IPublic · listed 1953Guildford CastleOn the list as The Castle KeepPhoto: SuzanneKn · Public domain
The Castle Keep · Photo: SuzanneKn · Public domainB+History Grade
History of Guildford · Historic England
283 listed buildings, 11 of them Grade I
Historic England counts them inside Guildford’s built-up area, 36 for every 10,000 residents. It also has 5 scheduled monuments. We have photos of 22 of its listed buildings and 8 old views of the town. 16% of its homes were built before 1919. Guildford grades B+ for history: #13 of 65 in Surrey.
Listed buildings
283
36 per 10,000 residents
Grade I
11
exceptional interest
Grade II*
14
more than special interest
Scheduled monuments
5
2 registered parks & gardens
Homes built before 1919
16%
typical UK town 15%
In pictures
Guildford in 33 photos and old views
Nearly every Grade I and II* building, photographed, and the town before 1950. Tap a photo to step through them full screen.
Cathedral Church of the Holy SpiritGrade II* listed
Hospital of the Blessed Holy TrinityGrade I listed
Town MillGrade II listed
Horse and Groom Public HouseGrade II listed
Onslow BridgeGrade II listed+28See all photosPhotos from Wikimedia Commons and Geograph, copied to our own server, each credited to its photographer with its licence; names open the building’s page or its official list entry.
Through time
Guildford from 1890 to 1945
An old map and 8 old photos and postcards, in date order. All public domain, made before 1950.
c. 1890
c. 1890
1912
1915
c. 1939
c. 1939
1942
c. 1944
c. 1945Public domain, from Wikimedia Commons, copied to our own server. Each credit opens the image’s page with its full description and history.
The map
Where Guildford’s history is
Every Grade I and II* building, monument and historic park, over the age of each neighbourhood’s homes.
Grade IGrade II*Scheduled monumentPark or garden400 m from Guildford Castle
Homes built before 1919, by neighbourhoodunder 10%10–25%25–50%50%+
11 of 11Grade I buildings stand within 400 m of Guildford Castle, a five-minute walk. So do 158 of the 283 listed buildings.
1 of 43neighbourhoods have mostly pre-1919 homes; in the oldest, 58% were built before 1919.
Hover a dot for its name; tap one with a photo to open it.
283 listed buildings by grade
11 Grade I14 Grade II*258 Grade II
Historic England lists buildings in three grades: Grade I for buildings of exceptional interest (about 2.5% of all listed buildings), Grade II* for particularly important buildings of more than special interest (about 5.8%), and Grade II for buildings of special interest (about 91.7%). Listing protects the whole building, inside and out.
Every entry on the National Heritage List for England whose point lies inside the ONS 2022 built-up-area boundary. One list entry can cover a terrace or a group of buildings. Neighbourhood dots: the population-weighted centre of each Census 2021 output area, coloured by its neighbourhood’s (LSOA’s) share of homes built before 1919 (Valuation Office Agency, March 2025).
Grade I
The 11 Grade I listed buildings in Guildford
Buildings of exceptional interest, about 2.5% of all listed buildings; 11 of these stand within 400 m of Guildford Castle. Every one is photographed. Each opens its own page, with the official list entry.
IPublic · listed 1953Abbot's HospitalOn the list as Hospital of the Blessed Holy TrinityPhoto: Mike Peel · CC BY-SA 4.0
IChurch · listed 1953Holy Trinity ChurchOn the list as Church of Holy TrinityPhoto: Paul Gillett · CC BY-SA 2.0
IChurch · listed 1953St Mary's ChurchOn the list as Church of St MaryPhoto: Hassocks5489 · CC0
IPublic · listed 1953Former Private Apartments at Guildford CastlePhoto: Richard Nevell · CC BY-SA 2.0
IHouse · listed 1953Guildford HousePhoto: Murgatroyd49 · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPublic · listed 1953Remains of Shell Keep at Guildford CastlePhoto: Richard Nevell · CC BY-SA 3.0
IHouse · listed 1953Somerset HousePhoto: Colin Smith · CC BY-SA 2.0
IWalls & gates · listed 1953The Castle Gateway and Walls Adjoining to the East and SouthPhoto: N Chadwick · CC BY-SA 2.0
IPublic · listed 1953Royal Grammar SchoolOn the list as The Grammar SchoolPhoto: SuzanneKn · Public domain
IPublic · listed 1953Guildford GuildhallOn the list as The GuildhallPhoto: Mike Peel · CC BY-SA 4.0
Grade II*
The 14 Grade II* listed buildings in Guildford
Particularly important buildings of more than special interest. 8 are photographed.
II*Cathedral · listed 1981Guildford CathedralOn the list as Cathedral Church of the Holy SpiritPhoto: Hassocks5489 · CC0
II*Walls & gates · listed 1953Castle ArchPhoto: Dreampoolimages · CC BY-SA 4.0
II*Church · listed 1953Church of St John the EvangelistPhoto: Hassocks5489 · CC0
II*Church · listed 1953St Nicolas' ChurchOn the list as Church of St NicolasPhoto: Hassocks5489 · CC0
II*Inns & shops · listed 1953Lloyds BankPhoto: Colin Smith · CC BY-SA 2.0
II*Walls & gates · listed 1967Lodges and Gates to Clandon Park HousePhoto: Colin Smith · CC BY-SA 2.0
II*Inns & shops · listed 1953The Angel HotelPhoto: Colin Smith · CC BY-SA 2.0
II*House · listed 1953The Treadwheel CranePhoto: Dreampoolimages · CC BY-SA 4.0
House · listed 1953DurbinsOn the list as Durbins, including the summerhouse
House · listed 195313, Quarry Street
House · listed 195355, Quarry Street
House · listed 19536, Quarry Street
Show the other 2
House · listed 195372, 74, 76 and 78, High Street
House · listed 19538 and 8A, Quarry Street
Historic streets
High Street has the most listed buildings
Streets by the listed entries with an address on them. One entry can be a whole terrace, so long rows count once.
High Street45 listed · 1 II*
Quarry Street15 listed · 4 II*
Chertsey Street8 listed
Portsmouth Road5 listed
The Mount4 listed
Trinity Churchyard4 listed
Of the 283 entries, 92 are named by a street address; the rest are named buildings such as churches, halls and bridges.
What’s protected
Most of Guildford’s listed buildings are homes
Every listed building sorted by what its list name says it is.
Houses, terraces & villas202
Public & civic buildings22
Churches, chapels & priories21
Walls, gates & bridges17
Inns, shops & warehouses15
Memorials, crosses & tombs4
Street furniture2
202 entries (71%) are houses, terraces and villas. 21 are churches, chapels and priories, including 2 of the 11 Grade I buildings.
Buildings are sorted by words in each entry’s name (church, gate, inn, memorial…): the list’s open data has no building type. An entry named only by its address counts as a house.
Grade II
258 Grade II listed buildings
Most listed buildings are in this grade, which covers buildings of special interest. Open any building to read its official list entry.
The first 150 of 258 Grade II listed buildings, A to Z
Abbots Cottage and Priory Cottage (Formerly Listed As Priory House) Priory House, Abbots Cottage and Priory CottageBarn Approximately 100 Metres North of the WarrenBarn Attached to Burchatts Farm CottagesBarn, Approximately 25 Metres West of Warren Farm HouseBenchwayBookers Tower GuildfordBoundary Stone Adjoining 193 to Right, Opposite Old Grammar SchoolBoundary Stone Embedded in Wall of No 12Boundary Stone Outside Pilgrim House Nos 36-39 (Consecutive)Bowden Cottage the RowansBraboeuf CottageBritannic AssuranceBurchatts Farm CottagesBurpham War MemorialC Brewer and SonsC Traylen BookshopCaleb Lovejoy AlmshousesCampbell Insurance National Westminster BankCastle HouseChantry DeneChrist ChurchChurch of St John the EvangelistChurch of St LukeChurch of St SaviourChurchill Antique Gallery HairdressersCountry Casuals Peter HarrisCyder CottageDapdune Farm Cottage, including attached outbuildings, and yard wallDiocesan HouseDisused ReservoirDunn and CompanyElkins Vault, Approximately 12 Metres South West of Church of Holy TrinityEntrance Walls and Gates to Hospital of the Blessed Holy TrinityEntrance Walls and Railings to Holy Trinity ChurchEntrance Walls and Side Buildings at the Parson's AlmshousesEvergreen CottageFarnham Road HospitalFormer Chapel at North West End of Ward Street Now Cyrenian HouseFormer Coach House and Garden Walls to Stoke Hill MansionFormer Conservatory, Approximately 10 Metres West of Merrow GrangeFormer Royal Arms Temperance Hotel Guildford InstituteFrosbury Farm HouseGarden CourtGarden Wall and Gate Attached to Rear of Guildford HouseGarden Wall and Gazebo to Rear of the Hospital of the Blessed TrinityGas Lamp in Garden of Remembrance, Approximately 8 Metres South West of Castle Square EntranceGateway and Wall to Old Cloth Hall (Laura Ashley's)Great Goodwin Farm HouseGuildford British LegionGuildford Muniment RoomGuildford Quaker Meeting HouseGuildford War MemorialHairdressers Limelight BistroHalfway GrangeHarris CarpetsHeath and Salter, Estate AgentsHome FarmHome Farm HouseHorncastleHorse and Groom Public HouseK6 Telephone Kiosk Outside Church of Holy TrinityKeep and Attached Gateway, Former Stoughton BarracksKeepers CottageKey HouseLevylsdene HouseLilac Cottage New Inn FarmhouseLintott HouseLittlecroftLittleholmeLittleholme CottageLloyds Bank Regional OfficeLower Retaining Wall and Fountain at St Catherine's SchoolMead CottageMemorial to Major Geoffrey Brooke Parnell, Holy Trinity Church, High Street, Guildford.Merrow HouseMerrow War MemorialMicrowave Masters, Terrapin Design and Harpers AntiquesMiles Tomb, 5 Metres North of Chancel of Church of St MaryMillmead HouseMonks PathMortuary Chapel in Stoke New CemeteryMotor car house to DurbinsMount Manor CottageMount Manor HouseMount Pleasant CottageNational Westminster Bank Area OfficeNo 7 (Remnants) and No 11 (Stoke Cottage)NortonburyNos 122, 124 and 126 (Including Rowleys Wine Bar to Rear)Nos 39 and 41, Including RailingsOffice Building 30 Metres to Rear of Farnham Road HospitalOld River CottageOnslow BridgePair of K6 Telephone Kiosks to Rear of Tunsgate ArchPandora'sPark Farm CottageParson Tomb Approximately 5 Metres North of Church of St John the EvangelistParson's AlmshousesPercy Place Regency CottagePewley CottagePimms RowPitch Place HousePleasant LodgeProvincial HouseQuarry CottageQuarry Heights UndershawQuarry Hill House Incorporating Castle WallsRockwork Grotto, 40 Metres South South West of Merrow GrangeRockworks and Pond Approximately 80 Metres South West of Merrow GrangeRodboro BuildingsRussell HouseSemaphore HouseSt Catherine's CottageSt Catherine's CottagesSt Catherine's CottagesSt Catherine's Priory and Cottages Adjoining to NorthSt Catherine's School and Upper Retaining WallSt Catherines Barn Approximately 15 Metres to South South East of Picards ManorSt Catherines Barn Approximately 20 Metres South South West of Picards ManorSt Catherines Picards ManorSt Mary's HouseSt Nicholas HouseStoke HouseStoke Park Farm HouseTanglewoodTangley Cottage the Old BothyThe Brew HouseThe Bulls HeadThe CedarsThe ChestnutsThe CourtThe GrangeThe HavenThe Horse and Groom Public HouseThe James I RestaurantThe Kings HeadThe Old Cloth HallThe Old CottageThe Old FarmhouseThe Old Fire StationThe RectoryThe Royal Oak Public HouseThe Ship Public HouseThe Star Public HouseThe Stoke HotelThe Three Pigeons Public HouseThe Two Brewers Public HouseThe ValleyThe ValleyThorpe's Bookshop
Conservation areas
11 conservation areas cover 7% of Guildford
Areas the council protects as a whole: demolition and changes to how buildings look need consent, and trees are protected.
Guildford Town Centre 196945 ha
Millmead and Portsmouth Road, Guildford 198923 ha
Waterden Road 198921 ha
St Catherines Guildford Town Centre 196917 ha
Onslow Village 199010 ha
Charlotteville 19908 ha
Wey and Godalming Navigations 20028 ha
Stoughton Barracks 19733 ha
Bridge Street 20032 ha
Stokefields 19892 ha
Shalford 19731 ha
141 hain conservation areas, of 1,996 ha inside the built-up area.
The first, Guildford Town Centre and St Catherines Guildford Town Centre, were designated in 1969; the newest, Bridge Street, in 2003. 215 of the 283 listed buildings stand in one.
Historic England’s conservation areas layer, supplied by councils (incomplete in places, so a page fact, never graded). Hectares are the part of each area inside the built-up area.
How the list grew
138 of Guildford’s 283 listed buildings were added in 1953
The year each building now on the list was first listed.
1953 · 1381988 · 87
19501960197019801990200020102020
The first 138 entries were listed in 1953, 11 of the 11 Grade I buildings among them. Only 8 have been added in the last 15 years.
Monuments & landscapes
Monuments, parks and gardens
Designations that overlap the town by a tenth of their area or half a hectare.
5 scheduled monuments
Nationally important archaeological sites and monuments, protected by law; work on them needs consent from the Secretary of State, advised by Historic England.
2 registered parks and gardens
Merrow GrangeGrade II
History Grade
Guildford grades B+ for history
Protected heritage and the age of the town’s homes, against all UK towns.
Protected heritage, for its size and in all (331 points, 43 per 10,000 residents)More than 73% of UK towns
Homes built before 1919 (16%)More than 48% of UK towns
Two measures, each ranked against every UK town of 1,000 or more, with protected heritage counting twice as much as the age of homes. Protected heritage counts each listed building by its grade (Grade I three points, II* two, II one), each scheduled monument and battlefield two, and each registered park or garden by its grade; it is ranked both per 10,000 residents and as a total, so a village with one fine church doesn’t outrank a historic city. The second measure is the share of homes built before 1919, from the Valuation Office Agency’s council tax records. History is a character grade: it describes the town and isn’t part of the overall grade.
Born here
37 notable people born in Guildford before 1900
The 20 best known on one timeline, earliest first.
Robert Horne
John Parkhurst
Robert Abbot
George Abbot
John Russell
Catherine Ann Dorset
Samuel Laurence
Henry Woodyer
Thomas Moore
Ellen Elizabeth Ellis
James Graham Goodenough
John Stevens
George Charles Williamson
George Linney
Francis Aylmer Maxwell
Mildred Cable
Mordaunt Hall
Leonard Colebrook
Herbert Leavey
Leslie Adlam
1500165018001950
George Abbot1562–1633 · Archbishop of Canterbury
TM
Thomas Moore1821–1887 · British gardener and botanist (1821–1887)
Robert Abbot1560–1618 · Anglican clergyman and academic, Master of Balliol College, Oxford an…
John Russell1745–1806 · English painter (1745-1806)
MC
Mildred Cable1878–1952 · Christian missionary in Central Asia (1878-1952)
Ellen Elizabeth Ellis1829–1895 · Feminist, writer
James Graham Goodenough1830–1875 · Royal Navy officer (1830–1875)
MH
Mordaunt Hall1878–1973 · British-American film critic (1878–1973)
Everyone born in Guildford → Birthplaces from Wikidata; portraits from Wikimedia Commons.
Towns its size
Guildford has the 16th most Grade I buildings of 151 towns its size
Places of 47,000–125,000 people outside London, by Grade I listed buildings.
Guildford11
#34 of 151for listed buildings per resident (36 per 10,000). Bath, Canterbury and Salisbury lead.
15 have more. Guildford is level with Wakefield and Chatham. The typical town its size has 2.
Neighbours
Listed buildings in the places around Guildford
| Town | People | Listed | Grade I | History |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guildford | 77,870 | 283 | 11 | B+ |
| Jacobs Well | 1,122 | 3 | 0 | D |
| Fairlands | 1,119 | 5 | 0 | C− |
| Wood Street Village | 1,586 | 8 | 0 | C− |
| Shalford | 2,508 | 27 | 0 | A− |
| Chilworth | 1,917 | 7 | 0 | B− |
| West Clandon | 1,233 | 21 | 0 | A− |
| Send | 4,094 | 12 | 0 | C |
In brief
Guildford in brief
Guildford has 283 listed buildings, 11 of them Grade I. Guildford Castle sits at the heart of it all, with 11 of the town’s Grade I buildings within 400 m. Only 15 of the 151 towns nearest its size have more Grade I buildings. On High Street alone there are 45 listed buildings.
Its older streets lie in 11 conservation areas, the first designated in 1969. Of the whole list, 71% are houses, terraces and villas. George Abbot (1562), Thomas Moore (1821) and Robert Abbot (1560) are among the 37 people born here before 1900. Otherwise the figures are ordinary: per resident it sits near the middle of UK towns; and 16% of its homes were built before 1919, close to the 15% in the typical UK town.
Questions about Guildford’s history
How many listed buildings are there in Guildford?
Historic England lists 283 buildings inside Guildford’s built-up area: 11 Grade I, 14 Grade II* and 258 Grade II.
What are the Grade I listed buildings in Guildford?
11, including Church of Holy Trinity, Church of St Mary, Former Private Apartments at Guildford Castle, Guildford House, Hospital of the Blessed Holy Trinity and Remains of Shell Keep at Guildford Castle.
Which street in Guildford has the most listed buildings?
High Street (45), Quarry Street (15) and Chertsey Street (8) have the most listed entries named by an address. One entry can be a whole terrace.
Are there scheduled monuments in Guildford?
Yes, 5 scheduled monuments, including Guildford Castle, Medieval moated site of Guildford Park Manor, Manor Farm, Medieval undercroft at 72/74 High Street and Medieval undercroft remains at Nos 50-52 High Street, Guildford.
How many conservation areas are there in Guildford?
11, covering about 141 hectares of the town. The largest are Guildford Town Centre and Millmead and Portsmouth Road, Guildford.
When were Guildford’s buildings listed?
The first in 1953; the most, 138, in 1953.
Are there old photos of Guildford?
Yes: 8 public-domain photos and postcards from 1890 to 1945, and an old map from 1912, all on this page.
Who was born in Guildford?
Among people born before 1900: George Abbot (1562), Thomas Moore (1821), Robert Abbot (1560), John Russell (1745) and Mildred Cable (1878).
How old are the homes in Guildford?
16% of homes were built before 1919 and 35% before 1940, from the Valuation Office Agency’s council tax records (March 2025).
© Historic England 2026. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. The National Heritage List for England is the official, up-to-date register of all nationally protected historic buildings and sites in England; check an entry on Historic England’s website before relying on it.
Sources: Historic England, National Heritage List for England (listed buildings, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, battlefields, World Heritage Sites), October 2026, inside the ONS 2022 built-up-area boundary · Valuation Office Agency, Council Tax: stock of properties by build period (31 March 2025) · TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranked against UK towns only · Historic England conservation areas (supplied by local planning authorities; October 2026). All under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.