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This entry is from articles written by Jackie Rickenberg, taken from the archives of the Thursley History Society, and first published in our Parish Magazine in August and September 2025. Parish Magazine article August 2025 As well as being synonymous with combine harvesters in the fields, sweet peas rambling wildly in the garden, seaside visits and long balmy nights, my summers are also a reminder to visit that wonderous creative space that is the Royal Academy in London’s Piccadilly, for their annual open Summer Exhibition. For over 250 years, the RA has existed to champion art and artists. Every year, since 1768, they have held an annual Summer Exhibition, the largest open-submission art exhibition in the world. Thursley has had more than its fair share of artists, and still does, and incredibly, even the occasional PRA – Past Royal Academician. Thursley’s Artists through the years. 1.    A R Quinton exhibited his romantic watercolour painting of Keeper’s Cottage in the Devil’s Punchbowl in the exhibition of 1879, at the ripe old age of 26 years old. Alfred Robert Quinton’s work routine would be to travel around England and Wales for three months of the year, mostly during the summer months and often by bicycle, during which he would draw sketches and take photographs of locations which he would work up into paintings in his studio during the winter months. He painted several from his time in Surrey, including “Blackdown from Hindhead”, “Abbot’s Hospital, Guildford”, “St Martha’s Chapel, Guildford” and “Guildford, Five Views”. Many of his paintings, including this one of Keeper’s Cottage, were published as postcards and some were used in calendars. He was quite prolific, painting over 2,000 paintings until the time of his death in 1934 at the age of 81. However, latterly towards the end of his life he was banned from exhibiting at the RA as the authorities were not in favour of “commercialisation” of art. Postcard of painting of Keeper’s Cottage by A.R. Quinton.   2.    Julias A Gems apparently exhibited a sculpture of a bust of William Karn Fosberry of Thursley, which was exhibited at the RA in 1939. This is according to an article in the History of Thursley Society Newsletter of Winter 2007/2008. William Fosberry was a builder of repute, who owned Vean Cottage, The Clump and The Corner, so a man of some importance in the village, hence maybe why he or someone else commissioned a bust of him. He died in 1943 aged 89 years. However, my research could not uncover any knowledge of Mr Gems or of him exhibiting in the Summer Exhibition and no one seems to have set eyes on the bust, although we do have a photograph of it. If anyone can help, please contact info@ thursleyhistorysociety.com . It is known that William’s sister, Anne Tozer, who ran the Post Office and general store from “The Clump” was married to Henry Tozer, an artist who worked out of a studio at the bottom of the garden known as “The Outlook”. This house was also rented out to Eveline Lance, a Victorian artist.   Willian Karn Fosberry sculpture on left and photograph with his son on right . Since the publication of this article, more information has come to light from Chris Gems, the grandson of Julius A Gems: "In 1939, Julius Albert [Gems] decided he would enter a model for the summer exhibition of the Royal Academy.  There was a very aged builder named William Fosberry in Thursley Village, who had a long beard and very large hands.  The old chap agreed to sit for Julius but, when he did so, as he was deaf he insisted on putting one of his hands up to his ear to hear what was being said to him, so Julius modelled him in this position and, not only was the model accepted by the Royal Academy, but it was placed on a pedestal in a very prominent position in the exhibition." 3.    Henry Edward Tozer spent his early years in Newlyn, Cornwall with his parents. His father, Henry Edmund Tozer, also an artist, exhibited “Surf and Rocks at the Mouth of the Cove” at the RA in 1892. Henry Edward painted scenes of country life (many of them from his life in Thursley) in oil and watercolour. By 1891 he had moved to Thursley, although we don’t know why, and in 1894 he married Mary, sister of William Fosberry. He continued painting alongside running the Post Office with his wife and died aged 90 still at “The Clump” in 1955. Minding the Fire by Henry Edward Spernon Tozer 4.    Eveline de la Belinay Lance (1866-1937) was born in Essex, but moved to “The Outlook” in Thursley in 1929. She was known as a watercolour landscape painter, but also illustrated books. She has a comprehensive back catalogue and her work is very much still in demand. Gee-up by Eveline de la Belinay Lance (1866-1937) Mercy Fosberry & her daughter Mary, by Eveline de la Belinay Lance   5.    Finally, we have the distinction, of having a past resident of the village as a past president of the Royal Academy. Between 1938-1944, Sir Edwin Lutyens was the elected president of the Academy. Most of us are aware of the importance of Lutyens work in architecture, furniture design, interior design, landscape architecture and garden design. He has two works in the RA Collection with a further six associated works. From his early days growing up in Street House, through his early career commissions in the village (Prospect Cottage and The Corner) to his lasting legacy of New Delhi, The Cenotaph and the Thiepval Memorial (the largest British war memorial in the world) , he is surely Thursley’s most acclaimed and eminent artist and Past Royal Academician.   Lutyens design for Jaipur Column, New Delhi Parish Magazine article September 2025 Last month we highlighted some of the past artists in the village, and of course, it was by no means, a comprehensive list. There are lots more renowned artists both past and present. Sadly, we recently lost one of the best in Peter Hanaue r. Peter was a skilled and acclaimed glass artist, with exhibits within the V&A’s Ceramics Collection and as an illustrator, he was first port of call for posters for village events. His Christmas cards were legendary and his smile and warmth is sorely missed. Peter’s V&A exhibits – a set of free-blown glass jugs Salli Tomlinson is another Thursley artist who pioneered Silent Companions in the 1970’s. Silent Companions are life-size flat wooden figures that were a popular room decoration in the 17 th  century. Painted and cut to resemble soldiers, children, servants and animals, they can be found standing in many of the places we care for. Salli has produced a range of artwork for the rich and famous; see an example of her work below: Another 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 Salli is now mostly retired, however some of the village artists in their prime include Rachel Bottomley, Helena Traill, Sallie Roles and Emily Butler, to name but a few. Here are examples of their work, clockwise from top left Rachel Bottomley, Helena Traill, Sallie Roles and Emily Butler. One of the best known and loved past village artists is Russell Brockbank who lived at Badgers in The Lane and worked from the studio there, which he named The Haven. This extract is from our website www.thursleyhistorysociety.org . Please do go on and browse – it’s incredible the volume of information and number of interesting articles on there!   Russell Brockbank   “Born in Canada and educated at Ridley College, Ontario, Russell came to England in 1929 and studied Art at Chelsea School of Art in London. A temporary diversion into industry occurred between 1932 and 1936 when he resumed his career as a freelance artist until the War. He married Eileen Hames in 1933.   During the War he served as Lieut. RNVR, Northern Convoys, in the British Pacific Fleet and was demobilised in 1946. He then freelanced until 1949 when he became Art Editor of Punch. This appointment was intended to be one to five years but in fact it lasted until 1960.   Russell accidently discovered Thursley on his travels, but needed to convince Eileen. Russell had been secretly receiving agents' particulars of properties for sale in the area including one on “Badgers” in The Lane, or Back Lane as it was then called. By some strange quirk, or so it appeared to Eileen at the time, they found themselves randomly in the village, had a brief inspection of the property, and out of the blue Russell made an offer to purchase which was accepted! Eileen was “rather surprised”. The year was 1951. Most of his work was carried out above the garage in the studio which Eileen called “The Haven”. He would draw seven days a week and as a result was not often in evidence when it came to various village activities with perhaps one exception – namely the annual New Year's Eve Party given by Val and Paddy at the Three Horse Shoes! Russell was a perfectionist as far as his drawing was concerned. When at work he would be surrounded by many photographs of the subject in order to build as much detail and accuracy into the drawings as possible and avoid too many critical letters from his readers. Apart from drawing, his other passion was cars. He started drawing them at the age of four and it seems couldn't stop. He was a regular contributor to magazines including Speed and Motor in ten countries, including Japan. He also drove fast cars, some say too fast, tried out exotic prototype models such as the Mini Cooper and D type Jaguar and was a motor racing aficionado. He visited all the Grand Prix.   The Three Horse Shoes when the breathaliser was introduced Russell became ill in the late 1970s and in 1978 they decided to move to Frome in Somerset to be nearer their daughter who was in the medical profession. He had once said to Eileen that he wanted to be buried in Thursley churchyard and wanted someone to draw an eye on his headstone so as to keep watch over Eileen. Sadly, he died within two years of leaving the village and was cremated in Somerset. He left a widow and two children, Susan and Roger. During the years following the Second World War, the name of Russell Brockbank became synonymous with his cartoons of cars. Grounded in his obsession with his favourite subjects, his delightful drawings are always completely accurate in detail, so can be enjoyed equally by all, from the non-motorist to the petrolhead”.

Taken from an article in the Parish Magazine, November 2022, written by Jackie Rickenberg Fosberry is a name that has come up in many articles written for the Parish Magazine. It seems whenever Lutyens and his life and influence on Thursley is discussed, Fosberry’s name crops up. Hugh Semper, who lives in “The Outlook” has asked if the Society has any more information on the man who built, not only his house, but many others locally. “William Karn Fosberry was born in 1853 and was the village builder in Thursley from the latter part of the last century until the 1930’s. In the 1870’s he married Elizabeth Smithers whose parents lived at “The Corner”. At that time, it was a general store and baker’s shop supplying bread to the inhabitants of the village. (The rest of this article can be downloaded below). Here is some fascinating information about the sculptor, Julias A Gems, and his subject, written by his grandson, Chris Gems: "In 1939, Julius Albert [Gems] decided he would enter a model for the summer exhibition of the Royal Academy.  There was a very aged builder named William Fosberry in Thursley Village, who had a long beard and very large hands.  The old chap agreed to sit for Julius but, when he did so, as he was deaf he insisted on putting one of his hands up to his ear to hear what was being said to him, so Julius modelled him in this position and, not only was the model accepted by the Royal Academy, but it was placed on a pedestal in a very prominent position in the exhibition. Mercy Fosberry and her daughter Mary - Copy of a painting by Eveline Lance c1930 (Mary Kalinowski, nee Fosberry, has the original) William and Mary Ann Karn, blacksmith of Thursley, July 1907 Mr & Mrs William Fosberry taken outside what is now know as Vean Cottage, date about 1920 Mr Harry Fosberry, Mrs Mercy Fosberry and their daughter, Mary, early 1940s

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

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 Mr & Mrs Arthur Gale on his son Jim's motorcycle outside Highfield Bungalows. Nos 3 & 4 Highfield Bungalows. Surnames of previous owners of No3 include: Winter and Dobson; of No4 include Avis, Woodger, Grant and Gale These, more recent photographs, were taken by Sean Edwards: Hill Farm Cottages Three Acres Thursley born and bred at Three Acres The Briary Brian and Mary Sharp, 1997 Four Winds Taken from 2018 sale particulars. View of Four Winds from Highfield Lane Hill House David and Catherine Phillimore, 1997 Surnames of previous owners of Hill House include: Middleton; Drewery; Edwards; Ronary Ronary Bungalow was built in 1994 and named after Mary Rapley's original home nearby Mary Rapley, 1994 Hilldown Home of the Smarts and the Emersics in 1997 Anne Marie Emersic lives there now Upper Highfield Farm Upper Highfield Cottage Sale particulars prepared by Knight Frank in 2024: Little Cowdray Farm

These are not sorted in date order but eventually we hope all will have captions Thursley Village, 1897, shop and bakery Karn's Grocery shop. You can see the poplar tree which was a major landmark especially from the common. The (original) Village Hall with the Three Horseshoes in the background Is Thursley a Dying Village - NO The vehicles were known as charabancs and were hired for day trips usually to the sea-side. The Women's Institute, c? Thursley British Legion - Branch Standard Dedication, 21st July 1935. Standard Bearer Tom Karn with escorts J Windmill and F Pullen. Meeting of the King's Messengers at The Corner when Mr Wilkinson Lived there in the late 1920s. (The lady in the centre of the picture is Nurse Collins who was District Nurse for Thursley for more than two decades). View of Thursley Village, Christmas Day 1981 Hill Farm Orchard, Christmas Day 1981

A fancy dress parade was held to celebrate winning in 1960: The 1970s:

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. 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 The Three Horseshoes re-opens after Quarantine, 4 July 2020: Photographs by Andrew Kaplanovsky

Photographs only of this Grade II listed building (28th October, 1986) Bedford Farm House in the Autumn, complete with Aston Martin DB2 View from Mount Pleasant across to Bedford Farm House The house was sold in 2022 and the following photographs were taken from the sale particulars: https://grantley.co.uk/property/bedford-lane-thursley/

From Historic England : House. C17 extended in C20. Sandstone rubble with brick angle quoins and dressings, and brick extensions, under plain tiled roofs, hipped to right. Two storeys with gable lit attics over basement plinths. Plat band over ground floor and rear stack to left. Two first floor and one ground floor casement window, one window on each floor and one in the basement storey on the left hand return front. One five-light casement window between the timbers of the gable end. Ribbed door to right in pentice roofed porch in the re-entrant angle formed by the two ranges. Wooden C17 window mullions in window adjacent to re-entrant angle on wing. From an undated painting by Eva Webb Below is the lease for Pitlands 1560 This picture was painted by Eveline Lance who lived at The Outlook c1920 Field map of Punch Bowl Farm John and Mary Keen at the turn of the 20th Century and other contemporary photographs Stables at Punch Bowl Farm Photographs of Peter, Jo and Sally Scheffers and the farm taken in the 1970s   Punch Bowl Farm, formerly known as Pitlands or Pit Farms, retains a three bay timber-framed house dating from the 16th century with a large smoke bay at the southern end.  In the 17th century a stone parlour wing was built in front of the original two-storey house.  This wing has two storeys plus an attic as well as a cellar underneath.  The farm was formerly part of the Cosford Estate until its sale, by auction, in 1952 to Monica and Bill Edwards.  Punch Bowl Farm was then immortalised in print by the numerous books written by Monica, the most famous being “The Unsought Farm’.  I the late 1960s, Monica and Bill retired to the bungalow they had built above the farm but close to the badgers Monica still holds so dear.   The Scheffers’s moved into the farm in September 1981.  Four years later the land at Upper Highfield Farm was purchased from John Robertson and both farms are worked as one producing beef cattle and sheep.  In 1994 the Punch Bowl Fold of Highland Cattle was formed and are grazed, during the summer, in the newly fenced northern section of the National Trust’s ‘Devil’s Punch Bowl’.  As well as the farm animals we also have three horses, two cats, a goose and one elderly, but very naughty donkey, ‘Briar Rose’.  Josephine, Peter and Sally Scheffers at Punch Bowl Farm, 1976 Surnames of previous owners: Keen; S Hall; J Hall; Edwards; Chalmers Punch Bowl Farm, 2014. Photography by Sean Edwards Bill Edwards mowing Barn Hill

A brief history derived from property deeds and documents by Arthur Lindley, 2012 Surnames of previous owners include: Fisher; Bennett

Grade II listed building (9 March 1960) The entry below was published by SurreyLive under the heading "Secrets of a farmhouse at Thursley: https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/local-news/secrets-farmhouse-thursley-4845854 UPPER  Highfield Farm in Thursley has a fascinating history. The farmhouse was, at one time, owned by a school. In 1913 a folk song collector visited one of its tenants and noted down three traditional songs. House detective Philip Gorton has been researching its history for the current owners. He has found out a lot, but there are still details that need to be uncovered and clarified. Here is what he has discovered so far. Situated on the lane to the Devils’ Punchbowl, Highfield Farm is a timber-framed, smoke-bay house that dates from the second half of the 16th century when it was occupied by Richard Boxfold. From then, until 1951, it was owned by various landlords and has been the home of a succession of tenant farmers. By 1662 the chimney had been built and, during the next decade, a second fireplace was built upstairs in the bedchamber for which the tenant, Richard Haddington, was charged an extra 2 shillings per year in Hearth Tax. Perhaps it was to celebrate his latest home improvement that he burnt his initials on to the hearth beam with his cattle branding iron! In 1704, the farm was bought by the trustees of the newly founded Robert May’s School in Odiham. It was a small school with about 20 boys on roll and the rents of the farm went to maintain the building, to provide free education and to fund apprenticeships. The archives of the school record their stewardship of the farm, the continual need for maintenance and relations with its various tenants. Maria Karn came to the farm with her husband Joseph in 1822 and was widowed with two small children 10 years later. Their letters to the trustees reveal how Mr and Mrs Karn struggled to make a living and pay their rent during the agricultural depression that followed the end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815. The records show that Maria continued to run the farm through the “Hungry 30s”, supplementing her living by baking and selling bread. Upper Highfield was in the ownership of the school for more than 150 years until Mrs Karn left and the Cosford House estate bought the farm in 1857. Surnames of previous owners include: E Baker; J Baker; Wilton; Abels A series of short-term tenants followed until 1885 when Edward Baker came to the farm.In 1913, a folksong collector visited Edward and noted down three of his traditional songs, John Barleycorn, The Sweet Nightingale and The Cuckoo. It has been many decades since these songs, which reflect Mr Baker’s world and way of life, were sung within the walls of Upper Highfield Farm.  Edward Baker remained at Upper Highfield until his death in the mid 1930s when his son, John, took on the tenancy.It says a lot for the continuity of rural life that he was farming the same 33 acres of land during the Second World War that were tenanted by Richard Boxfold four centuries earlier.  Philip Gorton is a professional researcher who specialises in the history of houses. A recent project is the history of Upper Highfield Farm.He would like to speak to anyone who may have family connections, memories or pictures of the farm or its former inhabitants.He is particularly keen to contact descendants of Edward Baker. If you are able to help in any way, he will be very grateful if you could contact him. Write to him at 11 Orchardfield Road, Godalming GU7 3PB or ring 01483 420763. His website is: www.house-history-research.co.uk

Photographs only of this Grade II listed building (28th October, 1986) Surnames of previous owners include: Guyatt Snr; J Guyatt; Rickenberg Hedge Farm in 2002 Photograph by Sean Edwards The current owner has expanded and renovated the property since 2002. It enjoys this spectacular view: Photographs taken in 2024: