Guildford revealed

There have been, and continue to be, many publications about Guildford.

Nevertheless the town still has many aspects of its past to reveal to the reader, and the wonderful world of archives and documents holds many secrets.

This book explores the history of Guildford's diseases, including the leper hospital of St Thomas, the often appalling living conditions in now-vanished alleyways, courtyards and premises in the High Street and North Street, the stench from sewers and privies, the foul state of the streets.

Archive sources tell of the hospitals, almshouses and charities set up by benevolent residents and non-residents to relieve the poor, and of schools established to provide a basic education for the sons of the poor.

The author hopes readers will not be too shocked by the sometimes unwholesome history of Guildford revealed in this book.