Reigate Town Trail (3rd Edition – 1991)

When we moved into our current house, the previous owners left behind a whole load of information relating to local history and local walks. I dug out this one and went on walkabout to see what had changed.

When we moved into our current house, the previous owners left behind a whole load of information relating to local history and local walks. I dug out this one and went on walkabout to see what had changed since this was written by Dennis Turner in 1991. Much of what is described remains the same, just a few of the shops have closed (Knights, The Pantry, Ancient House Bookshop).

1. Old Town Hall

Built in 1728-9, with typical ‘Queen Anne’ details, originally as a Market and Sessions House with open arcaded ground floor and courtroom above,. The cupola and clock were added around 1810, having previously capped the town lock-up which stood just to the east. Chimneys were added when a fireplace was put in the court room – three chimneys were dummies and they were all removed during recent restoration work.

Old Town Hall
Old Town Hall

2. 4a High Street

An interesting timber-framed town house of c. 1600. Originally this was a doubled jettied building with both its first floor and its attick projecting: both jetties have been underbuilt. This used to be apparant from timber framing exposed in the side wall next to the narrow alleyway but the framing has now been largely covered by modern tile-hanging.

4a High Street
4a High Street

3. Castle Grounds

Now public gardens in the middle of the town overlooking the roof tops. Only the earthworks of the castle, held successively by the de Warennes, the Fitzalans and Mowbrays, remain.

Castle Grounds
Castle Grounds

4. Castle Cottage

Late 17th-century, timber-framed cottage with tile hanging and a ‘catslide’ roof at rear.

Castle Cottage
Castle Cottage

5. Gateway

Built 1777 by Richard Barnes, a local attorney, in ‘Gothic’ style using material taken from the grounds.

Gateway
Gateway

6. Inner Ward of Castle

Now an attractive garden but the surrounding hedge has grown too high, cutting off the views down into the town. More distant views out to the North Downs and Leith Hill survive. Through the gateway in the stone pyramid in the middle of the lawn can be seen steps to the caves.

Inner ward of Castle

7. 32 High Street

Rear flank wall, 17th-century timber framing. This building was once a brewhouse.

8. 42-50 High Street

17th and 18th-century buildings including 48-50 High Street , two attached houses of c. 1600, once the offices of Richard Barnes who built the Gothic gateway in the castle. Now combined into one property and tile hung. Many of the internal timbers can still be seen in the shop.

48-50 High Street
48-50 High Street

9. 53-53a High Street

Next to the obtrusive supermarket. Behind the dull facade is the well-preserved timber frame of a late medieval house (c. 1500). Smoke-blackened timbers in the roof show that originally there was an open hall in the middle.

53-53a High Street
53-53a High Street

10. Bulls Head Public House

17th-century inn with timber framing exposed in cart entrance to rear.

Bulls Head Public House
Bulls Head Public House

11. 65 High Street (The Pantry – now Giggling Squid)

18th-century brick building with fine porch and fanlight.

12. Red Cross Public House

17th-century inn named after the chapel of the Holy Cross which once stood opposite in what is now the roadway.

Red Cross Public House
Red Cross Public House

13. 6 Slipshoe Street

Pair of timber-framed late 16th-century houses with continuously jettied front, the timber framed overhang now tile hung.

6 Slipshoe Street
6 Slipshoe Street

14. Old Sweep’s House, 10 Slipshoe Street

Late medieval house, originally partly open to the roof, c. 1500. The left hand wing used to have a jettied upper storey, now underbuilt.

Old Sweep's House
Old Sweep’s House

15. The Old House, 20 Upper West Street

18th-century house with modest doorcase and fanlight

The Old House
The Old House

16. St Albans, 28 West Street

c. 1830

St Albans
St Albans

17. Horse Trough

Provided, c.1870, by Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association.

Horse trough
Horse trough

18. 36 West Street

Central chimney house of c. 1600, recently partly restored. Former forge here was recently replaced by offices and extension housing workshops.

36 West Street
36 West Street

19. Old West Street House

Late 17th-century house with dormer windows and pediment over door. House is partly timber-framed with red brick infilling as can be seen at the east gable end. The building was once a school.

Old West Street House
Old West Street House

20. Farley Cottage

Dated 1626 on a gable.

Farley Cottage
Farley Cottage

21. Browne’s Lodge, 22 West Street

Built 1785 by William Bryant. Modestly proportioned late Palladian style house using island site to great advantage. Imposing west facade has pediment bearing swags and Coade stone plaque of woman’s face.

Browne's Lodge
Browne’s Lodge

22. 31 West Street

Stuccoed cottage with gothic ogee windows, c. 1800. Glazing bars still remain in upper storey windows, c. 1800.

31 West Street
31 West Street

23. Blue Anchor Public House

17th century

Blue Anchor Public House
Blue Anchor Public House

24. 19 & 21 West Street

Early 17th century central chimney house, divided into two and partly refronted 18th century.

25. 15th Century vaulted undercroft

Built of local stone and preserned in situ within the underground carpark. Probably originally undercorft of medieval market house which stood in the triangle between Upper West Street and West Street.

15th-century vaulted undercroft
15th-century vaulted undercroft

26. 77a High Street

Originally part of the Red Lion Inn, truncated for road widening c. 1905. Late medieval or Tudor timbering can be seen behind the window.

77a High Street
77a High Street

27. Butcher’s Shop, once ‘Bellinghams’, 77 High Street

Early 19th century with typical regency pillared canopy.

Butcher's Shop
Butcher’s Shop

28. Geranium Cottage

17th century, two-bay brick cottage.

Geranium Cottage
Geranium Cottage

29. Priory Lodge Cottage, 7 Park Lane

Formerly lodge to Priory

Priory Lodge Cottage
Priory Lodge Cottage

30. Priory Park

Possibly once the precinct of the medieval priory and later the park of the Howards. Acquired by the Corporation and so far unspoilt by traffic or building. The park was saved from buidling development after the 2nd World War by the efforts of local residents, notably Frank Potter, who went on to found the Reigate Society.

Priory Park
Priory Park

31. The Priory

In use as a school. Very little identifiable of the medieval foundation remains, and that entirely inside. After the Dissolution in 1535, the building was granted in 1541 to Lord Howard of Effingham who built a house on the site. The north gables of the mansion can be seen from the playground on the west side, behind the fine iron railing (c. 1710) which originally stood on Bell Street side of the building. These were moved to this position by a teetotal owner, Lady Henry Somerset, c. 199

The Priory
The Priory

32. The Stoneman’s and Ancient House Bookshop, 49-51 Bell Street

16th century with crosswing.

48-51 Bell Street
48-51 Bell Street

33. 38 Bell Street

Early 18th century facade has been restored to put the entrance back in the centre where it belonged,

38 Bell Street
38 Bell Street

34. 37-39 Bell Street

Pair of mid-18th-century houses with double porch.

37-39 Bell Street
37-39 Bell Street

35. 16 Bell Street

Late 18th century, exterior restored 1990. Fine porch and railings with urn finals.

16 Bell Street
16 Bell Street

36. Knights, 10-12 Bell Street

Once ‘The Grapes’. Good regency facade.

10-12 Bell Street
10-12 Bell Street

37. 15 Bell Street

Early 19th-century facade with hood over bow front window on first floor. This building incorporates the shell of St Lawrence’s Chapel, only survivor of town’s three medieval chapels.

15 Bell Street
15 Bell Street

38. The White Hart Inn (now 1-3 Bell Street)

A famous coaching inn of c. 1760, demolished in 1933 and replaced by a flabby neo-Georgian terrace.

1-3 Bell Street
1-3 Bell Street

Electro Talk – The Street Scene Magazine 1985

Way back in the mid 80’s it was a hard to get info on the latest electro & hip hop releases. Blues & Soul was probably the choice but then Morgan Khan played a blinder with the release of The Street Scene in November 1985. Sadly it only lasted for 25 issues, and every one was pure quality. Here is the very first Electro Talk page. I’ll scan them all up over the next few days and add them to flickr.

One Night That Changed My Life

Staurday 24th July 1993
Rollerbury, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

Despite being into the music long before the summer of 1993, up until this night I’d only really been to small gatherings and house parties. Quite odd looking back …. but that’s how it was and I won’t claim anything different.

Thinking about it now, I don’t really remember any specifics about the night … danced a lot right up the front by the stage, shook hands with most members of The Prodigy after their live PA … but I do distinctly remember to this day the overwhelming feeling of discovering something so special when walking out of that place at 7am.

If anyone does happen to have some audio, video or photos from this night, then I’d be eternally grateful if you could pass it/them my way.