Pre-Raphaelite artist William Holman Hunt married at St Mary’s Church Ewell. It is still a beautiful country church-yard – with an interesting history. The church is home to the 1889 ‘Father’ Henry Willis pipe organ.

The name Ewell derives from æwell, which means river source.  The Hogsmill River rises  in Ewell and runs to the Thames via Kingston upon Thames.

You might recognize the Hogsmill (above) – it appears in John Millais‘   rendition of Ophelia .

And Hunt’s ‘The Light of the World‘ is said to have been based on a doorway leading to a part of a disused mill on the Hogsmill.

Petula Clark was born nearby.

Related articles

• A Victorian model’s tragic story (bbc.co.uk)
• Pre Raphealites & Research – (charlottebass1109860.wordpress.com)