Publications

A full list of the Society's publications may be obtained from the Society's office or see the separate publications list (27k) on this web site. Details of recent volumes of the Society's journal, the Surrey Archaeological Collections, are given elsewhere on this web site.

The Development of Timber Framing in Surrey's Old Buildings by Rod Wild and Andy Moir with Martin Higgins and Brigid Fice

 

The Domestic Buildings Research Group (Surrey) joined forces with Surrey Archaeological Society and, with the support of Surrey County Council and a generous grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, set up the Surrey Dendrochronology Project. The objective was to map the development of timber-framed buildings, century by century, area by area, across the county, using tree-ring dating.

The Project has confirmed the sequence and development of many architectural features. 

This fully illustrated report explains the findings of the Project, providing an accurate picture of how the vernacular architecture of Surrey has evolved.

A limited number of copies are available for purchase by visitors to the Society’s office at the Abinger Research Centre for £20. Copies can also be obtained by post for £20 + £3.95 (p&p) from https://www.dbrg.org.uk/surrey-dendrochronology-project

Folklore of Surrey by Matthew Alexander

Just published - October 2021. Review by Jeremy Harte

Folklore of SurreyUntil now Surrey has lacked any study of its local folklore, a serious omission because county surveys like this form the first stage of comparative folklore and social history, and are almost ubiquitous in England. They have played an important part in local identity even when historically they were of variable quality. We are lucky that, having waited so long, we have got one which is good.

 Folklore of Surrey is framed around ‘Old Surrey’, the working-class traditions of village and market towns in the long 19th century, although additional material takes the story down to living culture for popular themes such as ghosts and childlore. Some traditions rely on a single record, but several have multiple records over time and it is a strength of this book that it traces evolution and development in a subject which has often been treated as static. The growth of legends like Mother Ludlam’s Cave and popular customs like Christmas visiting is well handled. Matthew knows what he is writing about as both actor in and chronicler of popular custom.

All the folklore is referenced to primary sources and it is made clear when there has been feedback from literary inventions such as the Silent Pool and Blanche Heriot of Chertsey. The judgements on earlier collectors like Edward Lovett or Charles Kerry of Puttenham are illuminating. What might seem undifferentiated ‘tradition’ is teased out into the lore of specific micro-communities: crafts, age groups, competitive village communities.

For Surrey researchers, the book is rich in material that will feed into broader debates about local history, especially those occasions when tradition was made the flash-point for conflict, as in the Guildford Guy Riots. The imposition of Victorian civility on popular proletarian resistance is a running theme from areas such as street football to wife-swapping. Folklore was a force for both cohesion and exclusion as is made clear in such topics as legendary village origins and witchcraft.

Folklore of Surrey is accurate, comprehensive and relevant as well as a fascinating book to read.

Published by Surrey Archaeological Society.  Price: £12.99 (add £2.00 p+p)

Available from the Society’s headquarters at Abinger or by post (Hackhurst Lane, Abinger Hammer RH5 6SE); please make cheques payable to ‘Surrey Archaeological Society’. Copies are also available from Guildford Museum and Surrey History Centre and will be available from Bourne Hall Museum when the shop reopens.

A Guide to Roman Pottery from Selected Sites in Surrey

A Guide to Roman Pottery from Selected Sites in SurreyThe Guide to Roman Pottery in Selected Sites in Surrey is a quick guide that uses the Museum of London Fabric Codes. The codes were used for recording Roman pottery from excavations in Ashtead, Abinger, Seale and Farnham. The Guide has a clear description of the pottery fabric and the typical forms for each fabric. Images at high magnification show the fabric of the many types of pottery found in Surrey and provide dating details for the different fabrics. Other images show decoration techniques frequently used on the surface of Roman pottery. The Guide should be used in conjunction with the physical type series held by the Museum of London.

Size A5 with a laminated cover, 52 pages with 73 photographs and 5 tables and illustrations.

Price: £5.00 (add £2.00 p+p). Available from the Abinger Research Centre.

A Guide to Saxon and Medieval Type Series of  Surrey

A Guide to the Saxon and Medieval Pottery Type Series of Surrey

The Guide to the Saxon and Medieval Pottery Type Series of Surrey is a quick guide based on Phil Jones’s Medieval pottery type series. He developed this type series over many years of studying Medieval pottery found in Surrey. The Guide has a clear description of the pottery fabric and the typical forms for each fabric. Images at high magnification show the fabric of the many types of pottery found in Surrey. Other images show typical sherds.

 

The Guide should be used in conjunction with the physical type series held at the Abinger Research Centre. Please contact the Library for more information.

 

Size A5 with a laminated cover, 40 pages with 67 photographs and 8 tables and illustrations.

Price: £5.00 (add £1.00 p+p). Available from the Abinger Research Centre.

GREAT BOOKHAM: The Development of a Surrey Village in Maps
Great Bookham: The Development of a Village in Surrey

This book is another in the Society's Villages Study Project and examines the development of Great Bookham up to the early 19th century. The village is one of many settlements on the dip-slope of the North Downs. Maps are used to illustrate the growth of the village together with an examination of the factors that influenced its development over the centuries. Researched and prepared by Lyn Spencer.

Size A4, 85 pages of which 30 in colour, 35 maps plus 26 illustrations and photographs.

 

Price: £10.00 (add £2.60 p+p).  This book is currently available from the author and Leatherhead & District Local History Society.   Enquiries sent to Surrey Archaeological Society will be forwarded.

ESHER: Origins and Development of a Surrey Village in Maps

 
Esher in MapsThis volume in the Society’s Villages Study Project offers a comprehensive assessment of Esher’s development from pre-history to the mid-19th century.  Settlement growth and land-use change across the whole parish is illustrated by a series of newly created place-name maps together with reproductions of original maps and plans. Researched and prepared by Jo Richards aided by the research group of Esher District Local History Society.
 
Size A4, 66 pages of which 25 in colour, 30 maps plus 17 tables and illustrations
 

 

Price: £10.00 (add £3.00 p+p).  This book is currently available from the author and Esher District Local History Society.   Enquiries sent to Surrey Archaeological Society will be forwarded.


Aspects of Archaeology and History in Surrey: towards a research framework for the county

AspectsThis volume has been published to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the Society. It gathers together a number of papers presented at a conference held in June 2001. Topics covered include:

The environmental history of Surrey; Engraved sequences and the perception of prehistoric country; Roman religious sites in the landscape; Supre-ge - the foundations of Surrey; The Surrey Historic Landscape Characterisation Project; Vernacular architecture; The impact of royal landholdings 1509-1649; Iron production in Surrey; Second World War defences in Surrey.

Size A4; xi + 260 pages including both colour and monochrome illustrations. Price: £25 (add £4.70 p&p)

 



Ewell: a Surrey Village that Became a Town

 

EwellThis, the third publication resulting from the Society's Villages Project, records the growth and development of the village of Ewell in north-east Surrey. The information is presented through a series of maps from the medieval period through to the 19th century. This booklet is the result of research carried out by Charles Abdy assisted by members of Epsom & Ewell History & Archaeology Society.

Size A4; 47 pages including 19 maps.

Price: £3.00 (add £2.00 p&p)

 

Thorpe: a Surrey Village in Maps

 

ThorpeThis, the second publication resulting from the Society's Villages Project, records the growth and development of the village of Thorpe in north-west Surrey. The information is presented through a series of maps from the medieval period through to the 19th century. This booklet is the result of research carried out by members of the Egham-by-Runnymede Historical Society.

Size A4; 54 pages including 25 maps of which 6 are in colour.

Price: £3.00 (add £2.00 p&p)

 



Shere: a Surrey Village in Maps

ShereA fascinating new study of the village and its buildings through a series of maps of the village from the medieval period onwards. This is the first publication resulting from the Society's Villages Study Project and similar reports on other villages will follow in due course. This booklet is the result of research carried out by members of the Shere, Gomshall and Peaslake Local History Society.

Size A4; 48 pages including 12 maps of which 3 are in colour.

Price: £3.00 (add £2.00 p&p)
 



Gomshall , Peaslake and Ewhurst. Rural Villages from Royal Vill




On the growth in the Surrey Hills of the neighbouring settlements of Gomshall, Peaslake and Ewhurst, which were all part of the single maour of Gomeselle at the time of Domesday. Researched and prepared by members of Gomshall, Shere and Peaslake Local History Society and Ewhurst History Society.

Size A4; 71 pages including 15 maps of which 7 are in colour

Price: £5.00 (add £2.00 p&p)





The Royal Castle and Palace at Guildford by Rob Poulton

Guildford Palace bookletThis popular booklet presents in a very readable way the results of a four-year training and research excavation by the Society, which was highly successful in rediscovering the site of the lost palace and the layout of many of its buildings. Full colour illustrations include photographs of the excavation, standing buildings, maps, plans and reconstruction drawings. The booklet offers useful resource material for local history studies and for Key Stage 3 study of medieval realms.

Size A4; 16 pages with many illustrations.

Price £1.50 (inc p&p)

 

Bulletin

The Bulletin is issued free to members and is published six times a year. It provides news of current work and events and also notices of local society meetings within the county. The Bulletin Editor welcomes short articles on current work within the county, which should be sent to the Society's office.

 

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