Compton ~ Guildford Borough west central    3 miles southwest of Guildford off the A3 on the B3000

Location for a home ~ Comment: Highly recommended, excellent main road access in delightful countryside

Present Day Aspect and Character

ompton is situated under the south side of the Hog’s Back on small sandstone hills forming a naturally pretty and undulating landscape. 

It is an attractive area of well-tended cosy 19th century and early 20th century cottages.  The bigger houses are mostly hidden away behind trees and away from The Street, which unfortunately is the extremely busy road through the village.  Behind the facade of this road, there is some open countryside to explore with a wealth of footpaths and a few farms.  

There is no obviously central place in the village which catches the eye as one travels through, but there is a string of picturesque buildings, some residences and some commercial, but all in keeping with each other and pleasing as a group.   This delightful village undoubtedly suffers from the intrusion of too much through traffic which is easily explained by the very close proximity of slips roads to and from the main A3.  This A3 junction however provides an exceptionally convenient access route both north and south for the commuter in particular. 

The church of St Nicholas, situated on a little knoll also screened by trees from The Street below, is one of the most interesting in Surrey.   Much of the body dates from the 11th century and some detail dates from pre-conquest.  In fact it contains the oldest piece of Norman woodwork known in England in the form of a double sanctuary.

The Watts Gallery and Watts Memorial Chapel are both found in Down Lane and act as a constant reminder of the Victorian painter George Frederic Watts who lived in nearby 'Limnerslease', a large half-timbered house built by E George in 1891. There is a museum of his paintings across the road and nearer the village in the modern cemetery,  the burial chapel designed by his wife in 1896 and carried out in red brick, worthy of attention in its incredible detail.

There is a bridge, designed by the renowned Surrey architect Lutyens in 1931 to the north of the Watts Chapel, which carries the road over the alleged route of the Pilgrims’ Way.  The Withies and The Harrow public houses in the village have been popular inns for many decades. 

Pubs and Temporary Accommodation 
The Harrow Inn, The Street is located adjacent to the B3000. Over 300 years old and letting rooms available.  Tel: 01483 810379

Little Polsted, Polsted Lane offers bed and breakfast accommodation in a charming cottage which was once a pump house.  There are two guest rooms which enjoy views over the surrounding farmland.   Tel: 01483 810398