Binscombe

Settlement in Surrey Waverley

England

Binscombe

Looking westwards in The Burys Godalming is a historic market town, civil parish and administrative centre, 4 miles SSW of Guildford. It is located on the banks of the River Wey in a hilly, heavily wooded part of the London commuter belt and Green Belt.
Godalming is regarded as an expensive residential town, partly due to its visual appeal and good transport links. In recent years it has been ranked the UK&#039;s third most desirable property hotspot, voted the fourth best area of the UK in which to live and judged in 2013 to have the highest quality of life in Great Britain.
Wikipedia: <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godalming" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godalming">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> — Looking westwards in The Burys Credit: Basher Eyre

Binscombe is a small village located in the county of Surrey, England. Situated approximately 3 miles southwest of the town of Godalming, Binscombe is a peaceful and picturesque area surrounded by the beautiful countryside of the Surrey Hills.

The village is known for its charming character and tight-knit community. It boasts a range of amenities, including a local primary school, a village hall, and a small shopping center that caters to the needs of its residents. Binscombe also has a number of green spaces, such as Binscombe Nature Reserve, which provides a tranquil environment for outdoor activities and wildlife observation.

The architecture in Binscombe reflects its history, with a mix of traditional cottages and modern houses. The village has seen gradual expansion in recent years, with new developments blending seamlessly with the existing properties, ensuring that the area maintains its unique character.

The surrounding countryside offers numerous opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts, with expansive walking trails and cycling routes. Binscombe is also conveniently located near the A3 road, providing easy access to nearby towns and cities, including Guildford and London.

Overall, Binscombe offers a desirable rural lifestyle combined with convenient access to urban amenities. Its natural beauty, strong sense of community, and proximity to larger towns make it an attractive place to live for individuals and families looking for a peaceful and idyllic setting in the heart of Surrey.

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Binscombe Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.204802/-0.61762 or Grid Reference SU9645. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Looking westwards in The Burys

Godalming is a historic market town, civil parish and administrative centre, 4 miles SSW of Guildford. It is located on the banks of the River Wey in a hilly, heavily wooded part of the London commuter belt and Green Belt. Godalming is regarded as an expensive residential town, partly due to its visual appeal and good transport links. In recent years it has been ranked the UK's third most desirable property hotspot, voted the fourth best area of the UK in which to live and judged in 2013 to have the highest quality of life in Great Britain. Wikipedia: Link

Basher Eyre

Entrance to Wyatts Almshouses

Almshouses are charitable housing provided to enable people (typically elderly people who can no longer work to earn enough to pay rent) to live in a particular community. They are often targeted at the poor of a locality, at those from certain forms of previous employment, or their widows, and are generally maintained by a charity or the trustees of a bequest. Alms are, money or services donated to support the poor and indigent. Almshouses were established from the 10th century in Britain, to provide a place of residence for poor, old and distressed folk. The first recorded almshouse was founded in York by King Athelstan; the oldest still in existence is the Hospital of St. Cross in Winchester, dating to about 1132. In the Middle Ages, the majority of European hospitals functioned as almshouses. An incomplete list of British Almshouses can be found at Link

Basher Eyre

Save 1p (per litre)

Seen in Meadrow. Driving past I just saw "Save 1p" Now times are hard so I turned round and went back and found it was "Save 1p per litre" Result!

Basher Eyre

Watts Memorial Chapel

This view of the remarkable Watts Memorial Chapel is from its associated cemetery looking southwestwards. See the shared description below for more information and links:

Rob Farrow

Watts Memorial Chapel - northwestern quadrant

As one approaches the Watts Chapel on the path from the lychgate this is the first view of it, with its entrance on the right, up to which the path leads. For a closer view of the curved panels, see SU9547 : Watts Memorial Chapel - Terracotta panels, NW quadrant

Rob Farrow

Watts Memorial Chapel - Terracotta panels, NW quadrant

A closer view of the intricate Art Nouveau terracotta panels seen at wider angle in SU9547 : Watts Memorial Chapel - northwestern quadrant

Rob Farrow

Watts Memorial Chapel - Terracotta panels, SE quadrant

Intricate Art Nouveau terracotta panels on the southeastern quadrant of the Watts Memorial Chapel.

Rob Farrow

Watts Memorial Chapel - Entrance

The arched entrance into the Watts Chapel is a fusion of Romanesque and Art Nouveau styles. The semicircular three-ordered arch belonging to the former style, while the decoration of intricate and convoluted designs and heads is of the latter - with a little Celtic influence thrown in for good measure! See detail here SU9547 : Watts Memorial Chapel - Entrance archway detail.

Rob Farrow

Watts Memorial Chapel - Entrance archway detail

A close-up view of some of the remarkable terracotta tiles that form the top of the entrance arch seen in SU9547 : Watts Memorial Chapel - Entrance The outer order clearly displays Celtic style designs, while the middle and inner orders are more Art Nouveau - all of this being detail on a Romanesque style arch.

Rob Farrow

Watts Memorial Chapel - Angels adorn the interior

As can be seen, the interior of SU9547 : Watts Memorial Chapel is quite remarkably decorated in Art Nouveau style with complex symbolism - G F Watts is considered to have been a 'symbolist' painter - he said "I paint ideas, not things." However, he was dead by the time this chapel was created, so its designs are primarily the work of his widow, Mary.

Rob Farrow

Watts Memorial Chapel - Interior above the altar

Looking at the fantastically decorated interior of the SU9547 : Watts Memorial Chapel; this view is above the altar on the eastern side. The style is emphatically Art Nouveau and features angels and cherubs' heads.

Rob Farrow

Watts Memorial Chapel - Art Nouveau angel

One of the many angels adorning the interior of SU9547 : Watts Memorial Chapel

Rob Farrow

Watts Memorial Chapel - View upwards

Looking directly upwards in the middle of the fabulously decorated interior of SU9547 : Watts Memorial Chapel

Rob Farrow

Watts Memorial Chapel - Altar

Looking at the ornately decorated altar in the eastern arm of SU9547 : Watts Memorial Chapel The altar is inscribed "This chapel designed by Mrs Watts, wife of G F Watts OMRA, was built in 1896 by her and the people of Compton. It is dedicated to the memory of all who rest near its walls." For a closer view of the central painting, see SU9547 : Watts Memorial Chapel - Altar painting - "The All Pervading"

Rob Farrow

Watts Memorial Chapel - Altar painting - "The All Pervading"

Immediately above SU9547 : Watts Memorial Chapel - Altar is featured the painting "The All Pervading" by the Symbolist artist G F Watts, to whom the chapel is dedicated and which was created by his wife Mary. Note: The EH listing refers to this painting as "The All Rewarding" - but research on Watts' paintings suggests "Pervading" rather than "Rewarding" as the correct title. See shared description below:

Rob Farrow

Watts Memorial Cloister

The Watts Memorial Cloister is along the northeastern flank of the cemetery surrounding SU9547 : Watts Memorial Chapel. It was designed and built in 1911 by Mary Seton Watts, widow of the artist G F Watts to whom it is dedicated. The cloister contains a number of plaques to departed souls including her husband (at centre) - see SU9547 : Watts Memorial Plaque Note curvature of its base is *not* a photographic aberration - it really is curved like that - which in itself is unusual as normally the ground would be levelled to facilitate simpler construction.

Rob Farrow

Watts Memorial Plaque

This memorial is at the centre of SU9547 : Watts Memorial Cloister and is to the Symbolist artist G F Watts. The inscription beneath it reads: 1817 - George Frederic Watts - 1904 As one "that doeth Truth Cometh to the Light So he, living, sought Light diligently and dying could say "Now I see that great Light" So may man's soul be sure of Vision When suddenly she is sure of Light. For this Light is from Him, and is He. (Plotinus AD200) (Punctuation and capitalisation as per tablet)

Rob Farrow

Compton Cemetery - Celtic cross style gravestone

This finely made Celtic cross marks one of the graves in Compton Cemetery near to SU9547 : Watts Memorial Chapel. This grave is not listed by English Heritage but two others are (see associated photos in shared description below).

Rob Farrow

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Binscombe is located at Grid Ref: SU9645 (Lat: 51.204802, Lng: -0.61762)

Administrative County: Surrey

District: Waverley

Police Authority: Surrey