A History of Woking

Woking, though the largest town in Surrey, is known to many only as a railway junction and might seem to be the archetype of suburban dormitories with no past or any interest. However, this first comprehensive account of its origins and growth shows that Woking, with its associated villages of Byfleet, Horsell and Pyrford, can trace its varied history back over fourteen centuries. Inevitably, the book concentrates on the period since 1800, during which the present town has evolved. The landscape and character of the area at the end of the 18th century are described as a prelude to a fascinating account of the unique new town of the 1870s and its bizarre origin as the speculation of a cemetery company. The author paints a vivid and detailed picture of the conditions that prevailed, often primitive and even squalid, during the vigorous expansion of the late 19th century. A series of institutions, prominent in the development of Woking included Britain’s largest cemetery and oldest crematorium, the first mosque in Western Europe and an abortive university. All are given full attention in the author’s compelling narrative which carries the history up to the present day.