— This page maintained by John Owen Smith —

History - References - Contact me - Links - Headley

References for further information on Grayshott

Some of these books are now out of print – contact me for current details.

• Grayshott, by J.H. Smith (1978) – by far the most complete history of Grayshott – was out of print for some time, but now republished.
• Headley 1066-1966, by JS Tudor Jones – includes some references to Grayshott, but now out of print – being serialised in Headley Miscellany
• On the Trail of Flora Thompson, by John Owen Smith – Flora Thompson, author of 'Lark Rise to Candleford', worked in Grayshott 1898-1901
• Heatherley, by Flora Thompson – her 'lost' sequel to 'Lark Rise to Candleford', in which she describes her time in Grayshott
• Hampshire Treasures, by Hampshire County Council – list and commentary on old buildings, etc, in this and other Hampshire parishes
• Willingly to School, by Bertrand Palmer – the history of St Edmund's School (published 2000)
• A Cup for Cricket, by L.T. Pope – Fifty years of the I'Anson Competition (1951) – original book is out of print, but now included in A Century Not Out published in 2002 by Graham Collyer
• The Hilltop Writers, a Victorian Colony among the Surrey Hills, by W.R. (Bob) Trotter – in which we meet Tennyson, Conan Doyle, Bernard Shaw and others who populated the hilltops around Haslemere and Hindhead at the end of the 1890s
• Shottermill, a history of the neighbouring parish which includes references to people and places involved in Grayshott's development
• Grayshott in the 1870s as described by the son of Grayshott's first schoolteacher (an article from the Headley Miscellany series of booklets)

Ordnance Survey map: Landranger 186 (scale 2cm to 1km), Explorer 133 (scale 4cm to 1km)
Local newspaper: Haslemere Herald (01428 642732) website

For further items related to Grayshott, particularly prior to 1901, see history of Headley

Boundary changes - Perambulations - Directory of 1896 - Kelly's Directory 1903 - Surname GRAYSHOTT - Burials 1539-1901(at All Saints Headley)

1533

• Grayshott mentioned in a Perambulation of Headley

1552

• Sir Thomas Gatehouse's Survey of Tithing of Headley contains information on Grayshott

1774

• Sir Thomas Gatehouse's Rent roll of Headley contains information on Grayshott

1841

• Census - Parish of Headley

1851

• Census - Parish of Headley

1855

• Maps made of Headley Inclosures, including Grayshott – several rights of way to be closed off or re-routed

1859

• Portsmouth Railway opens through Haslemere and Liphook
• Headley enclosure completed

1861

• Edward I'Anson bought Grayshott Park Estate and built a house called Heather Lodge
• Population of Grayshott was about 65 [from 1861 census of Headley]

1866

• 16th Sept: The Tennysons visit Anne Gilchrist at Shottermill, to look at the Devil's Jumps. A month later decide to rent Grayshott Farm.

1867

• late Mar: Tennyson rented Grayshott Farm for over a year with 3 servants – Mrs Gilchrist found it for him, and often walked over there from Shottermill while preparing it
• Catherine I'Anson started a Sunday School in the laundry belonging to Heather Lodge

1868

• Wishanger Estate was sold by the Miller family to John Rowan Phillips, including Grayshott Hall Farm, which was described as a substantially built residence of stone and slate which had recently had additions

1871

• Sept 4: Grayshott school opens 7 children on register. First headmistress was Mrs Esther Clark (till 25th June, 1885)
• Census available

1872

• Population of Grayshott estimated at 100

1873

• Services started at Grayshott Schoolroom – continued for 15 years

1877

• First shop in Grayshott (Robinson's) at Mount Cottage, near to Heather Lodge

1878

• Chancel added to Grayshott schoolroom

1880

• Edgar Leuchars building a 'summer house' at Grayshott [Apley House]

1881

• Census available

1882

• Grayshott Hall Farm had become Grayshott Hall by this time - described in a sales catalogue as ... comprising a newly-erected moderate sized mansion called 'Grayshott Hall'

1884

• Feb: Severe gale in Haslemere and elsewhere [Surrey Advertiser]
• Wishanger Manor including Grayshott Hall sold to Joseph Whitaker of Yorkshire and Palermo, for his son Alexander Ingham Whitaker – Note found: 'Grayshott Hall Estate: 1,800 acres; rental £605; price £42,500; timber £8,094; fittings £380; Total £50,974'
• Dec 22: John Tyndall and his wife spent first night in their new house Hindhead House – first house on Hindhead

1885

• Mrs Esther Clark leaves Grayshott school – 51 on register

1886

• Alexander Ingham Whitaker again largely rebuilt Grayshott Hall
• Ernest H Chapman came to the district (from Hertfordshire) – for some time lived in Shottermill – in Grayshott by time of 1891 census
• Christmas Day: sunshine, 89 degrees in the sun – then Monday 27 Dec, thick snow – according to William Allingham

1887

• Village shop moved to higher ground (Crossways Road); a place to call for letters (Mrs Hannah Robinson)
• June 21: Queen's Golden Jubilee – Bonfire on Hindhead 'catches fire and burns all night' according to Allingham
• Date on doorway of Grayshott Hall, with motto Pax Intrantibus as you enter, and Salus Exeuntibus as you leave.

1888

• Feb: Edward I'Anson Snr of Grayshott Park dies age 76 – buried at All Saints', Headley – see Monumental Inscription No. 1153

1889

• Mr & Mrs CE Vertue buy Greyshott Park
• Sailor's stone renovated and moved to new roadside at Hindhead

1890

• 'NEW TELEGRAPH OFFICE – Telegrams are now received for transmission at the Grayshott Post Office. By residents at Hindhead & vicinity this is much appreciated.'
• Apr 7: Sarah Squire becomes Mistress of Grayshott school (to 3 June 1892)
• Dec: Serious fire at Grayshott Court - formerly the residence of late Mr E I'Anson.

1891

• Window erected in Headley All Saints' church in memory of Mr I'Anson
• Population of Grayshott was 237 [from 1891 census of Headley]

1892

• Walter Chapman took over the post office from Robinson
• June 7: Annie F Griffith becomes Mistress of Grayshott school (to 30 March 1893)
• Oct 6: 1.35am, Alfred Lord Tennyson dies at Aldworth near Haslemere

1893

• Grant Allen comes to Hindhead for the sake of his health
• Mar 30: Annie F Griffith writes in the school log 'Today my duties as Mistress of Grayshott National School cease.'
• Apr 10: J James G Ward commenced duties as Master of Grayshott National School - 80 children present

1894

• Crossways Road was still called Haslemere Road at this time
• Dec 31: First meeting of Headley Parish Council – representatives from Grayshott were Alexander Ingham Whitaker, Miss Catherine I'Anson and Oliver Chapman.

1895

• Feb 23: Severe weather
• June 6: Alexander Ingham Whitaker marries Miss Berthe de Pury, niece to Miss Catherine I'Anson, at All Saints, Headley - 'At Headley a triumphal arch was erected in the village and one at the school, and a large number of flags were displayed. Similar arches were erected at Grayshott, Beech Hill, and Fullers Bottom...'

1896

• Aug 9: Hindhead Congregational Hall opened - built by Mr John Grover of London at his own cost 'is a handsome stone structure seating easily 200 people'
• Sep 16: The Haslemere and Hindhead Gazette first issue
• Grayshott page started in Headley parish magazine

1897

• June: The Weekly Herald of Farnham merges with The Haslemere and Hindhead Gazette to become The Haslemere and Hindhead Herald.
• June 22: Diamond Jubilee celebrations
• Dr & Mrs Lyndon come to Grayshott
• CS Lowry comes to Grayshott
• Arthur Conan Doyle and his family move in to Undershaw at Hindhead

1898

• George Bernard Shaw (GBS) comes to Pitfold House on honeymoon (married Charlotte Payne-Townshend in June 1898), then in November rents Blen-Cathra (now St Edmund's School)
• Sept: St Luke's foundation stone laid by Miss Catherine I'Anson – [press says on 3rd September, stone says 30th July]
• Sept: Flora Thompson (then Flora Timms) comes to work in Grayshott as a trained telegraphist - among her customers were Doyle and Shaw
• Oct 7: Number on books at Grayshott school = 147
• By end of the year, Grayshott had its first resident constable, PC Seaward.

1899

• Jan 14: Grayshott & District Refreshment Association granted full license for the Fox & Pelican in Grayshott – the Chairman (Sir Frederick Pollock) chose the name
• Jan 14: Grayshott Institute – GBS will lecture this (Friday) evening on Socialism. As the lecturer is open to answer questions and even to hear "the other side" a pleasant evening should be spent (Farnham, Haslemere & Hindhead Herald)
• Jan 28: Early closing in Grayshott and Hindhead agreed (Wednesdays)
• Jan 28: The Peace Crusade - successful meeting on the Hindhead – speeches by well-known gentlemen [Arthur Conan Doyle and GBS] (Farnham, Haslemere & Hindhead Herald)
• May 20: Steam roller in action on Headley & Grayshott roads (and Mr Vertue paid to 'borrow' it!)
• Aug 23: Fox & Pelican formally opened by the Bishop of Winchester's wife – Walter Crane, President of the Royal Academy, painted the signboard and GBS donated a small library of books
• Sep 17: St Luke's, Grayshott first used for services – Aneurin Williams in his diary: "To new church for its first service."
• Oct 25: Grant Allen dies of TB – Arthur Conan Doyle was at his bedside
• Dec 2: Fox & Pelican – new Manager is Mr Wiltshire. Manager 'still experiences great difficulty with a gang of young fellows, who are constantly causing disturbances in the neighbourhood.' (Farnham, Haslemere & Hindhead Herald)
• Dec 23: First event at Grayshott new church, apart from usual services – Grayshott Choral Society, in aid of Haslemere Cottage Hospital (Farnham, Haslemere & Hindhead Herald)
• Dec: Dr Richard Plympton, aged 45, died suddenly while on duty at Middlesex Hospital – his sister, Mrs Plympton Smith living at Hurstmere, gave land for the Village Hall in his memory

1900

• May 12: Dr Coleclough accused of poisoning local dogs because they barked too much
• May 26: The majority of the people of Grayshott first heard the news of the relief of Mafeking from their newspapers on Saturday morning. In a short space of time flags were hoisted at many of the houses, and the display made by Mr H Mitchell was particularly noticeable. In the evening the Grayshott Brass Band made a tour of the village, playing various selections of music (Farnham, Haslemere & Hindhead Herald)
• May 28: Eclipse of the sun visible (note in Grayshott school log book)
• Jun: WH Laverty (rector of Headley) gives number of inhabited houses in Grayshott as 134, 'an increase from 120 last spring'
• Jul 11: 'Herting commenced' (note in Grayshott school log book – 'hurts' are the local term for bilberries)
• Sep 1: First wire sent off from Hindhead this week.
• Sep 15: Initial telegraph work at Hindhead was 60 telegrams per day, and it has considerably relieved the strain which hitherto existed at the Grayshott post office.
• Flora Thompson eventually left Grayshott due to this loss in telegraph traffic – she left 'a few months before' the Chapman murder (29 July 1901) and had certainly moved by the time of the 1901 census (31 March 1901, when she was recorded as being in Yateley)
• Oct 8: St Luke's, Grayshott consecrated (St Luke's day) – first vicar was Rev James Malcolm Jeakes (to 1907)
• Oct 17: The consecration of the new church by the Bishop of Winchester takes place this afternoon. The children assemble at school and in a body will attend the church (note in Grayshott school log book)
• Dec 29: E Gane Inge M.P.S. dispensing and photographic chemist, begs to announce that he is opening a branch establishment in Headley Road, Grayshott, shortly after Christmas, where he trusts to receive the support of the residents of Hindhead and district.
• GBS leaves the area
• Grayshott Council elected

1901

• Jan 13: Separation of Grayshott ecclesiastical parish from Headley – Portions of Shottermill (pop 327) and Churt (pop 89) brought into new parish of St Luke – Grayshott now a consolidated chapelry consisting of parts of the parish of Headley, Hants, the new parish of St John Churt, Surrey, and of the new parish of St Stephen, Shottermill, and was formed 13th January 1901 by Order in Council – see boundary details
• Jan 19: Opening of a rifle range at Grayshott Hall [Grayshott Hall Rifle Club] by Arthur Conan Doyle ... Mrs Ingham Whitaker fired the first shot.
• Jan 21: Queen Victoria dies
• Jan 26: Fox & Pelican and the late manager (Mr Wiltshire) – dispute about a deposit
• Feb 1: Shops closed for funeral of Queen (note in Grayshott school log book)
• Feb 9: The snow at Grayshott on Tuesday and Wednesday was uncommonly deep – 4ft outside the Fox & Pelican.
• Mar 23: I'Anson Cup rules issued (cricket)
• Mar 25: Polling for Parish Council, 12-8pm (note in Grayshott school log book)
• Mar 31: Numbering of the people – the 1901 census – children of 2 years registered as single. Each enumerator received a guinea for the first 400 people, and 3/6d per 100 thereafter. Blue paper left at every house, and on Sunday was filled up.
• Population of Grayshott was 666 and 143 houses
• Apr 6, as reported in the Haslemere Herald: The Boundaries of the New District (Grayshott church parish): Huts corner - Farnham Road as far as 'The Croft' - leave the road and follow a FP to the left to a point 14 chains from cottages known as Stony Castle, and so reach a point close to Mr Laurence's farm, where the stream in Whitmore Bottom separates Surrey from Hampshire - follow the stream on the Hampshire bank down Whitmore Bottom to a point 8½ chains this side of Barford Pond, then up a path on this side of Mr Prichard's house 'Llanover' (which remains in Headley parish) - then straight cut cross country to a point on the Grayshott to Arford road where a roadway opens to Ludshott Common - thence behind Grayshott Hall and Grayshott Court to the highest of Waggoners Wells ponds (but do not include any of Bramshott parish, now like a peninsular almost surrounded by the new district) - from there follow the County boundary to the milestone on the Portsmouth Road a little way above Chase Villas - then a straight line to the end of Sandy Lane [now Hazel Grove] just above Nutcombe Hollow and pass up the middle of Sandy Lane leaving the houses on the further side of it in Shottermill - then again a straight line across hill and dale till we reach Hindhead House (which is included) and passing behind to take in the Punchbowl Inn with houses round about it.
• May 18: Grand opening of St Edmunds School, Saturday last - Bishops of Rochester & Stepney & Earl of Stamford. Transferred to Hindhead in August last year. Note: Blen Cathra has been Miss Steadman's own residence ever since it was designed for her to her own plans by Mr Charles Bridger, Snr, in 1891.
• Jul 29: William Chapman (Grayshott postmaster) murdered his wife and child with a carving tool - judged insane and sent to Broadmoor
• Sept 21: Electric tramway Haslemere to Farnham via Headley mentioned in local press
• Nov 28 - New Wesleyan church opened at Grayshott – Rev W. E. Sellers preached
• Electricity brought to Grayshott (works at Hindhead built by J Grover)

1902

• Arthur Conan Doyle bought a 10HP Wolseley, 'smart in dark green with red wheels, which could carry five people or seven at a pinch' - the first car in the area. He drove it from Birmingham to Hindhead himself.
• May 23: Grayshott Village Hall opens [JH Smith]
• Sept: Grayshott becomes a separate civil parish by order of the Local Government Board, consisting of that portion of the ecclesiastical parish of St Luke situated in Hants.

1903

• See Kelly's Directory of Grayshott
• The GPO arranged for Grayshott mail to be brought direct by mail cart from Haslemere and delivered by postmen starting from Grayshott Post Office

1905

• Burials started at St Luke's (before that they were at All Saints, Headley)

1906

• Mar15: all 5 of Walter Chapman's children Christened on same day
• Jul 4: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's first wife, Louise, dies at Undershaw - buried in St Luke's churchyard
• Hollywater Allotments handed over to Grayshott – these were sold and the proceeds started the 'Three Parishes' charitable fund

1907

• Mount Alvernia built on Bramshott Chase 'to provide periods of rest and relaxation for people in some of the professions, including singers and musicians, actors and actresses, and teachers.'
• Mr E. Simms new vicar at St Luke's
• Sir Arthur Conan Doyle remarries and moves to Crowborough

1908

• Feb 19: On a wild night, the new Grayshott Fire Brigade with its rudimentary equipment had its first fire call. Tarn Moor, the residence of Mr Frederick Jackson, was on fire, and Mr Mitchell, seizing the bell of the butcher's shop, rang it in Headley Road shouting "Fire, fire!" ... The Grayshott fire hose was too short ... the water pressure insufficient. In the event the building was totally destroyed.
• NT acquired Ludshott Common and other local pieces – reorganised with Surrey & Hampshire sub-committees

1910

• Tower and spire added to St Luke's church
• Sir Francis Galton FRS, cousin of Charles Darwin, moves to Grayshott House (where he died on 18 Jan 1911)
• King Edward VII dies

1911

• Coronation of George V
• St Joseph's Catholic church built – Hampshire Treasures (1982) entry says: 'in pleasing Gothic style with bell-turret over east end of nave'
• AGM of NT at Hindhead

1914-1918

• First World War - Cenacle Convent used as a Canadian military hospital – Catholic military graves in St Joseph's churchyard (Protestant graves are in St Mary's, Bramshott)

1916

• Jun 6: Catherine Blakeway I'Anson dies, aged 69 – buried at St Luke's

1918

• Nov: Memorial to Kingsley Conan Doyle erected in St Luke's churchyard (Sir Arthur's son, died of wounds)

1919

• Dec: Waggoners Wells acquired by The National Trust and dedicated to its founder, Sir Robert Hunter, who had died in 1913 at Haslemere
• Perambulation of Grayshott parish

1921

• Jan: Memorial to Mary Josephine Doyle erected in St Luke's churchyard (Sir Arthur's mother)
• Boundary between Headley and Grayshott civil parishes adjusted

1922

• Wishing Well restored at Waggoners Wells

1926

• Perambulation of Grayshott parish

1927

• Oct: Grayshott and Headley allocated to the new Diocese of Guildford - an effect of this is that their church records are now in Surrey History Centre, Woking rather than in the Hampshire Record Office, Winchester (though copies of Births, Marriages & Deaths may be studied at Winchester)

1928

• End of the Whitaker connection with Grayshott Hall

1932

• Apr: An area including Kingswood Firs transferred from Bramshott to Grayshott parish

• 1894 - Headley civil parish created using the ancient parish boundaries, including Grayshott, Whitehill, Bordon & Lindford.
  Note at this time, surrounding parishes to Grayshott were: Bramshott and Frensham [with its tithings Churt and Shottermill].
• 1901 - Grayshott ecclesiastical parish of St Luke created, including all of Grayshott and extending into parts of Hindhead (Surrey) – see details
• 1902 - Grayshott civil parish created, separating Grayshott entirely from Headley.
• 1921 - a tidying-up of the civil parish boundary between Grayshott and Headley from Whitmore Vale on the north to Headley Road on the south. As a result of an Inquiry an adjustment was authorised adding 35 acres of land, mainly on the Land of Nod Estate, to Grayshott
• 1927 - Anglican Diocese of Guildford and Portsmouth were created out of parts of the old Diocese of Winchester. Headley and Grayshott ecclesiastical parishes were both transferred to Guildford at this time, and hence their church records to Surrey
• 1932 - The whole of the original Kingswood Firs estate was transferred from the Parish of Bramshott to that of Grayshott

PS. If you feel confused about the difference between civil and ecclesiastical parishes, you are not alone! Ecclesiastical parishes may cross county boundaries (as St Luke's Grayshott does) whereas civil parishes may not. As a tailpiece, it is interesting to note that the Ordnance Survey now has records only of civil parish boundaries, not ecclesiastical ones - it seems that the Church Commissioners are the only people who have records of the latter. Even incumbent clergymen can be confused as to who precisely lives within and without their domain!!

History

Grayshott is mentioned in the Winchester Pipe Rolls from 1217 (Roger of Graveset) - see Surname Index

From the burials register of All Saints', Headley (as extracted by the Hampshire Genealogical Society):

(Year adjusted to New Style where necessary)

Links in and around Grayshott

• Grayshott current events http://www.grayshott.com/
• Grayshott & Hindhead Literary Festival http://www.johnowensmith.co.uk/ghlf/
• Grayshott Stagers http://www.grayshottstagers.co.uk
• Haslemere Museum http://www.haslemeremuseum.co.uk/

• Grayshott Spa (at Grayshott Hall) http://www.grayshottspa.com/ – if you want to pamper yourself and ramble through the local countryside with a history guide in the same visit, ask them about their Walking Breaks special offers.

— This page maintained by John Owen Smith —