Editing Pirbright

{{Short description|Village and civil parish in Surrey, England}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country = England
| type = [[Village]] and [[civil parish]]
| coordinates = {{coord|51.286|-0.639|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| official_name = Pirbright
| map_type = Surrey
| static_image_name = statue in pirbright village.jpg
| static_image_caption = Statue near Pirbright village hall
| static_image_2_name = Basingstoke Canal near Brookwood - geograph.org.uk - 277509.jpg
| static_image_2_caption = The [[Basingstoke Canal]] divides the communities of Pirbright
| population = 3,691
| population_ref = (Civil Parish 2011)<ref name=ons>[http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk Key Statistics; Quick Statistics: Population Density] [[United Kingdom Census 2011]] ''[[Office for National Statistics]]'' Retrieved 21 November 2013</ref>
| area_total_km2 = 19.01
| civil_parish = Pirbright<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parish-council.com/pirbright/|title=Pirbright Parish Council - Home|website=Parish-council.com|access-date=28 February 2019}}</ref>
| shire_district = [[Guildford (borough)|Guildford]]
| shire_county = [[Surrey]]
| region = South East England
| constituency_westminster = [[Surrey Heath (UK Parliament constituency)|Surrey Heath]]
| post_town = [[Woking]]
| postcode_district = GU24
| postcode_area = GU
| dial_code = 01483
| os_grid_reference = SU950550
}}

'''Pirbright''' ({{IPAc-en|'|p|ɜr|b|r|aɪ|t}}) is a village in [[Surrey]], England.  Pirbright is in the [[Guildford (borough)|borough of Guildford]] and has a civil parish council covering the traditional boundaries of the area.  Pirbright contains one buffered sub-locality, '''Stanford Common''' near the nation's [[Pirbright Institute|farm animal disease research institute]].  The village's grade II* [[listed building|listed]] medieval church has a large Boulder grave for explorer [[Henry Morton Stanley]]. The nearby section of Hodge Brook is also known as the Congo Stream, between Ruwenzori Hills and Stanley Pool.

==Geography==
[[File:Stanford Brook on Stanford Common - geograph.org.uk - 701314.jpg|thumb|Most of the parish is lightly or densely wooded, such as at Stamford Common.]]
Pirbright has two communities: army training barracks and designated homes are north of a [[South West Main Line|London main axis (south-west) railway]] and the slightly [[dispersed settlement|dispersed]] village is south.  The village is almost entirely surrounded by [[heathland]], much of it owned by the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] and used by the [[Army Training Centre Pirbright]].<ref name="PPC">{{cite web|url=http://www.guildford.gov.uk/GuildfordWeb/Council/ParishCouncils/Pirbright.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070912022016/http://www.guildford.gov.uk/GuildfordWeb/Council/ParishCouncils/Pirbright.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 September 2007|title=Pirbright Parish Council|date=12 September 2007|access-date=28 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.achurchnearyou.com/parishfinder.php?pirbright|title=Church of England parish map. Accessed 23 April 2012|website=Achurchnearyou.com|access-date=28 February 2019}}</ref> The south and south-east of the parish is mostly woodland and has three small farms.  The south-west of the parish has a large military training area, Pirbright Common.  Near to the church are several features due to Stanley's association with the village: Hodge Brook is equally marked as Congo Stream, between [[Rwenzori Mountains|Ruwenzori]] Hill and Stanley Hill. Mazamboni Farm is next to [[Aruwimi]] Wood.

==History==
[[File:Late Bronze Age socketed axe (FindID 201610).jpg|thumb|right|A socketed axehead from the [[British Bronze Age|late Bronze Age]], found in Pirbright in 2005 and dated to {{circa|900|700}} [[Common Era|BCE]]<ref>{{cite web |url= https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/201610 |title=Finds record for: SUR-EA2DB7 |last=Williams |first= David |orig-date= 29 November 2007 |date= 5 December 2022 |access-date=3 September 2023 |publisher=The Portable Antiquities Scheme}}</ref>]]
===Name===
Its name had three medieval variants (each involving the letter 'f' where there is currently a 'b').<ref name=m>{{cite web |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=42986 |title=Parishes: Pirbright |editor=H.E. Malden |publisher=Institute of Historical Research |date=1911 |work=A History of the County of Surrey: Volume 3 |access-date=24 November 2013 }}</ref> It came from [[Old English language|Anglo-Saxon (Old English)]] ''Pirige-fyrhþ'' = "sparse woodland where peartrees grow".

===Medieval and Tudor periods===
The manor of Pirbright does not seem to occur earlier than the 13th century, when it was reported to be held of the honour of Clare by Peter de Pirbright. John Trenchard died seised of it (holding) under the [[Earl of Gloucester]] in 1301–2.<ref name=m/> In this time it had a [[medieval deer park]], disparked under [[Richard II of England|Richard II]].  During the reign of [[Henry VIII]] the manor changed hands several times: it formed part of the marriage portion of Queen Katharine of Aragon and was successively in the possession of Sir Thomas Boleyn and Sir William Fitz William. Finally it was granted to [[Anthony Browne, 1st Viscount Montagu|Sir Anthony Browne]], afterwards Viscount Montagu, with whose family it remained until the middle of the next century.

===18th century and afterwards===
The locality saw development in the form of brick labourers' cottages with a few [[georgian architecture|Georgian]] large homes, some with modest estates of land.  Of the last sort, [[Vice-Admiral]] the Hon. [[John Byron|John "Foulweather Jack" Byron]], explorer, grandfather of [[George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron|George Gordon Byron, 6th Lord Byron (usually known as 'the poet, Lord Byron')]] planted in the late 18th century an avenue of [[Scotch pine]]s to the foot of a tower hill, Crown Prince Hill, in the woods, still called Admiral's Walk or 'road', which extends for {{convert|1|mi}}, half within the Danger Area owned by the Ministry of Defence of Pirbright Common.<ref name=m/>

Heatherside was the [[Edwardian period|early 20th century]] home of [[Frederick Selous|F. C. Selous]], the African big-game hunter, and contained a "remarkable collection of hunting spoils and native African curiosities."<ref name=m/>

Pirbright's traditional churchyard contains the large block of granite, 11-feet high, marking the grave of [[British Empire]] soldier and explorer [[Henry Morton Stanley]], who died in London aged 63.  This is partly inscribed with the words "Henry Morton Stanley Bula Matari 1841–1904 Africa". Bula Matari was another of his names and translates as "Breaker of Rocks" or "Breakstones" in [[Kongo language|Kongo]].<ref>{{National Heritage List for England|num=1029623|desc=Stanley Memorial, 60 yards east of Church of St Michael and All Angels|grade=II|access-date=24 November 2013}}</ref>

A large fire occurred in the area in April 2022.

==Pirbright Institute==
The [[Pirbright Institute]] is a research establishment, based at Pirbright, that investigates diseases in farm animals. (A second site at [[Compton, Berkshire]] was closed in 2016 with research being transferred to the Pirbright site.) It is one of [[Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council#Institutes of BBSRC|eight UK research institutes]] supported by the [[United Kingdom|UK's]] [[Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council]] (BBSRC). The Pirbright site includes international reference laboratories for the diagnosis of livestock diseases exotic to the UK, including the World Reference Laboratory for [[foot and mouth disease]]. The site also conducts research on viruses including [[foot and mouth disease]] and [[bluetongue virus]].

On Saturday 4 August 2007 [[2007 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth outbreak|it was announced that the strain of foot-and-mouth disease detected in cattle three miles (5&nbsp;km) away]] was similar to that in use at the Pirbright site.  Professor Brian Spratt's report found that more likely than not the strain of the virus understandably came from the [[Merial]] vaccine production facility or the [[Pirbright Institute]] laboratory: whose shared "effluent pipes [leading to final small treatment plant were] not contained, as they should be as part of Category 4 containment at Pirbright."<ref>[http://www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth/investigations/pdf/spratt_final.pdf ''Independent Review of the safety of UK facilities handling foot and mouth disease virus''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927104120/http://www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth/investigations/pdf/spratt_final.pdf |date=27 September 2007 }} Professor Brian Spratt, August 2007</ref> This poor condition of pipes and incursion of trees in the site has since been rectified and significant investment (over £170&nbsp;million) is taking place at Pirbright to provide new laboratory and animal facilities.

==Education==
There are three schools in Pirbright, including two on School Lane, and a small all-through school, [[Knowl Hill School]], for children with dyslexia which provides education for around fifty pupils. The largest school is the centrally located Pirbright Village Primary School, which educates children from the age of 4 to 11.

===Youth outreach===
The [[Normandy Youth Club–The N-Factor|Normandy Youth Centre]] serves the wider area by sponsoring community-based programmes targeting youth in the area for the purpose of increasing exposure to educational opportunities and building a stronger [[community cohesion|community]].<ref>{{cite news |date= 2 July 2013 |orig-date= 18 October 2010 |title= Award for Mother Who Transformed Her Village |work= Surrey Live |url= https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/local-news/award-mother-who-transformed-village-4817930 |access-date= 24 January 2023}}</ref>

==Landmarks==
[[File:St Michael and All Angels Church, Church Lane, Pirbright (May 2014) (9).JPG|thumb|right|St Michael and All Angels' Church]]

===Church of St Michael and All Angels===
{{see also|List of places of worship in Guildford (borough)}}
The small church stands by Church Cottage in the meadows directly west of the village centre.  It is built of brick dressings to a [[galleting|galleted]] 'heathstone' walls to its Nave, with a galleted heathstone tower to west and chancel to east. Plain tiled roof with lead spike over tower. Box nave with square tower to west, gabled porch to south, aisle to north, chancel to east with vestry to north and organ bay to south.<ref>{{National Heritage List for England|num=1377714|desc=Church of St Michael and All Angels|grade=II*|access-date=24 January 2023|fewer-links=yes}}</ref>

===Moated 'manor house' which held the manorial courts===
The [[manorial court]]house was renamed in the 19th century<ref name=m/> and has a moat, and a great proportion of the building was built in the 16th century, is [[timber-framed]] however the building is partially clad in red and blue brick and in brown and red brick on its non-timber framed cross wing.<ref>{{National Heritage List for England|num=1188635|desc=The Manor House|grade=II|access-date=24 November 2013|fewer-links=yes}}</ref>

==Sport==
[[File:Cricket at Pirbright - geograph.org.uk - 845533.jpg|thumb|Cricket ground with woodland background]]
Cricket has been played on the village green since 1780.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pirbright.play-cricket.com/home/home.asp?|title=Pirbright cricket club|website=Pirbright.play-cricet.com|access-date=28 February 2019}}</ref> The principal cricket club is Pirbright Cricket Club which has a 1st XI, and a Sunday team.

Pirbright is the home of Pirbright Tennis Club which was formed in 1976. Initially playing in the Burrow Hill part of the village, the club soon moved to its ground on School Lane. Pirbright Tennis Club has over 300 members and five adult teams;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/PirbrightTennisClub|title=Pirbright Tennis Club|website=Clubspark.lta.org.uk|access-date=28 February 2019}}</ref> the courts are also used by students from the local schools.

== Famous residents ==
* [[Ross Lowis Mangles]], first civilian recipient of the [[Victoria Cross]] who has a brass memorial on the north wall of St Michael and All Angels Church, Pirbright.<ref>Julia Douëtil [http://www.pirbrightchurch.org.uk/cms/uploads/documents/church_history.doc Welcome to St Michael and All Angels Church, Pirbright] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006052338/http://www.pirbrightchurch.org.uk/cms/uploads/documents/church_history.doc |date=6 October 2011 }}</ref>
* [[James Pearce (journalist)|James Pearce]], presenter for [[BBC Sport]]
* [[Lord Pirbright|Henry de Worms, Lord Pirbright]] [[Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council|PC]], [[Deputy Lieutenant|DL]], [[Justice of the Peace|JP]], [[Royal Society|FRS]] chose to relate his peerage to his later life home when elevated to the peerage in 1895 however he died without male heirs in 1903.
*[[G. A. H. Branson|Sir G. A. H. Branson]] (1871–1951), a High Court judge and the grandfather of [[Richard Branson]], lived at Bullswater House, Pirbright.<ref>'BRANSON, Rt Hon. Sir George Arthur Harwin' in ''[[Who's Who (UK)|Who Was Who 1951–1960]]'' (London: A. & C. Black, 1984 reprint, {{ISBN|0-7136-2598-8}})</ref>
* Sir [[Edmund Thiele]], a famous geologist, lived out his later years with his wife until he died in 1971.

==Demography and housing==
{| class="wikitable"
|+ 2011 Census Homes
|-
!Output area !!Detached  !!Semi-detached!!Terraced!!Flats and apartments!!Caravans/temporary/mobile homes||Shared between households<ref name=ons/>
|-
|(Civil Parish)||360	||	449	||	253	||	37	||	2	||	0
|}
The average level of accommodation in the region composed of detached houses was 28%; the average that was apartments was 22.6%.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ 2011 Census Key Statistics
|-
!Output area !!Population !!Households !!% Owned outright !!% Owned with a loan!!Hectares<ref name=ons/>
|-
|(Civil Parish)||3,691||1,101   ||23.9%	||24.5%||1,901<ref name=ons/>
|}
The proportion of households in the civil parish who owned their home outright compares to the regional average of 35.1%.  The proportion who owned their home with a loan compares to the regional average of 32.5%.  The remaining % is made up of rented dwellings (plus a negligible % of households living rent-free).

== Twinning ==
Pirbright is [[town twinning|twinned]] with :
*{{Flagicon|FRA}} [[Cagny, Calvados|Cagny]], Calvados, France

{{Geographic location
|title     = '''Neighbouring areas of Surrey'''
|Northwest = [[Deepcut]] across West End Common/Chobham Ridges
|North     = [[Bisley, Surrey]]
|Northeast = [[Brookwood, Surrey|Brookwood]]
|West      = [[Mytchett]] across Pirbright Common [[SSSI]] (as described [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|MoD]]) 
|Centre    = Pirbright
|East      = Fox Corner, [[Worplesdon]]
|Southwest = [[Normandy, Surrey|Normandy]] across Pirbright Common [[SSSI]] (as described [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|MoD]]) 
|South     = [[Normandy, Surrey|Normandy – part of]] then [[Wood Street Village]]
|Southeast = [[Worplesdon]]
}}

== Further reading ==
* ''The Story of Pirbright Church'' by J.H. Curtis, 1930

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Pirbright}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040413074528/http://www.iah.bbsrc.ac.uk/ Institute for Animal Health]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6931639.stm BBC News article on Foot-and-Mouth]
*{{Exploring Surrey's Past |place=Pirbright |access-date=28 December 2016}}

{{Guildford}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Villages in Surrey]]
[[Category:Borough of Guildford]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Surrey]]