Genealogy Chat

Lady on Leith Hill thank you I knew it was one of those films that I'd never watched. Idid browse through the surrey ad about but couldnt remeber that it was Bridget Jones

Hi Deborah. I will have to see the film now! I wish I had known about this area (and my ancestors) when we were visiting the UK when I was a teenager, would have made the trip even more enjoyable. Thank you for describing even more of the area -- it sounds lovely. I know my ancestors lived in Albury for a short time, but I don't know where, so for right now I don't have any questions, but thank you very much for your offer. All the best with your research!

Hi Lisa I'm about 3 miles from Shere, if I can help with anything let me know. mail me direct. The parish church at Shere has just been used for the new Bridget Jones film. They came to film in Jan/Feb and sprayed the whole place with fake snow! They had to come back last month and redo some shots, more sprayed snow in July! The church is used as the one where she marries that gorgeous hunk, Colin Firth. My doctors surgery is there and it is a new wooden and glass building that blends with the wooded surrounding very well. It's the only surgery I know with it's own duck pond complete with said ducks, very peaceful. ( and up market) The Tillingbourne is a 'river' that runs through the village and yes the pubs are good. There are some antique shops and gift shops too and some lovely old buildings. They built a bypass some years ago because the main street is very narrow and they wanted to save the village. Hope this helps. Deborah

Thank you Diane. It is so nice to read about where one's ancestors lived. I love finding out dates and names of ancestors, but it is thrilling too to hear about their towns, occupations, lifestyles, etc. Thank you for helping to make my research more personal.

Shere Surrey is a lovely little village on the way too Dorking. It is approx 8 miles from Guildford. The church is St. James. It has been used for many films the most recent I wont too say is the Harry Potter film. You also have Albury,Peaslake,Chilworth,Abingar Hammer too name but a few places.

Hi Liz. I don't have the right "plug in" to view the entire site, but when I have time this weekend, I will be sure to fix that. Thank you very much for the site. If you haven't seen me babble on before about my family coming from Canada -- we're Canadian, with English and Irish ancestors. All of my research is therefore long distance. It is soooo nice to hear about my ancestors' homes (towns and villages) and to see pictures is truly wonderful. Thanks again, Lisa.

Hi Lisa Try this website. www*thegoodmoveguide*com/Locations/Surrey/Boroughs/Guildford/Guides/Villages/Shere*htm Replace * with the usual. Also if you click on the webcam on top right - it will show snap shot of items out of view. Liz

Hi Pat and Liz. Thanks so much for your input. I REALLY appreciate the descriptions of the Shere area, I can almost picture it. If you ever see my postings, please add anything; it's so hard researching from here. Several years ago I found a library book that had a painting of the Albury area, which is where my Vaus ancestors lived for a short time (30 years). I could almost imagine my ancestors walking down the path. Carolyn: Shiere Vil is what is mentioned on the LDS site, but it could have been incorrectly written somewhere along the line. If you are referring to Mill as in grinding corn and similar things, the sisters' father was a corn dealer or factor as well as a farmer; odd that you mention mill. I noticed goggle has information about Shere Mill; I'm off to check that now! Thank you all so much for your comments/ideas. I really appreciate your help.

Lisa, just a thought going back to your query about the census address, do you think it could have been Shere Mill, because I'm sure it had one and still has I think. Carolyn

Patricia Not that I go on too many pub crawls now!!! Hubby and I used to go there fairly often, but I have not been for while, days off do not always match up. It's great feeding the ducks by the river too. Love it. Liz

Great Liz, When I go back I must try a Pub crawl. lol I am glad to hear its still busy with walkers, my legs and feet used to ache after a full days of walking. Thanks for adding your memories, I started to feel I was intruding on this thread but I couldnt resist it.

Shere is a lovely village. There are 2 pubs there, one has the stocks still outside, and I can recommend the sunday lunches there. It does get busy at the weekends, partly because of walkers/ramblers - but its great. The other pub used to do fairly good food too. The church, if I remember right, had a "bolt hole" (not the right term) - where there was a lady who was blocked in, and on communion services the bread/wine was passed through a small hole. A mile or so outside Shere, is a Hamlet called Little London. A pub and a few houses. Gets busy too with walkers. The pub there is great too. Have not been there for a while, but there used to be a bar area where to get served , you had to kneel down at a hatch, great if you had a drink or two already. Liz

Lisa, Have to add to your thread. I spent many happy school holidays near Shere, Surrey. We used to stay in a village close by called Shamley Green a couple of miles away, Alfred Hitchcock lived there at one time, it was a beautiful part of Surrey. The local farmers used to leave Apples, Potatoes, Rhubarb etc., in baskets on the Roadside a weighting scales so you could weight what you wanted and leave the money in another basket. Shere Village was a beautiful picuresque English village with quite a few red brick houses, Tudor style houses and many cottages, there was two shops there in the 1970's. It is about 7 miles from Guildford. Happy Days they were long warm summers, hope you dont mind me rambling on. I must go back again soon, I have not been around there since the 1980's. Regards Pat

Thank you very much, Crista!

Hi Lisa, I changed my original message as you were posting yours! Crista

Hi Crista. It's for Susanna Vaus' sisters (Caroline and Maria). Oddly enough, they used the family's "old" spelling: Vaux was changed to Vaus around 1770, yet they are written down as Vaux. I saw them on the LDS site and just wondered where they were living. (Susanna moved to Canada prior to 1858 and another sister was in Canada by 1871.)

Hi Lisa, I think Shiere is the old name for Shiere. Some birthplaces mention Shiere instead of Shere. Shiere Vil must mean they are located in the centre of the village because there are lots of other households with that address. Crista

On the 1881 British Census, my ancestor's sisters' "dwelling" was Shiere Vil and the "census place" was Shere, Surrey, England. Would anyone know: would Shiere Vil be the street, house, village? Thank you, Lisa.