IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Elm Grove Road, COBHAM, KT11 3HE

This is Elm Farm, you can just see the corner of the building on the left.

Part of The Tilt conservation area. Historically, the area was used for May Day celebrations, until stopped in 1902 due to complaints from the locals. Apparently the annual influx of gypsies and showmen proved too great an annoyance to the nearby residents. Cricket matches and horse racing also took place here in the past.

The Tilt Green was used for May Day celebrations with a Maypole and this custom continued until 1902, when complaints brought it to an end. Gypsies and showmen descended on the Green with "vans of all sorts and kinds with shows, these large steam merry-go-rounds etc.... They brought about 70 horses, which were a great annoyance to those living nearby, besides about a dozen wretched donkeys, quite new last year". Sufficient local opposition developed for an official poster to be printed saying fairs were not to occur on the common land. The Green was also used for cricket matches of a high standard (the Surrey County team played there regularly). Clearly there was considerable enthusiasm locally - the proprietor of the adjacent carriage works and the publican at the Running Mare offered £5 to any batsman who could break one of their windows !

The first mention of the Running Mare as a public house was in 1756 although records suggest the original building is older. In 1729 the property was, apparently, in private occupation having been sold to Richard Howard, a coachman of Twickenham, by John Howard, a carpenter of Cobham, for the sum of £60.5s.At that time the property was subject to a five shilling rent to the manor of Cobham. By 1784 the public house was "called or known by the name or sign of The Running Mare", this name being reputed to be unique in England. Not all the publicans were of the best character: in 1784 the County magistrates at Kingston held that "Richard Howard, Victualler, assaulted the Revd. Wm. Hardy by throwing water on him and very much abused him with ill language. Agreed not to lycence his House for the future". refer to picture Image for the pub sign.

The pub sign for 'The Running Mare' public house and restaurant, Cobham. Refer to picture Image for further details.

First mentioned as a public house in 1756, although the original building is recorded prior to this as a private residence. The first record of its being called "The Running Mare" is from 1784.

View north-westwards from outside 'The Running Mare' free house. The pub's name must date back to a time when horse racing took place on Tilt Common - before racing was confined to a handful of grand venues. In any case, the name belongs in a good Surrey tradition - along with 'The Running Horse' in Leatherhead, and 'The Running Horses' (to be found in both Mickleham and Dorking).