Claygate Gardening Society, Historical Lecture.

Laura Ponsonby, ex of Kew Gardens museum section will be giving a historical lecture; "The amazing travels of a Victorian artist, Marianne North" at Claygate Village Hall on 26th April at 7.45pm. There is a small charge for non-members.

Spring 2012 newsletter

The newsletter will commence distribution at the meeting on Saturday 17th March 2012. The front illustration is a Maypole Dance at Stoke D'Abernon Manor on a postcard used in 1912. There are articles about Past Events including fuller details of the talks than the reports on the website. Also therein is a Blast from the Past entitled In and Around the Weston Greens by Dr Denys Poole who is a former President. Further articles appear about Stoke D'Abernon, Its Church and Manor, Part II of 'Patient to Person' , The History of Esher Station, Esher Villages Studies Group awarded a grant and Hill House, Esher - Then and Now. Notice is given of the 44th AGM to be held at the April meeting.

Spring Lectures at the Esher Green Centre

The Adult Learning Centre is the location of Monday and Friday Lectures for Spring 2012 and they are currently taking place with topics of History, Architecture and Antiques.

Examples to illustrate the variety are Monday 27th February 2012 Architecture - Art Deco in the Swinging 20s, Friday 16th March 2012 History - The Life and Death of Spitalfields and Friday 30th March 2012 History - Henry VIII & Six Wives. All lectures are 10.00 - 12.00 and there is a fee for each of £12.

Please ensure by checking at the Centre that there are sufficient numbers attending for the lecture to take place, Esher Green Centre Tel: 01372 832583

This Edwardian postcard published by the Esher photographer Fricker of the National Schools shows the building now occupied by the Adult Learning Centre.

Another image of "The Schools, Esher" on a postcard sent from Esher on 3rd August 1915 to Warrington.

Winter 2011 newsletter

The newsletter commenced distribution at the Christmas meeting and included a most interesting report by Stephen Webbe about Peter Harp's talk, the work of George Alfred Walker, Cemetery Sanitation in 19th century London (see Past Events for the full report). Also included is Part II of R.C. Sherriff and Journey's End by Robert Gore-Langton, Claygate Indentures from the Derek Brown collection by Jo Richards, Molesey Bronze Age Shield by Paul Gossage and Steven Baker, with a photo of the shield courtesy of the Hunt Museum, Limerick. In addition was Part I of an article 'Patient to person' by the late Howard Mallinson, a Then and Now article about Moore Place, information about the EDLHS website and a Blast from the Past by Anne E. Thompson, Princess Charlotte - Some Commemorative Medals.(See Newsletter Extracts for the full article). It will be posted to those unable to attend.

The coach trip to the New Victoria Theatre, Woking took place on Thursday 29th September 2011 and nineteen members and guests enjoyed the play "Journey's End" written by local playwright R. C. Sherriff in 1929. Of course in that year many in the audience would have been aware of the significance of the date March 1918, the start of the German spring offensive, Operation Michael. However, it was interesting to see so many schoolchildren in attendance as the play is now part of their history study.

We have recently heard about the death of one of our Vice-Presidents, Ann E. Thompson who was a founder committee member of the Society in 1968 and spent several years as Honorary Secretary and joint Honorary Secretary with Richard Haynes before moving from the area. A former resident of Cavendish Drive, Claygate, in later years she lived with her husband in Cambridgeshire. She was fully involved until her departure, with articles in the newsletter, and had been a Vice-President since 1975. Please see newsletter extracts for an example of one of her articles about Princess Charlotte.

Quaker Week 2011

Would you like to know what Quakers believe and do?

Esher Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends invites you to the Quaker Week open days on Sunday 2nd October 2011 10am - 4pm and Wednesday 5th October 2011 10am - 4pm.

Meet local Quakers, View a fascinating exhibition, Enjoy an afternoon of entertainment, Join them for worship at the Friends Meeting House, 3 Claremont Lane, Esher KT10 9DP Tel:01372 464881 (Warden).

Sunday 2nd October 2011, 10.30am to 11.30am: join them for an hours worship, followed by a chat over coffee and cake. 2.30pm to 4pm: enjoy an afternoon of entertainment including music, poetry, readings and refreshments.

Wednesday 5th October 2011 12.30pm: join them for half an hour of worship followed by refeshment and conversation. Both days view displays on Quaker work and faith.

Everyone is welcome at meetings for worship at 10.30am every Sunday or 12.30pm every Wednesday. The way of worship is silence, seeking to engage with that of God within. During the silence anyone may find themselves moved to speak or read aloud. The meeting ends with the shaking of hands.

Interested? Then discover Quakers - today. Find out more about Quaker Week 2011 at www.quaker.org.uk

The newsletter was available to members at Claremont on 10th September 2011. A £1.50 charge was made to non-members for a copy, and this will form a donation from the Society towards the restoration of the Grand Room at Claremont.

Coach trip to New Victoria Theatre, Woking

The Society are organising a theatre coach trip on the evening of Thursday 29th September 2011 to the New Victoria Theatre, Woking to see Journey's End, the world famous play by R C Sherriff. The coach will leave Elmbridge Civic Centre car park at 6pm for the 7.30pm performance. Seats are still available as these notes are written. (11/09/2011) The total cost to include the ticket and coach trip is £25 per person. If you are unable to make that evening the play runs from 26th September 2011 to 1st October 2011 in Woking on an Autumn tour of Britain. This trip is open to non-members.

Update 19/09/2011. The booking has now been made for 19 members and guests and tickets have been paid for under a group booking scheme. There are still thirteen places available on the coach, but own arrangements would have to be made re the booking of tickets for the evening and the coach would be available at £9 per person. Please contact Peter Hills or myself on the front page of this site if you wish to use the coach in these circumstances.

Autumn 2011 newsletter

The autumn newsletter will commence distribution at Claremont Mansion on Saturday 10th September 2011. There will be several images of Claremont with text by Steve Webbe. Articles relating to R C Sherriff including a picture postcard of he and men digging a trench in training. Permission has been given for the image to be used by the R C Sherriff Trust. Past Events are recorded and there is an article about a prolific writer of children's books, Ursula Moray Williams, who lived for a time in Claygate, Esher. Additionally information about a booklet "A Short History of Molesey" from the Derek Brown collection of papers. A eulogy about Howard Mallinson and a Blast from the Past about T S Mercer. Finally Peter and Anne Hills are preparing "Then and Now" articles for the "Essential Esher " magazine and one of their subjects is Park Road, Esher with a carte de visite photograph c 1860 from the Derek Brown collection.

Even if you are not a member come along to Claremont Mansion as part of the Heritage Day and collect a newsletter. Any donation on the day will be given to the School for the restoration of the Grand Room.

Thanksgiving Service.

Well known local author Adrian Howard Mallinson's Service of Celebration & Thanksgiving for his life took place on Monday 18th July. Holy Trinity Church was packed to hear the Service conducted by Revd Dr Philip Plyming. Howard was born on 6th November 1942, the day that General Alexander contacted Prime Minister Churchill with coded confirmation of the victory at El Alamain "Ring out the Bells". The service was essentially chosen by Howard with Irene two years ago, but he had made much improvement from his illness to become mobile again and only in recent weeks had his health faltered. Dudley his son read a tribute to his father reminding us that he was proud to have been born in York which had influenced his great interest in the railway. He had worked as a chartered accountant and after retirement turned his attention to writing books and published four in five years. A poem was read by his niece Joanna and at the conclusion of the Service the large crowd continued the celebration of his life with drinks and refreshments in the Church Hall.

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Howard Mallinson, a well known local author, sadly died unexpectedly on 5th July. A Thanksgiving Service will be held on Monday 18th July 2011 at 2.30pm at Holy Trinity Church, Claygate KT10 0JP. Please wear cheerful colours. Enquiries to Lodge Bros. Esher, tel: 01372 463903. No flowers please. Donations if wished to the Princess Alice Hospice, Esher and/or Brigitte Trust (www.brigittetrust.org)

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Collection of film slides donated to the Society.

Linda Briggs contacted the Society after her move within Nantwich from one property to another. She had found a collection of film slides, mainly of the Esher District area which had belonged to her late father Derek Brown (a former Vice-President) and they were collected from Nantwich on Thursday 2nd June 2011. They will be a useful source of information. Some will be converted into digital form to be used in future presentations and others will be converted into prints for display. Our thanks are due again to Linda for this kind donation.

Our neighbours in Walton-on-Thames have a Choral Concert evening in aid of the restoration fund for the Bells of St. Mary's, Walton-on-Thames. The last major restoration took place in 1883 and the proposed work requires the removal of the bells from the tower and eventually for them to be rehung in a new steel frame. The A Cappella Singers directed by Peter Stobart will be performing at the concert, which is to be held at the church in Church Street, KT12 2QS on Saturday April 9th, 7.30pm. Tickets are £7 and refreshments will be provided during the interval. Telephone 01932 246796 or 243166 for tickets and information.

The Spring 2011 newsletter commenced distribution at the 12th March meeting.

It contained articles about Sandown Park Racecourse, A Surrey Farming Family 1800 - 1860, Blasts from the Past, some postcard images and the usual reporting of Past Events as well as the article which appears below about Midshipman Spicer R.N. of Esher Place.

Donation of local books, photographs and ephemera.

Linda Briggs, the daughter of Derek Brown, a former Vice-President (see Obituaries) contacted the Society website and donated a collection of his local books, papers and ephemera to the Society. They were brought back to Esher from Nantwich, Cheshire on Tuesday 1st March 2011. The committee are currently arranging for much of this material to reach a wider audience. Many of the books will be added to the new small library which is available at our meetings in Claygate. A few items will be of interest to the Esher Village Studies Group and there are photographs which will assist us in the knowledge of our area.

Anne Hills has prepared a synopsis of a recently published book. It is about one of the Spicer family who lived at Esher Place. Philip Spicer's story is tragic and the idea for the book came about when Ingrid Carding's father bought some 19th century letters for their early and unusual postal franking. When he read the letters, the story of Philip Spicer's tragically short life unfolded. Ingrid has given permission for the synopsis of her book to be given in this format. She has kindly allowed a copy of the book to be circulated amongst interested members of the Society. It will then be kept with St. George's Church records for public access as needed.

Midshipman Spicer R.N. of Esher Place.

Philip Spicer was the second of eight children born to John and Hannah Spicer in 1818. He was baptised at St. George's Church, Esher and spent the latter years of his childhood at Esher Place. He would have known the Princess Victoria who was a regular visitor to the nearby Claremont Estate and would have shared use of the unusual Newcastle Chamber Pew at St. George's Church.

At just 12 years old, Philip Spicer was admitted to the Royal Naval College at Portsmouth, in 1831. He was a lively and able student. His letters home to Esher Place often contained sketches of the ships anchored off Spithead, Portsmouth and also enquiries as to how well his various pets were, particularly his treasured pigeons.

After almost two years at the Royal Naval College, Mr. P. J. Spicer was discharged into HM Service and was awarded the gold medal for outstanding scholarship.

His first ship was the Malabar which operated around the Mediterranean for the next year or so. In 1835, Philip served on HMS Pique and following its grounding on the Labrador coast, endured a famous and traumatic Atlantic Passage which culminated in a severely damaged ship and a Court Martial for Captain Rous and Master Hemsley of HMS Pique. Both were acquitted of blame.

Philip Spicer continued his naval career and inevitably by 1837, while serving on HMS Wanderer, had experience of chasing and capturing a slave ship off the Bahamas with more than 400 slaves on board. Disease was rife and many slaves died of smallpox but in July 1837, the surviving slaves were declared free at a Court in Sierra Leone.

Philip with his triumphant crew mates were now able to return home. Tragically, Philip fell ill on the passage home and died, aged just 19, aboard the 'Merchant Ship Bernard'.

His memorial stone in St. George's Church conveys the pride and grief felt by his parents.

For many years Penny Rainbow has been researching and documenting the history of her home, Wayneflete Tower in Esher. This has culminated in the publication of a book "The Tower of Esher" which is devoted to the impressive catalogue of its residents.

William Wayneflete built his grand Esher Palace in the 15th century and the Tower was the former gatehouse sited on the banks of the river Mole. Please visit the website from our "Useful Links" page which gives information about how to purchase. Locally, Esher Fine Art (opposite Waitrose) and the Elmbridge Museum in Weybridge also have it for sale. The publication is a stunning record of the occupants, a building which has been the logo of the Society since it was formed in 1968.

The Winter 2010 edition of the Newsletter was distributed at the meeting on 9th December 2010 and was posted to those unable to attend.

Contained therein were reports about past events. Additionally was a further report about Kingfishers School, Esher, a 1975 Blast from the Past from the President E. Royston Pike, an article about Penny Rainbow's book "The Tower of Esher", part II of R.C. Sherriff's "It started with a Dig", One of the Elmbridge Hundred - Francis John Williamson and part II of the Indian Camp at Hampton Court.

The Autumn 2010 edition of the Newsletter was distributed at the meeting on 18th September and was posted to those unable to attend.

It contains a report about the presentation by the Esher Village Studies Group to the Society and other Past Events. Additionally there are articles about John O'Keefe, History in Trees, A Royal Railway, John Peter Robinson and also The Portsmouth Road and the First Esher Bypass.

Dr. David Taylor

David Taylor has recently become a Doctor, his thesis being on Vernon Lushington, a 19th century lawyer and Positivist. Additionally he has been awarded the Blackham Fellowship which will provide him with the opportunity to convert his PhD thesis into publishable form. Congatulations are very much deserved from the Society for his long service, in fact he was a founder member and is a current Vice-President. He still takes a very active interest in local matters, having only this month led the walk around Cobham. The Society are only one of his many interests and the collection after the walk was in aid of David's charity the Cobham Uganda partnership.

The Elmbridge Hundred - A history of people and place.

The Elmbridge Hundred is a mind-blowing collection of tales about historic figures. This community project puts the human history of Elmbridge Borough on the map. Discover stories of love and loss, of prolific writers, exiled royals and eccentric inventions. Browse the project website and see student artworks inspired by the project. The exhibition commenced on Saturday 29th May and continues until 15th September 2010.

Who would you add to the Elmbridge Hundred?

Elmbridge Museum Church Street Weybridge is open Weekdays 11.00 am - 5.00 pm and Saturdays 10.00 am - 1.00 pm and 2.00 - 5.00 pm. Closed Sundays, Thursdays and Bank Holidays.

Open Garden - Sunday 9th May 2010

Committee Members Peter Hills and Anne Hills opened their walled garden at More Lane, Esher in aid of the Princess Alice Hospice. In the historic records of 'Wayneflete Tower, "Garden Cottage" existed at least as early as 1703. The Orangery was built about the same period. The Cottage and Orangery are on a plot that in 1606 contained a group of five dwellings. Whether the cottage is one of those is yet to be established!

In 1730 William Kent was commissioned to landscape the grounds and make alterations to Wayneflete Tower. Kent surrounded the kitchen garden with a series of walled and hedged gardens stretching down what is now More Lane. The Orangery was created and an archway was constructed for access, by the head gardener to Esher Place grounds.

Once Esher Place was built in the early 19th century, by John Spicer, the Gardener's Cottage continued to house the head gardener for another 150 years. The gardens still boast the yew trees that were sketched by another local gentleman, Robert Taylor Pritchett, in 1862. Because of the high walls and mature yew trees, the garden contains some rare shade loving plants. In contrast, the south facing Orangery supports colourful sun loving climbers. By the 18th century Arch stood a display of a plant that was popular then - Auriculars. Looking into the conservatory one could see a pedimented doorway created in Kent's time to face 'his' Arch.

A well attended day in which everyone had been privileged to see some architectural delights and a beautiful walled garden. With free parking provided at Sandown Park a truly memorable local occasion.

Get Involved Day - Saturday 17th April 2010

The event took place on a beautiful spring day and allowed many of the activities to take place outside. The Society were represented by several committee members and there were two laptops in use which displayed slide shows of images of the old Urban District and also many slides that the Esher Village Studies group had assembled. Additionally display boards with more photographs and also maps meant that there was much interest throughout the day from persons attending. The Claygate Village Association are to be congratulated on their arrangements for the day. We were fortunate to meet many people with a local history interest and many fascinating topics were discussed which will lead to more information being added to our knowledge of the area. It is hoped that the leaflets we distributed will encourage new people to join us.

From the time of arrival until the conclusion at 3pm it was obvious that the event had proved a great success with a large number of persons attending, from very young to those who have collected their pension for a few years! Let us hope that this event takes place again!

Get Involved Day - Saturday 17th April 2010 10.30 am - 3 pm.

The above event will take place at Claygate Village Hall, Church Road, Claygate and will involve over 40 organisations and approximately 19 activities. The Esher District LHS will be one of the organisations participating. The day is being organised by the Claygate Village Association and entry is free to all.

The Spring edition of the Newsletter was distributed at the March meeting and includes articles about Loseberry and the Lucas family, William & Mary Howitt, Esher Kingfishers School, George Harrison and Pattie Boyd, Hampton Court - The Indian Camp in 1911, and a selection of postcard illustrations and matters relating to the AGM in April.

The Winter edition of the Newsletter was distributed initially at the Christmas meeting and the remainder was delivered or posted to members not attending. It includes articles about The Vidlers of Esher, The Porter Sisters, an In Memoriam about Colin Dall, the usual selection of postcard illustrations and reports on the past three events.

Colin Dall, a Vice-President of the Society died peacefully at Kingston Hospital on Friday 9th October 2009. Colin and his wife Christine had been at the heart of the Society throughout the late 1990's and the bulk of this century. His funeral took place on Thursday 22nd October 2009 at 11am at Randalls Park Crematorium, Randalls Road, Leatherhead KT22 0AG. Floral tributes were from family only. Any donations to Princess Alice Hospice, Esher.

The Autumn edition of the Newsletter was posted to members on 15/09/2009 and includes articles on George Meredith, Memories of Rosebriars, Tyte's Stores, Esher Place and Dittons Fire Station as well as full reports of the four previous past events.

There are also 4 local postcard illustrations with their text including the arrival of Indian Troops at Hampton Court in 1911 who camped out in the grounds awaiting the Coronation of George V.

On 23rd June 2009 Joan Harlow and Paul Langton gave a presentation at Ditton Library to mark the fact that the Library had been refurbished and that the T.S. Mercer local history collection was now catalogued and available to the public.

Joan spoke about T.S. Mercer who had been a founder member of the Esher District LHS and the Thames Ditton Residents' Association. He had made many historical contributions to their respective magazines. He came to Speer Road in 1931 after working in the automobile industry and immersed himself in unfolding the history of Thames Ditton.

Paul gave a short Powerpoint presentation of postcards of Thames Ditton and also included illustrations from some of Mercer's collection of photographs.

Clive and Hilary Blakeley were the guests of Penny Rainbow at Wayneflete Tower on 7th July 2008. Both are members and they had visited Esher Place last year. Clive as a consequence had written an article for the newsletter after that visit but he had never been inside the Tower. As a boy of 6 he had stood outside and admired it as he had lived at the 13th house to be built on the estate in the 1930's and often played with friends in the grounds. See the Spring Newsletter 2008 for the full article about his memories of Esher Place.

Note the Pelham buckle above the heads of Clive and Hilary as they stand with Maureen outside the Mole entrance to the Tower.

Clive and Hilary stand at the foot of the magnificent stone staircase which rises to the top of the building.

The Society enjoyed a fascinating and pleasurable tour of the Metropolitan Police Mounted Branch at Imber Court, Ember Lane, East Molesey with a guide Vicky Lane as part of their 40th anniversary. Imber Court was bought by the Metropolitan Police in 1919 for use as a training establishment for the Mounted Branch and as a sports ground.

On the day, Thursday 29th May 2008, a passing-out parade was taking place, with newly trained horses and riders showing friends and family what a team they had become. Chief Inspector Bob Barker gave the formal opening presentation and then introduced the review officer of the day, Lord Imbert, the former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Peter Imbert, who himself had ridden police horses on ceremonial occasions.

A buffet was then held in the Esher Suite of the main building. The Elmbridge Deputy Mayor, Councillor James Vickers, was guest of honour and Pamela Reading, President of the Society, welcomed him to the meeting. The Deputy Mayor told us of the people who had helped form the Society at that inaugural meeting on 22nd May 1968, including Councillor P.R. Bryant who was a member of the Esher Library Committee and other well known local historians amongst them Royston Pike and Rowland Baker. He said that the first committee meeting was held the following month and Councillor W. (Bill) Kerr was in the chair and continued in that post for many years. Perhaps today local councillors should know more of the history of the Borough. The Deputy Mayor then reminded the Society that its primary aim in the Adopted Revised Constitution was probably the first listed, generally to awaken and foster an informed interest in the history of the neighbourhood of the former Urban District of Esher.

David Taylor Vice President then spoke and said that after attending a recent book launch he would recommend the reading of "Why History Matters" by John Tosh. He thanked Pamela for taking on the Presidency and wished her well and then said that Imber Court was a fitting place to hold the anniversary as it had been the home of Sir Dudley Carleton, Ambassador to Charles I who is featured in a book by Jerry Brotton called "The Sale of the late King's Goods" - about the King and his art collection. Carleton helped Charles I to purchase works of art.

The Chairman, Paul Langton, then spoke about the pleasure of holding the function in a room called the Esher Suite, with display boards showing photos of the old Urban District therein. Another event approaching in those days of 1968 was the local flooding which necessitated the cancellation of many sporting fixtures at the venue. The Elmbridge Deputy Mayor and he then cut the 40th anniversary celebratory cake, which was enjoyed by all present..

Committee member Jo Buckley meets Jensen.

Deputy Mayor, Councillor James Vickers meets Zamora and trainer Karen.

Vicky Lane briefing members before the tour.

Police Horse Imbert meets Lord Imbert.

David and Carrie Taylor together with Pam Bradbury in the stable yard.

Chairman Paul Langton and Deputy Mayor, Councillor James Vickers meet Lord Imbert and Chief Inspector Bob Barker.

Committee Members Stephen Webbe and Chris Harris with members Maureen Langton, Gaye Harris and Michael Mockford sharing a happy moment with President Pamela Reading as they prepare to leave the Esher Suite at the end of a splendid visit.

In April 1955 a new Magazine entitled 'The Esher Review' was published. A local historian C.R.S. Saunders wrote an article for that first edition under the title of ' Local Memories'. Here follows that article as a tribute to him . Little did he realise when it was written that it would be available to the world in 2008, 40 years after the formation of the Esher District Local History Society.

Coaching Days by C. R. S. Saunders

The Portsmouth-road, formerly known as the Portsmouth Turnpike-road, is one of the oldest thoroughfares in the kingdom, haunted, we might well imagine, by the spirits of countless travellers of all periods of English history. Charles II, and indeed every English King that was ever crowned, to see his ships, must have passed along this highway on his way to Portsmouth.

It was in 1580 that coaches were first introduced into England and for the greater part of three centuries the roads everywhere were bad, and highway robbery the subject for a subsequent article, was frequent.

In the earliest days noblemen and landed gentry travelled long distances in their own family coaches, sometimes in great state attended by servants riding before and after on horseback, while flunkeys hung on behind the coach. Other important people travelled by post-chaise, drawn by four or six horses, with a post-boy or postillon to each pair of horses. Certain established inns all over the country still like to retain their old-time description of a 'posting-house,' where in former times carriages, horses and post-boys could be hired, day or night. Such inns, usually, were about ten miles apart which was termed a 'stage' and in posting, the horses were generally changed at each posting-house along the route.

Long distance coaches were used in the reign of Charles II but not until George IV was king did stage-coaches approach perfection; even at that period the outside of a coach in mid-winter, with darkness, icy roads, cold mists, biting winds, driving rains and floods afforded little comfort. Fellow travellers were not always congenial and highway robbers, beggars and drunken rowdies helped to make some journeys far from pleasant.

In spite of this, traffic along the Portsmouth-road in both directions must have been considerable. Kings and Queens, ambassadors, nobles, admirals, captains, soldiers and sailors, men of every degree were, at times, obliged to undertake the journeys, the gentry in their own coaches, the middle classes in public conveyances and the commoners, soldiers and sailors by stage-wagons or on foot, taking probably several days to reach their destinations.

Samuel Pepys, the diarist, John Wesley, the Methodist, Admiral John Byng, who was shot by a firing party on board ship in Portsmouth Harbour for neglect of duty, Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington, Lord Clive, to and from his stately home at Claremont, are but a few of the historical celebrities who have passed through the district over the past centuries.

By 1820 stage-coaches and mail-coaches were in general use. Their popular names such as 'New Times', 'Portsmouth Regulator', 'Royal Mail', 'Rocket', 'Light Post', 'Night Post', 'Hero', 'Portsmouth Telegraph', and later 'Royal Blue', 'Red Rover' and 'Age' became household names.

Leaving London, the first change of horses was at the 'Robin Hood' in Kingston Vale, the second at 'The Bear', Esher, both old coaching inns. Some pair-horse coaches were known to run daily from Esher to the 'Bolt-in-Tun' in Fleet-street and these used to call at 'The Swan' in Thames Ditton village and were allowed to carry only eight passengers outside and four inside.

When coaches rattled through the village, the inns did a thriving trade. One would arrive, a strangely mixed company alight to partake of the beef, hams, pies, home-made bread and wine or good English ale that the landlord had ready for their needs in plentiful supply.

The night coaches, at times, were loaded with sailors going to Portsmouth or Southampton to join their vessels and a rare drunken crew they were, more often than not and many a free flight occurred at the toll-gates or when changing horses.

For the last three years some of us enjoyed the thrill of seeing the 100-year-old 'Red Rover' coach and four clatter along part of its old route. For this we are indebted to Mr. Sanders Watney, of Watney, Combe, Reid and Co. Ltd., who has preserved this fine old vehicle and helped to keep alive stirring memories of bygone times.

'Littleworth Lodge', on Esher boundary of the Portsmouth-road, marks the site where Hitchener's Bar Toll-Gate stood until 1870, when it was removed. The Toll House was allowed to remain and is believed now to form part of the present Lodge. The toll-gate was so-named because from 1778 until 1802, Manor Farm, nearby on Ditton Marsh, was occupied by William Hitchener, a farmer.

Some coaches conveyed chained gangs of convicts from London to Portsmouth, the port of embarkation for transportation to some penal settlement in America or to Botany Bay in New South Wales, but such transportation was abolished in 1853.

Gone are the coaching days and with their passing many fine old inns sank from their old-time dignity into obscurity. Once there were long ranges of stables filled with steeds; now they have disappeared and their sites built upon.

In 1897, Mr. Henry James Storey, vestry-clerk and registrar in Thames Ditton, where he had lived for more than half a century, gave the following account to a local press representative:- " I remember one winter the roadmen had scraped the dirt off the road into heaps and it had become frozen quite hard. One of the 'Royal Blues', after getting through the toll-gate, started off at a gallop, but the wheels of the coach went up one of these frozen hillocks of mud and the coach turned over. It was a set out, I can tell you. A light or a lantern was a scarce article then, but everybody who had a lantern turned out. The coach was loaded with sailors when it turned over and they were nearly all drunk at the time and fast asleep on the top of the coach. I don't think anyone was killed on that occasion."

Not far from the Dittons boundary in the parish of Esher, stands the 'White Lady' milestone and a traveller describing a coach ride in the nineteenth century said:- "Presently we were out on Ditton Marsh, flat and broad, and sombre, and we bowl along here at a fine round pace until we reach the foot of the ascent where, outside a roadside public house, the 'Orleans Arms', stands a huge stone post, a century old, marked with the names and distances of many towns and villages, and known as the 'White Lady' milestone."

The famous milestone has guided travellers now for nearly two centuries, having been erected in 1767, by whom, no one seems to know. It has been stated, without proof, that this structure stands on a millstone brought from a powder manufactory which once stood by the side of the River Ember. It has recently been cleaned and renovated by experts and it is comforting to feel that this old friendly landmark will continue its existence for many more centuries to come.

(Editor's note; please see Esher photos for postcard illustrations of the "White Lady")

As the Society approaches the 40th Anniversary of its inaugural meeting, there was an event in Claygate in 1926 also observing that figure. It took place on Thursday 3rd, Friday 4th and Saturday 5th June 1926 and celebrated the 40th year of the Vicar's Incumbency.

A Japanese Fair and Grand Fancy Bazaar was held in the Parish Hall and Vicarage Grounds (4 acres), Holy Trinity Church, Claygate.

On Saturday, The Japanese System of Physical Culture, the Science of Ju-Jitsu (now known in its perfect form as "Judo") and Kendo (Fencing) was illustrated by Students and others from the Budokwai.The real naturalization of Judo in this country was brought about by the indefatigable efforts of Mr. G. Koizumi, a Japanese merchant and himself a highly skilled exponent. His school or club in London taught Judo and inculcated the spirit of "Bushido" - the main moral principles being "Never boast of, or misuse one's skill; be chivalrous; and despise cowardice; be honest and sincere".

Each day a Japanese Tea Garden specially designed for the occasion was open with suitable music selected and performed during Tea. A Japanese Museum was also open in the Vicarage Dining-room displaying valuable Japanese Curios, pictures on silk made in Japan, costly vases, screens, and some articles rarely seen out of Japan.

Over 100 people remained for the inaugural meeting and with their unanimous consent, Councillor Bryant took the chair. He called upon Mr. Derek Brown, District Librarian, to explain why Esher Library Committee had sponsored the formation of a Local History Society and how it was proposed to assist such a Society to become fully independent. Mr. Brown also reported on the success of the Esher Local History Fortnight, during which time nearly 100 people had put down their names as being willing to support a local history society.

The story of Prince Charles Edward, Hitler's Favourite Royal was broadcast at 9 pm Thursday December 6th 2007 on Channel 4.

Following a series of unexpected deaths in the royal family, in July 1900, Queen Victoria's teenage grandson moved to Germany and took up the dukedom of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. The strong Esher connection to the story is that he lived at Claremont, Esher until that time and his mother the Duchess of Albany continued to live there. Initially he was reluctant to fight for his adopted homeland in World War I. Later he became Hitler's royal spokesman.

This one hour programme was pick of the day and gave a remarkable insight into the story of the Nazi prince.

Peter Harp, Chairman of the Surrey Archaeological Research Committee organised 20 volunteers to perform the task at the invitation of the current owner of the Tower, Penny Rainbow.

As Peter states " As is so often the case, everything became clear on the last day with all the loose ends coming together. We have been entirely within 'basement' levels of the 1729 gothic extension to the Tower (& later demolition levels), and have uncovered 3 'rooms' together with a later phase (but still Georgian) semi-circular staircase foundation. This was not unexpected, merely the depth of these Georgian walls was surprising - we had been hoping earlier structures might have survived within the later building footprint.

Although the rooms had a floor level at 1.5m below current ground level, they were filled with a further (beneath the floor-level) 0.75m of soft sand to drain the building, sitting under a rubble/mortar floor in two rooms and a thick deposit of cockleshells in the other room (disturbed around the trench area when the walls were robbed-out down to the water-table), in which we had a wood-lined sump leading down to a lead drain.

Finds have included 3 clay-pipes, much C18th pottery, glass (including a wine glass & undamaged C18th wine bottle), a Georgian halfpenny & building material, plus some c. C11th pottery and a few Mesolithic flints.

The full results of the excavation will be presented in February 2008 at the society's annual symposium in Ashtead.