Seale, Surrey

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 51.2317
longitude= -0.6625
official_name= Seale
map_type= Surrey
static_

static_image_caption=Please insert picture
population = 900 [http://www.atrk01.dsl.pipex.com/Seale-Profile.htm]
shire_district= Waverley, Surrey
shire_county = Surrey
region= South East England
constituency_westminster= Guildford
post_town= Farnham
postcode_district = GU10
postcode_area= GU
dial_code= 01483
os_grid_reference=SU896479 Seale is a village in Surrey, England forming part of the civil parish of Seale and Sands. It is located at gbmapping|SU896479 on the south side of the Hog's Back between Farnham and Guildford and is part of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It also lies on the Pilgrims' Way. The parish covers about 8 miles east to west and 3 miles north to south [http://www.atrk01.dsl.pipex.com/VillagesX.htm] , but most of this is open countryside. The parish of Seale (combined villages of Seale and Sands) has a population of 900, [http://www.atrk01.dsl.pipex.com/Seale-Profile.htm] and the name Seale derives from the Anglo Saxon word for "hall" or, alternatively, for "willow". (English Place Name Studies, Surrey volume)

In the valley at the foot of the Hog's Back lies the parish church of St Laurence, Seale. Adjacent to the church are farm buildings known as Manor Farm, now converted into craft shops and a tea room. Wood Lane, which runs from Seale Church and the Manor Farm centre up to the top of the Hog's Back, is probably named after the Wood family who leased Seale Manor Farm, including the land running up to the Hog's Back, from the Bishops of Winchester for three lives from 1839 (although they sold their interest in 1856). [http://www5.surreycc.gov.uk/surrey/surreyhomepage.htm]

The Church was established in the 12th century as an outpost of Waverley Abbey. The bell tower houses a peal of six bells, the oldest and largest forged in the 16th century. [http://www.atrk01.dsl.pipex.com/Seale-Profile.htm] The church was extensively restored and enlarged in about 1860. It is served by a Rector, who now also has care of the adjacent parishes of Puttenham and Wanborough. These three parishes were formally merged in 2004, although they retain their separate places of worship. Tongham was originally part of the parish of Seale, but it became an independent parish in 1866.

Seale Lodge, built as a gentleman's residence in the 19th century, was demolished in about 1970, but some older cottages now called Seale Lodge Cottages stand opposite the church.

The village school is now closed and converted into a private house. However, there is still a village hall, near the old school. There are no shops or pubs in Seale and there is no railway station.

Apart from the houses near the old school, most of the houses in the parish are grouped further south, along Binton Lane, and in a settlement called The Sands, which is part of the parish of Seale, but separate from Seale village. The Sands has a shop and a public house. Binton Farm takes its name from a Saxon settlement of Binton, probably from a Saxon personal name. (English Place Name Studies, Surrey volume)

Seale is part of the hundred of Farnham and its downland was originally part of the large and rich manor of Farnham, owned by the Bishops of Winchester, who retained rights of warren and other manorial privileges into the 19th century. Like other parts of Surrey, however, it then and since attracted people wishing to live in a rural environment within easy reach of other centres of work, including London.

Most of the agricultural land in Seale now belongs to the Hampton Estate, centred on Hampton Lodge, an 18th century mansion. This estate is an early 20th century aggregation of the land formally owned by the Long family of Hampton, together with agricultural land formerly attached to Seale Lodge, and agricultural and parkland formerly comprising the Great Down estate, centred on another mansion at the top of the Hog's Back, Great Down, which was demolished in the 1950s. The Hampton Estate was acquired by Eustace Thornton in 1929. He was succeeded by his son, Sir Richard Thornton, KCVO, OBE, who was Lord Lieutenant of Surrey 1986-1997. It is now run by Sir Richard's daughter and son-in-law.

At an earlier period, as evidenced by memorials in Seale church, the main landowner was the Woodroffe family (later, by descent through a female line, the Chester family) seated at Poyle, Tongham, on the other side of the Hog's Back, whose landholdings extended into Seale parish (although Tongham itself became an independent parish in 1866). The mansion at Poyle Park is now demolished and the Poyle estates were broken up in the twentieth century; an interior from Poyle Park, however, is now on display in the Museum of London.

External links

* [http://www.atrk01.dsl.pipex.com/index.htm Seale village website]
* [http://www.hamptonestate.co.uk/home.html Hampton Estate website]
* [http://www.francisfrith.com/search/england/surrey/seale/photos/seale_photos.htm Francis Frith] historic photographs of Seale
* [http://flickr.com/photos/34742677@N00/481169011/ Photograph of Seale church and churchyard]