “Mr Austin never oiled his legs and every Sunday would squeak as he walked up the aisle for the service”. Despite his disability Bertram Austin went on to successfully race cars at Brookwood circuit. Col. Austin had bought a new Bugatti, directly from a Paris showroom and drove it back to his Surrey farmhouse. He was undoubtedly a man of some spirit as he had his new Bugatti modified to accommodate his disability, creating a hole in the scuttle and fitting larger pads on the control pedals. He left Emley in 1948 to live in Cornwall. Circa 1920's, Captain Bertram Austin racing his Bugatti at Brooklands. The author and lecturer, who lost both of his legs on the Somme, took part in the Spring meeting of the Junior Car Club at Brooklands (Photo by Popperfoto via Getty Images/Getty Images) Another resident was Dr Dennison, who bought the farm in 1953 for £11,000, later buying another two boggy fields, which until then had been part of Begley Farm. It was after his death in 1991 that Emley Farm was bequeathed to the National Trust and more restoration work was carried out. It is now available for rent and among the various domestic details about the farmhouse on their website, comes the warning “Long eared bats roost in the loft at this cottage. If a bat gets into the living room during your stay, please open a window to allow it to escape”! Incidentally, Emley was originally called Imbeleg in its early days. The first element is the Old English “imbe”, meaning a swarm of bees i.e., the place where the bees swarm. An aside. Whilst researching this article, I came across this hysterical article from the Nottingham Evening Post of 2 Nov 1919: COAT, NOT GOAT. COMEDY OF A TELEPHONE CALL AND ITS SEQUEL. Hello! Is that you? Please meet me the station -with the car, and bring a coat." Dench was chauffeur at Lower House, Bowlhead Green. Godalming, and, during a telephone call, was puzzled to hear his mistress (as he thought) request him to bring a goat to the station in the motorcar. As his mistress kept goats, he obeyed. But the strange cargo attracted the attention of the police, with the result that a summons was taken out against the faithful chauffeur for " moving a goat contrary to the Surrey Foot and Mouth Disease Order." The explanation was made to the court yesterday and amid general hilarity, the case was dismissed. Here is an article on the restoration of Emley Farm: https://surreyhills.org/fipl-barn-restoration-emley-farm/