Surrey, county in SE. of England, bounded N. by the Thames, which separates it from Bucks and Middlesex, E. by Kent, S. by Sussex, W. by Hants, and NW. by Berks; greatest length, N. and S., 26 miles; greatest breadth, E. and W., 40 miles; area, 485,129 acres, population 1,436,899. The county is traversed from E. to W. by the North Downs range, from which the surface slopes gently down towards the Thames on the N., while on the S. it descends into an extensive flat plain (partly also in the counties of Kent and Sussex) called the Weald. Except a small portion in the SW., and another small portion in the SE., the whole of the county is drained by the Thames and its tributaries, the Wey, Mole, and Wandle. There are many varieties of soil, including plastic and alluvial clays, rich vegetable loam, calcareous earth, and almost barren heath. On the plastic clays the crops are wheat and beans; the alluvial soils, particularly in the vicinity of the metropolis, are chiefly occupied by orchards, market gardens, and farms for the culture of medical and aromatic plants; on the loamy soils the crops are barley, oats, and pease, carrots and parsnips; while the chief products of the calcareous soils are hops and clover. There are some industries in oil, paper, calicoes, woollen goods, &c., and those places situated on the Thames share in the trade of the port of London, but (except in that part of the county included within the limits of the metropolis) the trade and manufactures are not of great importance. The amenities of climate and scenery, the vicinity of the metropolis, and the complete means of railway communication, have caused many parts of Surrey to be studded over with mansions and villas. The county contains 14 hundreds, 152 parishes with parts of 2 others, the parliamentary and municipal borough of Croydon, the parliamentary boroughs of Battersea and Clapham, Camberwell, Lambeth, Newington, Southwark, and Wandsworth; and the municipal boroughs of Godalming, Guildford, Kingston upon Thames, and Reigate. The county is in the dioceses of Canterbury, Rochester, and Winchester.
– John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887)
Note: The London boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark, Wandsworth, and parts of Lewisham and Bromley were in Surrey until 1889. The boroughs of Croydon, Kingston upon Thames, Merton, Sutton and Richmond upon Thames south of the River Thames were part of Surrey until 1965.
Archaeology Centre – Surrey Heath Archaeology & Heritage Trust
Surrey Heath Archaeology and Heritage Trust, 4-10 London Road
Bagshot GU19 5HN
07870 447810
www.shaht.co.uk
We hold extensive collections of borderware pottery, clay pipes and coins. All the collections are available for viewing at the centre.
Ash Museum
Cemetery Chapel, Ash Cemetery, Ash Church Road
Ash GU12 6LX
01252 542341
bit.ly/ashmuseum
Local history museum for Ash, Ash Vale, Ash Green and Tongham.
Basingstoke Canal Visitors Centre
Mychett Place Road
Mychett GU16 6DD
01252 370073
The Basingstoke Canal is declared by many to be Britain’s most beautiful waterway. From the rolling North Hampshire hills to the dramatic flights of locks in Surrey, the tree-lined canal offers a variety of delights.
Bourne Hall Museum
Spring Street, Ewell
Epsom KT17 1UF
020 83941734
Discover the fascinating past of Epsom & Ewell at Bourne Hall Museum. Based in the futuristic building of Bourne Hall, our free museum allows you to come face to face with the local past. With exhibits ranging from prehistoric times to the modern day, our permanent displays and regular exhibitions illustrate every aspect of local life and have something to interest all members of the family. The museum charts the borough’s history through its collections of document and picture archives, fine art, costume, archaeology and social history. Highlights of our collection include Lord Rosebery’s hansom cab, a 19th-century fire engine, extensive Derby memorabilia and significant Roman archaeology from local sites.
Brooklands Museum
Brooklands Museum Trust Limited, Brooklands Road
Weybridge KT13 0QN
01932 857381
Brooklands was the first purpose-built motor racing circuit in the world in 1907. It was also one of the most prolific aircraft production sites in Europe, with over 18,500 aircraft built or assembled at Brooklands by companies such as Vickers, Hawker, BAC and British Aerospace.
Collections: The 30 acre Museum site displays a wide range of Brooklands- related motoring and aviation exhibits reflecting many great engineering and technological acievements throughout the 20th century. These range from the 1933, 24-litre Napier-Railton racing car to a Wellington Bomber recovered from Loch Ness; a unique collection of Vickers/BAC-built aircraft and the only Concorde publically accessible in the South East.
Caterham & District Local History Centre
Caterham Valley Library, Stafford Road
Caterham CR3 6JG
01883 – 343580
www.surreycc.gov.uk/northtandridgelocalhistory
Local history archive for the communities of Caterham, Chaldon, Chelsham, Farleigh, Warlingham, Woldingham, Whyteleafe, Tatsfield and Titsey. A collaboration between Surrey East Area Libraries, Surrey History Service, Tandridge District council, The Bourne Society, The East Surrey Family History Society, Parish Councils and local schools.
Collections: The centre holds printed publications, historic maps and prints of the area and a photographic collection, part of which has been digitised at www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk.
Chertsey Museum
The Cedars, 33 Windsor Street
Chertsey KT16 8AT
01932 565764
We have fine collections, including history of the Runnymede area, local archaeology and history of Chertsey Abbey, fine art, decorative art, social history including many documents and photographs, local clocks and the nationally significant Olive Matthews Collection of dress and textiles.
Chobham Museum
Benhams Corner, Bagshot Road
Chobham GU24 8BP
01276 858322
A small museum situated in a pretty Surrey village. SLocal items. Photographic catalogue of more than 200 old photographs of Chobham.
Clandon Park – National Trust
Clandon
Guildford GU4 7RQ
01483 222482
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/clandon-park
Grand 18th-century Palladian mansion: * Two-storey White Marble Hall * Superb collection of Chinese, Meissen and Sèvres Porcelain * Home to the Queens’ Royal Surrey Regiment Museum.
Crafts Study Centre
University for the Creative Arts, Falkner Road
Farnham GU9 7DS
01252 891450
www.csc.ucreative.ac.uk
The Crafts Study Centre, established in 1970, has an international standing as a unique archive and collection of 20th century British crafts.
Collections: The Crafts Study Centre’s collection embraces ceramics, textiles, calligraphy and wood, accompanied by reference books.
Dorking Museum & Heritage Centre
The Old Foundry, 62 West Street
Dorking RH4 1BS
01306 876591
Dorking Museum aims to preserve and present the heritage of Dorking and its surrounding villages and countryside by collecting, conserving, interpreting and displaying items of historic interest, and to provide facilities for study and research.
East Surrey Family History Society
10 Cobham Close
Wallington SM6 9DS
020 8642 6789
The East Surrey Family History Society for parishes in the Eastern part of the ancient County of Surrey. This includes those London Boroughs south of the River Thames which are now in Greater London but which were originally Surrey.
East Surrey Museum
1 Stafford Road
Caterham CR3 6JG
01883 340275
The museum is situated on the ground floor of a flint and brick house, built about the turn of the 19th century. A local history museum with geological and archaeological displays, crafts, artefacts and other changing exhibitions. The permanent East Surrey Room charts the history of East Surrey from earliest times. The junior room has a permanent World War Two display along with handling artefacts, toys from the past and some changing displays.
Egham Museum
Literary Institute, High Street
Egham TW20 9EW
01483 543599
Egham Museum is an independent, community museum serving the communities of Egham, Egham Hythe, Thorpe, Englefield Green and Virginia Water.
Elmbridge Museum
Elmbridge Borough Council, Civic Centre, Esher, KT10 9SD
Esher KT10 9SD
01932 843573
The museum displays absorbing pop-up exhibitions around the borough, illustrating the histories and mysteries of the area – a must for anyone seeking to understand what makes Elmbridge the Borough it is today.
Farnham Castle Keep – English Heritage
Farnham GU9 0AG
01252 713393
www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.15093
The impressive motte and shell keep of a castle founded in 1138 by Bishop Henry of Blois. Long a residence of the wealthy bishops of Winchester, the accommodation in the keep was updated in the 1520s.
Gatwick Aviation Museum
Vallance By Ways, Lowfield Heath Road
Charlwood, Nr. Gatwick Airport RH6 OBT
01293 862915
www.gatwick-aviation-museum.co.uk
This aviation museum has a unique collection of British Aircraft from the ‘golden age’ of British aircraft manufacture. From the end of WWII until the 1970s British aircraft designers produced some of the most innovative and advanced aircraft of the day.
Godalming Museum
109A High Street
Godalming GU7 1AQ
01483 426510
www.waverley.gov.uk/godalmingmuseum
At Godalming you will find a friendly, welcoming museum in a listed medieval building dated to 1446. You can follow a trail to discover how the museum looked in medieval times and how it has changed over six centuries.
Guildford Castle
Castle Street
Guildford GU1 3SX
www.guildford.gov.uk/castle
The Great Tower is now open after extensive renovation, including new floors and a roof which has made the building more accessible to visitors. The Tower contains a model of the original castle circa 1300, and interpretation panels tracing its history to the present day.
Guildford Cathedral
Stag Hill
Guildford GU2 7UP
01483 547860
Guildford Cathedral is the mother church of the Diocese of Guildford, covering 500 square miles of Surrey, north east Hampshire, the London Borough of Kingston and a part of West Sussex. With a seating capacity of 1000, the cathedral provides both focus and resource for the whole community, a venue for concerts, art and education, a place of pilgrimage, as well as stillness, prayer and daily choral worship.
Guildford Museum
Castle Arch
Guildford GU1 3SX
01483 444751
www.guildford.gov.uk/museum
The museum was founded in 1898 and now houses the largest collection of archaeology, local history and needlework in Surrey.
Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court
East Molesey KT8 9AU
0844 482 7777
www.hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPalace
Hampton Court Palace was home to some of England’s most famous kings and queens from Henry VIII (1509-47), its first royal resident, to George II (1727-60), its last. With 500 years worth of history to explore, Hampton Court Palace has been divided into a series of historical routes which help to explain how the palace was used when it was occupied by the monarch.
Haslemere Educational Museum
78 High Street
Haslemere GU27 2LA
01428 642112
www.haslemeremuseum.co.uk
Haslemere Educational Museum is one of the largest natural history museums in central southern England with over 240,000 specimens, along with over 140,000 Human History artefacts from around the world. There are three large permanent galleries for geology, natural history and human history artefacts.
Hatchlands Park – National Trust
East Clandon
Guildford GU4 7RT
01483 222482
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hatchlands-park
18th-century mansion with Adam interiors and collection of keyboard instruments, set in parkland.
Hearsum Collection
Pembroke Lodge, Richmond Park
Richmond TW10 5HX
Our charity collects and preserves the unique heritage of Richmond Park, the largest of London’s Royal Parks, for all to enjoy. We have a diverse range of heritage material covering the last four centuries, with some 2,500 items including antique prints, paintings, maps, postcards, photographs, documents, books and press cuttings.
Homewood, The – National Trust
Portsmouth Road
Esher KT10 9JL
01372 476424
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/homewood
20th-century Modernist house and garden. The house and landscape garden, designed by architect Patrick Gwynne, reflect the style and ethos of the Modern Movement.
Leatherhead Museum of Local History
Hampton Cottage, 64 Church Street
Leatherhead KT22 8DP
01372 386348
The Leatherhead Museum of Local History is in Hampton Cottage, a timbered 17th century house. It is the Leatherhead & District Local History Society’s HQ as well as its showcase for many items of local interest.
Leith Hill – National Trust
Leith Hill
Dorking RH5 6LY
01306 712711
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/leith-hill
Woodland and open heath with Leith Hill Tower commanding extensive views. The highest point in south-east England, the hill is crowned by an 18th-century Gothic tower, with panoramic views northwards to London and the English Channel to the south.
Lightbox, The
Chobham Road
Woking GU21 4AA
01483 737800
The Lightbox is the award winning gallery and museum in Woking, Surrey, where there is something for everyone. Whether you’re passionate about the arts and history, want activities and fun, or would just like somewhere quiet to relax and think, you’ll find it all at The Lightbox.
Merton Heritage & Local Studies Centre
2nd floor, Morden Library, Merton Civic Centre, London Rd, Morden, Surrey
Morden SM4 5DX
020 8545 3239
www.merton.gov.uk/localstudies
Merton Heritage & Local Studies Centre tells the story of Merton and its people through a changing programme of exhibitions and events. The centre also provides access to a wide range of local history resources from maps and photographs, to period newspapers, the census and a large collection of genealogical material.
Museum of Farnham
38 West Street
Farnham GU9 7DX
01252 715094
Farnham is a town of outstanding Georgian architecture and a designated town of craft with a lively and artistic atmosphere. The museum aims to reflect this in a varied programme of exhibitions and events for adults and children alike.
Oakhurst Cottage – National Trust
Hambledon
nr Godalming GU8 4HF
01483 208477
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/oakhurst-cottage
Small 16th-century timber-framed cottage: * Restored and furnished as a simple labourer’s dwelling * Fascinating artefacts reflecting 4 centuries of occupation * Delightful gardens with typical Victorian plants.
Polesden Lacey – National Trust
Polesden Lacey, Nr. Great Bookham
Dorking RH5 6BD
01372 452048
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/polesden-lacey
Nestled in the Surrey Hills, Polesden offers the perfect opportunity to unwind. Mrs Greville, an ambitious Edwardian hostess, chose it as the ideal place for entertaining and relaxing with friends.
Reigate District Family History Group
St Mark’s Hall, Alma Road, Reigate
01737 766 135
www.surreycc.gov.uk/redhilllocalhistory
Redhill Local and Family History centre is based in Redhill Library, and you can use the local history centre resources at any time that the library is open.
Reigate Hill & Gatton Park – National Trust
Reigate Hill, Wray Lane
Reigate RH2 0HX
01372 220640
This stretch of the North Downs is good walking country with flower-sprinkled grasslands and quiet shady woods. Sitting proud at the top of the Hill is the 19th-century Reigate Fort.
Reigate Priory Museum
Reigate RH2 7RL
01737 222550 afternoons
www.reigatepriorymuseum.org.uk
Reigate Priory is a grade 1 listed building set in 65 acres of open parkland with a pond, woodland and playing fields only a few hundred yards from the centre of Reigate town, which is situated at the foot of the North Downs. The building is home to Reigate Priory Museum and Reigate Priory School. The museum has a collection of local history and domestic items as well as period costumes.
RH7 History Group, Lingfield
Box Cottage, The Platt Dormansland
Lingfield RH7 6QU
The RH7 History Group aims to encourage and assist in the study of local and family history. As our name suggests, we mainly focus on the RH7 postal district which covers the south-east Surrey communities of Lingfield, Blindley Heath, Crowhurst, Dormansland and Newchapel.Members are encouraged to undertake research of their area, house or any local history subject they choose (help is available when needed), and results may be published in the form of factsheets.
Royal Logistic Corps Museum
The Princess Royal Barracks, Newfoundland Road, Deepcut
Camberley GU16 6SQ
01252 833371
www.rlcmuseum.co.uk
The museum tells the story of British Army logistics from the 15th century to the present day. Exhibits include weapons, uniforms, medals and equipment relevant to the RLC (formed 1993)and its predecessors, whose collections are also held.
Rural Life Centre
Old Kiln Museum Trust, Reeds Road, Tilford
Farnham GU10 2DL
01252 795571
The collection documents the changes in rural life over the period between about 1750 and 1960 in an area roughly encompaccing Surrey, east Hampshire, West Sussex and parts of Berkshire. Areas covered include all aspects of domestic and village life including agriculture, crafts and trades.
Shalford Mill – National Trust
Shalford Mill
nr Guildford GU4 8BS
01483 561389
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/shalford-mill
18th-century watermill with well-preserved machinery. This large timber-framed mill on the River Tillingbourne was given in 1932 by a group of anonymous NT benefactors calling themselves ‘Ferguson’s Gang’.
Surrey Heath Museum
Knoll Road
Camberley GU15 3HD
01276 707284
www.surreyheath.gov.uk/leisure/museum
A small, lively borough museum, based in the centre of Camberley. The museum’s collections are particularly strong in 19th and 20th century domestic materials, 20th century costume, natural history and photographs.
Surrey History Centre
130 Goldsworth Road
Woking GU21 6ND
01483 518737
www.surreycc.gov.uk/surreyhistorycentre
Surrey History Centre collects and rescues archives and printed materials relating to Surrey’s past and present, so that they can tell the story of the county and its people to future generations. We can help you discover your family history learn about famous Surrey people, buildings, businesses and organisations trace the history of your house, street, town or community or research a school or university project.
Surrey Infantry Museum, The
Clandon Park
Guildford GU4 7RQ
01483 223419
Following the amalgamation of The Queen’s Royal Regiment and the East Surrey Regiment in 1959, the ownership and management of museum artefacts and archives was vested in The Queen’s Royal Surrey Regiment Museum Trust. Following the closure of Regimental Headquarters and Museum in the Keep at Kingston–upon–Thames the artefacts had to be put in store.
Undercroft, The
High Street
Guildford GU1 3HE
01483 444751
www.guildford.gov.uk/undercroft
The medieval Undercroft on Guildford High Street is one of the finest examples in the country. Dating from the end of the 13th century, this stone vaulted semi-basement is thought to have been a merchant’s shop, selling wine or expensive cloths or silk. Undercrofts like this are a feature of towns engaged in the import and export trade, and the merchant who built this Undercroft must have expected to deal with prosperous clients who sought luxury goods.
Wanborough Barn
Nr Wanborough
Guildford GU3 2JR
www.wanboroughgreatbarn.co.uk
Wanborough Barn is located just off the A31 between Guildford and Farnham. Built by the Cistercian monks of Waverley Abbey in 1388, the large medieval barn is the most important in Surrey.
Wandle Industrial Museum
Vestry Hall Annexe, London Road
Mitcham CR4 3UD
020 8648 0127
The museum works to preserve, store, and interpret the heritage and history of the industries and people of the River Wandle. We are proud to display the evidence which establishes that the River Wandle was, in its day, the most industrialised river in Europe.
West Surrey Family History Society
21 Sheppard Road
Basingstoke RG21 3HT
We cover the ancient County of Surrey, both Rural Surrey and the Metropolitan Surrey area, ie those parts of the old county of Surrey which are now in Greater London.