Welcome to Addlestone

This post marks the beginning of what will be a comprehensive guide to the small, sedated town of Addlestone in north Surrey. To refresh your memories of exactly where Addlestone is, see the following diagram:

Until now you might only have read about Addlestone in H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds, first published 114 years ago. In the captivating science fiction novel, Addlestone Golf Links (today known as Abbey Moor Golf Course) is the second location to be invaded by a ship of Martians. Take a stroll along the high street today and you might be left with the impression that some of them decided to settle.

However, the reputation that Addlestone and her citizens have acquired isn't entirely fair. With the aim of dispelling this unflattering perception, The Addlestonian will cover everything from Addlestone's ancient heritage to its future developments, community events and shocking local stories (dependent on there being any), keeping fellow Addlestonians as well as those from across the borders informed in equal measure. Having said that, despite my best efforts to quash any unpleasant myths, I aim to provide a truthful portrayal of the town and can't perform miracles.

The story begins with a Saxon called Attel who upped sticks for a pleasant valley in the area today known as Addlestone. You may have hastily jumped to the conclusion that the town's name for some reason refers to a solid aggregate of minerals (i.e. stone) but you'd be wrong. Attel's valley came to be known as Attel's Denu (Anglo-Saxon: 'valley'). What valley he was referring to is quite beyond me, but then he did live several centuries before the advent of glasses.

As the centuries have gone by, so have Addlestone's names and functions changed. Known as Attelsdene in the Late Middle Ages and Adleston by the 17th century, the village remained little more than a small cluster of cottages around The George Inn (at the northern tip of modern Addlestone) until well into the industrial revolution.

The mid-19th century saw the small village begin to blossom (or wilt) into the place it is today, beginning with a brand-spanking new railway station on 14.02.1848 - that's right, Valentine's Day - paving the way for more industry and providing the foundations for a high street fit for the likes of Woolworths, and, still in business to this day, a Wimpy. We can only imagine young Attel's reaction if he could see the place now. He'd probably wonder where his valley got to.

By following the regular updates on this page you can continue to observe the town's story unravel - past, present and future - and see for yourself that Addlestone is simply an agreeable little community in the leafy environs of Surrey. Or, a characterless satellite town on an irreversible downhill spiral. Either way, you can be sure that save for following in Attel's footsteps and upping sticks for Addlestone yourself, if there's an interesting fact to be learnt about Addlestone, you'll learn it here first.