The writing is on the wall ... in Guildford

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People have always wondered to what extent having a blue plaque adds value to a property. To be awarded an official English Heritage plaque, the proposed recipient must have died at least 20 years ago.

Britain's blue plaques celebrated their 150th anniversary in 2016. Most are handmade in Cornwall by the Ashworth family. Frank and Sue are highly skilled artisan craftspeople who have been making the plaques since 1984. Using special tools, clays and glazes they have made plaques to celebrate the lives of Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon and Alfred Hitchcock.

While most plaques are found on London homes, Guildford is fortunate to lay claim to having several notable figures living in the town who have lived in properties now adorned by a blue plaque. One of these was Alan Turing, recently commemorated on the new £50 banknote.

Alan Turing, the mathematician, computer pioneer and code breaker, was largely responsible for the modern computer and helped to crack German codes while working at Bletchley Park during the Second World War.

Alan Turing, the founder of computer science

The inscription found on the plaque at 22 Ennismore Avenue, Guildford states that this was “the family home of Alan M Turing (1912-1954) founder of computer science”.

Turing was aged 15 when his family took up residence in Guildford. Alan Turing’s parents moved to Guildford in 1927 when they bought number 8 Ennismore Avenue, off London Road, opposite Stoke Park, following his father’s retirement in 1927. When further houses were built in the avenue, all the homes were re-numbered so number 8 became number 22.

Although away at school for long periods of time, Guildford gave Alan his first proper home allowing him to join the family for long walks in Stoke Park and on the North Downs. Alan developed an interest in astronomy spending many hours at his Guildford home star gazing up and drawing the night sky. He continued to visit the family home whilst he was at university, in Cambridge.

The plaque was unveiled in July 1988 by the actor Derek Jacobi, who had appeared as Alan Turing in the play "Breaking the Code" which premiered at Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre.

Having mentioned Yvonne Arnaud, Germaine Yvonne Arnaud (20 December 1890 – 20 September 1958) was a French-born pianist, singer and actress. She had dramatic roles and made films in the UK during the 1930s and 1940s, and continued to act into the 1950s. The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre was named in her memory, when it opened in 1965.

Yvonne Arnaud, the singer and actress celebrated by the local theatre

She lived at 35, London Road, Guildford for the last two years of her life. Her ashes were scattered in St. Martha's churchyard on St. Martha's Hill and there is a memorial to her in the church grounds.

Daphne Frances Jackson, OBE was an academic. She lived at 5 St Omer Road from 1972 until her death in 1991.

The home of Daphne Frances Jackson, O.B.E.

Although a nuclear physicist she actually rose to fame when she became the first female physics professor in the UK, having been appointed by the University of Surrey, at the age of 34. She eventually became Dean of the university.

Lewis Carroll was one of several authors recognised for living in Guildford. Lewis Carroll lived 1832-1898 and was best-known for the nonsense children's classics "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass".

Lewis Carroll (or the Reverend Charles Lutwidge Dodgson as he was really known) moved the Dodgson family to Guildford and into The Chestnuts, near the castle ruins, in 1868.  He was constantly in Guildford to visit and wrote the second Alice book, "Through the Looking Glass", on one of these stays in 1871.

He died in 1898 and after a funeral service at St Mary's Church was buried in the cemetery on The Mount - where his grave and the memorial cross erected by his brothers and sisters can be seen. 

Lewis Carroll's home "The Chestnuts", Castle Hill

While there was a plaque to celebrate his home in Guildford, installed on one of the entrance pillars to the driveway, this was not an official one and has since been removed.

However there are two pieces of public art dedicated to the author in the town. These are a statue of Alice and a rabbit disappearing down a hole by the river, and a metalwork of Alice going through the looking glass in the castle grounds.

Alice in Wonderland

Alice Through the Looking Glass

Another famous author to be born in Guildford was the humourist P. G. Wodehouse. He was born on October 15th 1881 and lived at 59 Epsom Road, now converted into flats.

An unofficial plaque to celebrate PG Woodhouse, living in Guildford

He was the third son of a British magistrate based in Hong Kong, so his parents in fact lived in Hong Kong. However his mother was visiting her Sister in Guildford when he was born prematurely. He was then baptised at St Nicolas' Church in the town centre, with the first names Pelham Grenville.

Wodehouse wrote more than 70 novels and 200 short stories, creating numerous much-loved characters including the inimitable Jeeves and Wooster.

George Bernard Shaw was another Surrey resident having lived in Hindhead and then at Piccard’s Cottage located to the west of Guildford in Sandy Lane, between 1900 and 1902. Built in 1878, the house was converted into two houses (Piccard’s Rough and Piccard’s Wood) in 1958 but the blue plaque remains on view from the road.

George Bernard Shaw lived at Piccards Cottage for two years

It is in no doubt that blue plaques add prestige and historical interest to a property. They are cherished by their current owners, knowing that their home was once lived in by a well-known Guildford celebrity. Whether they add value to a property is not known, as those properties that remain as they were when occupied by their famous residents, have not been sold for many years and so there are no sales records on the Land Registry.

Having said this the properties tend to be large homes set in attractive locations so will increase in value over time, as the Zoopla figures suggest.

If you would like to talk to us about the Guildford property market and prices please feel free to call me on 01483 320207 or go to https://instantvaluation.newman.uk.com/ to discover how much your property is worth today.