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Only photographs The Old Post Office at The Clump. Mr Tozer was the first postmaster, he had the first telephone in the village. Thursley Clump 1897, looking towards The Corner, we believe the sheep belonged to Betty Weeden's great grandfather who at the time farmed Upper Ridgeway Far

This small 20 page booklet is available from the Godalming Museum and the Lutyens Trust. It contains a circular car trail that allows you to see about 24 of Lutyens's designs in a fairly compact area. In Thursley it identifies The Corner , Lutyens's first executed work, Street House which was his boyhood home, Prospect Cottage which was formerly the Thursley Institute and Thursley Churchyard where there is a simple cross to his father and a memorial to his nephew killed in the first World War.

Tuesday 1st October 2019 On their first visit to the UK, The American Lutyens Trust selected Thursley, where Lutyens grew up, to start their tour and view his early architectural work. Many were architects in their own right and were enchanted by both the village and its hospitality. Coffee was served in Sallie Roles barn followed by a walk through the village, accompanied by Martin Lutyens, past Prospect Cottage (The Institute) , Street House (where Lutyens grew up), through the gardens of Corner House (his first architectural commission) and up to the Church and Luytens's connections in the graveyard. This was followed by a delightful lunch in the pub, much enjoyed by everyone. One of the party had a small piece of glass and a sharpened piece of soap, the tools used by Lutyens in his teenage years wandering around the local countryside, who demonstrated how Lutyens copied the local architecture to provide him in later years with a source of architectural details.

Derek Lutyens died in the service of his country in 1918. Some years ago, the bronze eagle on his memorial in Thursley churchyard was stolen. His nephew and namesake, Derek Lutyens, paid for its replacement. From the Lutyens Trust: A Lutyens Monument Derek Lutyens In the churchyard of Thursley in Surrey there is a monument marking the grave of my uncle and namesake, Lieutenant Derek Lutyens of the Royal Air Force, killed at the age of 23 on 8th May 1918. About 15 years ago the bronze RAF eagle that was its principal adornment, and not apparently firmly enough fixed to the stone, was stolen. This year it has been replaced and, it is to be hoped, the memorial restored to something like its former glory. As I only recently learnt, the design of the gravestone was almost certainly the work of my uncle’s uncle Edwin Lutyens. Derek Lutyens had transferred from the Royal Fusiliers to the Royal Flying Corps in mid-1916. He was not killed in combat but when serving at Farnborough with the Experimental Squadron of the RAF, as the RFC had become a few weeks before. This posting suggests that he was a talented pilot. The aircraft in which he died was apparently being flown for the purpose of pressure tests on its tail plane, and it was the failure of the tail plane that caused the crash. The civilian observer flying with my uncle was also killed. His body, at the time at least, was reported as not having been found. In the circumstances Derek was to have a memorial that is rather more elaborate than those of almost all the thousands upon thousands of his contemporaries who died in 1914-1918. Edwin Lutyens certainly rose to the opportunity, almost as if he realised it was a first rehearsal for the many memorial monuments he was subsequently to design. Restoration of the vandalised monument seemed a daunting task. I knew of no photograph of the stone in its original state, and had only my imperfect memory to rely on, while it seemed obvious that any authentic replica of the eagle would soon be stolen as well. Ultimately, however, through the Lutyens Trust, I learned that James Brazier, a member of the Trust, and Russell Morris, the Historic Buildings Officer for the Thursley area, not only had a photograph of the grave in its former state, but had been considering ways in which it might be restored. Respect for the monument’s setting as much as the attribution to Edwin Lutyens strongly argued for having a replica that was as close to the original as possible. In particular it should be of bronze. The problem of further theft came to seem more apparent than real when it became clear that all the bronze fittings on the stone, and not only the eagle emblem, had been poorly secured. Both the new eagle and its attendant inscription plates are now securely bolted to the stonework they once again satisfactorily adorn. https://www.lutyenstrust.org.uk/portfolio-item/a-lutyens-monument/ From St Michael and All Angels Church, Chiswick, WW1 Project: r y LIEUT L F D LUTYENS Lieutenant Lionel Francis Derek Lutyens RFC Died on Active Service 8 May 1918   Lionel F D (“Derek”) Lutyens was born at Maidnewton, Dorset on 19 November 1894, the eldest son of Lionel C Lutyens, b.1865, a Director and Land Agent, who was himself the third son of Charles Augustus Henry Lutyens, a celebrated Portrait Painter. Lionel (senior’s) elder brothers were Charles Benjamin (1853), Frederick Mansfield (1860) and Francis Augustus (1864) and younger brothers were Arthur Anstruther (1867) Edwin Landseer Lutyens, the celebrated architect (1867).  In 1871, the family lived in 16 Onslow Square.   Another brother, William Enderby was born in 1872.  Derek’s father had grown up (as had Edwin) in Thursley, Surrey.  At the 1901 Census, Derek was aged 6 and living with his parents, Lionel and Lucy at 4A Queen Anne’s Gardens, Bedford Park.  Later they moved to 26 Queen Anne’s Grove. Derek was educated at Elstree and Aldenham School.  It is not clear to what extent he undertook employment prior to the Declaration of War.  His attestation suggests he was undertaking clerical work, though later records state that between May and August 1914 he was employed with Mr J Henderson in an engineer’s office at 7 Mincing Lane, London. Derek volunteered on 29 August 1914 as Private, 10th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, was rapidly promoted to Corporal before being sent for Officer Training.  He was gazetted T/2/Lieutenant on 15 December 1914 (LG page 10693), in the same regiment, and was promoted T/Lieutenant 18 March 1916 (LG page 3031).  He went to France with his regiment in 1915, and remained there as bombing officer until after the battles of Pozieres and La Boiselle.  He transferred to the General List about November 1916, and to the Royal Flying Corps in 29 March 1917.   He trained at the Royal Naval Air Service Training Station at Vendome in France, transferring to 64 Squadron as an Assistant Instructor in June 1917, and was eventually chosen as a pilot for the Experimental Squadron at the Royal Air Factory (now Establishment), Farnborough in August 1917.  His RFC record states that he had completed 3 years of training in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, and that since joining the RFC he had undertaken 2 months work in Aerial Gunnery in Oxford and 8 months experimental flying on all types of aeroplane. Lieut. L F D Lutyens RAF was killed while on active service, on a test flight in Surrey on 8 May 1918.  He was accompanied by a civilian, D H Pinsent as engineer and observer on Airco D.H.4 A7671 at or near Maplesham Heath.  The machine was undergoing pressure tests on the tailplane which failed and the plane crashed and broke up at Trimley.  Mr Pinsent’s body was not found for several days until discovered floating in the Basingstoke canal between Mytchett and Frimley bridges. Derek was buried in the churchyard at St Michael and All Angels, Thursley, where three generations of the Lutyens family had lived.  The funeral was undertaken by Derek’s uncle, Canon William Enderby Lutyens.  According to the late Derek Lutyens, namesake and nephew, the memorial “...gravestone’s design is almost certainly the work of my great uncle Edwin”…“ In the circumstances Derek was to have a memorial that is rather more elaborate than those of almost all the thousands upon thousands of his contemporaries who died in 1914-1918. Edwin Lutyens certainly rose to the opportunity, almost as if he realised it was a first rehearsal for the many memorial monuments he was subsequently to design”. Derek’s executor was William Frederick Lutyens, Company Director, Derek’s cousin, the son of Frederick Mansfield Lutyens, also an artist, who had lived for a time at “Longcot”, Newton Grove, Bedford Park, and died at St Mary’s Convent and Nursing Home, Chiswick in 1924.  Frederick’s other son, Lieut. Charles John Lionel Lutyens died at Zillebeke on 3 October 1917 at age 21.  He had served with the 156 Bde., Royal Field Artillery.  Another of Derek’s cousins, Lieut. Cyril Arthur George Lutyens, Coldstream Guards, died at Passchendaele on 8 October in the same year and is commemorated at Tyne Cot memorial.  Lionel’s eldest uncle, Charles Benjamin also lost two sons:  they are commemorated at Bard College, Annandale, New York, being grandsons of its founder.  They are Capt. Charles Graeme Lutyens, 6/East Lancashires, killed in Gallipoli on 9 August 1915 and Major Lionel Gallwey Lutyens MC, 28 Bde. RFA was killed in action at Langemarck on 6 January 1918.   Thus, Sir Edwin Lutyens had lost no less than five nephews in the Great War. http://www.smaaawwi.org.uk/wwi/people/database-page/lieut-l-f-d-lutyens/ The funeral of Lieutenant Derek Lutyens from The Surrey Advertiser : From the Thursley Parish Magazine , June 1918:

There is no obvious connection between John Freeman, the poet, and Thursley, but he is buried in our churchyard. He must have visited the village, liked it and somehow obtained permission to be buried here. His friends, probably the circle of Georgian poets, including Walter de la Mare and Alice Meynell, bought the field next to the churchyard and gave it to the National Trust in his memory. From Allpoetry.com : John Freeman was a poet whose work reflects the asethetic principles of the Georgian era in British literature. This period, which roughly spanned the first two decades of the 20th century, was marked by a renewed interest in traditional forms and a focus on rural life and themes of nature. From A Dictionary of Methodism: Poet and critic, born into a WM family at Dalston, Middx on 29 January 1880. His health was permanently impaired by scarlet fever in early childhood. At 13 he joined the Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society as a junior clerk and spent the rest of his life in its employ, rising to become Secretary and Director in 1927 and a leading figure in the insurance world. He was a  local preacher . But he was more widely known in the literary world, where he contributed to Edward Marsh's  Georgian Poets  anthologies and enjoyed the friendship of such figures as Alice Meynell, Walter de la Mare and J.C. Squire. His friend Edward Thomas called him 'a sort of angel' and Eleanor Farjeon described him as a 'quiet poet ... gentle, with a fine sensitive mind, and qualities which made his plain features lovable.' After Thomas's death, she collaborated with Freeman in seeing Thomas's first volume of poems through the press. His own first book of poems, published in 1909, was followed by several others, marked by his 'grave and quiet rhythms' and including  Stone Trees  (1916) which gained him recognition.  Poems New and Old  (1920) won him the Hawthornden Prize for imaginative literature. His  Collected Poems  appeared in 1928. He wrote on literary matters for the  New Statesman ,  The Bookman , the  Quarterly Review ,and the  London Mercury  and his prose works included a  Portrait of George Moore  (1922),  English Portraits  (1924),  Herman Melville  (1926) and a play  Prince Absalom  (1925). He died on 23 Sept. 1929 and his funeral service at Anerley WM Church was conducted by his fellow poet, Andrew Young, then a minister of the Free Church of Scotland. He was interred at Thursley, Surrey, where a field adjoining the churchyard was given to the National Trust in his memory. ' Meanwhile de la Mare came to know a poet friend of Roger Ingpen's … John Freeman, who like himself was in business - a great deal more successfully than de la Mare. He had begun life as an office boy at thirteen, and became in time the Secretary of his insurance company, the Liverpool Victoria. Like de la Mare, he would come home at the end of an eight- or nine-hour working day in the City, to write verses late into the night. He was also a copious correspondent and very well read. Tall, gangling, ugly, solemn, punctilious, there was in him an endearing quality about these very attributes; Edward Thomas referred to him as "a kind of Angel", and de la Mare, after his death, described even his physical appearance in phrases that suggest beauty - "beautiful brows", and ruminative eyes "of a peculiarly ardent blue".' Theresa Whistler,  Imagination of the Heart: the life of Walter de la Mare  (1993), pp.127-8 From Wikipedia: John Frederick Freeman (29 January 1880 – 23 September 1929) was an English poet and essayist, who gave up a successful career in insurance to write full-time. He was born in London , and started as an office boy aged 13. He was a close friend of Walter de la Mare from 1907, who lobbied hard with Edward Marsh to get Freeman into the Georgian Poetry series; with eventual success. De la Mare's biographer Theresa Whistler describes him as "tall, gangling, ugly, solemn, punctilious". He won the Hawthornden Prize in 1920 with Poems 1909-1920 . His Last Hours was set to music by Ivor Gurney . John Freeman's headstone in Thursley Churchyard: This stone, set into the wall of the churchyard and juxtaposed to Hohn Freeman's headstone, has this inscription: THE ADJOINING FIELD WAS PRESENTED TO THE NATIONAL TRUST IN 1931 FOR PRESERVATION AS A MEMORIAL TO JOHN FREEMAN BORN 29 JAN 1880 DIED 23 SEPT 1929 The view across the National Trust field with John Freeman's grave, and the inscribed stone in the wall, in the foreground John Freeman's poetry: Here are two examples of his verse: from MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD AND OTHER POEMS; published 1919 by Selwyn and Blount of London. Snows Now the long-bearded chilly-fingered winter Over the green fields sweeps his cloak and leaves Its whiteness there. It caught on the wild trees, Shook whiteness on the hedges and left bare South-sloping corners and south-fronting smooth Barks of tall beeches swaying 'neath their whiteness So gently that the whiteness does not fall. The ash copse shows all white between gray poles, The oaks spread arms to catch the wandering snow. But the yews--I wondered to see their dark all white, To see the soft flakes fallen on those grave deeps, Lying there, not burnt up by the yews' slow fire. Could Time so whiten all the trembling senses, The youth, the fairness, the all-challenging strength, And load even Love's grave deeps with his barren snows? Even so. And what remains? The hills of thought That shape Time's snows and melt them and lift up Green and unchanging to the wandering stars. The Wren Within the greenhouse dim and damp The heat floats like a cloud. Pale rose-leaves droop from the rust roof With rust-edged roses bowed. As I go in Out flies the startled wren. By the tall dark fir tree he sings Morn after morn still, Shy and bold he flits and sings Tinily sweet and shrill. As I go out His song follows me about ... About the orchard under trees Beaded with cherries bright, Past the rat-haunted Honeybourne And up those hills of light: As up I go His notes more sweetly flow. Or down those dark hills when night's there Full of dark thoughts and deep, A thin clear soundless music comes Like stars in broken sleep. When I come down All those dark thoughts are flown. And now that sweetness is more sweet, Here where the aeroplanes Labouring and groaning in the height Lift their lifeless vans:-- Sweet, sweet to hear The far off wren singing clear.

The garage was situated on the old A3 opposite the The Red Lion. It was owned for many years by Reg Cottle who recorded many of the tragic accidents that not only occurred along the A3, especially alongside the Devil's Punch Bowl, but also literally impacted his garage and the pub opposite as can be seen from the articles and photographs below. NB: All of these documents and also the ones referred to in Reg Cottle and the Red Lion Garage are in the physical archive in a box marked "Red Lion Papers". And here are two of Reg Cottle's photographs of the vehicle above being recovered: On the rear of the second photograph, Kay Gunner has written, "Before they built a bank round the Punch Bowl bend, cars used to go over and down into the bowl. The breakdown is parked on the footpath and the rear view is of Don Keen". 1950s. Reg kept an album recording many of the tragic accidents and the wrecks that he recovered over the years. Here are some examples and the entire album is in the pdf below: The press reported on these tragic accidents as can be viewed in the pdfs below: Unfortunately, many of the cuttings do not include either the source or date but the pdf below featuring the death of a husband and wife was from the Farnham Herald, May 5th, 1967: And this was from the Surrey Daily Advertiser, September 6th, 1974 Reg liked all sorts of mechanical tool, instruments and engines and this extended to short wave radio which helped to catch a thief!: April 27, 1954 More details are in the attached pdf:

By Sean Edwards The following notes result from a meeting, on Thursday 13th November with Capt. Streatfield-James to review the Churchyard trees. Subsequently a further visit was made with Mr Ray Herbert to identify some of the conifers and the churchyard has been surveyed to show tree positions. The Churchyard has an open character, with fine views to the north which it may be thought are worth retaining. The existing tree content is seen as complementing this character and some caution is recommended in the siting of any new planting which might change this situation. All of the trees seen are presently in fair to good health and not seen to be dangerous. The following comments on the species present may be helpful in planning future work.

Photographs taken by Sean Edwards Church Hill Cylindrical Tombs Garden of Remembrance Denyer Family Gravestones The Coffin Path Blacksmith's Tombstone Sailor's Tombstone The Chestnut Tree Weather Vane George Lambden's Tomb Other tombstones Tozer; Nevinson; Harbutt; Wilson The Bossom Memorial Churchyard Working Party in 2021 Saxon Window Glass Vestry Screen, 2009 Polish Lutheran Brass Plaque The Church in Winter

The Society was formed in 1991 (see separate entry) and newsletters were issued at regular intervals until January 2009. They have now been scanned and extracts for each one are below which are great record of our village life spanning roughly a decade either side of the Millenium. The first five newsletters, are from February 1993 to December 1994 (apologies for Issues 4 and 5 not being in the correct sequence in the pdf) and cover the following topics: Issue One , February 1993: Announcement that there were 76 members; resignation of Geraldine O'Sullivan Last as hon secretary and the appointment of Sally Scheffers in her place; slide show planned for the village hall in March 1993; report on the poet John Freeman (1880 - 1929), who is buried in our churchyard, and two of his poems were reproduced Issue Two , July 1993: request for annual subscription (£2 for adults, £1 for those at school); announcement of AGM October 23rd 1993; report on three village tress that marked special occasions; report on success of 'A Walk Through Old Thursley'; report on Thursley's Historic Buildings from Joan Harding of the Domestic Buildings Research Group who is preparing a book for the society. Issue Three , February 1994: announcement of two events - 'Events in Thursley's Past' and 'A Celebration of Thursley's History' both to be held in the village hall; update on the book of old buildings; report of the AGM; request for information headed 'Old Names - Uncertain Places'; Edna Goble's article on 'The Institute - Prospect Cottange'; a Thursley play reviewed in 'The Times'; announcement of the AGM. Issue Four , July 1994: outing to Witley Park announced; confirmation of the AGM; 50th anniversary of D-Day was noted; request for memories of VE-Day and VJ-Day 50 years for the anniversary in 1995; Life in Thursley in World War II was described by E Morgan. Issue Five , December 1994: retirement of the founder members of the committee and announcement of the new committee; Mary Bennett also wrote about the play reviewed in 'The Times'; report of the AGM; request for missing Parish Magazines and photographs and other material for exhibitions and slide shows; a history of Smallbrook Farm 1876 - 1939 by Betty Weeden; Christmas Gift suggestions; announcement of a slide show, 'Snapshots of Thursley's Past'; plans for 1995 Victory Celebrations and request for memories; Mary Bennett's memories of VE and VJ Day; account of the marriage of Captain Alastair Banks and Corporal Ann Crichton; details of the committee. Newsletters 6 to 10 cover the period from April 1995 to September 1996 and cover the following topics: Issue Six , April 1995: Update of the theatrical Squires family; creation of the archive in the village hall under the first archivist, Douglas Watson; report of a slide show given of 15th March 1995; continuation of the serialisation of Betty Weeden's history of Smallbrook Farm 1876 - 1939; announcement of a trip to the Weald and Downland Museum on 21st May 1995; report on plans for Thursley's Victory in 1945 Commemoration; announcement of Thursley at War Exhibition on 24th June 1995; two war time book reviews - Safe As Houses by Margaret Siddall and Sticky Blue by Robin Rowe; memories of war from Josie Scheffers, Joyce Secrett, Kathleen Watson, Arthur Moss and Eddie Gale. Issue Seven , September 1995: report from the Chairman, Tom Ranson, on a visit to the Singleton Open Air Museum and a mention of the success of the V E Day Exhibition in the village hall; announcement of the AGM on 4th October1995; continuation of the serialisation of Betty Weeden's history of Smallbrook Farm 1876 - 1939; report on Thursley's Victory in 1945 Commemoration, 24th and 25th June 1995; report of a visit to the Weald and Downland Museum on 21st May 1995; report on Surrey Archaeological Society's Millennium Project; report on Thursley at War Exhibition. Issue Eight , December 1995: Chairman's report; report of the 5th AGM held in the village hall with sixty members attending; continuation of the serialisation of Betty Weeden's history of Smallbrook Farm 1876 - 1939; description of Stream Cottage; another wartime book review, Land Girls by Angela Huth was highly recommended; news from the archive by Eddie Gale, the Archivist; HOTS Advent Quiz, 24 Brain Teasers, with answers. Issue Nine , May 1996: mention from the Chairman of the "Old Thursley Revisited" slide show, a planned visit to Emley Farm and the publication of Biographies ; report on "Old Thursley Revisited" and mention of over 1,000 slides held by Charles Weeden; details of Biographies ; visit to Emley Farm planned for 18th May 1996; announcement of the Summer Exhibition in the village hall on 13th July, 1996; request for photographs of People of Thursley 1996; write up of Eveline Lance, artist; origins of the garden fish pond Issue Ten , September 1996: Chairman's thanks for those who worked on the Summer Exhibition; announcement of 6th AGM on 30th October, 1996; report on visit to Emley Farm; extract from an early Parish Magazine; report on the Summer Exhibition; another request for photographs of People of Thursley 1996, noting that some had already been received; article on Thursley's Tabletombs. Newsletters 11 to 15 cover the period from February 1997 to January 1999 and cover the following topics:   Issue Eleven , February 1997: introduction to the year ahead from the Secretary, Sally Scheffers, which included a March slide show and quiz, a visit to the Rural Life Centre in Tilford, the annual exhibition, a request for a genealogist and a request to Druscilla Pye to search the Thursley Marriage Register for 1947 to find couples who were married that year so that they can be part of the celebrations for the Queen’s Golden Wedding Anniversary; Pat Coles request for people to be aware of Oakhurst Cottage in Hambledon which is National Trust Property open to visitors; an extensive report on the 1996 Annual General Meeting; limited response to the People of Thursley 1996 initiative, so it was extended by six months; comment on “Lutyens in Waverley” which was published ‘some years ago’ by Waverley Borough Council; donation from Reg Fosberry of an original Lutyens architectural drawing of The Institute; report on the success of the Biographies  project; a brief write up of the Thursley Friendly Society banner.   Issue Twelve , May 1997: announcement of the visit to the Rural Life Centre in Tilford; more details of the Summer Exhibition in July 1997 and another request for photographs of people outside their houses; a review of the slide show and quiz; an article by Judy Hewins on Thursley Ironworks; an article taken from the Surrey Advertiser about a bronze bust of Mr W K Fosberry appearing in the Royal Academy exhibition, together with a brief biography, and advice that Annette Graham-Stewart is lending the bust for the Summer Exhibition.   Issue Thirteen , September 1997; the Chairman, Tom Ranson, commented on the work of HOTS over the last six years and anticipated change at the forthcoming AGM, and the usefulness of the cupboard in the village hall so that its contents can be displayed at the Summer Exhibition; report on the May visit to the Rural Life Centre at Tilford; announcement that the AGM will be held on 8th October, 1997 and that four members are retiring from the committee; subscriptions remain at £5 per family and £3 per person; request for copies of reports from the Domestic Buildings Research Group; report on the success of the Summer Exhibition themed “People of Thursley”; continuation of Judy Hewins’s article on Thursley Ironworks; noted that Mr Reg Fosberry had donated a number of old indentures pertaining mainly to the Court family and on parchment – the Farnham Museum has been approached for advice on their storage; Mr Norman Ratcliffe, once Thursley’s village ‘Bobby’ has agreed to undertake genealogical research; reproduction of a poem by William Karn written in October 1886; two possible meanings for Thursley.   Issue Fourteen , March 1998: letter from the new Chairman, Michael O’Brien; another request for house photos; Mary Rapley is the new archivist; Summer Exhibition announced for July 1998; mention of the Bossom air disaster and a request for information; notice of the AGM to be held on 8th October 1998; joint meeting with Thursley Fellowship in April 1998; visit arranged to Loseley House in May 1998.   Exhibition Special Newsletter , September 1998: the Summer Exhibition was a great success and provoked a number of enquiries with visitors from London, the south coast and the Wirall; people worked on their family histories and some met new relatives; the Thursley Horticultural Society celebrated their 75th year with a display of their Minute Books; claim that the boxer, Joe Louis participated in a boxing match on August Bank Holiday in 1944; report of the dismissal of the publican of The Three Horseshoes, Arthur Ford, for procuring girls for the soldiers; information request about Wheelers Farm and the Bowler family; photograph of Thursley School c1900; Sir Clive Bossom has been in touch with the aunt of the German Prince killed in the crash and has been invited to visit her Schloss.   Issue Fifteen , January 1999: review of the year from the Chairman; transcripts of the replies to the Bishops Visitation of Thursley in 1764 and 1788 were lodged with the archivist; more information on the Sailor’s murder; opening of the Surrey History Centre; portrait of Mrs Margaret Woods, who lived at Vine Cottage, was presented to the Society; brief biography of Margaret Woods described in her Times obituary as “one of the distinguished women writers of her day”. Newsletters 16 to 20 cover the period from March 1999 to Winter 2001 and cover the following topics: Issue Sixteen , March 1999: notice that HOTS was now on the World Wide Web; visit to Uppark in May 1999; brief history of Thursley Ironworks, mention of a small silk industry and the Dye House; note on the Three Horse Shoes being a free house in 1892; Norman Ratcliffe has transcribed ‘House to House Census of Thursley for Catering for the Coronation’; article on Revd A J Wheeler. Issue Seventeen , September 1999: Results from the web page experiment; report contributed by Eddie Gale on the Thursley Young People’s Social Club in 1947; update on the Wig Wam Murder from Ray Deadman who had discovered HOTS on the www.   Issue Eighteen , January 2000: letter from the Chairman, Michael O’Brien welcoming the new Millenium and contrasting it with the beginning of the 20th Century; details about the Exhibition to celebrate the Millenium and asking for photographs of village houses past and present; details of Research Aids for ancestry; suggestion that a sandstone on the common behind Warren Mere has a magical property.   Issue Nineteen , June 2000: update on the Bossom Air Crash by John Gunner; announcement of exhibition to be held in the village hall on 17th June 2000 to celebrate the Millenium; announcement of AGM to be held on 19th October; visit to the Surrey Advertiser.   Issue Twenty , Winter 2001: search for the wallet to that acknowledges the war service of Ellis Raymond Monnery; Millenium photograph, which was underwritten by the society, had nearly 300 participants and forms had been requested to show occupations; brief report of the AGM held in October; report from Mr Wood on the Dunkirk Wall. Newsletters 21 to 25 cover the period from Summer 2001 to Summer 2003 and cover the following topics: Issue Twenty-one , Summer 2001: Extract from the Surrey Advertiser, 8th August 1951, on Thursley’s Festival of Britain celebrations; a reminder of the publication of Thursley Today 1965 ; under the heading of “The Big Bang”, a look back at the Thursley Nuclear Survival Plan with thanks given to Michael Williams;   Issue Twenty-two , Winter 2001/2: report of a TV documentary of the Wigwam Murder made by the Discovery Channel, HOTS assistance in the making of it and a promise of a video of the programme; a further update from Ray Deadman (see issue 17); report of the AGM held in October; review of “The Second Fleet”, about transports to Australia in 1790; 1901 Census now online; report of the death of Eddie Gale.   Issue Twenty-three , Summer 2002: report of the closure of the Thursley Village Institute taken from the Parish Magazine January 1964; request for a new Treasurer and committee member; tribute to Eddie Gale.   Issue Twenty-four , January 2003: report of the AGM in October 2002; report of contact from Weis and Zen Rogalksi, via the web page, who had lived in Tweedsmuir camp and written a book “Living in Tweedsmuir Camp, 1948 – 1957” which has been donated to the archive; exhibition in June to include the 1901 Census; report on how to use the Census online; report on accessing “free BDM” for genealogists.   Issue Twenty-five , Summer 2003: talk on Tweedsmuir camp by Weis and Zen Rogalksi in September 2003; brief report on the Surrey History Centre; description of Godalming from Pigots Directory of 1839; mention of Thursley in Dion Fortune’s “The Secrets of Dr Taverner” and a request for any other references to Thursley’s alleged Pagan past.   Newsletters 26 to 30 cover the period from Winter 2003/2004 to Winter 2005/2006 and cover the following topics: Issue Twenty-six , Winter 2003/2004: write up on the Lorne Scots and Tweedsmuir Camp; mention of “The Present State of England” by Edward Chamberlayne printed in 1694; brief description of the Cokelers or The Dependents, a religious group that was started in 1851 in Shamley Green; report on the AGM, request for a committee member and a talk by the Rural Life Centre, Tilford; report on the talk given by Weis and Zen Rogalksi; report on the deaths of Betty and Charles Weeden and Mrs Kot.   Issue Twenty-27 , May 2004 (first colour issue): report on the return of the Lorne Scots in April 2004 to Thursley and the site of the Tweedsmuir camp; request for a photographer; visit to Shulbrede Priory; request for suggestion that Tweedsmuir camp be somehow memorialised.   Issue Twenty-eight , Winter 2004: request for information on the Free French at Tweedsmuir camp; report on the AGM; details of the will of Anthony Smith Esq of Witley dated 26th April 1668; extract from 2001 Thursley Census where the village had 656 people (498 Christians, 5 Jews, 3 Buddhists, 96 no religion and 52 not stated), 427 cars or vans and 242 households.   Issue Twenty-nine , Spring/Summer 2005: announcement of an exhibition, “Memories of WW2 – 60 years on”, to be held on 9th and 10th July; information on Dion Fortune and the Society of the Inner Light at Truxford; report on HOTS website; announcement on AGM in October 2005 followed by a look at the life of Mary Bennett; description of Thursley from John Goring’s Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales 1870-1872;   Issue Thirty , Winter 2005/2006: report of success on the July Exhibition and an interesting write-up; one of the displays was given by the Hankley Common Atlantic Wall Trust illustrating its importance; more information of Tweedsmuir Camp. Newsletters 31 to 37 cover the period from Spring 2006 to January 2009 (when they ceased to be published) and cover the following topics: Issue Thirty-one , Spring 2006: chilling account of a blind musician being sentenced to death in 1826 for passing two forged bank notes; examples from the picture postcard archive; publishing the WW2 reminiscences to be discussed; need for a comprehensive history of Thursley identified. Issue Thirty-two , Autumn/Winter 2006/2007: comment that the 2006 fire was a repeat of the 1976 fire; request to learn the burial place of Joan Pearl Wolfe; report of the October 2006 AGM; planned visit to the GreatBarn at Wanborough; Norman Ratcliffe advised that he has Thursley Parish Register of Births, Deaths and Marriages on microfiche; planned update to the web page. Issue Thirty-three , Spring 2007: sadness expressed on the sudden death of Mary Rapley; a recording of Wilfred and Mabel Pickles broadcast of "Have a Go" in 1958 was given to HOTS who will have had it enhanced, re-recorded and lodged in the archives; the website has attracted almost 1,000 visits in three years; recollections of life in The Lodge and Thursley 1897 - 1912 as recounted by Mrs Barbara Bell (nee Robertson) to Michael O'Brien in 1978. Issue Thirty-four , Summer 2007: recordings of "Have A Go" on CD have been given to all the contestants families with the compliments of HOTS; recollections of The Lodge, Part 2; sadness expressed at the death of Tom Ranson, former Chairman of HOTS. Issue Thirty-five , Winter 2007/2008: report on the 2007 AGM where the recording of "Have a Go" was played; article on Henry Edward Spernon Tozer, village postmaster, artist and photographer in the 1890s; request for information about the bust of William Karn Fosbery; recollections of The Lodge Part 3; Norman Ratcliffe has Census and Births, Deaths and Marriages online. Issue Thirty-six , Summer 2008: largely devoted to reporting the success of the "Wedding Belles" exhibition in June 2008; conclusion of recollections of The Lodge; announcement of AGM in October 2008 to be followed by a talk on metal detecting from the Discoverers Historical Society. Issue Thirty-seven , January 2009: changes to the committee following the AGM; report on the Ham class of Minesweepers built in the 1950s; paintings of Henry Tozer's sons featured; description of Thursley Memorial which noted that the responsibility for their upkeep had passed from the Government to local and Parish Councils.

Reg Cottle was the proprietor of the Red Lion Garage on the Old Portsmouth Road from 1934 until his retirement in 1980. At the outbreak of the Second World War, he was called up by the Royal Tank Corps. However, the farmers of Thursley made such a clamour at the loss of the one man who could keep their farm machinery running that the authorities hastily released him. The documents below show the trajectory of his work and challenges running the Red Lion Garage and end with tributes from his family. NB: All of these documents and also the ones referred to in The Red Lion Garage, Reg Cottle and many road traffic accidents are in the physical archive in a box marked "Red Lion Papers". Reg covered a radius of about 20 miles and worked very long hours, mostly 7 days a week. It was often difficult to obtain spare parts for the farm tractors, machinery and generators, but Reg was such a resourceful man that he would often make them himself. His garage petrol pumps were commandeered for military use, so Reg had to drive to Godalming for his petrol. Many tanks churned up the forecourt of the Red Lion Garage and each one had to be refuelled by manually turning the pump handle. Not the most popular job in those days! More photographs: Licence to keep Petroleum Spirit, 1934 Compulsory Purchase 1938: Licence to keep Petroleum, 1939 Rating Notice, 1947: Signage - Reg faced a number of planning issues over the years: Reg Cottle recovered many damaged cars from the A3 and the Devil's Punch Bowl but his garage was not immune from accidents: Rent increase, 1958 Site Plan 1958: Reg Cottle acquires the Red Lion Garage in 1959: Compulsory Purchase Orders and Opinions 1969 - 1972; there are 28 pages of documents in the pdf below: Undated Red Lion site plan: Correspondence relating to signage for the garage between The Right Honourable Maurice Macmillan, MP, and The Right Honourable Anthony Crosland, Secretary of State for the Environment. The letter below to Reg Cottle shows the disappointing result: Closure and sale of the business; Reg Cottle retires: Reg Cottle, a tribute by Maureen Waters (daughter), Chalie Waters (granddaughter), John Gunner (son-in-law) and Jamie Banks (friend A eulogy (unattributed) for Elsie Cottle: Growing up in Thursley by Maureen Elsie Cottle: The scans above can be found together in this pdf:

The first newsletter driven by articles from the website was delivered to subscribers on 1st September 2024. If you want to receive these updates, please sign up on the home page. We have also added newsletters from the beginning of the society when it was known as the History of Thursley Society. https://shoutout.wix.com/so/14Oz8EPSe?languageTag=en&cid=bceff40b-12d7-4ab7-879e-2fc25b2b4a42

WORK IN PROGRESS: See separate entries for Upper Highfield, Lower Highfield, Hedge Farm, Hall Farm Barns, Hill Farm House 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 These, more recent photographs, were taken by Sean Edwards: Hill Farm Cottages The Briary Brian and Mary Sharp, 1997 Hill House David and Catherine Phillimore, 1997 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 Upper Highfield Cottage