I’ve previously mentioned my pleasure at acquiring a copy of A Lightwater Reminisce, now sadly out of print. However, for those with a hankering to know more about the history of Lightwater, there’s a new book - Lightwater: A Village Without a History, by Sally Clark.
The 45-page book, published jointly by Surrey Heath History Club and Sally Clark is available at Lightwater newsagent, price £5. The book describes the early history of Lightwater. It goes into great detail on the history of Lightwater Manor, its owners – the Colville and then the Roberts family, and the creation of Lightwater Lake, and the development of the gardens surrounding the lake.
The front cover of the book, pictured here, is an artist’s impression of Lightwater Lake by local artist, Liz Relfe. If you want to learn more about some Lightwater’s historical figures, then this book will surely satisfy.
ah, I should have spotted this item before my query on your ‘Lightwater History – About’ thread.
The Colville reference here must be to the Duchess of Frias mentioned in the 1911 census.
By: LD on July 26, 2010
at 11:01 am
I am interested to know how the Red Road got its name.
By: Bob Outridge on February 20, 2012
at 5:45 pm
The Army bought West End Common in the late 1870s / early 1880s (in fact all the land now west of the A322, all the area north of Red Road up to the old track forming the southern boundary of the houses around the lake (Colville Gardens?) etc)…..
Prior to this, the ‘Red Road’ linked The Maultway and todays truncated Blackstroud Lane in a straight line … with the section called ‘Lightwater Road’ today being a track serving the farm and Manor – the track today that I mentioned above was thus the ‘main’ road …. it can still be walked, from the Folly roadsign at the Red Road/Lightwater Road bend, up along the Colville Gardens rear boundary, Holly hedge et al to Blackstroud Lane.
Anyways, the answer at last – the Army realigned the section of Red Road down from the Maultway (the old track leads straight from Moorlands Nursing Home up into the MVEE Test Tracks) and linked it to todays Gordon’s School roundabout on the A322 with a new section…… neatly missing the 4 Tumulii thank goodness …
This was all metalled and scalpings from Dorset were brought up to surface it – hence ‘RED’ !
The local roads infrastructure wasnt tarmaced until the late 1920s / 1930s….
By: Speedicus on February 21, 2012
at 7:58 am
Obviously Mr Outridge doesnt come here a lot !
By: Speedicus Triplicatum on February 29, 2012
at 12:23 pm