Cobham - A Guide and History Book Bundle - 4 for 3 Offer

Cobham Heritage is pleased to offer the four book set of our "A Guide and History" books for the price of three. This special offer will be available for all orders of the bundle placed before midnight on Friday 31st December 2021. The set would make an ideal Christmas gift.

The four book set covers the most interesting and historic areas of Cobham and Downside. These books include many photographs that illustrate how Cobham has changed over the years.

Even if you already have one of the books from the set, buying the set would provide another copy which would be an ideal Christmas gift for a friend or a member of your family.

The bundle includes four individual softback A5 size books:-

1. Cobham Tilt, A Guide and History
2. Downside, A Guide and History
3. Church Cobham, A Guide and History
4. Street Cobham, A Guide and History

All the books have been written by the local historian David C, Taylor MA, PhD, FSA and are generously illustrated with old photographs.

To ensure you receive your books before Christmas, please order as soon as possible.

To order visit our online shop here

Armistice Day 11 Nov 2021

Today after a misty start the sun shone through just in time for us to remember those who had lost their lives at war in the service of their country. Some 40 people gathered at the Tilt in front of the Cobham Heritage Trust memorial to those who lost their lives in the Second World War and at 11.00 the Rev. Dr Mike Branscombe, vicar of St Andrew’s led a short service during which the two minutes silence was observed and the names on the memorial were called out. Wreaths were laid by the Royal British Legion, our councillors and Cobham civic groups.

Those in the photograph are, left to right: Rev Dr Mike Branscombe, Cllrs Alistair Mann and David Lewis, with David Tipping and Sir Gerald Acher vice chairman and chairman respectively of this Trust.

Obituary: David Bellchamber (1948 - 2021)

David Bellchamber, Planning Officer for Cobham Conservation and Heritage Trust, and an outstanding community figure, sadly passed away on 29th July 2021.

David was born in Hampshire and raised by his aunt Elsie following the death of his mother. He was a boarder at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Crediton where he became a high achiever, also gaining the original Duke of Edinburgh Award and becoming a Queen’s Scout. He went on to gain a BA (Hons) at the University of Westminster where he captained their Rugby team. Completing his LLB at Guildford he joined a City Law firm and became a partner.

David was a non-believer, but if he had a religion, it would be called ‘the greater good’. In this he was a true believer.

Aged only 30 he suffered with a respiratory illness and was given a prognosis that he would die before he was 45, but despite this he battled on and lived to the age of 73. He moved to a houseboat in East Molesey and became a vegetarian before moving to Walton on Thames. He joined a private Law practice in Elmbridge and became a volunteer Legal Adviser at Citizens Advice. He married and had two sons before later divorcing, marrying Sue, and gaining two stepsons.

In the ‘80’s, he joined the Liberal Democrat Party and regularly ran as a Local Council Candidate. In one year in Weybridge, he was ‘frightened out of his life’ because he almost got in! He played a major role in the Liberal Party gaining a seat in the Cobham & Downside Ward in 2021 – much of his help and support given from his hospital bed.

He became a key figure immersing himself in the community, working tirelessly for the greater good. He loved the environment and was a lead in developing ‘Transition Cobham’, and the ‘Community Garden’ and serving for many years on the Walton Conservation Area Advisory Committee. In 2009 he joined the Cobham Heritage Trust planning team, before becoming Director and Company Secretary of the Community Chatterbus, and Chairman of the Cobham Branch of the Royal British Legion.

Fittingly, for such a community-minded man, he was awarded a Surrey County Council Chairman’s Award in 2019 for his volunteering work.

David Tipping

Can you help us identify the Cobham Home Guard?

Can you help us identify the Cobham Home Guard?

Cobham Home Guard - 6th Surrey September 1944

If you can identify any of the men in the photo, please can you email Joyce Acher at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Your help is greatly appreciated and will contribute to our upcoming book on the Second World War.