History of Woking
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Woking's history starts in 673 AD, when it was a settlement of a Wessex tribe, followers of Wocca. The name has been corrupted and was spelt as Woccingas, Wochinges, Wokynge, Wochynghe at different times.
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[edit] Pre-1800
Around 775 AD, the town was mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle:-
- In the days of this same Offa was an alderman, of the name of Brorda, who requested the king for his sake to free his own monastery, called Woking, because he would give it to Medhamsted and St. Peter, and the abbot that then was, whose name was Pusa. Pusa succeeded Beonna; and the king loved him much. And the king freed the monastery of Woking, against king, against bishop, against earl, and against all men so that no man should have any claim there, except St. Peter and the abbot
In 1661 James Zouch, grandson of Sir Edward Zouch, obtained the Market Charter for Woking. A few years later in 1669 James Zouch from Woking was Sheriff of Surrey (1669-1670). In 1760, James Turner bought from the Earl of Onslow, owner of Woking Manor, some land in the "Tithing of Goldings".
[edit] Woking Palace
In 1272 Woking Royal Palace was first recorded. Then in 1485 when Henry VII was King of England (1485-1509), his mother (Lady Margaret Beaufort) lived at Woking Palace. (Beaufort School in Goldsworth Park is named after her.) In 1490, the Treaty of Woking was signed by Henry VII with Austria at Woking Palace.
By 1620 Woking Palace's ownership had passed by James I to Sir Edward Zouch. It stopped being a royal palace and starts to fall into decay.
[edit] Canal
In 1651 the Wey Navigation Canal was opened for traffic from Guildford to the River Thames passing through Woking. Over a century later, in 1791, the canal from the Wey Navigation Canal to Basingstoke opened as far as Horsell. Then in 1792 the Basingstoke Canal opened as far as Pirbright.
Navigation on the Brookwood Canal stopped in 1947. In 1991, Basingstoke Canal was formally reopened along its whole length following renovation by volunteers.
[edit] 1800s
In 1849, Necropolis (cemetery) was first proposed for Woking Parish by the Board of Health. Whilst in 1879 St John's Woking Crematorium was built to be used for the first time in 1884 when the first cremation in the UK was performed.
1898 was noteworthy with H. G. Wells writing his book The War of the Worlds whilst living in Woking. Many scenes from the story are set in Horsell, Woking and around the area.
[edit] Facilities
The 1850s saw the first building of the 'New Woking', with the construction of the Albion Hotel. In 1862, the Royal Dramatic College opened in Maybury. (The current occupier of this site is the Lion Retail Park.) It was closed in 1877 but in 1884 the Oriental Institute opened on the site - it closed in the 1890s.
The 1880s saw the opening of the Woking Police Station in 1887; then in 1889 Woking Football Club was formed. This year also saw the opening of the Woking Mosque (alleged to be the first purpose built in the UK). Sultan Shah Jahan, Begum of Bhopal donated money to help build it and it is now called the Shah Jehan Mosque in her honour.
Changes happened in the 1890s with Woking obtaining electricity in 1890 and a year later gas arrived. The last year in the 1890s was significant with Woking obtaining a sewerage system. There was also the opening of the Victoria Hospital.
[edit] Railways
The railways came to Woking in 1838 when the London and Southampton company railway opened as far as Winchfield. Woking Common Station opened - it is now called Woking Station. Then in 1839, the London and Southampton Company was renamed London and South Western Railway.
[edit] Politics
In 1830, the Woking Parish experienced civil unrest. Whilst in 1834 Guildford (affecting Woking parish) and Chertsey (affecting Horsell parish) Poor Law Unions were formed.
Notably in 1864 Guildford (affecting Woking parish) and Chertsey (affecting Horsell parish) Highway Districts was formed. 1874 saw the formation of the Woking School Board. Whilst in 1872 Guildford (affecting Woking parish) and Chertsey (affecting Horsell parish) Rural Sanitary Authorities formed.
Then in 1894 the Woking Local Board formed. It first met in Goldsworth Hall with 18 councillors representing the wards of Knaphill, St Johns, Mayford, Sutton, Brookwood, Old Woking, Maybury. By 1895 Woking Urban District Council was formed. This replacing the Local Board (affecting Woking parish) and Chertsey Rural District Council (affecting Horsell parish).
In 1889 Surrey County Council which was under Conservative Control.
[edit] Newspapers
In 1894, 'Woking News' newspaper was first published from offices in Chertsey Road. Each copy cost 1 penny. Whilst in 1895, the 'Woking Mail' newspaper was first published from offices in Goldsworth Road. Each copy cost 1/2 penny. It later merged with 'Woking News' to become the 'Woking News and Mail'.
[edit] 1900-1945
In 1930 Woking Civic Arms was granted the motto Fide et Diligentia meaning By Faith and Diligence.
In 1924 'Woking Offers' free paper advertising local traders started. By 1928 'Woking Offers' was renamed 'Woking Outlook' to be renamed 'Woking Review' in 1933. It is believed to be the oldest free newspaper in Britain.
In 1924 Waterer's Park was left to Woking U.D.C. by Anthony Waterer of Knaphill Nursery. Knaphill Football Club started playing there.
In 1945, a V-2 rocket launched by Germany landed on Woking.
[edit] Utilities
In 1902 Woking's gas street lighting was replaced with electric. Five years later Horsell obtained a sewerage system. During World War II, Woking Fire Brigade placed under the wartime control of Surrey County Council.
[edit] Facilities
Around 1900, the original Woking open air swimming pool was opened. By 1935 the second Woking open air swimming pool was opened which led to the formation of the Woking Swimming Club in the same year.
In 1929, Woking Library opened.
[edit] Transport
In 1902 Guildford and District Motor Services started a bus service in the Guildford and Woking area. Furthermore Woking and Bagshot Light Railway was proposed that would have run over what is now Goldsworth Park on the Woking side of the Woking/Horsell parish boundary. By 1910 the project died out.
Then in 1915 Guildford and District Motor Services was bought by Aldershot and District Traction Company, who eventually took over its services in the Guildford and Woking area. In 1923 Southern Railway formed. It ran most routes through Woking Station.
During World War II, Southern Railway placed under Government control.
[edit] Politics
1907 saw Horsell merge into the Woking Urban District Council.
In 1933, Chertsey Rural District Council abolished; and most of Byfleet and Pyrford Parishes and part of Woodham tithing in Chertsey Parish and part of Bisley Parish were joined with Woking Urban District Council.
Then in 1936, a small part of Byfleet, around the Mill, that had been joined with Walton and Weybridge. The new W.U.D.C. boundary in 1936 was mostly the same as the current Woking Borough boundary.
During World War II, Surrey was divided into two emergency control areas.
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- The West Emergency Area comprised the councils Bagshot RD, Caterham and Warlingham UD, Chertsey UD, Dorking UD, Dorking and Horley RD, Egham UD, Farnham UD, Frimley and Camberley UD, Godalming RD, Guildford B, Guildford RD, Hambledon UD, Leatherhead UD, Reigate B, Walton and Weybridge UD and Woking UD.
- East Emergency Area (later called = Group 9 London CD) comprised the councils Banstead UD, Barnes B, Beddington and Wallington B, Carshalton UD, Coulsdon and Purley UD, Croydon CB, Epsom and Ewell B, Esher UD, Kingston B, Malden and Coombe B, Merton and Morden UD, Mitcham B, Sutton and Cheam B, Richmond B, Surbiton B and Wimbledon B
- CB=County Borough, B=Borough, UD=Urban District and RD=Rural District
[edit] Martinsyde site in Woking
In 1907, Martinsyde Aircraft factory built on the site of the Oriental Institute to increase production. Then in 1917, Martinsyde Aircraft moved its head office from Brooklands to the Woking Factory. In 1920, though, it was devastated by fire and aircraft production stopped, though motorcycle production continued until 1922. In 1926, the site became James Walker Engineering to be renamed Lion Works.
1922 was significant as Martinsyde built the round-tank model B 678cc and model C 498cc motorcycles. In 1924, the assets of Martinsyde Aircraft passed to Air Disposal Company (Airdisco).
[edit] Post-1945
In 1983, Woking was twinned with Amstelveen in the Netherlands, though the Charter of Friendship was signed in 1989. Then in 1992 Woking was twinned with Le Plessis-Robinson in France, though the Charter of Friendship was signed in 1993. In 1999, Woking twinned with Rastatt in Germany, though the Charter of Friendship was signed in 2001.
[edit] Large local employers
In 1947 Kenwood started in Woking 1960 leaving the town two years later. In 1957 James Walker Engineering opened a new site in Old Woking; it closed in 2006. In 1963, McLaren Racing Team formed; in 1999 they started to build new Mercedes SLR.
In 1976 British American Tobacco moved into Export House Tower. Telewest took up occupancy in 2001, becoming Virgin Media six years later.
[edit] Sports
1954 Woking Squash Club was formed and in 1968 Woking Archery Club was established. In 1994 Woking Football Club won the FA Trophy, winning it again in 1997.
[edit] Town planning
1953 the Surrey Plan foresaw a Woking Urban District population of about 67,000 in the mid-1970s, but the 1961 Census figures exceeded that amount. In 1965, a revised town plan foresaw a population of 97,000 by 1981 and proposed building 3 new housing schemes, one of which was known as 'Slococks', to be built on nurserylands owned by Slococks. By 1970, New Ideal Homes and Woking Council agreed to a partnership to build 'Slococks'.
In 1973 the plan to build a housing estate was approved by the Government. The project was called Goldsworth Park. Work started in Goldsworth Vale (phase one was Wilders Close etc.), with plans to build approx. 4,500 homes for approx. 15,000 residents. It also planned for a lake, sports facilities, golf course, shops, swimming-pool, library, industrial estate, youth centres, pubs, churches, fire station and social facilities. A year later the first owner moved into the estate.
[edit] Facilities
In 1971 Wolsey Place Shopping Centre opened. About this time Centre Halls and Woking Centre Library opened.
Then in 1973 the new covered Woking Swimming Pool was opened (called the Centre Pool), near to where Toys'R'Us and Peacocks Corner are now on the A320. The Pool in the Park opened in 1989.
In 1977, Marjorie Richardson (the former 46th Woking Urban District Council Chairman for 1962/3) opened a centre in Woking for retired people. 1983 saw the opening of the Woking Civic Offices by the Duke of Gloucester.
In 1992, Peacocks Shopping Centre, Library, Town Gate, Cinema and New Victoria Theatre and the Leisure Lagoon at Pool in the Park opened. Centre Halls, Centre Pool and Woking Centre Library had been demolished to make room for them. Then in 1996, The Planets Entertainment complex was completed.
In 1999, the Surrey History Centre officially opened by HRH Charles, The Prince of Wales. In 2006, work begins on the Albion Square canopy outside the town side of Woking railway station costing £3.1 million.
[edit] Politics
In 1974, Woking Borough Council was formed, replacing the Urban District Council and was under Conservative Control. In 1994 Woking Borough Council switched from Conservative to No Overall Control. In 1999, Ian Eastwood became Deputy Mayor. Also in that year, the South East Regional Assembly was set up covering Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.
In 2006, Woking Borough Council announced a Housing Private Finance Initiative (PFI) project called Priority Homes - Putting Affordable Housing First. The proposed development areas are made up of reserved land in Hawthorn Road, Ash Road and Ash Close, Barnsbury. These areas of land were reserved for future housing development in 1980. The plans have enraged locals who have set up a "Back Garden Development" scheme in a bid to stop the planned building of new houses on land made up of Barnsbury residents' gardens.
In 2006, wheeled refuse bins are introduced across the borough by Elisabeth Thurlow to increase recycling.
On Friday 23 March 2007, HRH Prince Charles opened a climate change exhibition at The Peacocks shopping centre. The exhibition, a joint venture by Business in the Community and the British Council of Shopping Centres (BCSC) endorsed by the Climate Group, features displays with information on "issues of recycling, energy use, transport, waste reduction and locally sourced food."
[edit] Telephone codes
Sometime between 1989 and 1994, it had changed from 04862 to 0483. The original reason for this was that 04862 was a RING code of GUILDFORD and actually meant 0GU62. British Telecom decided to move most UK RING codes to their related CORE codes (Guildford CORE code 0483 actually stood for 0GU3).
In 1994, Woking's STD telephone code changed from 0483 to 01483 along with most areacodes in the UK on Phoneday.
[edit] Transport issues
On 14 December 1993, an explosion on the railway lines between Woking and West Byfleet disrupted rail traffic and forced the closure of 9 stations in the area.
In 1996 South West Trains won the franchise for most rail routes through Woking Station (the former BR Network South East/South West Division). In 2002, Arriva's Woking (Goldsworth Park Trading Estate) Bus Garage closed.
[edit] Other notable events
In 1963, the Rolling Stones played a concert at the 'Atalanta' Ballroom in Woking. Whilst in 1974 The Jam played the first gigs in Woking.
1968 saw the flooding of Guildford after heavy rain.
In 2001 , C&A closed its Swiftflow distribution depot on Goldsworth Park Trading Estate. Then in 2003, a new, bigger warehouse was built on the site of the old C+A warehouse in Kestrel Way.
[edit] Mayors of Woking
[edit] Partisan composition of Woking Borough Council
Woking Borough Council is usually elected by thirds: That is, approximately one-third of the members are re-elected at each election, each serving four year terms, with one year out of every four not having Council elections.
The Council was, however, re-elected whole in 2000 after wholesale boundary changes to the Wards.
| Year | Conservative | Labour | Lib Dem | Independent | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999[1] | 12 | 7 | 14 | 1 | 0 |
| 2000[2] | 14 | 5 | 16 | 1 | 0 |
| 2002[3] | 17 | 5 | 13 | 1 | 0 |
| 2003[4] | 17 | 6 | 12 | 1 | 0 |
| 2004[5] | 17 | 4 | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006[6] | 15 | 3 | 18 | 0 | 0 |
[edit] Party Control
- 1974 – 1986: Conservative
- 1986 – 1992: No Overall Control
- 1992 – 1994: Conservative
- 1994 – 1996: No Overall Control
- 1996 – 1998: Liberal Democrats
- 1998 – Present: No Overall Control
