Rodborough Buildings

"Rodborough Buildings: ? Dennis Cars, originally based at the Rodborough Buildings, Guildford was probably the first purpose built car factory in the country. The Dennis name can still be seen on Fire Engines around the UK today." (Taken from Visit Surrey website)

I walk past this building almost every day when I go into town. You almost tend to ignore it, but it is actually a good-looking building if you stop and look. Of course, these days it is in the middle of the one-way system and is now under the ownership of a brewery chain. But if you like your food reasonably priced and straightforward then it can be a good stop-off. My son worked in the kitchens here during the summer and learnt one important lesson - that he doesn't want to work as kitchen staff for a full-time occupation! Shame he was too embarrassed to have "Mum" popping by for a discounted meal during any of his shifts, eh?

In the past, (long after the car plant left) there used to be a selection of shops under the arches you can see here, but I don't really remember what they were as I didn't live in this town when I was younger. Mind you, in my teens I remember going to this building at the weekend - the first floor used to have a very good sprung floor and I went there for lessons to polish up on my latin & ballroom dancing prior to a dance competition. Of course, in those days I was thought the odd one out for doing latin & ballroom dancing...but after all the recent interest in Strictly Come Dancing I'm not thought so odd any more.