The southerly portion of Guildford’s urban centre sprawls from the historic high street, dated to 900 AD. Flanking the southern River Wey to the west and stretching down to the Pewley Down Nature reserve - this section blends the urban and suburban to the pastoral and historical. This residential area benefits from this unique blend of landscapes, and the housing stock ranges from terraced town houses to large detached properties.

One of the key defining features of this section of Guildford, is the ancient Guildford Castle. Guildford Castle is thought to have been built by William the Conquerer, after the 1066 invasion of England. As there is no record of it in the infamous 1086 Domesday Book, construction probably started some time after this landmark survey. It is thought that him and his army marched to Canterbury, sacking numerous villages along the way, including the settlement of Guildford. Why Guildford was chosen as a site for the King is unclear, but it is known that William the Conquerer did use Guildford Castle as both a Royal Palace and a private residence. Even though it was sold to the Guildford Corporation in 1885 and restored in 2003, some ruins of the original palace still remain, and the public gardens attached to the property are a main attraction!

Although it was a Royal Palace, it was never the site of any seige of warfare, and thus remained in-tact until its decay by time and mismanagement. However, recent archaeological activity shows that part of the castle grounds were used as a prison and house of corrections which stood until 1822!

This area south of the centre of Guildford is highly sought after due to its convenient proximity and pastoral connections. Due to its commuter-friendly location and recent developments, the area is dominated by luxury homes and suburban terraces. However, an auction of homes along the Castle Street strip is being pitched to developers and investors as an opportunity to develop the historic centre of Guildford even further, with bidding expected on the 16th of April 2024! So, there is still plenty of room to develop this ancient location.