As the project to digitise the Herald archive gradually gets under way (delayed like so much else by the pandemic) I am gradually able to deal with a limited number of enquiries from researchers.

One of the early ones was from Juliet Dunmur who was seeking this 1953 image of the bishop at Farnham Castle welcoming a couple of visitors.

Published on May 15, 1953, the caption reads: “A Castle welcome for a Cathedral architect.

“The Bishop of Guildford (the Rt Rev H C Montgomery Campbell) and his daughter welcoming to Farnham Castle on Tuesday Mr Edward Maufe, architect of Guildford Cathedral, and Mrs Maufe.

“In his hand Mr Maufe carries the little box of slides, with the help of which he told a meeting organised by the Master Builders of the surrounding district something of the great project on Stag Hill.”

An intriguing caption but with no more of the story within the paper’s pages.

Juliet Dunmur is Edward Maufe’s granddaughter and also his biographer. I am currently reading her very full life story of an extraordinary architect and his wife Prudence (I think featured on the right of the photograph).

It is very fitting to recall Edward this year, being the 60th anniversary of the consecration of Guildford Cathedral, shown in model form on the postcard also featured here.

Designer of many churches, university colleges and other public buildings spanning a working life from 1912 to 1968, by which time he was 86, Juliet’s superb book tells not only the story of those works but an incredible working partnership with his wife.

Prudence was a designer employed by Heal’s and between them they seemed to offer a complete service to clients from building design to interior furnishing.

Mrs Maufe was instrumental in designing the wonderful individual kneelers that grace Guildford’s chairs today, for instance.

The cathedral, though, was probably Edward’s longest commission, work having started in 1933 but not being finally completed until 1966 because of the interruption caused by the Second World War. Consecration took place on May 17, 1961, with work still ongoing.

Interestingly it was not the only church work undertaken by the architect in the Herald area — in 1930-32 he was also responsible for the tower and re-ordering the chancel in St Mary’s Church at Liss.

Juliet’s book is to be thoroughly recommended for not only does it tell the story of the couple’s work, it also relates the many famous artists, in all spheres, with whom they worked.

From Arts & Crafts to Gothic, many well-known names are here.

Their worldwide travels are also revealed, many in support of Edward’s appointment as Chief Architect and Artistic Adviser to the Imperial (later Commonwealth) War Graves Commission.

A fitting tribute to a long working life in the anniversary year of consecration year of his greatest creation, Guildford Cathedral. You can get a copy of Edward Maufe – architect and cathedral builder by Juliet Dunmur direct from the author [email protected] or via Amazon for £20 plus £3 postage and packing.