Ashford has a charming town centre with a number of speciality shops, amenities and a magnificent war memorial.
The Queen Mary Reservoir opened in 1925 and is ideal for racing or just having fun, and the Queen Mary Sailing Club is arguably one of the country’s premier inland dingy and windsurfing racing clubs.
Many of the town’s buildings have an interesting heritage, including St Matthew’s Church, daring back to 1293; the Old Fire Station, which was used as headquarters for the Civil Defence Corp until the 1960s and St David’s School for Girls, designed by Henry Clutton for the “Welsh Schools” and set in 30 acres of pleasant landscape.
Shepperton
Shepperton takes its name from Scepertone, meaning “the habitation of Shepherds” (Saxon). In 54 BC records maintain that the Catuvellauni tribe which ruled the area now known as Spelthorne, fortified the banks of the River Thames near lower Halliford in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent the Romans (under the leadership of Julius Caesar) from crossing. More recently, legend has it that Dick Turpin was a regular visitor at the Anchor Hotel, and his pistol, inscribed with “Dick’s Friend” was found in the building.
Today, Shepperton is a pretty riverside village which has retained its charm. Many of the public houses and hotels in the town and particularly in Church Square, a picturesque conservation area, are steeped in history, with parts of buildings dating back to the 1600s. Shepperton also has a wide range of open spaces including the Thames Path National Trail, linking up Shepperton with the riverside towns of Sunbury, Laleham and Stianes, and a variety of parks with facilities for all.
Passenger boat trips run from Shepperton Marina to Weybridge, on the other side of the Thames, to Hampton Court and Staines, and the town is also well served by mainline trains into London Waterloo.
Stanwell
Stanwell still managed to maintain the atmosphere of a village with the leaning spire of St Mary’s Church at the end of the Green forming a distinctive landmark. Within the church lies a marble tomb of Lord and Lady Knyvett, who both died in 1622. Lord Knyvett was granted the Freehold of Stanwell Moor in 1603, and in 1605 was credited with arresting Guy Fawkes, leader of the gunpowder plot, an attempt to assassinate James I.
The River Colne borders Stanwell Moor, which lies to the west of the village. Because of of the river number of mills were located in this area and surrounding land has traditionally been used for agriculture, enabling the town to retain the character of a rural community.
Staines and Laleham
Romans settled in Staines in AD43 and named the town “Ad Pontes” meaning “at the Bridges”. They were attracted to Staines because of the River Thames, the town’s close proximity to London and the geological make up of the town.
Today, Spelthorne Museum exhibits many archaeological findings from the Roman era along with a range of prehistoric discoveries.
Staines offers a wealth of activities for all age groups. Beautiful walks along the Thames Path link up Memorial Gardens to the Lammas Recreation Ground and Laleham Park, both equipped for spending a relaxing day by the river and Staines town centre with its pedestrianised shopping area offers a wide range of shops, cafés, restaurants and pubs. Close to Laleham Park, Laleham village centre has a range of 18th and 19th century buildings and country-style pubs.
Travel to and from Staines is simple. Staines railway station is on a direct line with London Waterloo, Richmond and Windsor and there is a coach link from the railway station direct to Thorpe Park. Riverboat trips connect Staines with Windsor, Runnymede and Hampton Court, with stops at Shepperton and Sunbury. Staines also has a bus station with connections to many local towns and villages.
Sunbury-on-Thames
The name Sunbury derives from the 10th Century Saxon Lord Sunna, who built a Burgh, or settlement on the Sunbury riverside.
Riverside Sunbury, locally known as Lower Sunbury has many links with the past. The Parish Church of St Mary, overlooking the Thames has a tower and nave dating from 1752, but is on the site of a 14th Century building. A yew tree within the churchyard was mentioned in the Dickens’ classic “Oliver Twist”.
Riverside Sunbury is also the home of the Sunbury Millennium Embroidery, a community project depicting life at the turn of the last century in the town and the Sunbury Walled Garden, set out on classical formal lines including traditional knot gardens, parterres and a Victorian rose garden along with a special bed dedicated to the Princess of Wales. Alongside the Walled Garden is Orchard Meadow, an attractive village green for the town.
Sunbury is also the home to Kempton Park Racecourse, also known as “London’s Racecourse” which holds regular race meetings throughout the year.
Along with pretty walks along the river, you can hire a boat from Wilson’s Boat Yard to enjoy the scenery and enjoy the riverside attractions. Sunbury railway station connects to both London Waterloo and Shepperton, and also Kempton Park station that operates on race days.
