Kingston – My London+

Richmond to Kingston Thames Path Walk

Richmond

On a dreary day, I made my way to Richmond. Initially, I was going to view the recent statue of Virginia Woolf overlooking the riverside. Virginia (part of the Bloomsbury Group) and her husband lived in Richmond for ten years and set up the Hogarth Press. I wasn’t sure where the statue was, but I found a photo online and asked my son, who used to work in Richmond, where it was. Virginia was well camouflaged set in several rows of benches overlooking the River Thames.

Virginia Woolf overlooking the river

Nice view

And yes, I did sit next to her! The temptation was too much.

I then set off along the Thames Path in the direction of Kingston I have walked this section before, but not in this direction and not in one go. I remember back then I thought it was too far. Ha, ha! I’ve walked a lot further in one go now, but those were my early days of walking.

By Richmond Bridge

Loved this quirky Three Pigeons insect hotel

It was nice to find some flowers still blooming along the path, though don’t ask me to name them!

The plaque below on the obelisk itself says: Thames Conservancy; Lower Limit, 1900.

Teddington Lock, where the famous Monty Python ‘fish slapping dance’ scene was filmed back in 1971. See below.

If you look at this photo, you can still see the building where the filming took place. Behind it is now the riverside is built up with lots of apartments on the Teddington side.

Getting close to Kingston now.

Autumn is really here now

Apologies if I’ve posted this photo before. This has often been my stopping point when walking from the other direction.

Egyptian ducks

Turks Boatyard. See this article to learn more about Turks boatbuilding.

Arrival. Christmas is coming. This is taken by Kingston Bridge (the railway bridge can be seen in the distance)

Kingston Christmas Market

I bought this from a little stall on the riverside. It was unmaned and had an ‘honesty box’. Everything was being sold in aid of the local Scout group. I couldn’t resist this!

Kingston-on-Thames & Wimbledon Park

On Monday the ‘stay-at-home’ restriction was lifted. The advice is to ‘stay local’. So, with good weather here, it was time to board a bus for the first time since December. I wanted to go into Kingston have a look in Food For Thought (health food shop) and get some sort of veggie or vegan ‘roast’ for Easter day dinner. Firstly, the Thames was calling to me.

We (I was with one of my son’s) got ourselves a takeaway hot chocolate and headed towards the river and the Queen’s Promenade where we sat down to drink. We then headed back, went under the bridge and headed towards Canbury Park Gardens and onwards to what is known as The Half Mile Tree. A slow walk back into town to pick up supplies and then back on the bus home. What we noticed was how quiet the town was (non-essential shops don’t open until 12th April), and how many shops had closed down and wouldn’t be returning. In my own town similar things have happened, and right across the UK this is one of the results of lockdown, and so many people now buying goods online. Sadly, there will be more to come.

Last time I was here, this was a Christmas set up!

The Half Mile tree is said to be about 500 years old. Removed in 1951 due to its dangerous condition and replaced in 1952.

On Tuesday I met a friend at Wimbledon Park. The last time we were here it was autumn, now it is spring. The park was very busy with tennis coaching, and school kids having lessons. Lots of mums and babies and toddlers too. The cafe was open for takeaway and it was the hottest day of the year so far, getting up to around 24c. It was a lazy day in the sunshine with a chance for a good catch up.

COMING NEXT WEEK a look at Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens and Westminster.

River Thames, Kingston – Queen’s Promenade

With a cold but sunny start to last Saturday I took a brief walk along the river at Kingston. It seemed that many had the same idea! While some were queuing outside shops in the town centre the rest of us were enjoying the riverside. A much better option in my view.

On the other side of the river you can walk all the way to Hampton Court

There are always fun things to see on the river

In a previous post I mentioned Turk’s Boatyard and the connection to medieval Britain and Chatham Dockyard. Here you can see some of their very fine boats which leave from the pier further down the river.

Ravens Ait Island – a venue for weddings and other events

Nearly at the end of the path on this side of the river

Walking back this is quite a dominant view on the road

The Clattern Bridge (behind the blue one) built around 1175 over the Hogsmill River just before it meets the Thames. It is one of the olderst intact bridges in England. (The Guildhall can be seen in the background)

No Christmas market this year, just the Christimas Tree

Kingsdton Market with the old Town Hall and All Saints Church in the background

In the shopping precinct – The Bentalls indoor shopping mall is to the left

Old London Road is mix of independent shops, an antique shop and charity shops

Kingston upon Thames: A Royal Town

Back in late June I wrote about a walk along the River Thames from Kingston to Molesey Lock. This time I am back in Kingston at special request!

This is for a friend of mine who has been unable to visit lately and misses a couple of his ‘watering holes’. I hope this will cheer you up!

Kingston is a royal town, a royal borough of London. Kings have been crowned here. Back in AD 838 Kingston was known as Cyninges tun and went through various versions of the name until 1589 when it became Kingestowne upon Thames. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle two kings were consecreated here, AEthelstan (925) and AEthelred the Unready (978). It is said that others were also crowned here, but the evidence is less substantial. It is believed the coronations were held in the chapel of St Mary’s (which collapsed in 1730) and that a large stone recovered from the wreckage played an important part in the coronations.. This stone now stands in the grounds of the Guildhall.

Today Kingston is a thriving town with lots of history. There is a mix of old and new, and Kingston has been featured greatly on TV for films and TV drama, and during the Olympics in 2012 the cycling road race ran through here. In fact there is a yearly road race now held here. The Olympic Torch came through here too, and I was luckily enough to be there for that.

Kingston boats two big department stores that face each other on a corner – John Lewis and Bentalls. Bentalls was founded in 1867 by Frank Bentall who bought a drapery store and the buildings were completed in 1935. The stonework on the facade was designed by Eric Gill, whose work I came across only a few years ago and I really admire his engravings. Bentalls went on to open stores in Tunbridge Wells, Bracknell, Worthing and Bristol. However, in 1992 Bentalls in Kingston developed into The Bentall Centre, as more franchise stores located there. In 2001 Bentalls sold out to The House of Frazer, who went on to sell top Fenwick who are the current owners. The other stores had been sold off gradually due to loss-making, though I believe the store in Bracknell remains. Bentalls is rather dear to me because my family have all worked there over the years from grandparents onwards, and I had my first job there!

John Lewis opened in 1990. You can read more here. When excavating for the store remains were found of the old Kingston Bridge and Undercroft. Some of these can still be seen today at the back of the building on the river side. I don’t think these are open to the public daily, but you can see them through a glass window. However, I have been observed them close up on a day when they were opened for a special viewing. See here for more information.

There is so much more to Kingston that I could say – the ancient market place has been here since 1242. A statue of Queen Victoria stands over it, and Old London Road with its antique shop (featured in TV’s Bargain Hunt!) and Lovekyn Chapel founded in 1309, which can be hired for weddings and can be viewed on Open House Weekend in September. There is Nipper Alley (where the famous dog and gramaphone logo of HMV is commemorated) and the Clattern Bridge. The most famous person to originate from Kingston was Eadweard Muybridge born in 1830. A strange man (he like to change the spelling of his name now and then!), but a brilliant one. He famously photographed a horse running to prove that at one point all feet were off the ground. He is a most interesting man and worth reading about. I have seen his work in various exhibitions and the Kingston Museum is home to some of the best. Have a look at this website for information about these and other places in Kingston.

The River Thames at Kingston looking towards Hampton Court

My final mention must go to Turks Boatyard who run river cruises to Hampton Court and Richmond. They have been running a service for over three hundred years. The boatyard has now gone, but services continue. Turks got a mention in a book I was reading recently about Istanbul by Bettany Hughes. The family have connections to medieval times in Kingston, but their business goes back further. Read here for more information.

I hope I have done Kingston justice!

Bridge over the Hogsmill River which flows into the Thames

Hogsmill River running under the Clattern Bridge (Guildhall – with weather vane – the background)

The front of the new Bentall Centre (see above for the older part which still remains)

River Walk – Kingston to Hampton Court & Molesey Lock

River Thames from Kingston Bridge – looking towards Hampton Court

This is a walk I have done many times over the years, well to Hampton Court anyway. Last week I ventured out on public transport for the first time since early March. I’d taken stock of buses and trains and how empty they were and decided I was happy now to use them. I had my face covering ready.

The day was hot, but it hadn’t reached the 30c of later in the week. The walk began at Kingston Bridge and followed the pathway all the way to Hampton Court Palace. Home Park (a lovely park I’ve also walked) is on the right. I’m sure at one time it was possible to enter Hampton Court gardens from there, but these days there is a railing at the end of Long Water to stop that.

Although the Palace is still shut, I knew that the gardens were due to open and I had thought it would be a good place to stop and eat my sandwich. However, the gates were closed. An official looking man was standing around so I asked him what the situation was. He said the gardens were only open Wednesdays to Fridays and tickets had to be booked online (though the gardens are free). He also added that it wasn’t easy to get hold of tickets at the moment. I could imagine that everyone and his wife wanted a change of scenery after being cooped up for so long. In fact a friend of mine tried to get online tickets for a National Trust garden and all the tickets went in half an hour!

On the other side of the river (opposite Hampton COurt Palace) people bathed and swam

Instead it was a short hop over the road and Hampton Court Bridge and down onto the other side of the river. Shortly, there was Molesey Lock (cafe closed), but no place to sit. There were a lot of people here too. Perhaps it was more noticeable because the path is more narror here. Finally, I came across a small children’s park (play equipment still sealed), with benches. There was a nice shady place under a tree, far enough from the overflowing rubbish bin to suffice. This was a cool spot in which to relax. Afterwards it was a short walk to Hampton Court Station for the train. The train was almost emptuy – no one in the carriage I was in at first, and never more than two or three people afterwards.

Hampton Court Bridge from the Molesey side

It was lovely to go somewhere different, even though it’s a well trodden path for me. Do have a look at the websites of the Palace and Home Park for more information and some lovely photos.

Empty train carriage

I realise I took no photos of the Palace on this walk, though I would have had to take one through the railings. Anyway, so as not to disappoint you, I’ve delved into the archive for the one below.