Grayshott
Encyclopedia
Grayshott is a village and civil parish
in the East Hampshire
district of Hampshire
, England
. It is located on the Hampshire
/ Surrey
border 2.4 miles (3.9 km) northwest of Haslemere
, approximately one hour by road from central London.
The nearest railway station is 2.1 miles (3.4 km) southeast of the village, at Haslemere
.
The village is a collection of houses on either side of a road called Headley Road, which leads from the A333
to Headley Down
, and Bordon
. Just east of the village centre, splitting the village in two, is Boundary Road, which marks the boundary between Hampshire and Surrey. Grayshott was counted as part of Headley
parish until 1901 (ecclesiastical parish) and 1902 (civil parish
). It is now the basis of Grayshott civil parish, which is part of East Hampshire
District.
Facilities in the village include St. Luke's Church, which is a part of the Guildford diocese
, and Grayshott Primary School; both of these trace their origins to the 19th century. The National School was founded in 1871 on land provided by the architect Edward I'Anson
, who had moved to the village ten years earlier. His descendants maintained a close connection to the area, his son made funds available for the construction of the church; many of these are buried and memorialised in its churchyard. The village also has a village hall that claims to be the largest in the county, a fire station, and a village square. Two village greens are close to the centre. There is also a recreation ground with cricket pavilion, football club and skate park, and good woodlands for walking in, including nearby Waggoners Wells
. Ludshott Common, one mile to the west, is an area of heathland and woodland and part of the East Hampshire Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
, author of Lark Rise to Candleford
, was assistant postmistress in Grayshott. Among her customers were Arthur Conan Doyle
, who lived at Undershaw
(which became the Undershaw Hotel, now closed) next to Hindhead
traffic lights, and George Bernard Shaw
, who lived at Blen Cathra, now St Edmunds School, Hindhead.
Towards Headley Down is the health farm Grayshott Spa. This building, known as Grayshott Hall, is on the site of a small farm which Alfred Tennyson and his family rented in 1867 while he had Aldworth built nearby in Haslemere
.
Grayshott is noted as the birthplace of internationally-famous actor Colin Firth
, best known for his appearances in films such as Bridget Jones's Diary
, Mamma Mia!
, A Single Man and The King's Speech.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in the East Hampshire
East Hampshire
East Hampshire is a local government district in Hampshire, England. Its council is based in Petersfield. Other towns are Alton, Horndean and Whitehill-Bordon....
district of Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is located on the Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
/ Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
border 2.4 miles (3.9 km) northwest of Haslemere
Haslemere
Haslemere is a town in Surrey, England, close to the border with both Hampshire and West Sussex. The major road between London and Portsmouth, the A3, lies to the west, and a branch of the River Wey to the south. Haslemere is approximately south-west of Guildford.Haslemere is surrounded by hills,...
, approximately one hour by road from central London.
The nearest railway station is 2.1 miles (3.4 km) southeast of the village, at Haslemere
Haslemere railway station
Haslemere railway station is a busy stop on the Portsmouth Direct Line, serving the town of Haslemere, Surrey.The large car park and industrial estate were originally large goods sidings. Platform 3 is an addition to the original structure, built in 1938 when the line was electrified...
.
The village is a collection of houses on either side of a road called Headley Road, which leads from the A333
A333 road
The A333 is a road in Surrey, south-east England. It runs between the Hazel Grove interchange and the Hindhead crossroads . It was formerly a small section of the A3 and was re-numbered in 2011 as part of the Hindhead Tunnel project....
to Headley Down
Headley, East Hampshire
Headley is a village and civil parish in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It is 1.8 miles east of Bordon on the B3002 road.The nearest railway station is 3.6 miles south of the village at Liphook....
, and Bordon
Bordon
Bordon is a town in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It lies 5.4 miles southeast of Alton and forms a part of the civil parish of Whitehill, the adjoining village. Both settlements are on the A325 road and close to the A3 road between London and Portsmouth...
. Just east of the village centre, splitting the village in two, is Boundary Road, which marks the boundary between Hampshire and Surrey. Grayshott was counted as part of Headley
Headley, East Hampshire
Headley is a village and civil parish in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It is 1.8 miles east of Bordon on the B3002 road.The nearest railway station is 3.6 miles south of the village at Liphook....
parish until 1901 (ecclesiastical parish) and 1902 (civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
). It is now the basis of Grayshott civil parish, which is part of East Hampshire
East Hampshire
East Hampshire is a local government district in Hampshire, England. Its council is based in Petersfield. Other towns are Alton, Horndean and Whitehill-Bordon....
District.
Facilities in the village include St. Luke's Church, which is a part of the Guildford diocese
Diocese of Guildford
The Diocese of Guildford is a Church of England diocese based in Guildford, covering most of Surrey and part of Hampshire. The cathedral is Guildford Cathedral and the bishop is the Bishop of Guildford. It is part of the Province of Canterbury....
, and Grayshott Primary School; both of these trace their origins to the 19th century. The National School was founded in 1871 on land provided by the architect Edward I'Anson
Edward I'Anson
Edward I'Anson was an English architect whose works include buildings in London.-Life:I'Anson, born in St. Laurence Pountney Hill, London, 25 July 1812, was eldest son of Edward I'Anson , surveyor and architect in London...
, who had moved to the village ten years earlier. His descendants maintained a close connection to the area, his son made funds available for the construction of the church; many of these are buried and memorialised in its churchyard. The village also has a village hall that claims to be the largest in the county, a fire station, and a village square. Two village greens are close to the centre. There is also a recreation ground with cricket pavilion, football club and skate park, and good woodlands for walking in, including nearby Waggoners Wells
Waggoners Wells
Ludshott Common and Waggoners Wells is a National Trust reserve consisting of heathland and a series of man-made ponds with a connecting stream set amongst woodland in a steep valley near Grayshott in East Hampshire, England.-Topography:Ludshott Common is one of the largest remaining areas of...
. Ludshott Common, one mile to the west, is an area of heathland and woodland and part of the East Hampshire Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Notable residents
From 1898 to 1900 Flora ThompsonFlora Thompson
Flora Jane Thompson was an English novelist and poet famous for her semi-autobiographical trilogy about the English countryside, Lark Rise to Candleford.-Early life and family:...
, author of Lark Rise to Candleford
Lark Rise to Candleford
Lark Rise to Candleford is a trilogy of semi-autobiographical novels about the countryside of north-east Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, England, at the end of the 19th century. They were written by Flora Thompson and first published together in 1945...
, was assistant postmistress in Grayshott. Among her customers were Arthur Conan Doyle
Arthur Conan Doyle
Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle DL was a Scottish physician and writer, most noted for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, generally considered a milestone in the field of crime fiction, and for the adventures of Professor Challenger...
, who lived at Undershaw
Undershaw
Undershaw is a former residence of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes. The house was built for Doyle at his order, and it is the location where he wrote many of his works, including The Hound of the Baskervilles...
(which became the Undershaw Hotel, now closed) next to Hindhead
Hindhead
Hindhead is a village in Surrey, England, about 11 miles south-west of Guildford. Neighbouring settlements include Haslemere, Grayshott and Beacon Hill. Hindhead is the highest village in Surrey...
traffic lights, and George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw was an Irish playwright and a co-founder of the London School of Economics. Although his first profitable writing was music and literary criticism, in which capacity he wrote many highly articulate pieces of journalism, his main talent was for drama, and he wrote more than 60...
, who lived at Blen Cathra, now St Edmunds School, Hindhead.
Towards Headley Down is the health farm Grayshott Spa. This building, known as Grayshott Hall, is on the site of a small farm which Alfred Tennyson and his family rented in 1867 while he had Aldworth built nearby in Haslemere
Haslemere
Haslemere is a town in Surrey, England, close to the border with both Hampshire and West Sussex. The major road between London and Portsmouth, the A3, lies to the west, and a branch of the River Wey to the south. Haslemere is approximately south-west of Guildford.Haslemere is surrounded by hills,...
.
Grayshott is noted as the birthplace of internationally-famous actor Colin Firth
Colin Firth
SirColin Andrew Firth, CBE is a British film, television, and theatre actor. Firth gained wide public attention in the 1990s for his portrayal of Mr. Darcy in the 1995 television adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice...
, best known for his appearances in films such as Bridget Jones's Diary
Bridget Jones's Diary
Bridget Jones's Diary is a 1996 novel by Helen Fielding. Written in the form of a personal diary, the novel chronicles a year in the life of Bridget Jones, a thirty-something single working woman living in London. She writes about her career, self-image, vices, family, friends, and romantic...
, Mamma Mia!
Mamma Mia! (film)
Mamma Mia! is a 2008 musical/romantic comedy film adapted from the 1999 West End/2001 Broadway musical of the same name, based on the songs of successful pop group ABBA, with additional music composed by ABBA member Benny Andersson...
, A Single Man and The King's Speech.