Seale, Surrey
Encyclopedia
Seale is a village in Surrey
, England
forming part of the civil parish
of Seale and Sands
. It is located at on the south side of the Hog's Back
between Farnham
and Guildford
and is part of the Surrey Hills
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
. It also lies on the Pilgrims' Way
. The parish covers about 8 miles east to west and 3 miles north to south, but most of this is open countryside. The parish of Seale (combined villages of Seale and Sands) has a population of 900, and the name Seale derives from the Anglo Saxon word for "hall" or, alternatively, for "willow".
In the valley at the foot of the Hog's Back lies the parish church of St Laurence, Seale. Adjacent to the church are farm buildings known as Manor Farm, now converted into craft shops and a tea room. Wood Lane, which runs from Seale Church and the Manor Farm centre up to the top of the Hog's Back, is probably named after the Wood family who leased Seale Manor Farm, including the land running up to the Hog's Back, from the Bishops of Winchester for three lives from 1839 (although they sold their interest in 1856).
The church was established in the 12th century as an outpost of Waverley Abbey
. The bell tower houses a peal of six bells, the oldest and largest forged in the 16th century. The church was extensively restored and enlarged in about 1860. It is served by a Rector, who now also has care of the adjacent parishes of Puttenham
and Wanborough. These three parishes were formally merged in 2004, although they retain their separate places of worship. Tongham
was originally part of the parish of Seale, but it became an independent parish in 1866.
Seale Lodge, built as a gentleman's residence in the 19th century, was demolished in about 1970, but some older cottages now called Seale Lodge Cottages stand opposite the church.
The village school is now closed and converted into a private house. However, there is still a village hall, near the old school. There are no shops or pubs in Seale and there is no railway station.
Apart from the houses near the old school, most of the houses in the parish are grouped further south, along Binton Lane, and in a settlement called The Sands, which is part of the parish of Seale, but separate from Seale village. The Sands has a public house, The Barley Mow, but its local shop and post office (Sands Stores) has now closed down. Binton Farm takes its name from a Saxon settlement of Binton, probably from a Saxon personal name.
Seale is part of the hundred of Farnham and its downland was originally part of the large and rich manor of Farnham, owned by the Bishop
s of Winchester
, who retained rights of warren and other manorial privileges into the 19th century. Like other parts of Surrey, however, it then and since attracted people wishing to live in a rural environment within easy reach of other centres of work, including London
.
Most of the agricultural land in Seale now belongs to the Hampton Estate, centred on Hampton Lodge, an 18th century mansion. This estate is an early 20th century aggregation of the land formally owned by the Long family of Hampton, together with agricultural land formerly attached to Seale Lodge, and agricultural and parkland formerly comprising the Great Down estate, centred on another mansion at the top of the Hog's Back, Great Down, which was demolished in the 1950s. The Hampton Estate was acquired by Eustace Thornton in 1929. He was succeeded by his son, Sir Richard Thornton, KCVO
, OBE, who was Lord Lieutenant of Surrey 1986-1997. It is now run by Sir Richard's daughter and son-in-law, Bridget and Bill Biddell.
At an earlier period, as evidenced by memorials in Seale church, the main landowner was the Woodroffe family (of whom two, David and Nicholas, father and son, were Sheriffs of London in 1554 and 1573 respectively), and later, by descent through a female line, the Chester family. They were seated at Poyle, Tongham
, on the other side of the Hog's Back, whose landholdings extended into Seale parish (although Tongham itself became an independent parish in 1866). The mansion at Poyle Park is now demolished and the Poyle estates were broken up in the twentieth century; an interior from Poyle Park, however, is now on display in the Museum of London.
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...
, 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...
forming part of the 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...
of Seale and Sands
Seale and Sands
Seale and Sands is a civil parish in within Guildford District Council in Surrey with a population of 887. Mr WA Nelson is the chair.The principal settlement is Seale.-References:...
. It is located at on the south side of the Hog's Back
Hog's Back
The Hog's Back is a part of the North Downs in Surrey, England, that lies between Farnham, Surrey in the west and Guildford in the east.-Name:Compared with the main part of the Downs to the east of it, it is a narrow elongated ridge, hence its name....
between Farnham
Farnham
Farnham is a town in Surrey, England, within the Borough of Waverley. The town is situated some 42 miles southwest of London in the extreme west of Surrey, adjacent to the border with Hampshire...
and Guildford
Guildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
and is part of the Surrey Hills
Surrey Hills AONB
The Surrey Hills is a Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty , located in Surrey, England. The AONB was designated in 1958 and covers one quarter of the county of Surrey...
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is an area of countryside considered to have significant landscape value in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, that has been specially designated by the Countryside Agency on behalf of the United Kingdom government; the Countryside Council for Wales on...
. It also lies on the Pilgrims' Way
Pilgrims' Way
The Pilgrims' Way is the historic route supposed to have been taken by pilgrims from Winchester in Hampshire, England, to the shrine of Thomas Becket at Canterbury in Kent...
. The parish covers about 8 miles east to west and 3 miles north to south, but most of this is open countryside. The parish of Seale (combined villages of Seale and Sands) has a population of 900, and the name Seale derives from the Anglo Saxon word for "hall" or, alternatively, for "willow".
In the valley at the foot of the Hog's Back lies the parish church of St Laurence, Seale. Adjacent to the church are farm buildings known as Manor Farm, now converted into craft shops and a tea room. Wood Lane, which runs from Seale Church and the Manor Farm centre up to the top of the Hog's Back, is probably named after the Wood family who leased Seale Manor Farm, including the land running up to the Hog's Back, from the Bishops of Winchester for three lives from 1839 (although they sold their interest in 1856).
The church was established in the 12th century as an outpost of Waverley Abbey
Waverley Abbey
Waverley Abbey was the first Cistercian abbey in England, founded in 1128 by William Giffard, Bishop of Winchester. It is situated about one mile south of Farnham, Surrey, in a bend of the River Wey.-History:...
. The bell tower houses a peal of six bells, the oldest and largest forged in the 16th century. The church was extensively restored and enlarged in about 1860. It is served by a Rector, who now also has care of the adjacent parishes of Puttenham
Puttenham
Puttenham may refer to:* George Puttenham , English literary critic* HMS Puttenham, a Ham class minesweeper* Puttenham, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom* Puttenham, Surrey, England, United Kingdom...
and Wanborough. These three parishes were formally merged in 2004, although they retain their separate places of worship. Tongham
Tongham
Tongham is a small Surrey village located close to the north-east Hampshire and Surrey border. The village lies in a triangle between the A31 and the A331. Neighbouring villages include Ash and Badshot Lea....
was originally part of the parish of Seale, but it became an independent parish in 1866.
Seale Lodge, built as a gentleman's residence in the 19th century, was demolished in about 1970, but some older cottages now called Seale Lodge Cottages stand opposite the church.
The village school is now closed and converted into a private house. However, there is still a village hall, near the old school. There are no shops or pubs in Seale and there is no railway station.
Apart from the houses near the old school, most of the houses in the parish are grouped further south, along Binton Lane, and in a settlement called The Sands, which is part of the parish of Seale, but separate from Seale village. The Sands has a public house, The Barley Mow, but its local shop and post office (Sands Stores) has now closed down. Binton Farm takes its name from a Saxon settlement of Binton, probably from a Saxon personal name.
Seale is part of the hundred of Farnham and its downland was originally part of the large and rich manor of Farnham, owned by the Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s of Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
, who retained rights of warren and other manorial privileges into the 19th century. Like other parts of Surrey, however, it then and since attracted people wishing to live in a rural environment within easy reach of other centres of work, including London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Most of the agricultural land in Seale now belongs to the Hampton Estate, centred on Hampton Lodge, an 18th century mansion. This estate is an early 20th century aggregation of the land formally owned by the Long family of Hampton, together with agricultural land formerly attached to Seale Lodge, and agricultural and parkland formerly comprising the Great Down estate, centred on another mansion at the top of the Hog's Back, Great Down, which was demolished in the 1950s. The Hampton Estate was acquired by Eustace Thornton in 1929. He was succeeded by his son, Sir Richard Thornton, KCVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
, OBE, who was Lord Lieutenant of Surrey 1986-1997. It is now run by Sir Richard's daughter and son-in-law, Bridget and Bill Biddell.
At an earlier period, as evidenced by memorials in Seale church, the main landowner was the Woodroffe family (of whom two, David and Nicholas, father and son, were Sheriffs of London in 1554 and 1573 respectively), and later, by descent through a female line, the Chester family. They were seated at Poyle, Tongham
Tongham
Tongham is a small Surrey village located close to the north-east Hampshire and Surrey border. The village lies in a triangle between the A31 and the A331. Neighbouring villages include Ash and Badshot Lea....
, on the other side of the Hog's Back, whose landholdings extended into Seale parish (although Tongham itself became an independent parish in 1866). The mansion at Poyle Park is now demolished and the Poyle estates were broken up in the twentieth century; an interior from Poyle Park, however, is now on display in the Museum of London.