Whilst it is hard to be certain, this artist's impression of Ockford Road could date from the time when the Anchor public house was being demolished and rebuilt in 1911^[1]. The Anchor's sign is clearly visible but there is no sign of the pub. The front of the original building had been almost the same distance from the road as the half timbered cottages on either side^[2] but when it was rebuilt the front was re-aligned further back on its plot, roughly in line with the rear of the two adjacent properties. There is a white fence in front of where the pub was rebuilt.

In 1911 the landlord of the Anchor, who must have overseen the rebuilding project, was James Brown^[3]. The immediate dwellings were uninhabited but near neighbours were, at 106, Ernest Charles Stevens who was a baker and might well have been the man wearing an apron who is standing in the shop doorway. Closer to the town centre, at 116, lived the widowed Jane Taylor and her daughter Mary^[4].

Thomas Kelsey had the longest association with the Anchor as he kept the pub for fifty years, from the late eighteenth century to the beginning of the nineteenth century^[2]. He died on 14 Dec 1826 and was buried at the parish church five days later. Kelsey and the trustees of his Will are named in the lease and release, dated 1827, "of a messuage called the Anchor in Ockford Lane, Godalming, and the adjoining messuage now divided into 2 tenements"^[5].

The raised pavement still has steps down to the road but the Anchor, having survived some ups and downs, is now a Tandoori Restaurant.

References:

^[1] Surrey History Centre archives, Ref. 7159: Anchor Inn, Godalming: Deeds (1762-1890).

^[2] Janaway, John (2003) "Godalming and Farncombe Pubs and Breweries", Ammonite Books, Godalming, Surrey. ISBN 1-869866-14-2.

^[3] James Brown could be found at the Anchor in the 1901 census. He was still there at the time of the 1911 census when he declared that the Anchor had 9 rooms. As he was also at the Anchor in "Kelly's 1913 Directory" he must have been involved with rebuilding the pub.

^[4] The 1911 census is available on FindMyPast.

^[5] Surrey History Centre archives. Lease and release by William Kelsey of Great Bookham (and others) ..., 1827. Ref No: 7159/5-67159/5-6. Thomas Kelsey was buried at SS Peter & Paul on 21 Dec 1826, aged 87 (from parish register).