Oliver Collection

Introduction

Sydney Oliver was born in Shakespeare Cottage, Queens Road, Egham in 1905. When he left school he assisted his father in auction portering and from this beginning developed a life-long interest in the field of antique dealing, auctioneering, and collecting. As a result of his own personal studies and the experience he gained working with local auctioneers he acquired the knowledge and expertise which enabled him in due course to become a well known antique dealer, valuer, and organiser of auctions. In the process he developed a passion for private collecting, much of which was related to his strong interest in local history, particularly of Egham and neighbouring areas. Over the years his private collections of books, documents, pictures, costume, and various types of artefact reached huge proportions and most of them were eventually deposited in various institutions. Before his death in 1986 he arranged for these collections to be taken into trust (officially registered as the S.A. Oliver Charitable Settlement). One of these collections came to Royal Holloway where it was originally housed in the College Library prior to its eventual transfer to the University of London Library Depository. Additional items of local importance are from time to time purchased for inclusion in the Collection out of money left in the Oliver Trust by Sydney Oliver for this purpose. One of the most important and valuable additions, for example, was a 130 x 173cm manuscript plan in ink and colours drawn by Abraham and William Driver in 1805, entitled 'Plan of the Manor of Egham, with demesnes, commons and waste lands appertaining thereto in the county of Egham, belonging to the Crown'. This was purchased by the Oliver Trust in 1988 at a Sotheby's sale. Another example of an important recent adddition is the handwritten diary and letter book of the Countess of Morella covering the years 1820-1914. The Countess and her husband, Field-Marshall Ramon Cabrera, owned the Wentworth Estate.

The Collection is in two sections, one a sequence of nearly 5000 books classified by the Dewey Decimal Classification scheme, and the other consisting of 88 boxes containing nearly 11,000 archival records arranged in numerical order. The books (mostly published in the 20th century but including some published in the 17th and 18th centuries and a considerable number in the 19th century) cover a wide variety of subjects but with a substantial emphasis on topography, history, biography, literary works, and the fine arts. The archival section contains miscellaneous material to a large extent related to the local area (Egham, Staines, Chertsey, Windsor, etc) and neighbouring towns and counties, and includes legal documents, house auction records, sale catalogues, manuscript letters, photographs, engravings, newspaper cuttings, maps, and a large collection of postcards (covering the late 19th century to recent times). The entire Collection was catalogued by Joan Wintour under the auspices of the S.A. Oliver Charitable Settlement.

The catalogue of the Collection may be accessed as a database operating under Idealist for Windows both on some open access PCs in Royal Holloway Library and also on a dedicated PC installed in the University of London Library Depository.

The Oliver Trust has also purchased a display cabinet which has been installed in the entrance area of the Bedford Library and is used to exhibit material from the Collection. This display is changed at regular intervals.

Members of Egham by Runnymede Historical Society, and other members of the the public with a genuine research enquiry, should telephone 01344 843355 to speak to John Hardaker (an Oliver Trustee), through whom arrangements can be made to search the catalogue of the Collection on their behalf.

Members of the College wishing to make use of the Collection for reference purposes and members of Egham by Runnymede Historical Society, and other members of the the public with a genuine research enquiry, and should apply to John Hardaker, an Oliver Trustee (tel. no. 01344 843355), through whom arrangements can be made to access the Collection.

• Church History
• Directories
• History and Antiquities
• Maps
• Military History
• Newspapers and Magazines
• Photographs
• Place-Names
• Records
• Topography and Description

Church History

Cooper, T S. The church plate of Surrey. London: Roworth & Co. Ltd., Cooper, T S. 6 vols.1893, 1895, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901. [247.8 COO]

Daniel-Tyssen, John Robert. Inventories of the goods and ornaments in the churches of Surrey, in the reign of King Edward the Sixth. London: Wyman & Sons, 1869. [247 DAN]

Stockwell, Arthur H (ed). The Baptist churches of Surrey (fully illustrated). London: Arthur H. Stockwell, [19--]. [914.221 STO]

Directories

Kelly's directory of Surrey 1899, 1907, 1934. 3 vols. London: Kelly's Directories Ltd., 1899-1934 [914.221 KEL]

Larkin's directory for West Surrey, and the neighbourhood, for 1870 including a considerable area of the adjoining counties. Chertsey: R.H.B. Larkin, 1870. [914.221 LAR Pamphlet]

Pigot & Co.'s London and Provincial directory 1823. Surrey and Sussex. London: Pigot & Co., (1823). [914.221 PIG]

Pigot & Co.'s London and Provincial new commercial directory. Surrey. London: Pigot & Co., [1826]. [914.221 PIG]

Post Office directory of Surrey and Sussex 1855. London: Kelly & Co., 1855. [914.221 POS]

Who's who in Kent, Surrey, and Sussex 1911. London: Horace Cox, 1911. [920.009422 WHO]

History and Antiquities

Aubrey, John. The natural history and antiquities of the county of Surrey; introduced by J.L. Nevinson. Dorking: Kohler & Coombes, 1975. [942.21 AUB]

Black's guide to the history, antiquities, and topography of the county of Surrey. Edinburgh: Adam & Charles Black, 1864. [914.221 BLA]

Brayley, Edward Wedlake. A topographical history of Surrey; revised and edited by Edward Walford, vols. 1, 2 & 4. London: Virtue & Co., [1848?]. [942.21 BRA Oversize]

Brayley, Edward Wedlake. A topographical history of Surrey; the geographical section by Gideon Mantell, the illustrative department under the superintendence of Thomas Allom. London: G. Willis, 1850. [942.21 BRA]

Clinch, George (ed). Bygone Surrey; by George Clinch and S.W. Kershaw. London: Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co. Ltd., 1895. [942.221 CLI]

Cobbett, William. Rural rides in the counties of Surrey... during the years 1821 to 1832, vol. 1. London: Reeves & Turner, 1908. [914.1 COB]

Durrant, A J. A short centenary history of the Surrey constabulary 1851-1951. Guildford: (Printed by Biddles Ltd.), (1951). [942.21 DUR]

Elsley, F H (comp). Catalogue of books, deeds, maps, etc. in the library of the Surrey Archaeological Society, Castle Arch, Guildford. Guildford: Billing & Sons, Ltd., 1906. [018 ELS]

Excursions in the county of Surrey: comprising brief historical and topographical delineations... London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, & Brown, 1821. [914.221 EXC]

Gomme, George Laurence (ed). Topographical history of Surrey and Sussex: a classified collection of the chief contents of "The Gentleman's Magazine" from 1731-1868. London: Elliot Stock, 1900. [914.22 GOM]

Hawley, C D (ed). List of antiquities in the administrative county of Surrey... Kingston-upon-Thames: Surrey County Council, 1951. [914.221 HAW]

Higgins, David. Surrey clay tobacco pipes. Oxford: BAR, [198-]. [930.1 HIG Oversize]

Jekyll, Gertrude. Old West Surrey: some notes and memories. London: Longman, Green & Co., 1904. [942.21 JEK]

Johnson, Walter. Neolithic man in North-East Surrey, by Walter Johnson and William Wright; illustrated by Sydney Harrowing and Frank Percy Smith. London: Elliot Stock, 1903. [930.1 JOH]

Major, Albany F. The Saxon settlement of North East Surrey with maps: presidential address 1920-21. Croydon: Croydon Natural History & Scientific Society, 1921. [942.21 MAJ Pamphlet]

Malden, H E. A school history of Surrey. London: Methuen & Co., 1905. [942.21 MAL]

Malden, H E (ed). A history of the County of Surrey, part 29 Godley Hundred comprising the parishes of Bisley, Byfleet, Chertsey, Chobham, Egham, Horsell, Pyrford, Thorpe. London: Constable & Co., 1920. [942.21 MAL Oversize]

Manning, Owen. The history and antiquities of the county of Surrey, begun by Owen Manning and enlarged and continued to the year 1814 by William Bray. London: White, Cochrane & Co., 1814. [942.21 MAN Oversize]

Page, William (ed). Index to the Victorian history of the county of Surrey. London: Constable & Co. Ltd., 1914. [942.21 PAG Oversize]

Photocopies of articles on postal history with examples of early town stamps. [Covers Middlesex and Surrey] [1869]

Surrey archaeological collections relating to the history and antiquities of the county, vols. 42-51. Guildford: Surrey Archaeological Society, 1934-1950. [942.21 SUR]

Salmon, N. Antiquities of Surrey collected from the most ancient records with some account of the present state and natural history of the county. London: (Printed for the author). 1736. [942.221 SAL]

Surrey County Football Association 1934-35. Guildford: Surrey Advertiser & County Times, Ltd. 1934. [914.221 SUR]

Maps

Bartholomew's new reduced survey... for tourists and cyclists: Surrey. Scale 2 miles to 1 inch. Edinburgh: John Bartholomew & Co., [19--?]. [912.4221 BAR]

Great Britain. Ordnance Survey. England and Wales, sheet 115: [Surrey]. Scale 1 inch to 1 mile. Southampton: Ordnance Survey, (1911?). [912.4221 GRE]

Map of parts of Surrey and Berkshire. c. 1856. Folded map. [10468]

Rocque's Map of Surrey. Published in facsimile by the Surrey Archaeological Society, Guildford, 1931. Preface by R L Atkinson. 12 x 2 inches to the mile maps. 1931. 12 maps + preface in cover. [A127]

Military History

Burkitt, H J. The history of the Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) in the form of a lantern lecture with supplementary notes. Guildford: A.C. Curtis & Co. Ltd., 1917. [355.31 BUR]

Harrison-Ainsworth, E D. The history and war records of the Surrey Yeomanry (Queen Mary's Regt). 1797-1928. London: (Printed by Messrs. C. & E. Layton), 1928. [355.31 HAR]

Jackson, Donovan, The Territorials of Surrey 1908-1958. London: (Printed by Owen Spyer & Co. Ltd), (1958?). [355.31 JAC Pamphlet]

Newspapers and Magazines

Surrey, the county magazine, vol. 2, no. 4, late August/September 1971. 1971. [312]

The Surrey Advertiser and County Times, Saturday, July 23, 1898, pages 3-6. 1898. [11]

Surrey Herald. 1892-1989 (incomplete) [These holdings are also available on microfilm in Chertsey Library and enquiries should preferably be directed there]

Photographs

Dixon-Scott, J. Surrey - the playground of London: camera pictures of the county; selected by Prescott Row. London: Homeland Association, Ltd., 1928. [914.221 DIX]

Goff, Martyn. Victorian and Edwardian Surrey from old photographs. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd., 1972. [914.221 GOF]

Row, Prescott. Surrey - the playground of London: camera pictures of the county; photographs by J. Dixon-Scott. London: Homeland Association Ltd., 1928. [914.221 ROW]

Place-Names

Gover, J E B. The place-names of Surrey, by J.E.B. Gover, A. Mawer and F.M. Stenton... with Arthur Bonner. Cambridge: University Press, 1934. [910.3 GOV]

Records

Meekings, C A F (ed). Fitznalls cartulary: a calendar of Bodleian Library ms. Rawlinson B 430; edited by C.A.F. Meekings and Philip Shearman. Guildford: Surrey Record Society, 1968. [942.21 MEE]

Meekings, C A F (ed). Surrey hearth tax 1664: being an alphabetical list of entries in the record... Frome: (Printed by Butler & Tanner Ltd), 1950. [942.21 MEE]

Powell, D L (comp). Abstract of parish records civil and ecclesiastical presented by the Records and Ancient Monuments Committee. Kingston: Surrey County Council, 1928. [942.21 POW]

Powell, D L (comp). Inventory of the borough records with some illustrative extracts presented by the Records and Ancient Monuments Committee. Kingston: Surrey County Council, 1929. [942.21 POW]

Powell, D L (comp). Records of schools and other endowed institutions presented by the Records and Ancient Monuments Committee. Kingston: Surrey County Council, 1930. [942.21 POW]

Powell. D L (comp). Surrey quarter sessions records, order book and sessions rolls 1661-1663, compiled and edited by Dorothy L. Powell with Hilary Jenkinson. Kingston: (Printed by Knapp, Drewett & Sons), 1935. [942.21 POW]

Powell, D L (comp). Quarter sessions records with other records of the Justices of the Peace for the county of Surrey presented by the Records and Ancient Monuments Committee. Kingston: Surrey County Council, 1931. [942.21 POW]

Powell, D L (comp). Surrey quarter sessions records order book and session rolls 1659-1661 and 1663-1666 presented by the Records and Ancient Monuments Committee. Kingston: Surrey County Council, 1934-1938. [942.21 POW]

Surrey Record Society. Surrey record society, nos. 2, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17 (2 copies), 18, 36, 41-42, 48 (continuing and completing no. 38) and vols. 12 (continued), 25-29. 1914-1977. [942.21 SUR]

Surrey musters (taken from the Loseley mss.), parts 1-4. London: (Printed by Roworth & Co. Ltd), 1914-1919. [942.21 SUR]

Surrey Record Society, nos. 2, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17 (2 copies), 18, 36, 41-42, 48 (continuing and completing no. 38) and vols. 12 (continued), 25-29. 1914-1977. [942.21 SUR]

Surrey taxation returns: fifteenth and tenths Part (A)-the 1332 assessment. (Exchequer, K.R., Subsidies 184/4). [Guildford]: Surrey Record Society, 1922. [942.21 SUR]

Surrey wills (Archdeaconry Court, Herringham register). London: (Printed by Roworth & Co. Ltd), 1920. [942.21 SUR]

Surrey wills (Archdeaconry Court, Spage register). London: (Printed by Roworth & Co.), 1921. [942.21 SUR]

Topography and description

Alderman, H M. The charm of old Surrey. London: J. Coker & Co. Ltd., 1935. [914.221 ALD]

Austin, R S. Surrey: a sketch book. London: A & C Black, 1922. [914.221 AUS]

Banks, F R (comp). Surrey. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, 1956. [914.221 BAN]

Bevan, G Phillips. Tourist's guide to the county of Surrey, containing full information concerning all its favourite places of resort. London: Edward Stanford, 1887. [914.221 BEV]

Bevan, G Phillips. Tourist's guide to the county of Surrey, containing full information concerning all its favourite places of resort; revised and edited by R.N. Worth. London: Edward Stanford, 1891. [914.221 BEV]

Collison-Morley, L. Companion to Surrey. London: Methuen & Co. Ltd., 1949. [914.221 COL]

Cooke, George Alexander. Topographical and statistical description of the county of Surrey... London: C. Cooke, [18--]. [914.221 COO]

Cooke, George Alexander. Topographical and statistical description of the county of Surrey... London: C. Cooke, [1810?]. [914.221 COO]

Cox, J Charles. Rambles in Surrey. London: Methuen & Co. Ltd., 1910. [914.221 COX]

Cox, J Charles. Surrey; revised by E.F. Peeler. London: Methuen & Co. Ltd., 1952. [914.221 COX]

Green, F E. The Surrey hills; illustrated by Elliott Seabrook. London: Chatto & Windus, 1915. [914.221 GRE]

Hissey, James John. A holiday on the road: an artist's wanderings in Kent, Sussex, and Surrey. London: Richard Bentley & Son, 1887. [914.22 HIS]

Home, Gordon. The charm of Surrey. London: A. & C. Black, Ltd., 1929. [914.221 HOM]

Lambert, F A H. Surrey; illustrated by Edmund H. New. London: Methuen & Co., 1903. [914.229 LAM]

Matthews, E C. The highlands of South West Surrey: a geographical study in sand and clay. London: Adam & Charles Black, 1911. [914.2219 MAT]

Mee, Arthur (ed). Surrey: London's Southern neighbour. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1938. [914.221 MEE]

Moncrieff, A R Hope. Surrey; illustrated by Sutton Palmer. London: A. & C. Black, 1906. [914.221 MON]

Moncrieff, A R Hope (ed). Black's guide to Surrey. London: Adam & Charles Black, 1909. [914.221 MON]

Morris, J E. Surrey. London: George Allen & Sons, 1910. [914.221 MOR]

Moul, Duncan. Picturesque Surrey. A portfolio of sketches by Duncan Moul with descriptive letterpress by Gibson Thompson. London: F.E. Robinson & Co., 1902. [914.221 MOU]

Ogilvy, James S. A pilgrimage in Surrey. London: George Routledge & Sons, Ltd., 1914. [914.221 OGI]

Parker, Eric. Highways and byways in Surrey; illustrated by Hugh Thomson. London: Macmillan & Co. Ltd., 1908. [914.221 PAR]

Parker, Eric. Surrey gardens; illustrated by William McLaren. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd., 1914. [914.221 PAR]

Parker, Eric. Surrey. London: Robert Hale, [19--]. [914.221 PAR]