Kew: Difference between revisions
Headhitter (talk | contribs) →Transport and locale: South Circular Road (the A205), which crosses the Thames at Kew Bridge |
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==Transport and locale== |
==Transport and locale== |
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The traditional mode of transport between Kew and London, for rich and poor alike, was by water along the [[Thames]]. |
The traditional mode of transport between Kew and London, for rich and poor alike, was by water along the [[Thames]] which, historically, separated [[Middlesex]] (on the north bank) from [[Surrey]] (which then included Kew, on the south bank). Kew was connected to Middlesex by ferry. The first bridge crossing the Thames at Kew was built in 1759. The current [[Kew Bridge]], which today carries the [[A205 road|South Circular Road]] (the A205), was opened by by [[Edward VII of the United Kingdom|King Edward VII]] and [[Alexandra of Denmark|Queen Alexandra]] in 1903. |
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The A205 road passes through Kew, with Kew Road providing the main road link to [[Richmond, London|Richmond]]. The [[M4 motorway]] starts a short distance north of Kew, providing access to [[London Heathrow Airport|Heathrow Airport]] and the west. The [[A316 road]] starts in Chiswick and continues over [[Chiswick Bridge]] and junctions with the South Circular Road at Chalker's Corner. |
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Since 1869 rail services have been available from [[Kew Gardens station (London)|Kew Gardens station]]. [[London Underground]] (District Line) services run to Richmond and to central London. [[London Overground]] trains run to [[Richmond station (London)|Richmond]] and (via [[Willesden Junction station|Willesden Junction]]) to [[Stratford station|Stratford]]. |
Since 1869 rail services have been available from [[Kew Gardens station (London)|Kew Gardens station]]. [[London Underground]] (District Line) services run to Richmond and to central London. [[London Overground]] trains run to [[Richmond station (London)|Richmond]] and (via [[Willesden Junction station|Willesden Junction]]) to [[Stratford station|Stratford]]. |
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Revision as of 09:04, 10 May 2011
Kew is a place in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in South West London.
Kew is best known for being the location of the Royal Botanic Gardens (now a World Heritage Site). Other points of interest include Kew Palace and The National Archives (previously known as the Public Record Office).
Since 1965 Kew has incorporated the former area of North Sheen[1] which includes the parish church of St Philip and All Saints, better known as the Barn Church. The church, in Marksbury Avenue, was built in 1929, incorporating timbers – believed to be ships' timbers from the 16th century – from a barn that stood in Oxted, Surrey.[2] It is now in a combined Church of England parish with St Luke's Church, in the Avenue, which also houses Kew Community Trust, a charitable foundation that manages St Luke’s for community use. The Trust's primary activity is The Avenue Club, a daily drop-in centre for older people.
"Kew Village" refers to the parades of shops adjoining Kew Gardens station. It contains a small supermarket, a wholefood store, several independent retailers, restaurants (including the well-reviewed The Glasshouse) and cafes. There are also major high street retailers at the nearby Kew Retail Park (originally known as Richmond Retail Park).
Kew is a popular residential area because of its transport links and proximity to Kew Gardens. Most of Kew developed in the late 19th century, following the arrival of the District Line of the Underground, and is characterised by large detached or semi-detached houses. Further development took place in the 1920s and 1930s when new houses were built on the market gardens of North Sheen and in the first decade of the 21st century when flats and houses were constructed at Kew Riverside on land formerly owned by Thames Water.
Etymology
The name Kew is a combination of two words: the Old French kai (landing place; 'quay' derives from this) and Old English hoh (spur of land). The land spur is the bend in the Thames. The name was recorded in 1327 as Cayho.[3]
Education
Transport and locale
The traditional mode of transport between Kew and London, for rich and poor alike, was by water along the Thames which, historically, separated Middlesex (on the north bank) from Surrey (which then included Kew, on the south bank). Kew was connected to Middlesex by ferry. The first bridge crossing the Thames at Kew was built in 1759. The current Kew Bridge, which today carries the South Circular Road (the A205), was opened by by King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra in 1903.
The A205 road passes through Kew, with Kew Road providing the main road link to Richmond. The M4 motorway starts a short distance north of Kew, providing access to Heathrow Airport and the west. The A316 road starts in Chiswick and continues over Chiswick Bridge and junctions with the South Circular Road at Chalker's Corner.
Since 1869 rail services have been available from Kew Gardens station. London Underground (District Line) services run to Richmond and to central London. London Overground trains run to Richmond and (via Willesden Junction) to Stratford.
- Nearest places
- Nearest railway stations
- Kew Bridge station (South West Trains)
- Kew Gardens station (London Overground; London Underground District Line)
- North Sheen station (South West Trains)
- Bridges
- Kew Bridge, which carries the A205 South Circular Road. Beside the bridge is Kew Gardens Pier, which serves tourist ferries operating under licence from London River Services.
- Kew Railway Bridge
Quotes
- I am His Highness' dog at Kew;
- Pray tell me, sir, whose dog are you?
- Epigram, engraved on the Collar of a Dog which I gave to his Royal Highness (Frederick, Prince of Wales) — Alexander Pope, 1688-1744
'Trams and dusty trees.
Highbury bore me. Richmond and Kew
Undid me.'
- The Waste Land, 1922 (T.S.Eliot), 1888-1965
Go down to Kew in lilac-time, in lilac-time, in lilac-time;
Go down to Kew in lilac-time (it isn't far from London!)
And you shall wander hand in hand with love in summer's wonderland;
Go down to Kew in lilac-time (it isn't far from London!)
- The Barrel-Organ, Alfred Noyes, 1880-1958
Sport and leisure
Kew has several sports clubs and gyms including Putney Town Rowing Club and Richmond Gymnastics Association.
Kew is also home to local football club, Kew Park Rangers. The club began in 1997 in Westerly Ware, a small park by Kew Bridge. Word quickly spread at the local school that there was a kick about on Saturday mornings and more children arrived until there were regularly about 10-12 children.
As the crowd of children grew, alongside tournament and further development ambitions, the club decided to become official and registered for the Surrey County Football Association. Richmond Council eventually came up with a team pitch and a move to the North Sheen Recreational Ground in Dancer Road[4]was secured. Kew Park Rangers Football Club was born in the summer of 1999, and continues to grow year on year. A new £1 million sports pavilion has been built.[5]
Gallery
-
The Parish Church of St Anne -
Kew Green
References
- ^ Blomfield, David: Kew Past, p 131, Phillimore, 1994
- ^ Blomfield, David: Kew Past, p 122, Phillimore, 1994
- ^ Room, Adrian: Dictionary of Place-Names in the British Isles, Bloomsbury, 1988
- ^ "North Sheen Recreation Ground". London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
- ^ Mason, Ian (26 September 2009). "Work kicks off on £1 million sports pavilion". Richmond and Twickenham Times. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
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External links
- Kew Society website
- Richmond Society website
- Kew Community Trust website
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (Kew Gardens)
- Kew Park Rangers website
