There was a time when Guildford was right at the heart of Britain's emerging rock and blues scene.
Long before the town became known for its university, shopping centre and cathedral, it was attracting some of the biggest names in music (many of whom were still relatively unknown at the time).
And one of the places where it all began was an unlikely venue: the Wooden Bridge pub.
Back in the early 1960s, the Wooden Bridge became home to the Guildford branch of the legendary Ricky-Tick Club. For a generation of young music fans, it was the place to be, bringing the exciting new sounds of American blues, rhythm and blues and rock 'n' roll right to Guildford's doorstep.
The Wooden Bridge gets rocking
The Ricky-Tick was the brainchild of promoters John Mansfield and Philip Hayward, who had started putting on rhythm and blues nights in Windsor. The idea quickly caught on, and Guildford became the second town to get its own Ricky-Tick Club.
The Wooden Bridge, with its function room, provided the perfect setting.
It might seem hard to imagine now, but this ordinary pub was about to host some extraordinary musical talent. Youngsters from Guildford and the surrounding towns flocked to see the bands, creating an atmosphere that was a world away from the usual quiet Surrey pub scene.
The Rolling Stones come to town
One of the most memorable nights was 9 March 1963, when a young band called the Rolling Stones played the opening night of the Guildford Ricky-Tick.
They weren't international superstars then. They were an exciting young London rhythm and blues outfit, playing the music they loved and building a growing following.
The word had obviously got around. Hundreds of people reportedly turned up, many unable to get inside. Stories of the evening describe the excitement and crowds outside, with people desperate to catch a glimpse of the band.
The Stones returned to the Wooden Bridge during the summer of 1963, playing several more gigs.
Just think about that for a moment. A band that would go on to become one of the biggest rock acts in the world was playing in a local Guildford pub!
A who's who of British blues
The Stones weren't the only big attraction. The Ricky-Tick brought a fantastic collection of musicians to the Wooden Bridge, many of whom would go on to become legends in their own right.
Among the acts associated with the early Guildford gigs were:
Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated, hugely influential in bringing American blues to British audiences.
Cyril Davies All Stars, featuring Long John Baldry.
John Mayall's Blues Breakers, who would become one of the most important names in British blues.
The Graham Bond Organisation, featuring Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker and John McLaughlin.
Looking back, the line-up is incredible. Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker would later form Cream, while John McLaughlin became a world-famous guitarist.
And these musicians weren't appearing at some grand London concert hall. They were playing to local audiences in a pub in Guildford.
Outgrowing the Wooden Bridge
As word spread, the Ricky-Tick nights became increasingly popular. The Wooden Bridge was struggling to cope with the crowds, so the club moved on to bigger premises.
It briefly moved to Memorial Hall in Worplesdon before settling at the Plaza ballroom in Guildford town centre in November 1963.
The Plaza went on to host an impressive list of performers, including the Yardbirds, Howlin' Wolf, John Lee Hooker, Georgie Fame, Zoot Money and Chris Farlowe.
The Ricky-Tick continued to move around Guildford over the following years, with spells at venues including the Harvest Moon and the Stoke Hotel, before its Guildford story came to an end in 1966.
But the Wooden Bridge was where it all started.
What must those nights have been like?
It's easy to forget just how exciting the early 1960s music scene was. Young people were discovering new sounds, fashion was changing, and rhythm and blues was becoming hugely popular.
For a few shillings, you could get into a Ricky-Tick night and see musicians who would soon be filling much bigger venues around the world.
The atmosphere was lively, the rooms were packed and the music was loud. There were stories of overcrowding and even a tear gas incident that resulted in an evacuation. These certainly weren't quiet evenings in the local!
For young music fans in Guildford, it must have been an amazing time.
A little piece of music history
The Wooden Bridge which is still standing and recently had a refurb, deserves a special place in Guildford's history. It wasn't just another pub putting on the occasional band. It was one of the starting points of a music scene that helped bring some of Britain's most influential musicians to the town.
Today, it's easy to walk past the pub without realising the musical history associated with it. Back in 1963, it was somewhere very special.
Imagine standing in that room, watching Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, or seeing the musicians who would later form Cream, before any of them had become household names.
Not bad for a night out at the local!
