Molesey
| Molesey | |
 The one-way retail/dining and bar-lined street of East Molesey (Bridge Road) near Hampton Court Palace. This road is on the old alignment of Hampton Court Bridge before it was rebuilt by Surrey and Middlesex county councils, employing Edwin Lutyens. |
|
  Molesey Molesey shown within Surrey | |
| Area | 5.87 km2 (2.27 sq mi) |
|---|---|
| Population | 19,088 (2011 census)[1] |
| - Density | 3,252 /km2 (8,420 /sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | TQ145675 |
| - Charing Cross | 12 mi (19 km) NE |
| Civil parish | n/a |
| District | Elmbridge |
| Shire county | Surrey |
| Region | South East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | EAST MOLESEY WEST MOLESEY |
| Postcode district | KT8 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Surrey |
| Fire | Surrey |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | Esher and Walton |
Molesey /ˈmoʊl.ziː/ is a town in the borough of Elmbridge in Surrey, England. Traditionally divided into East and West, Molesey is a suburban town on the border of Greater London, and within the Greater London Urban Area, between 11.7 and 13.5 miles from Charing Cross. It has the London dialling code (020), and was from 1840 until 2000 under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Police. East and West Molesey share a high street, and there is a second retail/dining area street close to Hampton Court Palace in the eastern part of the town, which is also home to Hampton Court railway station in Transport for London's Zone 6. Molesey Hurst or Hurst Park is a large park by the River Thames in the north of the town, and is home to Molesey Cricket Club. The Hampton Ferry (London) runs from here to Hampton on the Middlesex bank, from where it is a short walk to the central area of Hampton.
Molesey is divided into three wards of the United Kingdom: Molesey South, East and North. The majority of Molesey's detached properties are in the east, which also contains the highest proportion of apartments of the three wards. Molesey's conservation area is to the south by a corollary channel of the River Mole, known as the River Ember, where successive environment authorities have implemented capacity-adding flood defences following a widespread and costly flood in 1968. Molesey Lock is the second lock (and weir) on the River Thames. It is located within 100 metres of Hampton Court Bridge, designed by Edwardian/Arts and Craft architect Edwin Lutyens, styles reflected by contemporary properties in the town. Other styles which are prevalent are 1960s red-brick semi-detached homes and Art Deco/Bauhaus.
History
The earliest documentary evidence of a settlement in Molesey appears in a 7th-century charter, shortly after Erkenwald founded Chertsey Abbey in AD 666. He secured from Frithwald, sub-king of Surrey, a charter endowing the abbey with much of the surrounding land, including Muleseg. Etymologists suggest that the town's name is derived from the personal name Mul (pronounced Mule) compounded with the Old English word eg, meaning an island or river meadow - thus Mul's Island. Therefore Molesey is not, as commonly believed, named after the River Mole that runs through it. The prefixes East and West did not appear until about the year 1200, before which there was only one parish centred around what is now known as East Molesey.[2] 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, and 32 acres (130,000 m2) of meadow and woodland worth 10 hogs. It rendered £6 15s 0d. West Molesey was held by Odard Balistarius. Its Domesday assets were: 1 hide, 1 church, and 5 ploughs. It rendered £4.[3]
Along with neighbouring Thames Ditton, East Molesey formed a part of the ancient parish of Kingston upon Thames. From 1933, the Urban District of East and West Molesey became part of the Esher Urban District, which was originally recommended by the Royal Commission on Local Government in Greater London (the Herbert Commission) for inclusion within the new ceremonial county of Greater London. In 1974, the district eventually merged with its neighbour to the west, Walton and Weybridge Urban District, to form the new borough of Elmbridge within Surrey.[4]
Molesey was one of the many villages and towns along the Thames valley affected by flooding in 1968; specifically here the flooding of the River Mole. Some barriers and overflow fields have been created since then by the Environment Agency and its precursors.[5]
East and West Molesey uses a roughly due north-south compass axis, based on a point of division by the Molesey Stone on the grass outside Molesey Library on Walton Road.
Locality
Molesey is directly south of the River Thames, with several large reservoirs bordering the town to the west and south that provide water within the London Basin. Some of these are now disused and are being converted into nature reserves. To the west lie Bessborough Reservoir and Knight Reservoir, to the north-west Molesey Reservoirs, to the south Island Barn Reservoir, and to the south-west Queen Elizabeth II Reservoir. There are walks beside Metropolitan green belt fields to the south along the river Mole to Esher, and to the west along the Thames Path to Walton-on-Thames.
Hampton Court Palace is immediately north-east of East Molesey across Hampton Court Bridge.
The Palace, together with the southern part of Bushy Park and most of Hampton Court Park are in the post town East Molesey.
Molesey Lock is just above Hampton Court Bridge, downstream of Sunbury Lock and upstream of Teddington Lock. Cigarette Island Park is just below the bridge, occupying the eastern extremity of the town.
Hurst Park is on the south bank of the Thames, from where there is a daily ferry service to Hampton on the Middlesex bank. It once had a horse racing course but no longer does.
The residential streets of East Molesey run into the northernmost stretches of residential Esher to the south and Thames Ditton to the south-east. Together with the reservoirs, Green Belt land to the west and south-west divides West Molesey from Walton on Thames.
Landmarks
Molesey itself has some interesting landmarks, including three listed Church of England churches and The Bell, a public house, formerly known as "The Crooked House", built in the mid-15th century. Other Landmarks include The Jubilee Fountain in Bridge Road. There are three designated Conservation Areas in East Molesey.
Other historic buildings include the Grade II-listed Matham Manor, an altered 15th-century house with timber frames and red brick; and a 16th-century house, Quillets Royal, with an 18th-century extension (The Manor House). Both buildings lie near The Bell in Bell Road/Matham Road.[6]
Bars, public houses & restaurants
Molesey has many traditional pubs and restaurants, though several public houses have closed in recent years to become apartment buildings. They have largely consolidated on a few with successful niche products or music offerings such as The Poyntz Arms with live music on Friday evenings.
Molesey's modern bars are composed of Staff's Bar, the Square Olive and the Prince of Wales in East Molesey.
Molesey East & West Conservative Club and the Royal British Legion Club are the only members' clubs (both in East Molesey). In West Molesey is The Europa, The Lord Hotham, The Cannon and The Royal Oak. Chinese, Indian, French and Italian restaurants pepper the area.
Scout groups
Molesey has three Scout groups which all belong to Esher District. 1st Molesey is a Royal Navy recognised Sea Scout group whilst 2nd and 3rd Molesey are both Land Scout Groups. All groups have sections from beavers right through to explorers. The groups take part in a wide variety of activities and events throughout the year at various locations.
Sports
Molesey was once the bare-knuckle boxing centre of England,[7] and had a famous horse-racing track stretching the length of the River Thames from where Hurst Park School now stands, down to Molesey Lock. Much of the course was built on in the 1960s: the Hurst Park Estate has a mixture of three and two storey homes and a block of flats overlooking the river. Part of the open space that was part of the racetrack is now an riverside park. There is a wide grass expanse, a playground and open access to the Thames, features here include the popular Hampton Ferry and Molesey Regatta, a major event in the sport of rowing with catering and evening outdoor music.
Cricket
East Molesey Cricket Club is located alongside the South bank of the Thames, half a mile from Hampton Court Palace. Founded in 1871, it is a thriving local sports club with a long and glorious history. The Club’s first XI play in Surrey Championship Division 1 and there are three other senior Saturday league sides and one senior Sunday league side, regularly competing against other Surrey clubs. The club continues to place special emphasis on generating a love of cricket amongst Molesey's junior residents.
Rowing
Molesey Boat Club (est. 1866) is one of the UK's leading rowing clubs, home to some current Olympic and World Championship medallists and domestic success at all ages, particularly in its adult crews. The rowing club also competes in the Amateur Molesey Regatta held annually in Hurst Park [8]
Football
Molesey F.C. is a football team based in West Molesey, the club is currently a member of the Combined Counties League Premier Division and plays at the Walton Road Stadium.
Metropolitan Police F.C. is a Non-League football team based in East Molesey and are based at the Imber Court Sports Ground.
AFC Molesey is a football team also based in West Molesey, the club is currently a member of the Surrey County Intermediate League (Western) Division One and plays at the West Molesey Recreation Ground, Walton Road, West Molesey. The club's popularity has grown significantly in recent years following its winning several honours including the Lower Junior County Cup in the 2007/08 season and successful league promotions. The team was previously known as Claygate Swans F.C.
Swimming
Hurst swimming pool is in Dunstall Way in the north of Molesey.
Pool/Billiards
The Poyntz Arms Public House and Molesey East & West Conservative Club host matches in the Tolworth and District Pool League.
Darts
The Molesey Football Club and the Royal British Legion (Molesey Branch) both have darts teams, made up of club members, that play in the Molesey and District Darts League.
Sports history
There are some large iron gates in the access road to Hurst Park called Graburn Way which were built so that races then started just east of the road and enabled the course to have a 'straight mile'. Just beyond the gates used to be the home of the open air Upper Deck swimming pool, the nearest open air pool now being across the ferry up Hampton High Street in Hampton. An indoor pool was built by the council nearby as a replacement. Upmarket flats are now built on the site of the outdoor pool. The entire riverside recreational area was previously referred to as Moulsey Hurst.
'Moulsey Hurst' is a very early site of cricket (from 1731) and that tradition is continued to this day by East Molesey Cricket Club, which was established in 1871.
Transport
Rail service
The railway station in East Molesey is Hampton Court railway station in Transport for London's Zone 6, operated by South West Trains. This is the terminus of a stopping commuter service to Waterloo that takes around thirty-five minutes. Principal stops are Surbiton, Wimbledon and Clapham Junction. During the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show extra trains run to and from London.
Bus services
Four services serve the town.
- To the east
Molesey's red bus service, the 411 (previously the 131 from West Molesey to Wimbledon), is operated by Quality Line on behalf of Transport for London. The short route begins at Central Avenue in West Molesey and runs through East Molesey, past Hampton Court Station and on to Kingston town centre.
- To the north-east
East Molesey's northern point by its station, shopping parade and small riverside park is the terminus of a second Transport for London bus service, the R68, operated by Abellio. The route begins at Hampton Court station, and runs through Hampton, Hampton Hill, Teddington, Strawberry Hill, Twickenham and Richmond before ending at Kew retail park.
- To the west
Route 461, operated by Abellio on behalf of Surrey County Council, runs from Kingston, through Molesey and on to Walton, terminating at St Peter's Hospital, Chertsey.
- To the south-west and south-east
Route 514, also operated by Abellio on behalf of Surrey County Council, runs from Hersham to Kingston via Molesey, Thames Ditton, Long Ditton and Surbiton.
 |
Hampton/Sunbury-on-Thames | Hampton/across the Palace and Bushy Park Teddington |
across the Palace and Bushy Park Teddington |
|
| Sunbury-on-Thames |  |
Hampton Court Palace across Hampton Court Park & Golf Course Kingston-upon-Thames | ||
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 | ||||
| Fieldcommon, Walton-on-Thames across Queen Elizabeth II reservoir Walton-on-Thames |
Lower Green, Esher | Thames Ditton |
Notable people
- Chemmy Alcott, British Olympic alpine skier
- Mick Avory, drummer and percussionist for rock band The Kinks, grew up in West Molesey[9]
- Keith Barron, actor, lives in the town
- Liv Boeree, professional poker player, lives in East Molesey
- Bernie Constable (1921-1997), cricketer, brother of the below
- Dennis Constable (born 1925), cricketer, brother of the above
- Bill Cotton, the television producer and executive and the son of big-band leader Billy Cotton, lived in East Molesey in his latter years
- Roy Holder, actor
- Lee Mack, stand-up comic, lives in East Molesey
- Piers Morgan, presenter, has lived in West Molesey
- Robert Robinson, when presenting the Radio Four programme Stop the Week, regularly quoted 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 obscure subjects
- Luke Shaw, professional footballer, grew up in Molesey[10]
- Les Strong, professional footballer who played for Crystal Palace and Fulham
- Julius Vogel (1835-1899), British-born Prime Minister of New Zealand, retired to East Molesey, and died there
- Matt Willis, the musician, TV presenter and ex-actor, who is best known for being the bassist in Busted, lived in Molesey during his youth
Demography and housing
| Output area | Detached | Semi-detached | Terraced | Flats and apartments | Caravans/temporary/mobile homes | Shared between households[1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East (ward) | 909 | 677 | 334 | 753 | 1 | 11 |
| North (ward) | 454 | 879 | 818 | 358 | 0 | 0 |
| South (ward) | 247 | 1,113 | 867 | 595 | 0 | 2 |
The average level of accommodation in the region composed of detached houses was 28%, the average that was apartments was 22.6%.
| Output area | Population | Households | % Owned outright | % Owned with a loan | hectares[1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East (ward) | 6,337 | 2,685 | 38 | 40 | 298 |
| North (ward) | 6,008 | 2,509 | 37 | 41 | 164 |
| South (ward) | 6,743 | 2,824 | 27 | 41 | 125 |
The proportion of households in the settlement who owned their home outright compares to the regional average of 35.1%. The proportion who owned their home with a loan compares to the regional average of 32.5%. The remaining % is made up of rented dwellings (plus a negligible % of households living rent-free).
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Key Statistics; Quick Statistics: Population Density United Kingdom Census 2011 Office for National Statistics Retrieved 21 November 2013
- ↑ The Book of Molesey by Rowland G M Baker
- ↑ Surrey Domesday Book
- ↑ http://www.elmbridge.gov.uk/Council/information/councilhistory.htm
- ↑ http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk Flood Prevention Scheme Map. Retrieved 2012-04-10.
- ↑ The Heritage List for England online. Retrieved 2012-04-10
- ↑ Baker, Rowland (1989). Thameside Molesey. U.K. ISBN 978086023 414 2. extracts available here
- ↑ Molesey Boat Club website medal results 2011-2012. Retrieved 2012-4-10
- ↑ in Balmoral Crescent
- ↑ "Shaw Savouring Chelsea Contest". Southampton F.C. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Molesey. |
- Molesey History - This site has many books, papers and pictures on the history of Molesey and the surrounding area from Rowland G M Baker's collection.
- Molesey News & Mail local newspaper
- Molesey Residents' Association - The local Residents Association.
- Elmbridge Borough Council - The local council.
- 1st Molesey (Jaguar) Sea Scout Group - One of Molesey's three Scout groups. 1st Molesey are RN Recognised and provide water activities for young people aged 6–18
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