Search Surrey institutional records 1788-1939

Each result will provide you with a transcript of key details from the source material. The records cover 13 places in Surrey: Addlestone, Chertsey, Cobham, Dorking, Farnham, Godstone, Guildford, Hambledon, Redhill, Richmond Upon Thames, Southwark, Warlingham, and Woking. Depending on the type of the source material, transcripts will contain the following details where provided:

• First name(s)
• Last name
• Birth year
• Birth date
• Age
• Marital status
• Occupation
• Event year
• Event date
• Soldier number
• Rank
• Regiment
• Baptism, confirmation, or death
• Area
• Parish
• Comments
• Year range
• Country
• County
• Place
• Event
• Archive
• Archive reference

Depending on the type of record your ancestor appears in, there may be multiple records for your ancestor. For example, if your ancestor is found in the Chertsey Poor Law Union books, there will likely be two records: one for your ancestor’s admission and one for your ancestor’s discharge.

The original records come from the Surrey History Centre. This collection is made up of the following records:

• Chertsey Poor Law Union Admission and Discharge Books 1894-1910 – Additional parishes are noted in these records, depending on the parish from whence an individual was admitted. Notes included in these books may offer insight into why or how your ancestor was discharged, such as by ‘own request’, removal to a different place, or death. If an individual was not a member of the Church of England, comments would also include the individual’s religious denomination.
• Cobham, Reed’s School Annual Reports 1818-1901 – Reverend Andrew Reed founded Reed’s School in 1813. In the beginning, the school was called the East London Orphan Asylum. The school benefited from royal patronage, particularly from the Duke of Kent, and the support of the Stock Exchange and City Livery Companies. Such financial support allowed the school to grow in the numbers of children it could admit each year. Those admitted to the school were orphans, defined as those who had either lost both parents or who had lost their father and their mother was unable to provide for them.
• Dorking Poor Law Union Application and Report Books 1837-1847 – These books contain an accounting of those who applied for poor relief. The relieving officer kept the records of such applications. These records can be particularly helpful in your family history research as they often contain details of the applicant’s family. For example, in James Alford’s application for poor relief, it is noted under ‘particulars of family’ that his wife was 61 years old and he had one child. Additionally, the records may explain why your ancestor was applying for such relief. This is the case with George Altree who applied for relief following his wife’s death for a coffin and associated fees.
• Farnham Board of Guardians Minute Books 1872-1910 – These records will provide the following details for an individual: name, year, date, and nature of relief. The nature of relief can give valuable insight into your ancestor’s life and why poor relief was needed.
• Godstone Poor Law Union Application and Report Books 1869-1915 – These books contain an accounting of those who applied for poor relief. The parishes included in these records are Bletchingley, Caterham, Chelsham, Crowfurst, Farleigh, Godstone, Horne, Limpsfield, Oxted, Tandridge, Tatsfield, Titsey, Warlingham, and Woldingham.
• Guildford Infirmary Deaths 1933-1939 – The Guildford Poor Law Union formed in 1835. In 1836, a new workhouse was built. Its infirmary was located in the rear of the main building. These records may include burial details and cause of death.
• Guildford Workhouse Births 1866-1910 – The Guildford Poor Law Union formed in 1835; a new workhouse was built the following year. These records include such details as birth and baptism dates, baptism place, and parents’ names.
• Guildford Workhouse Deaths 1887-1914 – In 1835, the Guildford Poor Law Union was founded, and a new workhouse was built in 1836. These death records will often include such details as death and burial dates, burial location, and by whom buried.
• Hambledon Board of Guardians Minute Books 1836-1910 – These records from the Board of Guardians include the following details about an individual: name, date, and nature of relief. The records can give insight into your ancestor’s life and circumstances at the time the record was created.
• Mayford Industrial School Admissions 1895-1907 – In 1885, the county of Surrey purchased land in Mayford for the creation of a new industrial school for the destitute boys of the county. With its opening in 1887, the old county industrial school in Byfleet was abandoned.
• Princess Mary Village Homes Pupils 1870-1890s – Mrs Susanna Meredith and Miss Caroline Cavendish established the Princess Mary Village Homes. The two women had spent significant time working with female prisoners and, as a result, felt inspired to help the children of imprisoned parents. Initially, such children were sent to foster homes, but as the number of needy children increased, Miss Cavendish established a residence in 1870. However, the value of an intimate home setting was not lost on Meredith and Cavendish, so a village of residences was created, with housemothers caring for ten or so children each. In 1872, the village was certified as an industrial school under the Industrial Schools Act of 1866. The girls admitted were either committed under the Industrial Schools Act or were voluntarily committed by parents and guardians.
• Redhill, Royal Philanthropic School Admission Registers 1788-1906 – Established by gentlemen in London in 1788, the Philanthropic Society was concerned with the caring of homeless children left to fend for themselves by begging or thieving. Those admitted were children of criminals or those who had been convicted of crimes themselves. The school was eventually moved to Redhill in 1849.
• Richmond Poor Law Union Application and Report Books 1870-1911 – These books contain an accounting of those who applied for poor relief. The relieving officer kept the records of such applications.
• Surrey County Gaol Deaths 1798-1878 – These records of deaths at the County Gaol in Surrey will include the individual’s name, birth year, age, occupation, and death year and date. Those listed are not necessarily all prisoners. For example, Mary Britten is listed as ‘infant child of Elizabeth Britten, a criminal prisoner’.
• Warlingham Military Hospital Chaplain’s Department Baptisms, Confirmations and Deaths 1917-1919 – In these records, you will learn the following about your ancestor: name, rank, regiment, regimental number, age, date of service, type of event (baptism, confirmation, death), date of death, and additional remarks.
• Woking, St Peter’s Memorial Home Patients 1885-1908 – In 1861, the Anglican Sisterhood of St Peter was established. It was a religious community devoted to nursing. St Peter’s Memorial Home in Woking was opened on 20 October 1885.