Local History
The origins of Charlotteville are detailed in "Guildford" by E.R. Chamberlin (Phillimore and Co. Ltd 1982)
The following details are based on the Chamberlin's account.
In 1862, Thomas Jenner Sells, a Guildford doctor, purchased a large plot of land at the south-eastern end of Guildford with the idea of creating a major housing estate. As was common practice at the time wealthy gentlemen would purchase a plot of land and have a villa built for themselves. At the same time they would commission 20-30 artisan's cottages. The rent from the cottages would then subsidise the cost of the villa. Thomas Sells seems to have acted as the entrepreneur go-between to facilitate the deal between the original land-owner and the purchaser.
To plan the layout of the roads and the necessary infrastructure, Thomas Sells worked with Henry Peak, the town's first Borough surveyor, and the design for one of the first housing estates in the town took shape. Two parallel roads Sydenham Road and Harvey Road were linked by a series of smaller roads such as Bright Hill and Cheselden and Jenner Road. South of Harvey Road, Addison, Chesham and Bailie Road linked up with Cooper and Cline Road. The whole estate covered an area as large as the town centre itself.
Upper Addison Road. From the David Rose Collection. Reproduced by permission of David Rose.
Thomas Sells named the area after his wife, Charlotte, and all the roads were named after famous physicians. For example Addison after Thomas Addison a famous 19th-century physician at Guy's Hospital, Cline after the famous surgeon Henry Cline and Cooper Road after Astley Cooper surgeon to George IV, William IV and Queen Victoria.
A range of houses were constructed in the 1880's onwards mixing medium-sized villas with terraced cottages for skilled artisans. The 1901 Census reveals upholsterer's, french polishers, whitesmith's and gardener's amongst the inhabitants of Cline, Cooper and Addison Road, compared to the residents of Harvey Road who had live-in servants and were "living off their own means" or were shop owners and managers.
Many shops featured in these roads and there were also several Public houses.
Pennifold's Bakery and Confectionery, No. 24, Addison Road circa 1890-1910. Originally published by H. Williams of Guildford, taken from Memory Lane Guildford & District by David Rose (Breedon Books 2000). Reproduced with permission of David Rose.
In 1895, a chapel constructed of green corrugated iron, and known as the "tin-tabernacle" was constructed in Addison Road.
St. Lukes Church, c. 1964. Reproduced by permission of Surrey History Centre
St. Lukes Church, c. 1964. Reproduced by permission of Surrey History Centre
Memorial in original position. Reproduced by permission of Mrs. Mabel Dowling
More houses were built in the early 1900's and included Guildford's first "Council" houses in Cline Road
Cline Road circa 1906. Originally published by H. Williams of Guildford, taken from Memory Lane Guildford & District by David Rose (Breedon Books 2000). Reproduced with permission of David Rose.