Below you will find links to our previous newsletters. Click on any file to open in a new window
Category: About Us
Committee Members
Alan Reid
Email: chairman@horleyhistory.org.ukTelephone: 07748254054
Chairman
Alan Reid (Chairman) has worked for Royal Mail for 29 years, 20 of which were on delivery in Horley. Local History has been a passion since he was 8 years old and still continues to be so. He has promised himself that one day he will write a book, though we are still waiting…
Doug Cox
Email: treasurer@horleyhistory.org.ukTelephone: 07368557227
Treasurer and Book Sales
Doug Cox (Treasurer & Membership Secretary) has lived in Horley since 1979. He retired in 2008 after a career in the motor Industry. His research for his book ‘Men of Horley 1914-1918’ bought him (and his wife, Pam) into HLHS and he has since become a regular speaker and also our Treasurer and Membership Secretary. His principal interests are Military and Family history.
Lesley Gayler
Email: gayler.ramsay@gmail.comTelephone: 07775 617197
Secretary
Lesley moved to live in Horley in 1992 and worked for the GPO/BT in its many forms starting as a telephonist in the Cabinet Office in 1973. Lesley has always been interested in History and joined HLHS to find out more about Horley. She is currently researching her family history.
Paul Kimber
Email:Telephone:
Asst Treasurer
Paul was born in London but was raised locally. He has lived and worked in Africa, the Middle East and Russia. He is very interested in history, both internationally and locally.
He spent most of his career in accounting and IT and has joined the HLHS Committee to inject some young blood into the society - at 75
John Chisholm
Email:Telephone: 01293 786419
Committee Member
John Chisholm was born and bred in Horley and his father was the proprietor of ‘J Chisholm’ Gentlemen's outfitters in the town. Now retired, John had a working career in branch banking and has wide experience of holding various posts with clubs and societies. John takes a keen interest in Horley affairs and can frequently be seen in the town photographing changes as they happen. He also gives illustrated talks on several hobby subjects.
Jean Pelham
Email:Telephone: 01293 786104
Committee Member
Jean Pelham has lived in Horley for over 60 years. She has been involved in Scouting and Guiding in Horley but now devotes her time to her passion which is Family History research, for families, friends and others. Jean is
Secretary of the 'Reigate & District Family History Group' and also
a member of the 'East Surrey Family History Society'. Jean has been a
member of HLHS for about 4 years and now runs the bi-weekly
HLHS history library 'help Desk'.
Brian Seaman
Email:Telephone: 01293 782346
Committee Member
Brian looks after our Facebook and Twitter accounts.
He is a 30+ year resident of Horley, and a keen observer of moving things, usually with a video camera to hand, to help record the present for the future (or for those who couldn’t be there at the time).
He is often found beside railway tracks or on station platforms, after a lifelong affection for railways.
Mike George
Email:Telephone: 01293 411655
Committee Member
Mike George: was born in Bournemouth and moved to Horley in 1969 to take up a new job at Gatwick Airport. After some 47 years in aviation Mike retired in 2012. He is currently a Horley town councillor, vice chairman of Governors at Manorfield Primary and Nursery School and President of Horley Town Football Club. Mike has had an interest in history since his school days but regrettably has not had the time, in the past, he would wish to devote to this pastime.
Kelly Moreno
Email: kelstaar@hotmail.co.ukTelephone: 07970754212
Committee Member
Kelly has lived in Horley for around 22 years and worked as a senior executive in a local Aerospace and Defence company for many years.
She is an EMCC qualified Transformational Leadership Coach and Founder of KMCoaching.co.uk
With her natural tendency to help others coupled with her ability to connect and bring people together Kelly recently founded The Horley Ladies Networking Club.
Cora McLaren
Email:Telephone:
Committee Member
Horley Local History Centre
HORLEY LOCAL HISTORY CENTRE
In 1995 the “Horley Local History Centre” came into being in Horley Library.
It is manned entirely by volunteers from Horley Local History Society and has a dedicated section within the Library.
It’s prime purpose is to assist local residents with any queries they may have about a local history subject, family history research or even the history of their house or road.
Many and varied are the questions we are faced with. Frequently they add to our knowledge and to our photographic archives.
The Centre also maintains a constant and varying photographic exhibition on different subjects that is found to be of great interest to the general public when just visiting the library. Volunteers are always ready to discuss with those who view them which often leads to other local enquiries that were not initially intended.
This type of activity relieves the full-time library staff of having to deal with such enquiries while at the same time having a facility akin to a semi-professional arm about local history within the library. This in turn can often interest the general public to take up the study of the subject and help to improve the desirability and knowledge of the area.
There are now several such Local History Centres throughout Surrey. Horley set up the very first in Surrey and won an auspicious award for doing so..
At the Annual General Meeting of Horley Local History Society and Horley Local History Centre on 25th February 2025 it was decided to merge the bank account and affairs of HLHC with those of HLHS and cease to treat HLHC as a seperate entity. HLHS will continue to staff the Library Desk as required.
Newsflash
A new book about flower mills has been published it includes details of Salfords Mill.
See details under Book Reviews.
Meetings Calendar
Thursday 22 February 2018 AGM followed by History of the Horley Car.
Thursday 22 March 2018 Centenary of RAF by Doug Cox and Brian Buss.
Thursday 26 April 2018 Rarely seen Photos of Horley John Chisholm
Thursday 24 May 2018 How to undertake Your Family History
Thursday 28 June 2018 TBC
Thursday 26 July 2018 A History of Bell Ringing at St Bartholomew’s Robin Grant at St Bart’s Church
Summer Break
Thursday 6 September 2018 NOTE the early date A Talk about Lee Street from the Chequers and along Mill Lane to the Black Horse (part of Horley’s Heritage Week) Alan Reid
Saturday 8 September 2018 A Heritage Walk in Horley at 11.00am and 2.00pm
Thursday 26 October How the First World War Really Ended Doug Cox
Thursday 22 November David Ralph An illustrated history of the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.
The first half of the talk introduces the many different types of early cars and then goes on to give the
history of the London to Brighton Run that first took place in 1896. This first part takes about 45 minutes (slightly longer if there are lots of questions) and then following
a refreshment break the audience is taken on a trip from London to Brighton aboard a 1904
De Dion Bouton car. The second part lasts about 25 minutes.
Thursday 13 December A Christmas Evening
Meetings are at the Methodist Church School Hall, (Except July) Victoria Road, Horley. Surrey. 7.30 pm. for 8.00 pm.
Access to car park by the driveway left-hand side of the church, and entrance to the hall is on the right-hand side of the building.
Newsletter
This newsletter is published by the Horley Local History Society. www.horleyhistory.org.uk : Brian Buss Telephone: 01293 782231
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Horley Local History Society
NEWS Letter DECEMBER 2017
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A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS &
A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL
The Venue
The Society meets at the Methodist Hall, Victoria Road, Horley, Surrey, every 4th Thursday in the month at 7:30pm for 8:00 unless otherwise stated below.
Parking is available at the rear.
Meetings Calendar
Thursday 14 December 2017 A Horley Christmas Evening.
Thursday 25 January 2018 Votes for Women and the Historical Impact on Horley Sam Marshall
Thursday 22 February 2018 AGM followed by the History of the Horley Car
Thursday 22 March 2018 Centenary of the RAF Doug Cox & Brian Buss
Thursday 26 April 2018 Rarely seen Photos of Horley John Chisholm
Thursday 24 May 2018 How to undertake Your Family History
Thursday 28 June 2018 TBC
Thursday 26 July 2018 A History of Bell Ringing at St Bartholomew’s Robin Grant at St Bart’s Church
Summer Break
Thursday 6 September 2018 NOTE the early date A Talk about Lee Street from the Chequers and along Mill Lane to the Black Horse (part of Horley’s Heritage Week) Alan Reid
Saturday 8 September 2018 A Heritage Walk in Horley at 11.00am and 2.00pm
Thursday 26 October How the First World War Really Ended Doug Cox
Thursday 22 November TBC
Thursday 13 December A Christmas Evening
If any members would like to hear – or perhaps give – a talk on any particular subject please let one of the committee know. We need inspiration and would welcome your suggestions.
The Romans laid good metalled roads to move soldiers and supplies quickly across their Empire. They measured the distance marched to aid timing and efficiency, marking every thousandth double-step with a large cylindrical stone and about 117 of these still survive in the UK. After Roman times, roads and tracks developed to meet local needs. In 1555 an Act of Parliament made local Parishes responsible for their upkeep and in 1697 Justices issued orders to erect guideposts at cross roads.
These came about when the Turnpike road from London to Brighton was constructed in 1816. All 4 can still be seen along the east side of the A23 through Horley/Salfords. The first from the north is on Pettridge common close to West Ave, the next near the top of Peartree Hill, the third going south is opposite the Chequers as above and the fourth is almost opposite the Lych Gate. They were all triangular in section and made of cast iron’
The only Milestone known is at Povey Cross. This was removed in WW2 but was traced and replaced in exactly the correct position by HLHS according to the 1870 map. It is not known if it was originally placed by the Act setting up the first Turnpike road in Surrey in 1695 between Crawley and Reigate.
The Lych Gate is Horley’s memorial to the 3 local men that fell in the South African War of 1899-1902. More details about its history and the men it commemorates along with the history of such gates can be gained at the forthcoming talk on 28 June 2018.
Horley History from Canada
HLHS receives queries, etc from many different parts of the world. Recently it was one from Canada but this time it was not only to tell us about part of our town but to provide a photo or two to prove it.
Nick Percy Sherwin was the occupier of the poultry shop, shown below, in Victoria Road from 1904 to 1912, before the family emigrated to Canada. The 5th occupier later was Bob Bunkell who is not only remembered for the huge selection of fish he sold but also for the recipes he relayed to one and all on how they could be cooked and served. His time in his shop between 1932 and 1986 is still recalled as he was a real Horley character.
Strawson Hall
At long last the rebuild is about to take place and completion is planned for the 1 May 2018. It should be available for use from June 2018. Doug Kilborn (01293 782619) has worked strenuously to achieve this and has overcome many hurdles to do so. He is now actively looking for new volunteer Trustees to give it a new lease of life and to ensure that what George Frederick Strawson gave to Horley in 1919 will be carried forward for posterity. If some of you younger folk would like to participate in this role please ring Doug and offer your services. Thank you.
The HLHS BOOK ABOUT HORLEY
In the June 2017 Newsletter we set down a wish and suggested layout for this and work is already underway at our usual sedate pace. However we do require a somewhat increased input. We are looking for any form of input, be it searching documents, extracting information, producing notes, typing them up, drafting sections and/or actually producing complete chapters for inclusion (which will be credited under your name.) If you think you can help us please contact Doug Cox on 01293 410366.
REMEMBERANCE SUNDAY IN HORLEY
Those of you who attended the service at Horley War Memorial will have noticed that the names of the local men killed during the Battle of Passchendaele 100 years ago were read out prior to the 2 minutes silence. This would not have been possible but for the work of HLHS and the publication by us of Men of Horley 1914-1918. When we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of WW1 in November 2018 HLHS will try to ensure that the service will include the reading out of the names of all the 122 local men named on the Horley War Memorial.
There are several interesting pictures with this news letter they can be seen in the PDF version downloadable below.
PDF versions of many of our Newsletters can be downloaded.
Horley Local History Society
HLHS was founded in 1952
The aims of HLHS are as follows:
- To provide a forum where all with an interest in the history of Horley and its surroundings, from its earliest times to the present day, can meet, discuss and review ongoing projects and acquire knowledge on all aspects of local history.
- To provide help and assistance to those undertaking studies in areas of personal interest.
- To encourage the collection of data, information and photographic records on all aspects of local history. Also, to undertake further research with the object of assembling the results in a published format for the benefit of members and for the general public to enjoy.
The Society participates in local exhibitions and staffs the Horley Local History desk in Horley Library.
It is a member of the British Association for Local History whereby members can be kept informed of associated activities throughout the UK and can often attend national events at a reduced fee. It is non profit making and has no paid staff.
It produces annual accounts which are available on request.
In 1952 a small group of interested people within Horley parish formed a local history association. They identified early references concerning Horley history and undertook much basic research into what was available at County Record Offices, Lambeth & Guildhall Libraries, Surrey Archaeological Society and the British Museum. Much of its findings formed the basis for its future studies.
By 1971 this group had expanded to such an extent that a formal constitution was agreed and the group adopted the current name.
In the following years the Society published a number of books and booklets on local history subjects all of which continue to sell via our website and ebay.
Since then we have assembled a large collection of documents, maps and photographs of the district dating back over several centuries together with complete census records.
By 1995 it was apparent that Horley Library staff were becoming overloaded with enquiries relating to local history and to relieve the pressure on them members of HLHS agreed to man a desk in the library for two sessions a week and this group became the Horley Local History Centre. It continues till this day.
In 1997 the History Centre was given the 1st of three annual awards by Holt Jackson (the publishing services company) for the manner in which it set up the Centre along with a silver plaque and a cheque for £4000.
Membership of HLHS currently exceeds 150.
Membership is just £10 a year for individuals or £15 for families and all are welcome to join us whether resident in Horley or not.
Click on the link below to access a membership application form.
We meet on the 4th Tuesday of each month (except August) at The Regent Hall in Albert Road, Horley at 7.30pm for an 8.00pm start. This usually takes the form of an illustrated talk on a subject relating to local history or a more generalised historical event.
During the Covid pandemic we held meetings for members via Zoom and may return to this platform if neccesary.
We are currently (2025) exploring the process of digitalising our Archive material which includes several thousand postcard views of Horley and many interesting documents. Watch this space for further news.