West Horsley ~ Guildford Borough east borders     5 miles east of Guildford on the A246 and just to the west of its larger neighbour East Horsley

Location for a home ~ Comment:  Highly Recommended

imply a quieter and smaller version of East Horsley, once known as Horsley Green, with brick and brick-filled half-timbered cottages on a single street running north from the A246 some old and some new together with a few shops.  The pleasant 18th century pub, the King William IV near the centre and the impressive east entrance to Hatchlands, add to the character of this little village.  The manor house and the mainly 13th century St Mary’s church for the village are about a mile east on the borders of East Horsley, unusually isolated on the southern fringe of the main road.   Adjacent is a horse ride that leads up into the Sheepleas, public open space, which is managed and protected by the County Council and onwards towards Effingham Forest.

Bell and Colvill's well known specialist car showrooms is a famous landmark on the roundabout to the south of the village centre and the area hosts a few farms and numerous public paths on largely level countryside.    There is a rise in the ground to the south of the A246 towards the Sheepleas where the road is bordered by attractive detached houses.   This is the beginning of an area much devoted to horse-riding, mountain biking, walking and other outdoor activities, with little need to cross significant roads for many miles.   Many of the public paths through the woods have artificial surfaces, a fair percentage of which are concrete or gravel.

Schools:  Cranmore Prep Independent School 01483 284137
                   Raleigh County Primary           Tel: 01483 282988

History
West Horsley Place stands opposite the church also remote from the village centre.  It dates from 1630 and has a 10-bay brick south front with pediment and Dutch gable.  Sir Walter Raleigh's son, Carew, lived at West Horsley Place.   It is said that when Sir Walter Raleigh was executed in 1618 his dismembered head was carried around by his wife in a red leather bag for more than 25 years.  Carew however apparently finally buried it in the south chapel of the church.

King William IV pub, The Street was originally a pair of semi-detached cottages - subsequently converted into an alehouse during the 1880s.  Tel: 01483 282318

The Barley Mow pub, at 181 The Street was erected in the late C15 and by 1662 it had become a hostelry called Ye Harrow.  The Barley Mow was the community's main secular meeting house where auctions and inquests took place. During World War II a bomb damaged the chimney and when the fireplace was removed a small chamber was found which was formerly used for smoking bacon. Tel: 01483 282693