Molesey

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Molesey
Molesey (Surrey)
Molesey

Molesey shown within Surrey
Population 18,565[1]
OS grid reference TQ145675
District Elmbridge
Shire county Surrey
Region South East
Constituent country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town EAST MOLESEY
Postcode district KT8
Post town WEST MOLESEY
Postcode district KT8
Dialling code 020
Police Surrey
Fire Surrey
Ambulance South East Coast
European Parliament South East England
UK Parliament Esher and Walton
List of places: UK • England • Surrey

Coordinates: 51°23′42″N 0°21′12″W / 51.3949, -0.3533

Molesey is a place in the Elmbridge district of Surrey. Situated in the commuter-belt of London, it is a typical suburban area. There are two distinct areas in the town: West and East Molesey. Neighbouring towns are Walton-on-Thames and Sunbury-on-Thames and Kingston-upon-Thames; nearby villages include Thames Ditton and Hampton.

Contents

[edit] History

The land in the Molesey area was owned by Chertsey Abbey in the 7th century. The town's name is derived from the estates called Muleseg. Mul (pronounced Mule) is a personal name, whilst the second syllabul comes from an Old English word meaning an island or a water meadow. Therefore the name does not come from the River Mole that runs through the town. The prefixes East and West were not used until the 13th century. Prior to that there was only one village which was East Molesey.[2]

One of the first documented references to Molesey appears in a 10th-century charter (933AD); King Æthelstan to the familia of Chertsey Minster; confirmation of lands in Surrey and Berks.[3] Molesey lay within the Saxon administrative district of Elmbridge hundred.

East Molesey appears in Domesday Book of 1086 as Molesham. It was held partly by John from Richard Fitz Gilbert and partly by Roger d'Abernon. Its domesday assets were: 2 hides and 3 virgates. It had 7 ploughs, 2 oxen, 32 acres of meadow, woodland worth 10 hogs. It rendered £6 15s 0d. Whilst West Molesey was held by Odard Balistarius. Its domesday assets were: 1 hide; 1 church, 5 ploughs. It rendered £4.[4]

Molesey was one of the many villages and towns along the Thames valley affected by the flooding of the River Mole in 1968.[citation needed]

[edit] Locality

Molesey lies south of the River Thames and bears several large reservoirs which provide water for central London. Some of these are now empty and are being converted into nature reserves. To the west lies Bessborough Reservoir and Knight Reservoir, to the northwest Molesey Reservoirs, to the south Island Barn Reservoir, and to the southwest Queen Elizabeth II Reservoir.

Molesey Heath is a large tract of common land adjacent to the town. Once a rubbish tip, it is now a pleasant place to walk. It is possible to find buried shards of old pottery and bottles dating from the time the heath was used as a large waste-ground as well as the more usual detritus of used condoms and syringes. Many bottles are from the old lemonade factory in nearby Thames Ditton. The lake, which has recently begun to be filled in with earth, was once a puddle.

Molesey
Molesey

Hampton Court Palace in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames is reachable from East Molesey by Hampton Court Bridge. Molesey Lock is just above the bridge. East Molesey boasts some interesting landmarks, including The "Crooked" Bell, a public house built in the mid-15th century.

[edit] Sports

Molesey was once the bare-knuckle boxing centre of England,[citation needed] and has an unused horse-racing track stretching the length of the River Thames from the new Tesco shopping centre at Hurst Park down to Molesey Lock. Its long, wide grass expanse and the large old iron gates, separated by a road opened on race days, are still visible. Previously it was referred to as Moulsey Hurst.

East Molesey Cricket Club (est. 1730) is the second-oldest cricket club in the world.[citation needed]

Molesey Boat Club (est. 1866) is one of the UK's leading rowing clubs, with several Olympic and World Championship medallists in addition to domestic success at all ages.[citation needed]

[edit] Popular Culture

The Lord Hotham Pub, situated on the Walton Road which is the main route through Molesey High Street, was built on the site of the now demolished 'Oldest House in the World.' Although never proved, historians before its demolition in the 19th Century, and many today, believe that the house was built circa 200 AD, and housed the wealthy Cagoul family, a prominent power at the time.

[edit] Transportation

[edit] Rail Service

The local railway station is Hampton Court railway station, operated by South West Trains. There is a regular stopping service to Waterloo. The route stops at Surbiton and Clapham Junction where connections can be made to Southbound services. The trip to Waterloo takes around 35 minutes and is popular with commuters. During the Hampton Court flower show extra services are provided to and from London.

[edit] Bus Service

Bus links serve the short distance to nearby Kingston and Richmond, both suburban boroughs of London.

Molesey's main bus service, the 411, is operated by London United on behalf of Transport for London. The route starts at Central Avenue in West Molesey and runs through East Molesey, past Hampton Court Station and on to Kingston town centre where there are connections to buses throughout the local area. The bus runs a good schedule throughout the day and late into the evening.

[edit] Notable people

One celebrity from Molesey is Matt Willis, who was once in the band 'Busted' and is the 2006 winner of ITV's 'I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!'.

Broadcaster, Robert Robinson regularly quoted on his Radio Four programme, Stop the Week, from an alleged correspondent in East Molesey. Many believe this to have been merely a device, used by Robinson to promote his own whimsical views on a variety of esoteric subjects.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Surrey County Council census data
  2. ^ History from the Molesey Residents' Association
  3. ^ PASE S420
  4. ^ Surrey Domesday Book

[edit] External links

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