Richmond, London

Richmond is a town in London, England. It lies nine miles by road west-south-west of the centre of the city and constitutes one of two main towns within the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames; the other being Twickenham. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.^[2]

Richmond sits on the south side of the River Thames opposite East Twickenham, but owing to the way this stretch of the Thames meanders through the area the town actually lies east of the river, which curves northwards then eastwards in its course from Petersham to Kew.

Richmond has an enviable reputation as a district of London that enjoys an abundance of attractive features, and accordingly it has acted as a magnet for royalty, visitors and notable residents for many centuries. Richmond Hill, The River Thames, Richmond Park, Richmond Palace, Old Deer Park, Richmond Green - these are the main natural and historic attributes that set this relatively small town apart from almost all others within the capital. As always, property values reflect the circumstances.

The area now known as Richmond was formerly part of Shene until about five centuries ago, but Shene was not listed in the Domesday Book, although it is depicted on the map as Sceon, which was its Saxon spelling in 950AD.^[3]

Henry I lived briefly in the King's house in Sheanes (or Shene or Sheen). In 1299 Edward I "Hammer of the Scots", took his whole court to the manor-house at Sheen, a little east of the bridge and on the riverside, and it thus became a royal residence. William Wallace ("Braveheart") was executed in London in 1305, and it was in Sheen that the Commissioners from Scotland went down on their knees before Edward.

Edward II did not fare as well as his father. Following his defeat at the hands of the Scots at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, he founded a monastery for Carmelites at Sheen. When the boy-king Edward III came to the throne in 1327 he gave the manor to his mother Isabella. Almost 50 years later his wife, also called Isabella, died. Edward then spent over two thousand pounds on improvements. In the middle of the work Edward III himself died at the manor, in 1377.

Richard II was the first English king to make Sheen his main residence, which he did in 1383. Twelve years later Richard was so distraught at the death of his wife Anne of Bohemia at the age of 28, that he, according to Holinshed, "caused it [the manor] to be thrown down and defaced; whereas the former kings of this land, being wearie of the citie, used customarily thither to resort as to a place of pleasure, and serving highly to their recreation." It was rebuilt between 1414 & 1422, but destroyed by fire 1497.

Following the fire Henry VII had a palace built there and in 1501 he named it Richmond Palace in recognition of his earldom and the ancestral home of Richmond Castle in Yorkshire. The town that developed nearby took the same name as the palace, and there are unconfirmed beliefs that Shakespeare may have performed some plays there. The image shown above right is dated 1765 and is based on earlier drawings.

The palace was no longer in residential use after 1649, but in 1688 James II ordered partial reconstruction of the palace: this time as a royal nursery. The bulk of the palace had decayed by 1779; but surviving structures include the Wardrobe, Trumpeter's House (built aroun 1700), and the Gate House, built in 1501. This has five bedrooms and was made available on a 65 year lease by the Crown Estate Commissioners in 1986.

Richmond St Mary Magdalene parish, alternatively known as Richmond or Sheen, formed the Municipal Borough of Richmond in Surrey from 1890.^[4] The municipal borough was expanded in 1892 by the addition of Kew, Mortlake and Petersham^[5] and in 1933 Ham was added to the borough.^[5] In 1965 the parish and municipal borough were abolished by the London Government Act 1963 and the area transferred to Greater London, to form part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. This current borough extends from and includes Barnes in the north-east to Hampton Court in the south-west, embracing Richmond, Twickenham and Teddington.^[5]

Richmond is well endowed with green and open spaces accessible to the public.

To the east and south lies Richmond Park, a large area of wild heath and woodland originally enclosed by Charles I for hunting, and now forming London's largest royal park. This park is both a National Nature Reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It is about three times the size of Central Park in New York and it contains on a permanent basis around 650 red and fallow deer[1]. There are several substantial buildings within the park; notably Pembroke Lodge and White Lodge.

To the north lies Old Deer Park, a 360-acre Crown Estate landscape extending from the town along the riverside as far as the boundary with the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. This contains wide green lawns, municipal sports pitches and playing fields, rugby and athletic grounds, swimming pools, two Royal Mid-Surrey golf courses, and the Grade I listed former King's Obsevatory erected for George III in 1769.

Rising southwards from Richmond Bridge is Richmond Hill, together with the Terrace Gardens that slope up from the River Thames. These gardens were laid out in the 1880s and were extended to the river some forty years later. The broad gravel walk along the top of the hill is of earlier vintage and the view from there west towards Windsor has long been famous. A grand description of the view can be found in Sir Walter Scott’s novel The Heart of Midlothian (1818). Apart from the great rugby stadium at Twickenham and the aircraft landing and taking off from London Heathrow Airport the scene has changed little in two hundred years.The view from Richmond Hill now forms part of the Thames Landscape Strategy which aims to protect and enhance this section of the river corridor into London. ^[6][7] It is a common misconception that the folk song "Lass of Richmond Hill" relates to this hill, but the song is actually based upon a lass residing in Hill House at Richmond in the Yorkshire Dales. ^[8]

The name chosen by the founder of the US city of Richmond, capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, derives from here. The founder had spent time in Richmond during his youth and knew that the views from the hills overlooking the rivers in both places were similar. Naturally these two Richmonds are twinned.^[9]

A commanding feature on the hill is the former Royal Star and Garter home. During World War I an old hotel on this site, which had been a popular place of entertainment in the 18th and 19th centuries but had closed in 1906, was taken over and used as a military hospital.

After the war it was replaced by this handsome building providing accommodation and nursing facilities for 180 badly injured servicemen. It was run as a charitable trust, and continues to be, but the trustees have concluded that the building does not now meet modern requirements and cannot be easily or economically upgraded. There are now plans to transfer the 180 patients to three separate sites in other locations, at least one of which they hope will be in or near Richmond. The future of this listed building is at present uncertain. Nearby is the factory, staffed mainly by disabled ex-servicemen and women, which produces the poppies sold each November for Rememberance Day.

A panoramic view of the Thames Riverfront in Richmond from Richmond Bridge

The river is a major contributor to the interest that Richmond inspires in many people. It has a lively frontage around Richmond Bridge, containing many bars and restaurants. Within the river itself at this point are the leafy Corporation Island and the two small Flowerpot Islands.

The Thameside walkway provides access to residences, pubs and terraces, and various greens, lanes and footpaths through Richmond. The stretch of the Thames below Richmond Hill is known as Horse Reach, and includes Glover's Island. Skiffs (fixed seat boats) can be hired by the hour from local boat builders close to the bridge, and there is a large tour boat that departs hourly from the Richmond bank of the river.

The only rowing club on this stretch of the Thames is Twickenham Rowing Club but its members are joined on the water by those of Richmond Canoe Club. There are towpaths and tracks along both sides of the river, and they are much used by pedestrians, joggers, and cyclists.

Close to the town centre is the Green, and also the Little Green - a small supplementary green opposite Richmond Theatre. The Green is roughly square in shape, is quite large and hosts regular cricket matches. On summer weekends and public holidays (given good weather) the two greens attract hundreds of sunbathers, residents and visitors.

The Green is surrounded by well-used metalled roads that provide for a fair amount of vehicle parking. At the north corner is pedestrian access to Old Deer Park (plus vehicle access for municipal use); the south corner leads into the main shopping area of the town; at the east corner is Little Green, and at the west corner is the old gate house which leads through to other remaining buildings of the palace.

To the right of this is the start of the charming Old Palace Lane running down to the river. Close by to the left is the renowned terrace of well preserved three-storey houses known as Maids of Honours Row. These were built in 1724 for the maids of honour (trusted royal wardrobe servants) of the wife of George II. Richard Burton, the Victorian explorer, lived at number 2.^{[citation needed]}

From the sixteenth century onwards tournaments and archery contests have taken place on the green, while cricket matches have occurred since about 1650.^{[citation needed]} There was a public house named 'The Cricketers' here in 1770, but it was burned down in 1844. It was soon replaced by the present grade II listed building shown here. Samuel Whitbread, founder of Whitbread Brewery part-owned it with the Collins family, who had a brewery in Water Lane, close to the old palace.^{[citation needed]}

The first inter-county cricket match which is recorded was played on the Green in 1730 between Surrey and Middlesex.^{[citation needed]} The old palace overlooked the river from its south west front. One of the earliest detailed paintings of a morris dance was painted here. It dates from about 1620 and shows a fool, a hobby-horse, a piper, and Maid-Marian and three dancers on the bank of the Thames.^{[citation needed]}

The beautiful Richmond Theatre at the side of Little Green is a Victorian structure designed by Frank Matcham and sympathetically restored by Carl Toms in 1990. It has been used as a set for many recent films (e.g. Finding Neverland and The Hours). The theatre has a weekly schedule of plays and musicals, usually given by professional touring companies. Pre West End shows can sometimes be seen. There is a Christmas and New Year pantomime tradition and many of Britain's greatest music hall and pantomime performers have appeared here.

The town has a compact centre, largely focused on George Street and Hill Street, with some pleasant narrow alleyways running off towards The Green. Shops tend to be of the more expensive type with numerous designer boutiques as well as more recognisable names such as Marks & Spencer and House of Fraser. Unlike nearby Kingston, Richmond has no indoor shopping centres and is largely populated by smaller units which add to its appeal, although the main streets are frequently choked with traffic.

Richmond is also well known for its pubs, secluded cafés, and its farmers' market which takes place on Saturdays 11 to 3. Traders from a wide range of backgrounds come to sell culinary goods such as dairy products, meats, baked goods and vegetables.

The town has two professional theatres, the Richmond Theatre, which receives major national tours, and the Orange Tree Theatre, a producing theatre in the round which has acquired a national reputation for the quality of its work and for discovering undeservedly forgotten old plays.

The town also has three cinemas, the arthouse Curzon in Water lane and two Odeon cinemas with a total of seven screens, one located upon entry to Richmond via the bridge, and the second set further back nearby.

• Princess Alexandra, a granddaughter of King George V
• Richard Burton, explorer
• Geoffrey Chaucer, poet and courtier
• Edward I, Monarch
• Edward VIII of the United Kingdom
• Elizabeth I of England
• George V of the United Kingdom
• Henry I of England
• Henry VII of England
• Henry VIII of England
• Queen Isabella, widow of King Edward II
• Bernardo O'Higgins, Chilean head of state
• Angus Ogilvy, businessman
• Richard II
• Bertrand Russell, mathematician and philosopher
• John Russell, 1st Earl Russell, prime minister
• Mary of Teck, Queen consort of King George V
• James Thomson, 18th century poet
• John Turner, Canadian prime minister
• Thomas Griffiths Wainewright transported convict and poisoner
• Nancy Wake, World War II resistance fighter
• William IV
• Elizabeth Woodville, Queen to King Edward IV
• Virginia Woolf, writer
• Leonard Woolf, founder of the Hogarth Press

• Joss Ackland, actor
• Joe Anderson, actor
• Malcolm Arnold, composer
• Richard Ashcroft, The Verve Singer and Songwriter
• David Attenborough, naturalist and film director
• Richard Attenborough, actor, film director
• Syd Barrett, Pink Floyd former lead singer
• Helen Baxendale, actress
• Mary Hayley Bell, actress
• Jason Bradbury, writer and TV presenter
• Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Victorian novelist
• Terry Britten, singer and songwriter
• Rod Burton, children's TV presenter, musician
• Richard Clarke, The Big Top 40 Show host and presenter on 95.8 Capital FM
• Georgina Chapman, actress, fashion designer and wife of movie mogul Harvey Weinstein
• Ronald Colman, actor
• Lawrence Dallaglio, rugby player
• Peter Davison, actor
• Richard Dimbleby, broadcaster
• George Eliot, writer
• The Fades, indie rock band
• Bamber Gascoigne, television presenter
• Oliver Golding, former child actor and current LTA junior tennis player
• Richard E Grant, actor
• Peter Green, Fleetwood Mac former lead singer
• Jerry Hall, actress and model
• Keeley Hawes actress
• John Hannah actor
• Amanda Holden, actress
• Guy Hollingworth, magician
• Jane Horrocks actress
• Mick Jagger, rock musician
• Celia Johnson, actress
• Edmund Kean, actor
• Mollie King, singer of girl group The Saturdays
• Philip Lynott, Irish rock guitarist and leader of Thin Lizzy
• Brian May, rock musician
• Matthew McFadyen actor
• Hugh McIlvanney, sports writer
• Hayley Mills, actress
• John Mills, actor
• Juliet Mills, actress
• Rudolph Nureyev ballet dancer
• Robert Pattinson, actor
• Peter Sallis, actor
• Pete Townshend, guitarist for The Who
• JMW Turner, artist
• Sam Walters, artistic director of the Orange Tree Theatre
• Rick Wright, Pink Floyd keyboard player
• Ronnie Wood, rock musician, Rolling Stones guitarist

Opposite the Railway Station is a bar called The Bull (which briefly changed to "Edwards" and in 2008 "The Bull" was reinstated). In 1963 it was called the Station Hotel, a pub with a hall at the rear where bands used to play including the Rolling Stones. As the venue became more popular it needed more space and moved to the nearby Athletic Ground where it became the Crawdaddy Club. On April 18 the Rolling Stones performed one of many gigs here. Paul Lukas, a bass player with the Tridents (including Jeff Beck) made a tape recording of it. Decades later, the same tape was auctioned at Christie's for hundreds of pounds. On one occasion The Beatles visited the Crawdaddy Club in order to hear the Stones. In the 1960s and early 1970s Eel Pie Island in Twickenham was another rock venue. Pete Townshend of The Who had a studio there in the 1970s. The Stones, Traffic and other bands played here. In the 1990s Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall bought a house on Richmond Hill, and are currently engaged in a legal dispute over their right to erect a large glass turret on the roof. Ronnie Wood once owned the same house on the Hill that actor John Mills previously lived in. Pete Townshend of The Who lives at the top of the hill - like the Jaggers he can occasionally be seen in The Roebuck pub close to his home.

Richmond University - a private institution, also known as the American International University in London - is based here. Richmond degrees are accredited in the USA, and are validated in the UK.

Richmond station is one of the western termini of the District Line on the London Underground system. It is also the western terminus of the London Overground line to Stratford and served by trains from Waterloo station on the National Rail service, connecting it with Reading, Staines, Windsor, Wimbledon and Weybridge.

• Kew
• Mortlake
• Sheen
• Petersham
• Ham
• Teddington
• Twickenham
• St Margarets
• Isleworth
• Whitton

• Richmond station

• Richmond station
• St. Margarets railway station
• North Sheen railway station
• Kew Gardens station

• John Dunt

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Richmond.

• The Richmond Society
• Totally Richmond
• Richmond Online
• Richmond upon Thames Daily Photo
• History of Richmond timeline
• London Borough of Richmond
• Richmond Theatre
• The Royal Star and Garter Homes
• Your Richmond
• Photographs of Richmond-upon-Thames

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