A Brief History
The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames was judged (in Pigot’s Dictionary 1840) "very respectable and ancient".
It lies on the south bank of the Thames just 12 miles upstream from Central London.
 |
| The coat of arms |
Since prehistoric times Kingston has provided a safe haven for human settlement and trade, for the river here runs
over gravel and is no longer tidal, the tide reaching only as far as Teddington. Romans came here, bringing men and
goods from Europe and the Mediterranean. They constructed a wharf and villas, and possibly had a mint on Kingston Hill.
Saxon kings, such as Athelstan and Ethelred were crowned and consacrated here, as commemorated by the Coronation Stone
which duplicates the Stone of Scone. In 1086 Domesday assessed Kingston for 92 men, a church, five mills, three fisheries
and extensive farmland. The town crest, dating from the 17th century, records those fisheries with three salmon.
 |
Two minutes walk from the Synagogue
is the Thames. It is here that we hold
our Tashlich service on Rosh Hashana. |
King John granted Kingston its first charter in 1200, confirming ‘all the liberties and free customs to which the same
town was accustomed and ought to have’. Offering until the 18th century the only bridge (save London Bridge) across the
Thames, Kingston was an important economic and strategic centre, with prosperous markets and with a part to play in
national events such as the Civil Wars. There is evidence that Jews lived here until the expulsion in 1290 and returned
in the 18th century.
In 1838 the London & Southampton Railway was routed through Surbiton, because Kingston Corporation wished "to preserve
ancient coaching and brewing interests", and the focus of the town changed. New prosperity came with commuters, such as
the writer Thomas Hardy and the painter Millais, and with the fast efficient transport of people and goods countrywide.
Since prehistoric times Kingston depended on its riverside situation. From the 19th century it joined the rest of the world,
but its individual history remains to this day.
Kingston today
Kingston is prosperous and thriving. The vibrant centre of Kingston has many leisure entertainment facilities
including its new theatre and a new 14 screen multiplex cinema, a tremendous variety of local cultural performances,
events and activities. Kingston also has an extensive shopping area including the ancient market place, the Bentalls
Centre, one of the largest shopping centres in Southern England and John Lewis. The surrounding residential areas
such as Surbiton and New Malden provide smaller local centres.
In the Kingston area:
- Excellent schools and a university
- A superb blend of urban and rural environments with
many parks and open spaces
- Several supermarkets in the area stock kosher food
- A beautiful riverside location
- Easy access to London: 18 minutes from Surbiton, 27
minutes from Kingston to London Waterloo from where many transport links
provide direct access to the City, Docklands and West End.
- Local attractions include Chessington World of
Adventures and Hampton Court Palace
- Easy access to Richmond Park and Kew Gardens
- On the border of Surrey where many gardens and stately homes are open to visitors
Useful links
Kingston Council - The council's official website
Kingston University - The University's official website
UpMyStreet - Information about Kingston from UpMyStreet.co.uk
National statistics online - Kingston's profile in the 2001 census
|
