Ardon House

Ardon House is a Grade II listed building located on Mill Lane in Godalming. This late 16th century or early 17th century timber-framed structure was refronted around 1859 when it became known as the Railway Tavern. The exterior is stuccoed and features a mansard slate roof, with the right side elevation adorned with tile hanging and bands of curved tiles. The building has two storeys and attics, with a symmetrical arrangement of windows: two on the first floor and four on the ground floor. The attic features triple pedimented dormers. On the first floor, there is a triple casement window with a pediment and apron above, a central window with a cornice, and a blank window with a surround similar to the one on the right side. The ground floor includes a curved pediment supported by brackets and a four-panelled door, along with four windows that have moulded architraves. The left side of the building has a three-light canted bay extending through two floors, along with a lower cement-rendered wing featuring a tiled roof and a 19th-century white brick extension. Inside, the first-floor rooms showcase cross beams with two wide chamfers and lambs tongue stops, jowled posts, curved tie beams, and a queen post roof. There is also an early 18th-century door with two fielded panels. In the early 19th century, Ardon House was home to the naturalist and taxidermist Waring Kidd, who is believed to have named Godalming as the Valley of the Nightingales.