Where is the narrators house?

[Spleen]

Hi all,

I apologise if this is a repeat thread.

I recently posted a thread on the original novel forum advising of a project I've started to map Maybury Hill, Woking and Horsell Common at the time of the invasion. I'll be utilising Google Earth with some added software, cross referenced with the novel and Ordnance survey maps (1898-1901) to create a 3D effect. Ultimately (fingers crossed) for all you faithfull WOTW fans I'll be presenting you with a three dimensional interactive map showing you every building, road and route referred to by the narrator from the beginning of the book up to the point of his escape with the artilleryman to Byfleet. I'm hoping this would be particularly helpful to those of you who'll never make it to the area. The remainder of the book will follow if I pull this one off. One thing at a time!!

So far I have carried out enormous amounts of foot work, I have photographed every single structure still standing on Maybury Hill that was in existence in 1898. I have even plotted the location and orientation of the buildings no longer standing. I have secured every map of that area dated around the turn of the century I can find. This is just to give you an idea of what I'm up to.

Anyway, I have two sticking points at the moment. The only buildings I haven't been able to locate yet are the narrators house and also the police station mentioned in the last couple of paragraphs of 'In The Storm'. We know that Wells reconnoitred the area around Woking before writing the book so he must have seen a house on Maybury Hill he could use as the narrators house. I think I've narrowed it down fairly well but I would love your input. As for the police staion, the Surrey Police Museum are kindly looking into that for me.

Other than helping me find the narrators house any input in general would be greatly appreciated. I'm sure you'll agree this project will be worth it in the end.


Spleen.

[Lensman]

I applaud your efforts Spleen, and will be eager to see the finished results-- assuming I can view them in Windows 98SE, which at least according to EvilNerfHerder won't handle Google Earth.

However, I hope you don't get too locked into trying to identify which real house Wells used for the Narrator's house. Wells may very well have made that up to fit the needs of the story, rather than restrict himself to whatever existed on the spot.

For example, Arthur Conan Doyle used many real locations in London for his Sherlock Holmes stories, but he had Sherlock Holmes living at 221B Baker Street, yet there was no 200 block of Baker Street at the time.

[Spleen]

Hi Lensman,

I've had a niggling feeling in the back of my mind the narrators house may be ficticous but I'll give it a go trying to find it. When you look at the survey maps of Maybury Hill at the turn of the century housing is quite sparce so it will be a process of elimination anyway.

I'm sure I read somewhere that Iain Wakeford conducted or conducts guided WOTW tours around Woking. I have e-mailed him to see if he has any clues.

Spleen.

[jeffwaynefan]

Maybury Hill c/a 1900

The narrator in the story secured the dog-cart and rushed back home. As he loaded up the cart, he observed a soldier knocking on doors. This must place Well's home on the slope of Maybury Hill Road , below Maybury Rough (as seen in the map below).

" In another moment we were clear of the smoke and noise, and spanking down the opposite slope of Maybury Hill towards Old Woking. In front was a quite sunny landscape, a wheatfield ahead on either side of the road, and the Maybury Inn with its swinging sign. I saw the doctor's cart cart ahead of me. At the bottom of the hill I turned my head to look at the hillside I was leaving. The smoke already extended far away to the east and west - to Byefleet pinewoods in eastward, and Woking on the west."



Maybury Hill - c/a 1895

According to Ian Wakefords 1990 article on Woking, he indicates that the wheatfields would have occupied the land about Sandy Lane, Park Road and the Hockering Estate. The Maybury Inn is obviously the Maybury Arms.

"When I looked back again the second hill had hidden the black smoke. I slashed the horse with the whip, and gave him a loose rein until Woking and Send lay between us and that quivering tumult. I overtook and passed the doctor between Woking and Send"

Ian Wakefords article continues with - the second hill was Monument Hill, where the Hoe Bridge Golf Course is now, and the doctor was overtaken on Broadmead Road.

[ArmoredTrackLayer]

Do you have anymore of those maps HOrsell?

[Spleen]

I've got heaps of 'em. You can get hold of them from public libraries, public record offices, book shops, Ordnance Survey website, oodles of places. I suppose they're a lot harder to obtain in th U.S. Are you after any maps in particular, might be able to help you out?