Thursley

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 51.149
longitude= -0.7073
official_name= Thursley
map_type= Surrey
population = [http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=800140&c=GU8+6QD&d=16&e=15&g=492468&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779 654] |shire_district= Waverley
shire_county = Surrey
region= South East England
constituency_westminster= South West Surrey
post_town= Godalming
postcode_district = GU8
postcode_area= GU
dial_code= 01252
os_grid_reference=SU905396

Thursley is a small village in Surrey. It lies just west of the A3 running between Milford and Hindhead. Neighbouring villages include Rushmoor, Witley and Brook. Thursley is in south-west Surrey, in south-east England. It is near Punch Bowl Farm and the Devil's Punch Bowl.

The village's name came from Old English "Þunres lēah" = "grove or meadow" of the god Thunor or Thor (in his northern guise); it was probably a site where he was worshipped. There is a rocky outcrop near the village referred to in Victorian guides to the area called "Thor's Stone" but it is not known by locals if this has any true historic significance.

The small parish church has a timber shingled spire, and a Saxon window in the chancel. The remains of a gnarled ancient tree are nearby.

Thursley is also notable for its common, a National Nature Reserve and SSSI which is one of the few surviving areas of lowland peat bog in southern Britain providing a particularly rich habitat for dragonflies and damselflies along with many other species including the endangered woodlark and Dartford warbler. In July 2006 during a heat wave that affected southern England, 60% of the common was seriously damaged by fire [ [http://www.english-nature.org.uk/News/story.asp?ID=814 English Nature - Thursley Common Fire] ] .

There have been several military camps in the parish. [ [http://www.tweedsmuirmilitarycamp.co.uk/ Tweedsmuir Military Camp] ] Between 1922 and 1957 there existed Thursley Camp (from 1941 renamed Tweedsmuir Camp) to the north west of the village which housed British, Canadian and American forces at various times. On the 7th November 1942 it was bombed by the German air force. After world war two it was used to house displaced Poles. To the west was Houndown Camp which was used by the British Royal Marines.

References

[http://www.weyriver.co.uk/theriver/wey_united_A.htm#Thursley%20National%20Nature%20Reserve The River Wey Navigations] – Features and information on Thursley

[http://bvrunners.org/thursley.aspx Thursley pictures] – pictures and information on Thursley common