In 1907, the bankruptcy trustees began to construct a road across Pewley Down in preparation for dividing the land into plots for housebuilding.

[3][4] After local protest, Pewley Down was purchased by the Friary, Holroyd & Healy's Brewery and donated to the town of Guildford on 29 July 1920 to commemorate the conclusion of the First World War as a peace thank offering with the condition that it be "preserved for time immemorial as a playground for the people of Guildford".

The deed of conveyance was formally handed over to the mayor by Mr Charles Hoskins Master the chairman of directors.

[6] An adjacent set of fields, now known as Pewley Down Meadows, were purchased by the community in 2021 and are managed by the Surrey Wildlife Trust as a local nature reserve.

[7] This site is an example of chalk downland, and has several species of rare flowering plants, including pyramidal and Man orchids.