First Blue Plaques Unveiled

Sat 20th December 2008

The Trust was very pleased to have the opportunity to erect three blue plaques to identify buildings or sites which have an important historical significance. We hope to add further plaques in and around the Cobham area to make more people aware of Cobham's heritage.

The first plaque marks the site where the Crown Inn once stood in the High Street opposite Church Street.

It dated from the early part of the eighteenth century if not earlier and was joined to the surviving building that now houses a ladies' dress shop. The inn was demolished in 1913 and has since become Threshold Music and DVD. The footpath at the side of the site leads through to Cedar Road and is now known as Crown Alley.

During the early 1900's three public houses existed in this area in close proximity but only the Old Bear remains.

The unveiling of the plaque was done by the Mayor of Elmbridge Councilor Nigel Cooper accompanied by the Lady Mayoress. The photograph shows from left to right - Ian McCulloch from the CCHT, Phil Pavling, Manager of Threshold Music and DVD, David Taylor, local historian, the Mayor of Elmbridge and the Lady Mayoress.

Overbye in Church Street is the location for the second Blue Plaque.

Overbye was the home of the Arts and Crafts architect Leonard Martin, F.R.I.B.A. He lived at Overbye from 1897 to 1917.

Martin influenced the appearance of a number of properties in the area. He carried out a thorough restoration of Church Stile House and was responsible for extensive additions to Pyports. He also purchased the neighbouring property 'St Bridgets' which he partly rebuilt and built two other properties in Church Street which are now known as Homestead and Beech House.

The Trust was delighted to have Carol Martin, the granddaughter of Leonard Martin unveil the Plaque. Also present: The Mayor of Elmbridge, Carol Martin, the Lady Mayoress, David Taylor and the current owners of Overbye the Harris family.

The third plaque commemorates a number of notable people who have lived at Pyports.

Pyports can be found in Downside Bridge Road at the church end of Church street.

The plaque inscription reads:
Captain Sir William Hoste (1780-1828) known as "the young Nelson". Mark Currie (1759-1835) Banker and Distiller. Samuel Wesley Bradnack (1818-1895) Methodist School Master and Revivalist. Vernon Lushington (1832-1912) Lawyer, Positivist and friend of the Pre-Raphaelites. His Daughter Kitty was Virginia Woolf's "Mrs Dalloway".

David Taylor has a special interest in Pyports and had the pleasure of unveiling the third plaque.

Pictured after the unveiling is Carol Martin, The Mayor of Elmbridge, David Taylor and the Lady Mayoress.

Further details of the history of these three buildings can be found in David Taylor's books although some are out of print:-