Egham was a busy coaching town in the 18th and 19th centuries, the town is now by-passed by heavy traffic and this together with the recently pedestorianised town centre make it a favourite shopping place.
This walk goes through Egham High Street up to the Royal Holloway College. The start is in The Precinct car park, (map ref.012713.) there are toilets here.
Leaving by the alleyway to the High Street, there is a comparison to be drawn with the new and the old here. Opposite is R. Clark Est, 1877 Butcher and Grazier, its twin a few doors along on proceeding left. Soon observe the well preserved 17th century "Red Lion" public house.
The Literary Institue which houses the Museum is well worth a visit. Opposite Station Road, "The Old Bank" has Jacobean styling as does the School which lies back, founded by Henry Strode in 1704, and is now a sixth form college.
Continue pass the Library to the round-about, crossing over by the Olive Grove (cafe bar), follow on down the one way street, Sweeps Lane, which has obvious connections with the past, at its end turn right to climb the short Malt Hill, meeting the railing at Egham Hill.
Turning left, 250 yards father up is the evidence that Egham, was at one time, an important coach stop, in the days of the nostalgic horse drawn era with the bold "Royal Ascot (ex. Packhorse) Inn" still surviving. Later on the left among the trees is the extremely architectural Royal Holloway College, built in 1879, having been named after the enterprising famous Pill; with the proceeds he had this building and the Holloway Sanatorium in Stroude, built. It was a college for women but now is part of the University of London.
Going on over the traffic light crossing, for some 500 yards reveals a stile and footpaths on the edge of a woodland and perhaps a welcome peace and quiet.
Meet the stile and gate, and later join Bake ham Lane. Turn left, cross over to the stile and footpaths. The path winds down to a small bridge and junction, turn left following to arrive at the edge of a field at a stile. Going left, pass through the wicket gates over the railway (with care) and join Prune Hill by the automatic gates. Turn right, cross to the track that bends right and left; a path then follows a fence through to a footbridge at the end of Rusham Park Avenue, cross the road to the path at the footpath going down by the allotments to Whitehall Lane.
Turn left, soon meet Manorcroft Road, carry straight on, pass the bowling greens. On reaching Egham Station, cross the line and go down School Lane, on the right, at the end of which a path leads into The Grove and to the Car Park, ehich is where Post Boys Row, in bygone days, was situated.
Turning right, go through the gate that gives access to St. John Parish Church with its ornate interior. Meet the High Street, then turn into the Car Park.
NOTES Sweeps Lane is to the left of the new petrol garage. Be very careful walking down the left hand side of the A30 from the traffic lights to the stile, this is a very long 500 yards. Be even more careful crossing the A30 if you choose to walk down the right hand side of the road on the real footpath. Some of the stiles are in disrepair or even no longer there. At the foot of the woodland section you need to walk through the open fields towards the railway line.
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