Old Wonersh Families
These notes are taken from existing papers and booklets, and are therefore not original research.
Acknowledgement is given to:
Four Families in Wonersh and Bramley and Our Village by Wonersh History Society
The History of Wonersh Church by Revd A. L. Brown
Manning & Bray (available in the Reference Library at Cranleigh and Bramley)
Research Sources
Very many letters and documents are summarised and published online in the Surrey History Centre Collections Catalogue. It has not been found possible to link these references directly; however, from the SEARCH page it is possible to bring up the relevant collection of documents, with the search criteria highlighted. These include:
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County Records & Deeds relating to Manors of Bramley — Collection Ref: 892 (including a concise summary of the descent of the title)
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Norton Family – Deeds of Surrey Estates — Collection Refs: G24, G60, G1275
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Loseley Papers — Collection Section: LM
Events may be placed in wider historical context by clicking Timeline.
Carrills (Caryll) and Duncombes
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The Cliftons, Chapples & Nortons (later Lord Grantley)
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The Sparkes
The Sparkes family were large landowners in the Bramley and Wonersh areas during the 18th and 19th centuries. The name appears in the registers and monuments of both Wonersh and Bramley; however, evidence of the relationship between the various parts of the family (whose residences included Rowleys, Little Tangley, and Green Place) has not so far been found.
Green Place in Wonersh is adjacent to the Church. In the 15th century it was the home of the Elyott family (whose brasses record the life of Thomas and his son Henry). After they left, the house fell into disrepair and is recorded in the 17th century as being in a state of dilapidation. Richard Sparkes (1715–1786) evidently purchased the property, and so their family name first appears in Wonersh. The house today features a big curved staircase of this period, which is thought to have been the inspiration for E. H. Shepherd’s illustration to A. A. Milne’s poem “Halfway Down,” which shows Pooh Bear lying at the top of a staircase.
The property was passed down through his son to Richard (d.1815) and Sarah Sparkes (d.1837), who are buried in the churchyard. In 1806, he inherited Green Place and also purchased the Manor of Rowley. Several generations lived in the Manor House. They had four children:
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Mary (d.1809, aged 27)
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Sarah (married Robert Surlock of Snowdenham in 1800, whose grandson inherited Woodhill)
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John (d.1862, married 1814 Anne Street — both buried in the churchyard; he purchased Woodhill Farm in Shamley Green)
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Richard (d.1850, married 1851 Sarah of Abinger)
In Wonersh nave, there is a monument to Mary and her parents. A further inscription on the monument has been totally removed. John and his sisters lived for some time in White House in Bramley (on the present site of Bramley Grange), so perhaps this was also a family home of their father, who had also lived there.
It was Richard who inherited Green Place, and by Sarah had at least eight children:
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Sarah
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Francis
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Alice
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Jane
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Robert (inherited Woodhill in 1903 from his second cousin William Henning)
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Richard (the eldest, who became Rector of Alfold and had some 18 children)
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John (the second son, who in 1849 married Catherine and inherited Green Place)
John and Catherine had three children:
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John (became a Colonel and lived in Woodyers)
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Robert (became an Admiral and inherited Woodhill)
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Frank (built Sparkes Place, died aged 60 in France in 1920); a wall plaque in Wonersh nave records his life
A window in Wonersh nave is in memory of John Sparkes, given in 1901 by his son Richard, but there is no date or indication of which part of the family he came from. The brass reading lectern, in the form of an eagle, is inscribed:
“To the Glory of God in memory of John Sparkes Born 1815 died 1899.”
The chancel parclose (side screen), now forming part of the notice board in the entrance porch, was designed by Sir Charles Nicholson and made in 1929 in remembrance of the Sparkes family. It has the inscription:
“In memory of the two sons and six daughters of Richard and Sarah Sparkes of Green Place this screen is erected by the Nephews and Nieces the children of John and his sister Sarah.”
It is recorded that John Sparkes of Gosden (Bramley) bought Chinthurst Manor in 1791, remaining in the family for several generations (SHC Ref G106).
The West Family
There is an entry in the Marriage Register for 7 April 1605 for Edward West and Katherine Loick. Two generations later, John and Frances West established a Trust Fund for future family members and this is still active today. John (b.1640) was Master of the Clothworkers Company, possibly a connection with the weavers of Wonersh. This includes a strong connection with Christ’s Hospital School at Horsham. Wonersh was chosen for the meeting of the John & Frances West Family Group in 2010.
Very many letters and documents are summarised and published online in the Surrey History Centre Archive.