Local historian Judith Witter will be telling the tale of one of the district's most remarkable women on Saturday, 15 September as part of the Heritage Week programme.
Mrs Mary Chrystie (1838-1911), shown above, of Fife Lodge, Church
Road, Bookham, was a wealthy widow whose activities and development of property
made a massive and lasting contribution to the appearance of the villages of
Great and Little Bookham that we still know today. Speaking at the
Pastoral Centre, St Nicolas Parish Church, Lower Road
Judith's biography Mary Chrystie and her Family was published by the Leatherhead &
District Local History Society in 2013. It revealed how Mrs Chrystie came by
her fortune, how her family dealt with various crises and were involved in both
Jamaican sugar plantations and the East India Company. However Judith's forthcoming
talk will include very recent research not previously published.
The 45-minute talk starts at 2pm on 15 September and pre-booking is required
as there will be a maximum of 50 people per session. Tickets
will be available for purchase from 10am on 13 August until 5pm on 10 September
by email from boxoffice@molevalley.gov.uk
or by writing to Dorking Halls Box Office, Reigate Road
The Pastoral Centre is attached to Great Bookham's parish church, located at the crossroads where
Refreshments will be served after the talk. Contact
for the day: Bronwen Mills 07979 556639