Shere
Coordinates: 51°13′14″N 0°28′07″W / 51.2206°N 0.4687°W
| Shere | |
 Shere Church |
|
 Shere
Shere shown within Surrey |
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| Population | 3,359 |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | TQ070479 |
| District | Guildford |
| Shire county | Surrey |
| Region | South East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Guildford |
| Postcode district | GU5 |
| Dialling code | 01483 |
| Police | Surrey |
| Fire | Surrey |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | Mole Valley |
Shere is a village in the Guildford district of Surrey, England about 6 miles (9.7 km) east of Guildford and 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Dorking, bypassed by the A25. It is a small village with many traditional English features. It has a small central cluster of old village houses, shops including a blacksmith and trekking shop, tea house, art gallery, two pubs and a Norman-era church. Shere has a museum which opens most afternoons at weekends. The Tillingbourne stream runs through the centre of the village.
Shere is also a civil parish, consisting of the villages of Shere, Gomshall, Holmbury St. Mary and Peaslake, the total population is: 3,359.[1]
History
Shere appears in Domesday Book of 1086 as Essira and Essire. It was held by William the Conqueror. Its domesday assets were: 1 church, 2 mills worth 10s, 14 ploughs, 3 acres (12,000 m2) of meadow, woodland worth 50 hogs. It rendered £15.[2][3]
The church is Norman, most being 12th, 13th and 14th century, of ironstone rubble with sandstone buttresses, restored in 1895 by S. Weatherley. By the north chancel wall there is a 14th century quatrefoil window and squint - belonging to Anchorite Cell. There is 14th century glass in the east window and the chancel fittings were renewed in 1956 by Louis Osman.[4]
Within the village centre conservation area are 34 listed buildings that pre-date 1830, in some cases by several centuries.[5]
Transport
The village can be accessed for long distance travel from the north and west from the A3 at West Clandon — from the east the M25 at Leatherhead and the A24 at Dorking followed by the A25 road provides an shorter alternative route than taking the first route; there are minor routes south however the nearest major route directly south is the A24 at Dorking.
Gomshall railway station is less than 1 mile (1.6 km) away on the Reading to Gatwick line. While 1614 people (65% of the parish) are economically active, only 178 use public transport and 1037 use motor vehicles. The average commuter travels 20.3 kilometres (12.6 mi) to work.[6]
Economy and Demographics
The economy is a mixture of local and regional with the many shops and some farming and many London commuters are based here as the ward mentioned above, which includes Abinger parish, the 2001 census shows the self-employed (including with employees) form 36% of the population, retirees form 16% of the population and employees form 48% of the population. 77% of the ward's population is Christian, of the remainder 22% are of no religion or not stated.[1]
Within the civil parish are shops, four village halls, and three post offices. Many walks radiate from the village, including a streamside walk, parts of the North Downs Way and the Pilgrims' Way. In the village are Millstream Press, a book publisher named after the Tillingbourne, a textiles-cum-boutique [7] and Surrey Hills Brewery.[8]
Notable residents
- Harry Edwards (1893-1976), spiritual healer, founded his "Spiritual Healing sanctuary" at Burrows Lea, a house near Shere, in 1946; he went on to found the "National Federation of Spiritual Healers" (NFSH) in 1959. The work of the sanctuary and the NFSH continues today.[9]
- Benjamin Williams Leader (1831 – 1923), landscape artist. Lived near Shere from 1889-1923 at Burrows Cross, a large mansion designed by Norman Shaw.
- Christine Carpenter (of unknown year of birth and death) submitted a petition in 1329 [10] and consequently was granted permission to become the Anchoress of Shere Church [11] (aka. The Church of St. James). She received her food and drink from friends and family through a metal grating on the outside wall. In the interior of the church a quatrefoil shape was cut out of the wall through which she could receive the Eucharist and a squint (or hagioscope) for her use for prayer and reflection. She left her cell and in 1332 she applied again and was granted permission to be re-enclosed.
Film location
Because of its stereotypically English setting, Shere has proven popular in film:
- 1918 D.W. Griffith silent Hearts of the World.[12]
- 1946 as Reeve's village in A Matter of Life and Death.[13]
- 1965 The Earth Dies Screaming, science fiction film.[13]
- 1972 The Ruling Class starring Peter O'Toole.[13]
- 2004 Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason - St James's church features briefly in the wedding scene at the end.
- 2005 The Wedding Date starring Debra Messing and Dermot Mulroney.[13]
- 2006 The Holiday starring Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet and Jude Law.[14]
Books featuring Shere
Anchoress of Shere by Paul L. Moorcraft.[15]The Passionate Friends a social commentary novel by H. G. Wells places the protagonist's marriage here.[16]
References
- ^ a b Census data
- ^ Domesday Book - Surrey
- ^ Domesdaymap.co.uk complete transcriptions (free) with original excerpts
- ^ Details from listed building database (1377794). National Heritage List for England. English Heritage.
- ^ Ordnance Survey map, courtesy of English Heritage
- ^ "2001 Census". ONS. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
- ^ "Mad Jak textiles, food and fashion". Retrieved 6 May 2012.
- ^ "Surrey Hills Brewery address". Retrieved 6 May 2012.
- ^ The Harry Edwards Spiritual healing Sanctuary (Royal College of Psychiatrists).
- ^ [1] University of Saint Thomas–Saint Paul, MN "Petition to Become an Anchoress", http://courseweb.stthomas.edu, 2003, 2012-04-22
- ^ [2] "History of Shere", sheredelight.com, 2011, 2012-04-22
- ^ Schickel, Richard (1984). DW Griffith and the Birth of Film. London: Pavilion. p. 348.
- ^ a b c d "Titles with locations including Shere, Surrey". imdb.
- ^ "Stars arrive as village becomes a Hollywood backdrop". Discover Kate.
- ^ Moorcraft, Paul L. (2002). The Anchoress of Shere. Scottsdale, Arizona: Poisoned Pen Press. ISBN 159058028-1.
- ^ The Passionate Friends. London: Macmillan. ISBN 9781275155701.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Shere |
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East Clandon | East Horsley | Effingham | |
| Albury |  |
Gomshall Abinger |
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| Shamley Green | Ewhurst Cranleigh |
Peaslake Holmbury St Mary |
