Newsletter, January 2005

Steaming Through

This year, Colin Hayward joined the Council and we value the contribution he makes as someone running a business in the Parish and whose family has lived in the area for a considerable time. We also said "thank you" to Leslie Clarke who retired after clerking the Parish Council for a number of years and "welcome" to his replacement, Christopher Karney. Chris now lives in Blackheath Lane, Wonersh but previously lived in Blacksmith Lane, Chilworth for thirty years. He and his wife are frequent visitors to the Parish where they enjoy walking their dog through the Gunpowder Factory.

St Martha Parish Council Web Site

St Martha-on-the-Hill

Chilworth is a Remarkable Village

By Peter Burt (inspired by a Jane Garrett article in 'Surrey Life')

Part of Chilworth's beauty lies in its surroundings. Almost everywhere in the village there is a view of St Martha's partly wooded hill, topped by its church. St Martha's church was voted "The people's favourite building" in the Guildford Borough Council Environment Award in 2003. To the South of Chilworth there are the pine woods and heathland of Blackheath. On the way to Blackheath there is the Friary of the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor. The tranquil gardens of the Friary inspired the composer Albert Ketelby to write 'In a Monastery Garden'. The Friary is an active community that contributes significantly to village affairs.

Chilworth itself is a mixture of terrace houses, bungalows and other family houses of almost every type. We can all see this but how many of us notice and appreciate the cheerful yellow bricks in the older houses that are arranged in patterns, diamonds and lines picked out in the walls?

One of the features of our village that I think everyone appreciates is the Chilworth Church of England Infant School. The school is famously friendly and caring with the rare advantage of having the School's own open air swimming pool.

There is no space in this article to mention everything that makes Chilworth special, so just to finish I will include the legend of the ghost that is said to haunt the Percy Arms public house. The pub was used in the past to hold inquests on the people killed in explosions at Chilworth Gunpowder Mills. The ghost is said to be of George Smithers who was killed in one of the explosions. The name of the pub is related to Lord Percy, the Duke of Northumberland, whose estate still owns land and mineral rights in the village and the Parish of St Martha. The Percy Arms is another institution providing an excellent service to the village.

Naming Names

By John Peake

Some years ago, the Parish Council had the opportunity to comment on a name suggested for a new road in our Parish. This was for a small cul-de-sac off Blacksmith Lane and opposite Halfpenny Close. It was a piece of land of around two acres, entered through a five bar farm gate. The land was owned by Surrey County Council and used by their Highways Department for the storage of road materials. After the land was sold to a developer, an access road, three bungalows and a house were built. A further bungalow was added recently. The local planning authority, Guildford Borough Council, contacted us, suggesting the name Anvil Close and asking for our comments. Having the magnificent group, or grove, of Giant Sequoia trees on the site, the Parish Council thought that they should be commemorated in the road's name. Thinking that Sequoia was a little difficult to spell, we proposed the generic name, "Redwood Grove" and this was adopted. Then there is, "Vera's Path", but that's another story!

Chilworth Gunpowder Mills Annual Meeting

4th November 2004

This year's meeting, the ninth, was another triumph! Over 60 people enjoyed a talk and a practical demonstration of paper making given by Professor Crocker and actively supported by both the Chairman (Peter Burt) and the Mayor of Guildford. This was preceded by presentations from Alison Davidson, GBC's Design Conservation Manager, on 'Restoration versus Conservation', and from Sally Schupke on the newly founded Chilworth History Society. We also enjoyed a talk on the 'Alder Buckthorn' by Dr Maurice Moss. If you have not been to one of these meetings do think about joining us for this year's meeting in November - the date will be added to our Calendar of Events page.

The names of those from the village who died in the two World Wars are on the War Memorial and in St Thomas's Church, Chilworth. If anyone has any information about those listed on either of these Memorials, please could you contact Patricia Allen on 01483 893 094. We are very interested in finding out more about these members of our community who gave their lives to ensure the freedom of future generations.

Police Spot

Tillingbourne Ward - THE Community Policing

Our new Community Policeman for the Tillingbourne Ward, replacing Mark Bridge who left last year, is PC430 Martin Weare. Telephone 0845 125 2222 - ask for voicemail 430 if not available, or e-mail on 430@surrey.pnn.police.uk. A message from PC Weare -"Seen something? Heard Something? Know something? Call me. Tell me. Help me to help you." Our Police Community Support Officers are Vinny Garrard and Paul Hyde, who work particularly on local issues, including matters concerning the young, elderly and vulnerable.

Blackheath News

Part of Blackheath Village is in St Martha Parish. Your 'link' Parish Councillor is Patricia Allen (see above for contact details).

Members of St Martha Parish Council were present at a Traffic Calming Meeting at Blackheath Village Hall on 11th November 2004. There were also representatives of the Traffic Calming Working Group, Surrey Hills Partnership, Wonersh Parish Council and the public. Signage, mandatory and advisory speed limits, narrowing of entry points to the village and road markings were among the many points considered. The ideas will now be considered further, and common concerns and issues will be shared with neighbouring parishes.

The Police Community Support Officer for Blackheath is 10525 Steve Baldwin who works from Cranleigh Police Station. Telephone 0845 125 2222, voice mail 01483 482111 (Fin 10525), e-mail 10525@surrey.pnn.police.uk. Web site www.surrey.police.uk.

Recycle it - don't waste it! Guildford Borough Council

Green Cones - Enable you to recycle all your food waste in your own back yard, or garden. All you need to do is lift the lid and add all unwanted food.
Telephone 01483 445 084

Composters - Compost bins will compost all your garden waste and some kitchen food waste.
Telephone 08451 306 090

Wormery - Want to compost but have no garden? The Junior Wormery will convert kitchen waste naturally into concentrated liquid plant food.
Telephone 01884 841 515

The Nippy Chipper - Chips and bags garden 'wood' waste on your doorstep, which is returned to you for use in the garden as mulch.
Telephone 01483 445 084

News In Brief

Post-boxes

The Parish Council has applied to have the Chilworth Station post-box and the Sample Oak Lane box listed. This should then be followed by restoration work.

Station Signal Box

Application has been made for local Borough listing.

Wooden Posts in Halfpenny Lane, Blacksmith Lane and Sample Oak Lane

The Parish Council has been working with Surrey Highways Department and Surrey Hills Partnership to replace the current Highways posts in the these lanes with Surrey Hills oak posts. We think these will be more in keeping with the nature of our rural lanes.

Affordable Housing Survey

In 2004, the Parish Council circulated to all parishioners a Rural Housing Trust questionnaire on affordable housing and the survey report is now awaited.

Safe Routes to School/Chilworth Road Safety Group

A group of parents from Tillingbourne and Chilworth Schools, Governors, Parish Councillors, and GBC & Surrey Highways Department representatives have been meeting to discuss ways of improving road safety and walking conditions throughout the village.

Highways, Rights of Way, Planning, Gunpowder Mills Estate, Upkeep of War Memorial and Garden of Remembrance

These are all items that are considered at each Parish Council Meeting and listed in our Minutes. Amongst other things, Councillors also comment on consultation documents and attend outside conferences, meetings and training sessions.

2005: 14th March, 9th May, 11th July, 12th September and 14th November
2006: 9th January and 13th March

Prior notice of meetings, which are held on Mondays and commence at 7.15pm at Chilworth Church of England Infant School, is put up in the bus shelters adjacent to Chilworth Station and opposite Lockner Farm, and on the Parish Council Notice Board by the entrance to Old Manor Lane and on our web site's Calendar of Events page. Minutes and Newsletters are also displayed.