There are four main collections of local history material accessible to the public. Three of them contain similar material (printed works, manuscripts, maps and illustrations) and there is inevitably a good deal of duplication between them.
All, however, have much that is unique to them and in particular this is true of their pictorial material. You should not go to the Surrey History Centre before doing some background reading on your subject at other centres.
Surrey History Centre
130 Goldsworth Road
Woking
Surrey
GU21 1ND
Tel: 01483 518737
Fax: 01483 518738
Email: shs@surreycc.gov.uk
Web: www.surreycc.gov.uk/surreyhistorycentre (this page opens in a new window)
- Monday - closed
- Tuesday - 9.30am - 5.00pm
- Wednesday - 9.30am - 5.00pm
- Thursday - 9.30am - 7.30pm
- Friday - 9.30am - 5.00pm
- Saturday - 9.30am - 4.00pm
- The Centre is closed on Sundays and Bank Holiday weekends (including Saturdays).
The Surrey History Service collects and preserves archives and printed material relating to all aspects of the history of Surrey, and makes them available for reference. The archive collections date from the 12th century to the present day and include original records. The local studies collections cover all aspects of the history, geography and life of Surrey. A Surrey County Libraries ticket or a CARN card is needed to use the collections.
The Guildford Institute
Ward Street
Guildford
Surrey
GU1 4LH
Tel: 01483 562142
Email: info@guildford-institute.org.uk
Web: www.guildford-institute.org.uk/ (this page opens in a new window)
Library open Tuesday - Friday from 10.00am to 3.00pm
Founded in the 1830s, the Institute’s library contains one of the finest Collections of printed works on Guildford, together with unique bound scrapbooks of life in the town from late Victorian times until the last war. There is also a large collection of photographs, particularly of local events. To consult this material you should become a member of the Institute. An appointment is necessary.
Guildford Museum
Castle Arch
Guildford
Surrey
GU1 3SX
Tel: 01483 444750
Email: museum@guildford.gov.uk
Open Monday - Saturday 11.00am - 5.00pm
Guildford Museum houses objects relating to the archaeology and social history of Surrey which includes a good deal of material from Guildford. There is an extensive collection of maps, including the fascinating 1:500 survey of central Guildford of 1868-1870, and many photographs and other illustrations. An appointment is essential.
The Surrey Archaeological Society
Castle Arch
Guildford
Surrey
GU1 3SX
Tel: 01483 532454
Email: info@surreyarchaeology.org.uk
Web: www.surreyarchaeology.org.uk/ (this page opens in a new window)
-
Monday: 9.30am - 1.00pm, 1.30pm - 4.30pm
-
Tuesday: 9.30am - 1.30pm (all but the Tuesday preceding 1st Saturday in each month)
-
Wednesday: 9.30am - 1.00pm, 1.30pm - 4.30pm
-
1st Saturday in the month, 9.30am - 1.30pm
Please note, the librarian is not available on the Tuesday before the First Saturday
The Archaeological Society's private library has a most valuable collection of printed works relating to the history of Surrey, and many manuscript notes and unique illustrations in its Research Collections. In particular, there is an almost complete run of Victorian and Edwardian directories. Anyone undertaking research into Guildford's history would be well advised to join the Society to make use of this library
An appointment is necessary.
A word of warning. Guildford has not been served uniformly well by its local historians in the past. There is much in print that is incorrect, and which has given rise to popular misconceptions which are hard, if not impossible, to eradicate. The myth of the Pilgrims Way is a good example of this. (This historic route on the North Downs was supposed to have been taken by pilgrims from Winchester in Hampshire, to the shrine of Thomas Becket at Canterbury in Kent. This name is misleading, as the route follows closely a pre-existing ancient trackway dated by archaeological finds to 500–450 BC, but probably many centuries older).
In particular, we must point out that works by G C Williamson are often unreliable and no statement he makes should be accepted without reference to other sources. Unfortunately, his and other unreliable works are readily available to researchers and so the errors they contain have frequently been repeated in later publications.
Guildford Museum
Castle Arch
Guildford
Surrey
GU1 3SX
Tel: 01483 444750
Email: museum@guildford.gov.uk