Moira MacQuaide’s history of Burpham

One of the topical issues at present is the SCC Active Travel Scheme for London Road, so it is interesting to look at one of the farms that used to be along that stretch.

These days we all know Weylea Farm as a housing estate off the London Road in Burpham, but until the 1970s it was a working farm with quite a history, and names varying from Chagden to Shagden to Weylea.

The earliest reference found was in 1603, which was a rental agreement (written in Latin), but it seems that an area called Chagden Meadows was around in the time of Elizabeth I. By the time of the Tithe Maps in 1838 the name was Shagden and the land was owned by William Sparkes, but occupied by Hugh Russell, who farmed land from the Green Man down to Ganghill, on both sides of the London Road. By 1851 the farm was being run by Charles Gosden – could he have been connected to Gosden Hill Farm?

The farm was sold in 1870, described as “a very pretty modern family residence with a newly erected lodge entrance, carriage drive, pleasure grounds, orchard…” including a granary, cow-house, piggeries and an orchard. The stock was also sold, including cows, horses, pigs and chickens. In the 1871 census it was owned by Catherine Ward, an American from New York, living with her three children. By 1891 Albert Coote was running the farm, then Percy Smeed – described as a retired farmer, aged 24 years! During the 20th Century residents included Georgiana Skirrow Richardson, Frank Eve, Robert Dickie and Robert Cox. The last farmer of Weylea was J S Heard in 1975.

In 1973 Weylea Developments submitted a planning application for over 300 houses, shops and flats to be built on the 47 acre plot, alongside the proposed A3 diversion, on land that wasn’t approved for residential purposes. After getting through some objections, the foundations were laid by Ideal Homes, designed by John Reynolds & Associates, Architects, and in 1981 the advertisements said “See Weylea Farm Guildford – Where everyone wants to live”.

In 1973 Weylea Developments submitted a planning application for over 300 houses, shops and flats to be built on the 47 acre plot, alongside the proposed A3 diversion, on land that wasn’t approved for residential purposes.

All the homes were built with advanced energy saving features to cut fuel bills, maintenance and housework! Prices ranged from £26,000 to £75,000.

In June 1983 Guildford Mayor Rosemary Hall cut the ribbon to release 100 helium balloons to celebrate the Coming of Age – 21 months since work started. The first purchasers were Michael Goldberg and Janice Patrick. Plans for the future included a scheme for the active elderly with a resident caretaker and a number of large family houses backing onto Abbotswood.

Today, looking from London Road, much of the estate is hidden by trees and a wall. It has been extended over the years, to include Gatley Drive, and finishes down by the Village Hall on Burpham Lane.

If you are willing to share your memories and/or photos to tell us more about Burpham then please contact Moira MacQuaide, either by e-mail (moira.macquaide@gmail.com) or by phone or text (07963 756543). My book, Burpham – A Gateway to Guildford is still available from me for £10 (free delivery locally) or on Amazon, but the History of Burpham Primary School 1908-2014 is now out of print (available to borrow at Guildford Library).