Hampton Wick

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Location
Hampton Wick


OS grid reference:	TQ176695
Latitude:	51.412255°
Longitude:	-0.308096°
Administration
London borough:	Richmond
County level:	Greater London
Region:	London
Constituent country:	England
Sovereign state:	United Kingdom
Other
Ceremonial county:	Greater London
Historic county:	Middlesex
Services
Police force:	Metropolitan Police
Fire brigade:	London Fire Brigade
Ambulance service:	London Ambulance
Post office and telephone
Post town:	KINGSTON UPON THAMES, EAST MOLESEY
Postal district:	KT1, KT8
Dialling code:	020
Politics
UK Parliament:	Twickenham
London Assembly:	South West
European Parliament:	London
London \| List of places in London

Hampton Wick is a Thames-side area, formerly a village, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in London, England.

Once famous for its market gardens into well into the 20th century, it is now commuter-belt territory, housing developments having been built on these areas. Such development is constrained, however, since there is Bushy Park and Hampton Court Park on the west and the River Thames to the east.

There is evidence of Roman occupation; and the first bridge linking the village with Kingston upon Thames over the river is dated from c1219, replacing the Roman ford at this point. There is also a railway station serving Hampton Wick, with good connections to London Waterloo.

Cardinal Wolsey lived here in a still existing house in Lower Teddington Road while waiting for Hampton Court Palace to be built^{[citation needed]}

At Hampton Wick resided Sir Richard Steele, in a house which he whimsically denominated "the hovel;" and "from the Hovel at Hampton Wick, April 7, 1711," he dedicated the fourth volume of the Tatler to Charles, Lord Halifax. This was probably about the time he became surveyor of the royal stables at Hampton Court Palace, governor of the king's comedians, a justice of the peace for Middlesex, and a knight.