Normandy Historians

Normandy in Surrey
About Normandy Historians
Early in 1987, the Normandy Parish Council expressed its deep concern that knowledge and memories of past village life would be irretrievably lost with the demise of elderly residents, known to have been born in the locality or to have lived the best part of their life in Normandy.

The Chairman and Clerk of the Council, therefore, invited a small group of residents, keen to form a Local History Group, to a private meeting on 23 February 1987 to consider how best to alleviate the concern of the Council.

The group proposed that a Society be formed to record initially the last 100 years of social and cultural living within the village and to launch the project and its objects at a Special Parish Meeting convened for that purpose.

The meeting, attended by about 150 parishioners, was held in the Normandy Village Hall on 18 May 1987. It unanimously determined that a society be formed (suggested title NORMANDY HISTORIANS) with terms of reference "to record and publish the last 100 years history of Normandy in a form acceptable to the Parish Council and for the Council, within reasonable terms, to assist financially in the project".

The inaugural meeting of the Society was held 14 July 1987 when Bill Adey was elected Chairman together with an effective management team elected from the 30 persons present. The first Executive Committee meeting was held 23 September 1987. A formal Constitution was adopted at the Annual General Meeting held 11 October 1989.

The logo of the Society, now affectionately known as "Norman", was used during 1991 in the preparation work for the Wanborough Station Centenary Celebration held in September of that year. Although never officially adopted, "Norman", a much-admired addition to the title of the Society's on its letter heading and literature has remained ever since. He is, of course, a caricature of a warrior, holding his shield of defence in what is normally considered to be the fighting hand, and dressing (a military term) to the left, which again is contrary to normal military drill! He is, however, symbolic of all Local Study Groups, in that he is the Defender of the past and Herald of the future.

The principal object of the Society, to publish the history of the village, was achieved in July 2000 when the book was launched at Wyke Primary School in conjunction with an exhibition composed of material from the Society's archives and memorabilia on loan for the occasion. The initial print-run of 750 books, priced at £7:50 each, was sold out within a few weeks. The Society acknowledges that the discounted price of the book was made possible by grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Normandy Parish Council and Guildford Borough Council.

Why not join us?
Membership is only £5.00 for the year. Just download the membership form and fill it in and send it with your cheque (Make your cheque payable to Normandy Historians) to:-
The Membership Secretary Sandra Grainger
Bryndals, 198 Glaziers Lane,
Normandy, Guildford, Surrey GU3 2ED
Download Membership Form
You can also subscribe on-line with PayPal
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Meetings to be held on the third Tuesday of the month in the small hall of the
Village Hall and to start at 8pm
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Tuesday 19th September Geoff Burch & David Rose “Dave Salmon A Man and His Camera”

Tuesday 17th October Peter Durrant “History & Humour of Fleet Street”

Tuesday 21st November Rupert Matthews “Father Christmas”

Tuesday 12th December “Social evening for Members”

"A Century of Normandy in Surrey"
Digital Book
Out now the digital version of the Normandy book "A Century of Normandy in Surrey".

This is a CD-Rom in PDF format and updated to "errata 7" and is available from Normandy Historians at only £7.50 plus p&p (£1.50 UK) or at our meetings.

If you would prefer you can Buy it Now with "PayPal"

"A History of Normandy Park in Surrey"

A History of Normandy Park in Surrey is presented as an attractive, glossy soft-back book with cover photo, composed of 114 pages of text, 25 figures and 63 black & white photos featuring Normandy Park house, neighbouring houses and the people who helped to shape that area of Normandy including the author's family.

Jack Kinder, the author demonstrates a unique and succinct style of writing, which coupled with his skill as a draughtsman, so ably demonstrated in the copious figures in the book, will not disappoint the reader.

Notwithstanding the excellence of his work, A History of Normandy Park in Surrey is a veritable tome of reference for family history researchers and for those who have an interest in the transformation and development of a village as its large fruit farms and nurseries disappeared from the rural scene in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries.

Available from Normandy Historians at only £9.50 plus p&p (£3.50 UK) or at our meetings.

If you would prefer you can Buy it Now with "PayPal"

"Henley Park in Surrey"
The History of a Royal Manor

Henley Park's long history spans over a thousand years from Saxon settlement through royal ownership and more than one stately mansion to a wartime factory and its last-minute rescue from ruin and collapse. New research has revealed the much-debated location of the medieval royal complex as well as a long-forgotten Jacobean-style mansion that predates the Georgian-style mansion that we know today. This history is described in a readable and informative style in our new publication: Henley Park in Surrey, the History of a Royal Manor, by John Squier.

John is an amateur historian who has lived in Normandy for 38 years and was a founder member of Normandy Historians. He has spent many years researching Henley Park since he discovered that his house was briefly part of its extensive estates.

An updated history of Henley Park has long been overdue and with nearly 200 pages of text and 123 illustrations, many in colour, we believe that this is a book worthy of the long and fascinating history of Normandy's most prestigious estate.

Available from Normandy Historians at only £10 plus p&p (£4.00 UK) or at our meetings.

If you would prefer you can Buy it Now with "PayPal"


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Normandy in Surrey