Cobham And Sole Street History
  • Our Village
  • Sole Street
    • Sole Street Station
    • Sole Street House
    • The Lion Public House (The Little Shop)
    • St Mary's Meeting Room -Tin Hut
    • The Varnish factory
    • Who Lived In Sole Street in 1891?
  • Cobham
    • Cobham Conservation Statement 1999
    • Meadow Room
    • Cobham Coal Mine
    • The Street 1841
    • Parsonage Farm
    • Cobham War Memorial
    • HMS Cobham
    • Photo's Old Cobham 1900ish ???
    • Cobham Plane Crash 1984
    • The Forge, The Street
    • Mill Farm House
    • Original Cobham Post Office
    • Darnley Arms
    • The Leather Bottle
    • Church - St Mary Magdalene
    • Barrage Balloon Battle St - water colour
  • Parish History
    • Snippets of History
    • Personal Memories
    • Links to Local History
    • Cobham Club
    • Cobham Gardeners' Society
    • Richard Dadd
    • Cobham Parish Council 1947 - 2002
    • Project / Contact Page
  • Memories Blog
  • Maps / Walks
    • Can you date this map?
    • Cashs Walk

The Varnish  Factory

Renowned for its association with Charles Dickens, the brasses in the ancient Parish Church, and the rich history of Cobham Hall, Cobham has a well known history. But how many people know that the village was also famous for its varnish? Situated alongside the railway lines at Sole Street and close to the station, the neat little factory itself was a landmark in the district with almost 200 years experience in the art of varnish making.

It was in 1775 that the Huguenot refugees had introduced the secrets of varnish making into this country in Yorkshire. Fourteen years later a Mr Leeming established the business. Before the first World War in 1914, when whooping-cough and other similar ailments were prevalent, parties of school children were frequently taken to the works and allowed to inhale the fumes from the natural gums being cooked. During the two World Wars, the company was engaged in work of national importance; in the First, for the Government and in the Second, for the Air Ministry.

If you visit Sole Street Station you will find some folders in the waiting room that contain more information on the Station's history.

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