THE glory days of Hindhead in the 1880s are the subject of a fascinating exhibition, which is on show at Haslemere Museum until April 23.

Museum volunteer and local historian Dr Marion Dell has vividly described its reinvention as the “English Switzerland” in an illustrated history tracing the rise and fall of Hindhead on sale both in the museum and Haslemere Bookshop, which provided the inspiration for the show.

Once considered a “most villainous” place, associated with highwaymen, robbers and the notorious 1786 murder of a sailor, Hindhead became immensely fashion- able in the 1880s following the arrival of the railway.

Victorian Poet Laureate Lord Alfred Tennyson set the trend by building a luxurious country residence, Aldworth, in Black Down, and influential climate scientist Professor John Tyndall, who built Hindhead House, attracted many more visitors by christening it the English Switzerland on account of its healthy fresh air.

Other high-profile residents included the creator of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who built Undershaw – which is currently being restored to become the new home of Stepping Stones Schol, and architect William Marshall, who built what is now the Hindhead School of Music.

Sadly, Hindhead’s popularity sowed the seeds of its downfall.

The building boom spiralled out of control and its original high-profile residents moved out as the day trippers flooded in.

Illustrated storyboards trace the rise and fall of the area and original artefacts include a section of the Hindhead Gibbet and souvenir replicas of the Sailor’s Stone , as well as one of the earliest guide books and contemporary postcards of Aldworth and Undershaw.

Dr Dell said: “I have so enjoyed researching this rich seam in Hindhead’s history and would like to thank the museum for inviting me to present it as an exhibition. I’d also like to thank graphic artist Elaine Ireland, whose designs bring this research to life so brilliantly.

“Most of old photographs, drawings, cartoons and postcards we have used to illustrate Hindhead’s tale are drawn from Haslemere Museum’s extensive archive and I am very grateful to the museum librarians and collections team for their help in finding and selecting these.”

Museum curator Julia Tanner added: “We are really thrilled with this exhibition. Hindhead has such an extraordinary history but Marion’s research manages to piece it together in a particularly clever and engaging way. We would like to thank her and Elaine Ireland very much for the enormous effort they have put into creating it.”

• Dr Dell will be giving a talk at the museum at 2.30pm on Thursday, April 14, on ‘The Rise and Fall of the English Switzerland.’

Tickets cost £3. To pre-book call 01428 642112.

Dr Dell will also be at the museum on Saturday, April 16, between 10.30am and 12.30pm to answer questions.