Shalford, Surrey

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 51.2116
longitude= -0.5684
official_name= Shalford
map_type= Surrey
population = 2,338 [ [http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/sccwebsite/sccwspublications.nsf/591f7dda55aad72a80256c670041a50d/1c602ea59c869c9180256e600054b26c/$FILE/Town%20populations.pdf Surrey County Council census data] ]
shire_district= Guildford
shire_county = Surrey
region= South East England
constituency_westminster= Guildford
post_town= Guildford
postcode_district = GU4
postcode_area= GU
dial_code= 01483
os_grid_reference=TQ000467 Shalford is a village in Surrey, England, situated on the busy A281 Horsham road immediately south of Guildford. It has a railway station which is between Guildford and Dorking on the North Downs Line.

Shalford appears in Domesday Book of 1086 as "Scaldefor". It was held by Robert de Wateville from Richard Fitz Gilbert. Its domesday assets were: 4 hides; 1 church, 3 mills worth 16s, 11½ ploughs, convert|4|acre|m2 of meadow, wood worth 20 hogs. It rendered £20. [ [http://www.gwp.enta.net/surrnames.htm Surrey Domesday Book] ] The mills continued to be built and operated there for hundreds of years. One still survives today, although it is now preserved as a tourist attraction: Shalford Mill, situated in the centre of the village opposite the "Sea Horse" public house, was built in the 18th century and is now owned by the National Trust.

The River Tillingbourne joins the River Wey at Shalford adjacent to the parish church. For centuries, the river provided an important source of income for the village. As the northern terminus of the Wey and Arun Canal, Shalford was a landing place for barges, and continues to be visited by boats today — but for pleasure rather than trade.

The village also became well known for "the Great Fair of Shalford" which was set up by a charter issued by King John. In its heyday, it was said to have covered 140 acres (570,000 m²) and attracted merchants from across the country. Some claim that the author of "The Pilgrim's Progress", John Bunyan, once lived in the village and drew his inspiration from the fair, and from the ancient route known as the Pilgrims' Way, which passes nearby, on its way to Canterbury.

The original church, mentioned in the Domesday survey, no longer exists. An early Victorian church now stands in its place. St Mary's was built in 1846. Many older cottages do survive. One of the finest properties, Shalford House, dates back to the Tudor period and features a carved stone fireplace dated 1609. Unfortunately, Shalford House was demolished in 1967 to make way for a water treatment plant. A watercolour sketch titled 'In Captain Pierrepont's Grounds' was painted by Anthony Devis(1729–1817) not long after Captain William Pierrepont of 'HMS Naiad' acquired Shalford Manor in 1800.

References

External links

* [http://home.clara.net/heureka/surrey-hants/shalford.htm Shalford]
* [http://www.weyriver.co.uk/theriver/index.htm The River Wey and Navigations]