Surrey Lieutenancy marks the final day of operation at Artington House

5th November 2026 | News in your area

Surrey Lieutenancy marks the final day of operation at Artington House

Peter Cluff DL was delighted to represent the Surrey Lieutenancy on October 31^st to mark the final day of operation, after 92 years, of Artington House, Guildford.

The elegant Victorian property was acquired by the local council in 1934 to become the local Register Office for Guildford’s Births, Deaths and Marriages. The vaults in the basement house over 15,000 civil registration registers dating back to 1837, including those of some notable historical figures such as Sir Laurence Olivier, Dame Margot Fonteyn, Lewis Carroll, Emily Davison and Dame Penelope Keith. It has hosted a number of high profile ceremonies over the decades, most famously the 1964 wedding of Peter Sellers and Britt Ekland drawing large crowds.

The closure was announced earlier this year by Surrey County Council, with services transitioning to other locations and the records being transferred to the Surrey History Centre in Woking.

Peter Cluff DL was privileged to briefly drop in on the final four ceremonies being held at Artington House, celebrating the weddings of Bettina and Ian, Reylyn and Brett, Samantha and Shelby, and finally Naomi and Ben. Avril Itani, the Registration Service Operations Lead & Superintendent Registrar, outlined to the happy couples and their guests that their special days were taking place on an auspicious day for Artington House and each were given special gifts to mark the occasion.

It was also a poignant day for the people working within the Registration Department, many of whom had worked there for many years. Della Morgan, the Area Manager, commented that her parents had been married there 66 years ago.