Travel to Guildford Map
Guildford tourist guide map of landmarks & destinations by Walkfo
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When travelling to Guildford, Walkfo’s has created a travel guide & Guildford overview of Guildford’s hotels & accommodation, Guildford’s weather through the seasons & travel destinations / landmarks in Guildford. Experience a unique Guildford when you travel with Walkfo as your tour guide to Guildford map.
Guildford history
Etymology
The only known 10th-century (Saxon) record uses Guldeford and in the 11th century Gealdeford; both meaning gold and ford. The root of the first part may be the word ‘gold’ rather than Guild, a society or meeting of tradesmen. Local historians cite the lack of gold in the region’s sedimentary rocks.
Early settlement
Rural Bronze Age pieces have been found in the town of Guildford. Some of the tiles built into Guildford Castle may be Roman. A Roman villa has been found on Broad Street Common.
Middle Ages
Guildford was established as a small town by Saxon settlers shortly after Roman authority had been removed from Britain at the beginning of the 5th century. The settlement was most likely expanded because of the Harrow Way (an ancient trackway connecting the ancient cities of Winchester and Canterbury) The town was the location of the Royal Mint from 978 until part-way through the reign of William the Conqueror. Guildford Castle is of Norman design, although there are no documents about its earliest years.
Post-Renaissance/Dissolution of the Monasteries
The town’s Royal Grammar School was built in 1509 and became Royal by gaining the patronage of Edward VI in 1552. In 1619 George Abbot founded the Hospital of the Holy Trinity, now commonly known as Abbot’s Hospital, one of the finest almshouses in the country.
Post-Industrial Revolution
From 1820 to 1865 Guildford was the scene of severe outbursts of semi-organised lawlessness commonly known as the “Guy Riots” The Guys would mass on the edge of the town from daybreak on Guy Fawkes Night, wearing masks or bizarre disguises and armed with clubs and lighted torches. In 1866 and 1868 the Guys were dispersed by cavalry and this seems to have brought an end to the riots.
20th century
In 1901, the Dennis brothers built the first purpose-built car factory in England. During World War II, the Borough Council built 18 communal air raid shelters. One of these shelters, known as the Foxenden Quarry deep shelter, was built into a disused chalk quarry.
Modern Guildford
In the 21st century Guildford still has a High Street paved with granite setts. Guildford is one of the most expensive places to buy property in the UK outside London. It was voted the 9th best place to live in Britain in 2006, but slipped to 12th position in 2007 due to pollution.
Guildford map & travel guide with history & landmarks to explore
Visit Guildford Walkfo Stats
With 77 travel places to explore on our Guildford travel map, Walkfo is a personalised tour guide to tell you about the places in Guildford as you travel by foot, bike, car or bus. No need for a physical travel guide book or distractions by phone screens, as our geo-cached travel content is automatically triggered on our Guildford map when you get close to a travel location (or for more detailed Guildford history from Walkfo).
| Travel Location: Travel Area: | Guildford [zonearea] | Audio spots: Physical plaques: | 77 25 | Population: | [zonesize] |
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Tourist Guide to Guildford Map
Guildford map historic spot | Guildford map tourist destination | Guildford map plaque | Guildford map geographic feature |
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