As usual, Thursley does nothing by half and produced an extensive programme of events for everyone to enjoy: VICTORY EUPHORIA First up was 'Victory Euphoria', Thursley History Society's exhibition held in the village hall. To mark and celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the end of the Second World War, Thursley residents researched and retold the wartime experiences of their relatives during the nearly six years of conflict. Setting up! In the foreground, Simon Treadwell, Sukey Langdale and Peter Rickendberg L to R: Sukey Langdale; Bryan Stevens; Sally Scheffers, Chairman; Sue Ranson The show was opened formally by Bryan Stevens, son of Sir Roger Stevens formerly of High Hill Farm. There were well over 100 exhibits (see separate entry for 'Victory Euphoria') and the event was well attended throughout the two days. The ceramic plaques that surrounded the flagpole were all made by Sally Scheffers. Tim Wakeley with his 1930 Austin 7 THURSLEY IN BLOOM For two consecutive Saturdays, some gardens were opened: first in Thursley on Saturday, 3rd May; and then Bowlhead Green on Thursday, 8th May. Those who had registered to see the gardens were aided by beautiful maps and illustrations prepared by John Swift. The Church looked wonderful for the occasion Badgers; Bear's Barn; Sunset Cottage; Little Green; Wheelwrights; Hill Farm Barns; Halcyon Fields - following the sequence of the walk The Order of Service can be found in full in this pdf: These two events are covered in the article below. This article by Sally Scheffers was published in the Parish Magazine in June 2025: THANK YOU Our VE & VJ Day Celebrations are over.  Our combined efforts brought a lot of people out to enjoy the various activities and it was wonderful to see old friends and make new ones. Saturday the 2 nd  May was busy. The “Victory Euphoria” Exhibition presented by the Thursley History Society opened in the Village Hall with numerous stories of the relatives of village residents. The high point seemed to be the wartime toys made out of whatever came to hand. Marion O'Brien kindly loaned her beautiful, crocheted dolls with their chicken wishbone frames. They are so special and were a huge hit for the visitors. On a larger scale was Sukey Langdale's model farm which is about eight square feet and is made from the thin strips of wood from old orange boxes. It was made by Sukey's mother-in-law, Daphne, for her sons and is a replica of their family farm in Midhurst. It has the buildings, the cows, the pigs, the sheep, the horses, the people and even the bloodhounds they bred. It is wonderful and has obviously been cherished to have lasted so long. There were also log books, medals, a nazi dagger and prisoner of war documents to fill the display cases. Dr Dennis Smith brought his father's photo albums – Colonel Douglas Smith had been an equine vet with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps and had worked with the mules and horses in the Middle East and Yugoslavia. Outside we had a perfect Austin 7 gleaming in the sunshine and on the Sunday a wartime Jeep too. Huge thanks to everyone who contributed to make the exhibition the success it was. For months before I had called it, rather tongue in cheek, “The Great Exhibition”, but thanks to the wonderful response from the contributors it was! So thank you and to the History Society Committee for all your help.        The exhibition can be found on huge thanks to everyone who contributed to make the exhibition the success it was. For months before I had called it, rather tongue in cheek, “The Great Exhibition”, but thanks to the wonderful response from the contributors it was! So thank you and to the History Society Committee for all your help. The exhibition can be found on https://www.thursleyhistorysociety.org/post/victory-euphoria-thursley-history-society-s-exhibition-to-celebrate-the-80th-anniversary-of-ve-da Outside the Hall Pat Clake and Lisa Woods, on behalf of the Horticultural Society, had organised “Gardens Open” in the middle of the village. On a glorious day the spring gardens looked their best and were very much enjoyed. Maps were available from the Church which had also been beautifully decorated with floral arrangements by Lisa and Debbie Spencer along with a group of talented flower arrangers. Thank you! Saturday evening was our wartime themed concert / sing-a-long in the Church. Claire Dailly, Wendy Edwards, Sabrina Dragoni-Long and myself produced a fun evening of patriotism and bucket loads of nostalgia. Grateful thanks go to our guest musicians who stepped in and joined in. Richard Fermer on Double Bass and his wife Gwen on Saxophone have recently moved to Witley and answered Claire's request on facebook for musicians. They love to play and I hope they will play for us again. Rob Lewis on keyboards and vocals is a professional musician and he too answered the call to play and our concert was very different from those he usually conducts but Rob had a blast. And to Wendy and her choir thank you for all coming along to lead us and I hope you enjoyed it as much as we all did. Thank you to Sabry for your incredible and powerful voice and personality. Sunday morning Delia Orme led a special Church Service to remember and commemorate Victory in Europe. Delia's sermon was sensitive and thoughtful and a good balance to the weekend where we all took time to reflect. Mike Spencer led the first softball match at the Cricket Club and Camilla Daubeny made a special cake for the players and spectators. It was super that everyone could be a part of the game and I'm sure will be repeated. Throughout the weekend the Village Hall Committee ran a pop up cafe for all the visitors and passing cyclists! I'm sure everyone was very grateful for the tea and home made cake – thank you. On Thursday 8 th  May the gardens of Bowlhead Green opened and were much admired by all the visitors. Weeks of work went into getting them ready and they all looked glorious. Thank you. Later, the official celebration began with the early evening bell ringing. All three of the Church's bells rang for half an hour with Tim Wakeley, Steve Cruickshank, Anne Treadwell, Peter Hunter, Simon Treadwell taking it in turns. Outside in the Churchyard, in the evening sunshine, listening to the bells was very poignant. Thank you. On Thursday 8 th  May the gardens of Bowlhead Green opened and were much admired by all the visitors. Weeks of work went into getting them ready and they all looked glorious. Thank you. Later, the official celebration began with the early evening bell ringing. All three of the Church's bells rang for half an hour with Tim Wakeley, Steve Cruickshank, Anne Treadwell, Peter Hunter, Simon Treadwell taking it in turns. Outside in the Churchyard, in the evening sunshine, listening to the bells was very poignant. Thank you. On Thursday 8 th  May the gardens of Bowlhead Green opened and were much admired by all the visitors. Weeks of work went into getting them ready and they all looked glorious. Thank you. Later, the official celebration began with the early evening bell ringing. All three of the Church's bells rang for half an hour with Tim Wakeley, Steve Cruickshank, Anne Treadwell, Peter Hunter, Simon Treadwell taking it in turns. Outside in the Churchyard, in the evening sunshine, listening to the bells was very poignant. Thank you. Michelle de Vries and Claire Dailly had organised the Parish Council's celebration at the pub. The copious lengths of bunting fluttered all around thanks to Peter and Teresa Goble and Peter's platform cage on his telehandler. Michelle had created wonderful tins with old wartime labels and the pub was full of props and even a UXB cordoned off area complete with replica bomb! Sally and Dave Catchpole brought their beautifully restored tear drop caravan and 1940's caravan which were much admired and brought a vintage feel to the evening. The stage for our performers was the wooden cabin and it was perfect for “The Cadettes” who sang to everyone gathered outside the pub. We should have all followed Ella and Stanley's lead and danced and thank you to the children for hopping and swaying and thoroughly revelling in the forties songs. Michelle and Daniel fed us all with portions of fish and chips, salt, vinegar, tomato sauce and a big bowl of delicious homemade tartar sauce. It was so good and how they managed to feed around 120 people so efficiently was very impressive. Well done and thank you. There was also a generous array of salads made by Michelle de Vries and her mother Dee, Sandi Hanauer and Moose Thorne (apologies if I've left a name or two out). The salads were a great idea and a very popular accompaniment. Thank you. For pudding there was the WI Orange and Ginger Cakes made by several of us and very tasty. (It was relatively easy to make though the cooking time needed adjusting!) Lucy Goble, without being asked, brought meringues and crème brulees and filled the pudding table. Thank you to everyone who gave us a sweet treat at the end. At 9pm we began the formal proceedings. We listened to a recording of Winston Churchill accepting the German surrender and we all sang I Vow to Thee My Country and God Save the King. James Mendelssohn as Chairman of the Parish Council thanked everyone involved, eighty years ago it was William Featherby as Chairman of the Parish Council who spoke to the village, no doubt thanking them all for their fortitude and service. The O'Brien family were then handed the reins: Michael and Marion read the official VE Day 80 proclamation and then Marion and Sarah lit the beacon which looked amazing standing in front of the pub. It was a perfect end to all the activities. Thank you to everyone in setting it all up, doing it and then taking it all down. It may all be cleared away now but the memories of a unique evening will stay. James Mendelssohn flew the specially purchased VE Day 80 flag from Arthur's flagpole and I had made little porcelain plaques recording the names of those in the exhibition to go around the base. The flag flew for over a week and looked fantastic. And with all the bunting on and around the pub it was very obvious that Thursley remembered, commemorated and celebrated the end of the Second World War with enthusiasm and heartfelt gratitude.   Sally Scheffers, May 2025   Historical side note: the erection of the flagpole, raising and lowering the flag for the first time by the instigator, Arthur Moss in 1995:

From Thursley Parish Magazine December 2019, written by Rosemary Stockdale The Tweedsmuir Camp (off Dye House Road) was built by the Royal Canadian Engineers in 1941 and it became  the home of the Canadian Lorne Scots Regiment for over 3 years from 1941 to 1944. It officially closed in 1947 and then became the home of Polish displaced persons until it closed down. On January 10th 1943 the Lorne Scots Regiment marched through Thursley to the church to present a brass plaque to the village to mark the many occasions that the Canadian unit worshipped at the church during their stay at the camp (located on right hand side of the church). A live video of this visit is recorded on the Canadian Army Newsreels and can be viewed by clicking on the link . It is well worth viewing as it shows the village as it was in 1943 and the Lorne Scots Regiment marching through the village to the church. In April 2004 their pipes and drums were heard in Thursley once again when they returned to visit the camp and the commemorate plaque in the Church, to pay tribute to their comrades who served here during the war and those that didn’t return  to Canada. Lorne Scots practice on the recreation ground - undated

This Grade II listed building (28th October, 1986) is situated at the end of The Lane and is undergoing extensive renovation. It was formerly known as Cherry Tree Cottage. We are grateful to the current owner for supplying the report below that was prepared by the HCUK Group. 1912 2025 1912 This 'View at Thursley' is probably from a postcard. It shows the Shepherd's Cottage in the foreground and St Michael & All Angels in the distance. 1969 Surnames of former owners include: Winter; Twyman; Holman Page 1 of a 21 page report on Shepherd's Cottage by HCUK Group. The pdf of the report is below.

This was published in 1996 by the History of Thursley Society and includes profiles of 16 people or or living in Thursley. People include; the young Lutyens, H A L Fisher, Robert Goble and Monica Edwards. Many of the articles were written by Mary Bennett. CONTENTS   The Young Lutyens and his Thursley Houses  by Wing Commander D.Q.Watson.  The Rt. Hon. H. A. L. Fisher, O.M.  by Mary Bennett.                                    The Levy Family of Smallbrook Farm 1876 – 1939  by Betty Weeden         Russell Partridge Brockbank   Art Editor of “Punch”   by Peter Anderson.    Robert Goble.  by Mary Bennett.                                                                Karn’s - A Short History of  Thursley’s Grocery Store.                                Thursley In The ‘Twenties   by Mary Bennett                                             Life in Thursley by Sir Roger Stevens of  Hill Farm                                    A Memoir of Rev. A. K. Mathews, OBE., DSC.  Vicar Of Thursley 1968 - 1976.        Arthur Edward (Eddie) Gale, B.E.M.  Written by Jane Haviland in 1994.     William Karn Fosberry  1853 – 1943    by Edna (Eddie) Morgan                 Margaret L.Woods in Thursley   by Martha Vogeler  of  Fullerton, U.S.A.    Monica le Doux Edwards  1912 – 1998   by V K Lindley                            Rock Cottage and some neighbours  by Mary Bennett                                 Thursley In The ‘20s & ‘30s - some incomers  -  by Mary Bennett              A Farmhouse in Surrey  by Irene Gorringe       Here is the first entry: The entire book can be downloaded from the pdf below: Here is a brief autobiography of one of our most distinguished former residents, Sir Roger Bentham Stevens, GCMG: Sir Roger Bentham Stevens by Walter Bird. Bromide print, 8 February 1963, National Portrait Gallery x185466 In his own words Sir Roger traces the significant aspects of his life from his early years through his Foreign Office career to the last period when he became Vic-Chancellor of Leeds University. He wrote this essay called 'Fortune' a few months before he died on Ash Wednesday, 20th February 1980: it is available in the pdf below: We also have a number of articles in our archive which describe life in Thursley in the last century: This from Margaret Cooper (née Gale) who, as a young girl, was at Thursley School in 1920: Margaret (Mag) Cooper at Thursley School c1920 This is from Lucy Good (née Karn): Lucy Karn in November 1928, she later became Mrs Lucy Good

Boxalls and Vine Cottage were originally a single three bay building with a central open hall.  The heavily sooted roof structure supports this.  There are some interesting features, notably a bespoke oak hook installed in the stair case void which the heritage consultants believe was used to hang/dry meat.  Boxalls was later extended to create a cross-wing (now Vine Cottage), and extended again to the rear in the late 19th / early 20th century and split into two cottages to form Boxalls and Vine Cottage as they are today.    Historic maps also indicate that the original plot of Boxalls comprised the existing plots of Vine Cottage (to the south) and Wheelwrights (to the north).  The current owners wish that was still the case and they weren’t ‘boxed’ in by the two adjacent properties as they are today.  Perhaps it’s how Boxalls got its name or more likely it was named after a local family (it was actually called Tudor Cottage until around 1960). Below is the 1977 Report by the Surrey Domestic Buildings Research Group Note: They date the house 1600 but Manorwood, the heritage consultant we used for planning, dated it much earlier circa. 1525. Bob and Nancy Swanson, 1977 Previous owners of Boxall and Vine Cottage include: Thompson, Moss, Seaford, O'Brien, Edwards

A Wander Through Thursley was an event held on the weekend of 16/17th June, 1990, and was a great occasion in Thursley's history towards the end of the last century. The weekend was organised by Gil Buckingham who lived at Olde Hall and was a very keen gardener. The scheme was confined to Thursley village as there were too many problems in including the gardens at Bowlhead Green and Pitch Place. The event raised £2,000 for the village hall. 24 gardens took part proudly displaying the daisy sign on their gate. A special daisy bus service ran up and down Highfield Lane. There were also village cricket matches, home made cream teas in the village hall, donkey rides, rare breed sheep, plant stall, peacocks, vintage and classic car collections, and exhibition of old Thursley and organ recitals in the church. From the Parish Magazine, August 1990 GIL BUCKINGHAM Gil moved to Olde Hall, Back Lane, Thursley in 1985. She had great plans for the house and garden and she started completely renovating the house in 1986, which was finally completed in 1990. As well as working on the house, Gil worked on creating her perfect garden: she believed the garden represented individual rooms in the same way as a house. She had a herb garden, a wild garden, an orchard and a formal garden which was used to entertain guests like a drawing room. Her knowledge of gardening was strengthened by two course she attended at Merrist Wood Agricultural College in Guildford. The first, in 1984, covered garden pests and diseases and the second, in 1986, dealt with general horticulture but concentrated on shrubs and flowers. Gil was an incredibly energetic and sociable person and threw herself into the life of the village. She sang in the choir, was Treasurer of the Fellowship, held the Christian Aid coffee mornings and was a member of the village hall management committee. It was for the last organisation that she co-ordinated "Wander through Thursley". Her great friend, Gail Leader had opened her garden and Gil loved the idea of gardens being open for everyone to enjoy. Sadly, shortly afterwords in July 1990, Gil became ill and after a long fight she died in January, 1992. From a conversation with Barbara Thorburn

The Three Horse Shoes after the breathalyser was introduced. Brockbank lived in Badgers in The Lane from 1951 to 1978. See also the biography of Russell Partridge Brockbank by Peter Anderson Russell did these two for Reg Cottle, the owner of the Red Lion Garage:

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:

The Ruins, now known as The Well House, dates back to 1715. Frank and Elizabeth Keen lived at The Ruins from about 1920 to 1936. Their eldest son, Frank, when married lived in an annexe at The Ruins and their five children were born there. They included Alfred (Cocker) and Don who remained in the village. Frank and Elizabeth's eldest daughter, Nellie, married Bert Williams and continued to live with her father, their two children, David and Mary (Rapley) were also born at The Ruins. In about 1936 the house which had belonged to the Rushbrooke Estate was sold to a Mr Frost. Mrs Fosberry, standing outside about 1914-1918. Previous owners of the Well House include: Keen; Frost; Bishop

The house was built before 1550 and is a four bay timber-framed medieval open hall building. It was Grade II listed on 9th March 1960 Historic Planning Permission Documents (list the cottage name as 'Sunset View Cottage') Report on the property by Domestic Building Research Group, April 1977 The whole report is in the pdf below: Sunset Cottage, photograph by Valérie Ferris Sunset Cottage, the old bakery. View of The Institute. Can also see the old walnut tree. Robert Goble used some of the wood for his harpsichord. From a photograph taken in 1938 Sunset Cottage in 1997 Anthony and Anna Kentish, 1997 Map of the village c1999 This map was given to the Macleans in 1999 when they moved in Sales details 1999: Two sets of sales details May 2003 : Sonya, James, Ben and Holly Maclean just before they moved to Hill House Farm in May 2003 Previous owners of Sunset Cottage include: Kentish; Maclean

Only photographs of this Grade II listed building (28th October 1986). It is the house where Sir Edwin Lutyens grew up and his first commission was directly opposite, a conversion to The Corner. Previous owners of Street House include: Francis; Wild

The Old Parsonage is a Grade II listed building, dating back to the early 15th century. It is a hall house with a timber frame, under-built in brick, with red brick infill above, and weatherboard cladding to the first floor left and red and grey tiles. The building was designated Grade II on March 9, 1960. This comprehensive report was commissioned by the current owners to provide dendrochronological evidence to date the primary construction phase of this building. by Edward Wilkins Waite (1854-1924) History changes: the coloured print was sold as an original woodcut c1901 and the black and white as an original print c1950! This photograph, almost certainly taken during WW2, shows the garden turned over to growing vegetables for the 'Dig for Victory' campaign This is the opening paragraph of an undated description of the house: In 1952 the Cosford Estate was broken up and Old Parsonage Cottages were Lots 16 and 17. The annotation on the relevant pages of the sale catalogue notes that they were 'Sold to tenant' and the tenants were listed as Mr C Hoare and Mr V C Rapley respectively: The house has attracted painters for decades past Note the huge Chestnut tree that was in the Churchyard and now no longer with us Mike and Amanda Roberts and family, 1997 A History of the Old Parsonage by Philip and Sally Gorton This history was commissioned by the present owners, Mike and Amanda Roberts and the brief extracts shown below, along with a pdf of a scanned version of the book, are reproduced by the kind permission of the owners and authors A 600 year-old house In 2011, to celebrate the house's 600th year, Mike and Amanda hosted a birthday party and a quiz - most questions are still relevant, how many can you answer? Edmund and Jane Haviland won the Limerick competition!: There's a fine Surrey village known as Thursley, Whose buildings we number as, firstly, St Michael's to pray in, Good houses to stay in, And, thirdly, the Shoes when we're thirsty.