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  • Wheelers Farm House, The Street

    Grade II listed building (9 March 1960), located on The Street From Historic England : House. C16 with C19 range to rear. Timber framed with whitewashed brick and rubble infill, plain tiled roof, hipped to left. Sandstone rubble with brick dressings to rear. Two storeys with end stack to right and ridge stack to left. End stacks on rear range. Four framed bays with three braces on first floor. Three leaded casement windows to first floor and two windows below. Central door in gabled porch on wood supports and sandstone plinth walls. Wheelers Farm House in 1989 View looking North from Churchyard in Thursley 11/94 Wheelers Farm & Old Vicarage Wheelers Farm Yard and Old Barn, 1990 Yard at Wheelers Farm, with Damsel the horse. John Worsford, the carter lived at Wild Goose 1905 wedding of Edward Baker (Ted) of Upper Highfield Farm and Maria Levy of Smallbrook Farm. Edward (Ted) Baker and wife, Maria (née Levy) with daughter Betty (who later became Weeden)

  • The Cosford Estate

    Cosford House estate is an historic property dating back many centuries and it included several properties such as Cosford House, Cosford Mill, and various cottages.  The name Cosford is believed to be derived from the Old English words "cōs," meaning a choice or election, and "ford," referring to a river crossing. It is presumed that the estate was named due to its location near a significant crossing on the River Wey. The first documented reference to Cosford House dates back to the 13th century when it was mentioned in a landholding document. See also Sale of the Cosford Estate, June 1952 From Historic England: In the medieval period, Cosford House was owned by the de Thurmarsh family, who were prominent landowners in the area. The estate remained in their possession for several generations until it changed hands through marriage in the 14th century. Over the following centuries, the ownership of the estate continued to pass between various families, including the Albury, Bray, and Evelyn families, who were all prominent figures in English society. In the 17th century, Cosford House underwent a significant transformation when it was purchased by Sir John Evelyn. Sir John was a renowned diarist, horticulturist, and author, best known for his invaluable work in the field of arboriculture. He extensively renovated the hall and its surrounding gardens, turning it into one of the most luxurious and impressive estates in the region. Sir John Evelyn's influence is still evident in the estate today, with remnants of his exquisite garden designs and landscaping. During the 18th and 19th centuries, Cosford House continued to thrive under the stewardship of various owners. The estate saw numerous additions and improvements, including the construction of additional outbuildings, such as stables, a chapel, and farm buildings. The hall and its grounds became renowned for their grandeur and elegance, drawing visitors from far and wide. In the early 20th century, Cosford House faced a period of decline as the estate's owners faced financial difficulties. The estate was bought by the trustees of Robert May's School in Odiham in 1913, and the archives of the school record their stewardship of the farm and its relations with tenants. However, this endeavour was not to last and the school closed in the mid-20th century.  In 1952 the estate was broken up into 25 lots at an auction held in Guildford (see Sale of the Cosford Estate). Colonel Philip (W.P.H.) Rushbrooke and his wife, Hilda photographed in the early 1930s. Hilda sold the estate on the death of Philip in 1951 and went to live on the coast. The estate was very impoverished as such low rents were charged. Hilda Rushbrooke, who was Irish, and unfortunately stone deaf. We believe she married Philip in the early 1930s. In more recent years, the estate changed hands several times, with different owners attempting to restore the former glory of Cosford House. Numerous restoration and preservation projects have taken place to ensure that the hall and its surrounding gardens maintain their historical significance. Today, Cosford House remains a private residence and is not open to the public. About 1900, no climbers visible on the house. According to the rate book of 1854, Cosford Estate was owned by Colonel George William Eyres. The rate book of 1870 lists Miss Rushbrooke as the owner. Cosford House in the 1920s with the creeper on the house. Captain Rushbrooke is listed in the rate book of 1884 but may have been here earlier. The staff at Cosford House in the late 1920s. Philip Rushbrooke took over the estate on the death of his father. Pageant at Cosford House in the late 1920's

  • Prospect Cottage, formerly The Institute

    Thursley Institute , now Prospect Cottage, was originally built as a working men’s club. The Parish register states – ‘the site for the institute was given by Captain H Rushbrooke, the architect was Sir Edwin Lutyens , the builder was Mr W K Fosberry. The building was formally opened and given to the Parish Council on February 11th, 1901’. Captain Rushbrooke paid for much of the building itself and took a paternal interest in the running of the club. Reg Fosberry gave Thursley History Society one of the original Lutyens architectural drawings, as shown below, now in their Archives. The Institute with The Lodge in the distance The   Institute comprised a reading room, a billiards and games room and accommodation for the caretaker. Until 1914 one of the bedrooms was used by the Thursley Parish Nurse. The institute was disbanded in 1959 and was sold for residential use in 1968. The, then, conditions of sale included an interesting clause, presumably inherited from the rules of the institute, forbidding the purchaser to use the building for the ‘discussion of political or religious subjects ….or for the consumption of intoxicating liquors’ . Prospect Cottage, 1988. Surnames of previous owners include: Goble; La Mare; Jones; Richmond Prostpect Cottage 1997 Barbara Richmond in 1997; and with neighbour, James Maclean, in May 2003. She lived in Prospect Cottage for many years, was an actress and her husband was involved in the theatre. She trained dogs for the blind for many years and is pictured here with two of her guide dogs that she demonstrated with.

  • The Half Moon

    Very little information exists on this pub which was on the A3 near Hammer Pond and was demolished in 1975, it was formerly The Anglers Retreat. If you have any information, please email the website. Photo by Peter Shimmon From the 1936 Register of Electors From Kay Cottle's postcard collection The Half Moon Inn on closing down day prior to demolition for the making of the dual carriageway on the A3. It is now the entrance to Warren Park.

  • Mill Farm

    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

  • Revd Kenneth Mathews leads a Rogation Walk

    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

  • Thursley Christmas Traditions of past and present

    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:

  • Street House, The Street

    Only photographs of this Grade II listed building (28th October 1986)

  • The Moths of Thursley Common

    This is the first page of a remarkable, hand-written document compiled by the late Jill Fry. There are over 11,000 totrix moths or leafroller moths and Thursley common has its fair share. It is hoped that some photographs will be added over time. The rest of this 44 page document can be found in the pdf below:

  • 'Victory Euphoria', Thursley History Society's exhibition to celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, Thursday 8th May 2025

    The exhibition, entitled 'Victory Euphoria', was the brainchild of the Thursley History Society's Chairman, Sally Scheffers. She spent many months asking Thursley villagers past and present to search their memories and photograph albums for stories about their relatives' experiences during World War 2. The result was an extraordinary exhibition of over 100 entries, albums and objects of interest most of which can be accessed from this main entry. All other entries have been cross-referenced. Welcome from Sally Scheffers: The main hall consisted of stories, desriptions of events and places and objects in display boxes This farm was made by Anthony's Langdale's mother in 1942 out of orange boxes. She made it for her three sons to play with. She and her husband, Arthur, ran a farm in Sussex and there were land girls on the farm The north hall was used as a reading room The exhibition consisted of: PEOPLE Sir Malcolm Arnold Mary Bennett Air Vice Marshal Denis Breakey Russell Brockbank Admiral Sir John Bush Reg and Elsie Cottle Jean Chopping Squ Ldr P F Clayton Frank Debono Major William Arthur Kirwan Dickinson Sheila Dickinson H A L Fisher Lettice Fisher Steven Frank Bruce Austin Fraser Eddie Gale Robert Goble Wing Commander Charles W Gore Vincent Grygelis Rudolf Hess Ernest John (Jack) Hesmondhalgh   F/Sgt Robert Henry Houldey Colonel Christopher Hutt Kate Jensen Ann Levy Jeffrey Malton David Man 'Topsy' and Christopher Man   Hilda Matheson Kenneth Mathews Noelle Mendelssohn Raymond Monnery Arthur Moss Edward Osborn Tom and Grace Ranson Robbie Robinson Peter Scheffers Joyce and Tony Secrett Robert Sharland Sir Roger Stevens Jack Stimpson Jo Streatfield-James Sally Streatfield-James Carl August Hendrik Swift and Joan Betty Swift Charles James Treadwell Christina-Maria van den Toorn Paul Von Oldecop   Tim and Margaret Walsh Sergeant G R Weedon (see below in this entry) Monica Whately Michael Wyatt John and Madge Young It was hoped that by clicking on the surnames above, you would be able to connect to the individuals you wished to read about, unfortunately this proved to be difficult and so the pdf below was created. It has a contents page so that it can be both searched and navigated quite easily: Here is a sample entry: This is just one of the over 90 white plaques that Sally Scheffers made for the exhibition. Each one commemorates a person featured in the displays or stories. Sergeant G R Weedon 's war career was discovered after the exhibition: EVENTS, PLACES & THINGS 1939 Register Admiralty Signal Establishment Aircraft Recognition Journal The Camp Canadians in Thursley 'Doodlebugs' Farnham Castle Gee Radio Navigation System Hitler's Black Book Life in Thursley During World War II Life in Tweedsmuir Camp with the Lorne Scots Regiment Marriages in World War II Queen Victoria Rifles Siege of Calais Thursley Horticultural Society in WW2 Thursley's Home Guard Tweedsmuir Camp VJ-Day 15th August 2025 Voluntary Positions of Thursley's Non-Conscripted Residents Women's Land Army YMCA Like the People section above, these entries can be found a searchable pdf: Here is a sample entry: DISPLAY CASES These crocheted dolls, some fashioned over chicken wishbones, were lent by Marion O'Brien Mein Kampf in blue on the left and a Jewish Anti-Nazi novel in yellow in the middle Medals from many theatres of war The Camp was produced for POW's by the Germans Includes Jeffrey Malton's Log Books

  • Thursley Common Fire May 2020 Press coverage and photographs

    The Times by Richard Pohle Surrey Live https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/gallery/thursley-common-fire-one-year-20712130 These photographs by Philip Traill:

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