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The Beanside Canal existed before the Tweedsmuir camp was purchased by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in 1922 and turned into a tented rest and recreational facility for the British Army and remained like that until the start of the Second World War. See https://www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk/tweedsmuir-military-camp/ Beanside Camp. The view of the Army camp looking towards Shackleford and the Hogs Back. The Levy sisters, who farmed at Smallbrook, had to take the cattle out of the Beansides fields for the summer. The 1930 Army Camp at the Beansides, now known as Tweedsmuir. The Army and reserves came from Aldershot. In 1937 a member of the Staffordshire Regiment murdered a woman at Beacon Hill. All the troops were lined up outside The Dye House for his arrest. The troops only came in the summer for a three months' staywhile the barracks were cleaned and fumigated. With thanks to Sean Edwards for the maps, retouched black and white and the colour photographs below: The red arrow shows the location of the Beanside bridge BRIDGE REMAINS CANAL REMAINS CULVERT

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.

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 The Fallen Chestnut Tree with Audrey Ayres and Otto Jaenicke, November 1977 (photographer unknown) 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 Millenium Gate

In 1892, a return of Licensed Houses to Guildford Petty Sessions, show the pub as a free house. The Licensee was Arthur Steed, and the owner was Miss Rushbrooke. The usage was that of the genral public. Listed under Thursley Public Houses were Railway Hotel, Crown and Cushion and other Haslemere Pubs. This shows they were in Thursley Parish. In the early part of World War 1, the publican of of The Three Horse Shoes, Arthur Ford and his wife, were dismissed by the brewery for procuring girls for the soldiers. 'Save the Pub' and celebration poster Val and Paddy De Burgh, New Year's Eve 1984 Identified revellers are: David Jeffcoat; Popsy; Katy Jeffcoat; Hilary Barr Val De Burgh, Landlord of the Three Horse Shoes - January 1985 Men of Thursley Ride from The Three Horseshoes Pub 2008 : Paul Smolas, Peter Broste, Philip Traill, Peter Rickenberg The Three Horseshoes re-opens after Quarantine, 4 July 2020: Photographs by Andrew Kaplanovsky

In 1974, Margie Crawfurd and Georgina Harvey held an art exhibition at Thursley Village Hall as charity benefit. It was so popular that they continued to hold it annually for up to two weeks at a time until 1984. The exhibition consisted of work by artists and craftsmen from all over England, the large majority of whom were professionals. Over the years they managed to attract many leading figures in the arts and crafts, and as a consequence visitors to the exhibition came from far afield. We asked Georgina Harvey for her recollections and in February 2025 she wrote: The Thursley Exhibition began in 1975 as a fund raiser for the Thursley Conservative Association.   The idea was to get anyone in the village who had ever made, knitted, spun, sewn, weaved, carved, forged, thrown, blown, drawn, painted or whatever to show off their goods and skills.   The designated team consisted of artist Ros Kentish, Margie Crawfurd, Marion O’Brien & myself with Robert Tann being in charge of all things financial.  The Village Hall would be rented for 10 days at the end of September and a raffle and wine bar would cover expenses.    All committee members donated prizes and also helped man the hall during opening times.    The exhibition was open to anyone willing to pay the 10p entrance fee on Thursday & Friday evening and all day on the Saturday.   Sunday was the day to collect belongings or purchases and clean up the Hall. The exhibition seemed to grow exponentially and by the fourth year the political association was becoming a problem for some of the Artist and Craftsmen who were no longer locals.   For the next six years we had a keen viewing & spending public and exhibitors, some of which were more used to showing in London Galleries, still eager to show their work in our rural countryside.   The numbers and values increased and The Thursley Village Hall became a veritable hub of excellence in the regional autumn arts calendar.   Our Competition Judges were distinguished members of the Arts Scene and gave us credentials beyond our expectations.    It was time for a change.     For ten years The Thursley Exhibition had been able to have exclusive use of the Village Hall (which by 1984 had increased from 5 to 45 days).   A Nursery School wanted a home and 41 years later there is still one there. Artists showing their art over the years included: Nicholas Dimbleby - sculptor Mary Fedden - painter Paul Gunn - painter Ken Howard - oils John Makepiece - furniture Susan May - Jeweller Lorne McKean - bronze sculptures Bernard Myers - printmaker Charles Normandale - iron gate William Pye - a sculptor known particularly for his water sculptures Guy Taplin - driftwood birds Carel Weight - oils Mary Wondrausch - pottery Along with: Thursley's very own residents Salli Tomlinson (artist) and Peter Hanauer (handblown glass) An example of Salli's work: a musical artwork that opens up and reveals boxes within which also open and play music: painted on boards and approximately 1M x 1M Examples of Pete Hanauer's glass blowing which are exhibited in the V & A Museum Robert Tann, Margie Crawfurd, Alice Harvey and Georgie Harvey Introductory page and frontispiece for the 1984 exhibition, the last to be held 1983 Unknown publication 1982 The Field Magazine, 1982 1981 1980 The Herald, Friday, October 3rd, 1980 1979

This article, written by Jane Haviland in 1994, was first published in the ring-bound book,"Lives of the People of Thursley". Eddie Gale, 1939-48 Queen's Royal Regiment The first two pages are reproduced below and the rest of the article can either be found in the pdf below or in the entry for the book that is on this website.

This article was written by Sally Scheffers for the History of Thursley Society in 1993 (as can be seen from the dot matrix print) and now includes some Thursley wells. The full article can be downloaded from this pdf A Donkey Wheel in action As mentioned in the article, a donkey wheel can be seen working in Carisbrooke Castle: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/carisbrooke-castle/things-to-do/meet-carisbrooke-donkeys/ Thursley Wells: Patricia Coles of Upper Ridgeway Farm  believes that her well is probably both the deepest and oldest in Thursley. It would have been dug before the building of the house in 1331 as water was required for its building. In common with most wells, it was built nine feet from the exterior wall although it is now within the curtilage of the house having been absorbed by an extension. It is stone built for approximately seven feet, and then it was dug through rock. It is 100' deep to the water level and the water is 14' deep. Susan Goodridge of Pitch Place Farm discovered they had a well within their property when digging up the floor. The rebuild, approved by Waverley, consists of a new top layer of bricks but the lower brick work and pumps are original plus the cow bone, which serves as a water monitor, lies at the bottom. J ulia Cash sent this photograph of the well in the garden of Street House , Summer 2024. There is also a well within the curtilage of the property but it covered up by floorboards and a stud wall. These photographs were supplied by a previous owner. Gillian Duke of Badgers , The Lane, sent these two photographs. The well is now within the curtilage of the property but earlier plans show it the requisite nine feet from the back door. Lisa Woods of Holly Cottage, Bowlhead Green, sent these photographs of the well that is now beneath her kitchen sink! It had to be filled in by order of the Environment Agency due to an oil spill. Other wells have been reported in Hole Cottage, the garden of what was The Red Lion Inn, Boxalls (now filled in), Red Lodge (covered by a fridge!), Watts Gallery Chapel, Robin Hill (Bowlhead Green), Punch Bowl Farm, The Old Vicarage and Gnome Cottage (in the Punch Bowl). Please send details of any more to davidjohnyoung51@hotmail.com Thanks to Ian Exton, wells can be found on two maps. He wrote: I was just looking at old OS maps of the village. It seems they really liked putting the wells on the map in the 1870s. They're very clearly marked. https://maps.nls.uk/view/102347514 These show the location of wells at Emley Farm and (Upper) Ridgeway Farm Also, try the British Geological Society map as you can turn on borehole and water well data. https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/geoindex/home.html With well data turned on

This article written by Jackie Rickenberg was published in the Parish Magazine in September 2021 Last month’s explanation about the origin of Emley Farms’ name, started me thinking about some of the names familiar to us, but perhaps not immediately obvious as to where their origins lie. The village sign gives a clue as to the name Thursley, which was called Thoresle in 1292. This names etymologically is difficult to interpret but it was probably derived from the Saxon God, Thunor or Thunder and may be related to the heathen temple at Peper Harrow. Read on further for another possible explanation! What about The Devil’s Punch Bowl? This is another very odd name. It seems (according to “Portrait of S.W Surrey” by Jane Brown from the early 1980’s) to have “arrived” in the district around the mid-18th century, roughly at the same time as the neighbouring Devil’s Jumps. The first recorded mention of the name is on John Rocque’s map of 1768 where the area is labelled “Hackham Bottom or Devil’s Punch Bowl”. The Devil’s Jumps also appear on this map, but it is interesting that this name also appears on an earlier map by John Senex in 1729. On that same map the site of the Devil’s Punch Bowl is simply shown as Hackham Bottom, which suggests that the Devil got the Jumps before the Punch Bowl! The name Hackham is probably derived from an ancient place name “Hegcumbe” meaning a hay-combe or meadow in a valley, a reference to the meadows that occupied the northern part of the valley before the gorse took over. There is a road map by John Ogilby dated 1675 of the London to Portsmouth Road and as this is fairly large scale it should surely show the Devil’s Punch Bowl, if it were known as such – but it does not; it only shows the name Hindhead. Why the devil the Devil suddenly came to this corner of Surrey in the mid 1700’s, it is difficult to say. An alternative origin to the name Thursley is that the name is related to “Thor’s Ley”, which dates back to the Danish occupation of Surrey in the 9th century. Thor was the Scandinavian Vikings God of war and folklore has it that Thor made war on the Devil, who had annoyed him, by jumping from hill to hill – hence the name Devil’s Jumps. One day Thor caught him in the act and bowled him over with a stone – they say you can still see the stone on the Jumps! However, the delay of nine centuries before the name stuck, is somewhat tardy, so believe what you will! The name Devil’s Punch Bowl, coupled with the wilderness of the landscape, has always conjured up vivid imagery, and Charles Dickens made use of this very cleverly in the following passage from Nicholas Nickleby: To Godalming they came at last, and here they bargained for two humble beds, and slept soundly. In the morning they were astir, though not quite so early as the sun, and again afoot; if not with all the freshness of yesterday, still with enough hope and spirit to bear them cheerily on. They walked upon the rim of the Devil’s Punch Bowl: and Smirke listened with greedy interest as Nicholas read the inscription upon the stone which reared upon that wild spot, telling of a murder committed there by night. The grass upon which they stood, had once been dyed with gore; and the blood of the murdered man had run down drop by drop into the hollow which gives the place its name. “The Devil’s Punch Bowl” thought Nicholas, as he looked into the void, “never held fitter liquor than that!” Nowadays, the Punch Bowl is a well-known walking and beauty spot but as Charles Dickens implies, it has had its share of dark and sinister times. The sailor’s murder referred to above by Dickens, is a part of Thursley’s history, but for those not familiar with it, it’s worth repeating. Next month’s subject! Incidentally, The History Society recently unearthed an old Tithe map of Thursley dated 1846, which lists all the field names around the village. It goes a long way towards explaining some of our house names. We are in the process of getting it framed and it will be on display at the upcoming VE Day exhibition on 14th November in the Village Hall. It’s interesting to note that the majority of land in Thursley was then owned by either Lord Middleton or Henry Yaldon Knowles. I don’t claim to know all the house names in the parish, but I can’t remember seeing anything known as The Rumpy, Dunghill, Upper Bottoms or indeed Lower Bottoms! I would love to stand corrected though. Remember to email if you have any queries or points of interest; thursleyhistorysociety@gmail.com. Postcard circa 1933

Mill Farm was historically part of the large Cosford Estate in the Thursley area, sold in June 1952 along with other properties like Cosford Mill and Cosford Park . Part of the sale brochure for the break-up of the Cosford Estate, June 1952 Barns at Mill Farm, 1981. They have since been demolished and the timber re-used to build a party barn at Milhanger Fiona and James Ranson on the silage heap at Mill Farm. Sue Ranson writes: The farmhouse was a semi-detached two up two down, certainly not very grand. It even had the small bathroom in the kitchen! Sid and Maddie Hall, the farmer, were Eddie Morgan's parents, Sid's brother lived in the other half. Both Sid and Maddie did a lot in the village societies Sid especially in the Horticultural Society I believe there is  a cup named after him. Robert's father bought the farm after Sid retired but he continued to live in the cottage. The original old buildings which were next to the old mill are gone now (Roger Taylor built his party barn on the site) and we built the barns. When the highways people widened the A 3 we had all the sand they dug off and used it to flatten the site on which our new barns are built. Cattle in Eastlands, Mill Farm

As the Book of Common Prayer puts it: “Rogation Days are the three days preceding Ascension Day, especially devoted to asking for God's blessing on agriculture and industry.” Revd Mathews with a parishioner These photographs courtesy Sue Ranson and dated 1973

If you have any photos of these or any other Thursley Christmas events, please send them to davidjohnyoung51@hotmail.com Christmas Eve visit by Santa and his elves (2002) Barbara McMurray (Homefields) would drive her ponies through the village delivering sweets for all the children on Christmas Eve afternoon. Her grandchildren were the elves! The photographs are of Barbara, her daughter, the grandchildren in the back with the Maclean family outside Sunset Cottage. Photos by Sonya Maclean, 24th December 2002. Nativity Service: Wheelers Farm Barn (2001) Alan and Sarah Traill used to host these and all the village children came along Hollies Nursery Nativity Play in the 1980s Hollies Nursery was in the village hall from 1984 - 2000 when it closed and was replaced by Butterflies. Christmas Eve Carols at The Three Horseshoes Every year since (when?), villagers gather outside the pub where mulled wine and sausage rolls are served, carols are sung and terrible jokes are told by Santa Claus. More photographs PLEASE! Christmas Eve 2025, with Father Christmas in full flow! Thursley Christmas tree lighting ceremony (2023) This is a very recent tradition (see separate entry) started by Thursley residents near to the Clump and is thoroughly enjoyed by the village: https://www.thursleyhistorysociety.org/post/thursley-s-christmas-tree Christmas Fair in the Village Hall This is a regular event - photos please! Men of Thursley and Women of Thursley Christmas lunches and dinners These regular fixtures in the Christmas calendar began as lunches (when?) and are now dinners: Church Christmas Services There has, of course, been services in our Church since its inception in 1030. Our hard-working vicar, Revd Hannah Moore, and her team now look after four parishes: