Weybridge

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude=51.37204
longitude=-0.45270
official_name= Weybridge
map_type= Surrey
population = 19,463
shire_district= Elmbridge
shire_county = Surrey
region= South East England
constituency_westminster= Runnymede and Weybridge
post_town= WEYBRIDGE
postcode_area= KT
postcode_district= KT13
dial_code= 01932
os_grid_reference= TQ078648

Weybridge is a town in the Elmbridge district of Surrey in South East England. It is bounded to the north by the River Thames at the mouth of the River Wey, from which it gets its name. It is a suburb in the London commuter belt, and the some of the housing is expensive: as of 2008, six of the ten most expensive streets in South East England (defined as the official government region, which excludes Greater London) were in Weybridge. [ [http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/article3393018.ece The most expensive streets in the South East, 2008] , "The Times", 19 February 2008.]

Weybridge is made up of a number of distinct areas: town centre shopping area, Monument Hill / Queens Road shopping area, St George's Hill, Brooklands and Oatlands Village.

History

Weybridge lay within the Saxon administrative district of Elmbridge hundred.

Weybridge appears in Domesday Book of 1086 as "Webrige" and "Webruge". It was held partly by Chertsey Abbey; partly by an Englishman from the abbey; and partly by Herfrid from the Bishop of Bayeux. Its domesday assets were: 6 hides; 1½ ploughs, 32 acres of meadow, wood worth 9 hogs. It rendered £4. [ [http://www.gwp.enta.net/surrnames.htm Surrey Domesday Book] ]

The early history of Weybridge was simply as a river crossing. In 1537 it became the location of Oatlands Palace built by Henry VIII, which was where he married his 5th wife Katherine Howard. When it was demolished in 1650, bricks from its walls helped to line the then new Wey Navigation canal. Part of the original site of the Palace is now occupied by Oatlands Park Hotel.

At the bottom of Monument Hill, close to the town centre is a monument to the Duchess of York, erected by public subscription in 1820 from the remains of the original Seven Dials Monument that stood in St.Martin's Lane London until 1773.

The entomologist, Horace Donisthorpe, visited Weybridge Heath to investigate the ant colony.

The world's first leisure campsite was set up near Weybridge in 1901 and was part of the early history of the camping and caravanning cub.

Railway

When the London and Southampton Railway opened its station here in 1838, development of what was only a village began. Large houses were built on St George's Hill; and gradually Weybridge became a town.

Plant Life

Near "Firfields"In Weybridge heath, many rare species of insects (particularly ants), rare birds and insectivorous plant formerly occurred. The heath was allowed to become vastly overgrown in recent years, but recently Surrey Wildlife Trust invoked a scrub clearance plan in an attempt to restore this valuable habitat.

Industry

Weybridge is the British headquarters of Sony Corporation, Procter & Gamble, and Gallahers Tobacco and also Toshiba Information Systems headquarters is very close by.

The Veterinary Laboratories Agency, an executive agency of DEFRA, has its central laboratories located near Weybridge. The laboratory is notable as being one of the principal test centres for the H5N1 virus, commonly known as Bird Flu.

In H. G. Wells' book "The War of the Worlds", Weybridge was the location of a battle in which a Martian fighting machine was destroyed. The title of chapter 12 the book is: "What I saw in the destruction of Weybridge and Shepperton".

Education

Two schools for 11-18-year-olds serve Weybridge, Heathside School and 6th Form Centre in the town itself and St George's College in nearby Addlestone. There is also Brooklands College, for sixth form students in further education.

port

At the top of Monument Hill, adjacent to the cricket green is a World War I war memorial.

Weybridge also has a variety of sports clubs including the Weybridge Vandals Rugby club, Elmbridge Canoe Club, Weybridge Bowls Club, Weybridge Rowing Club and Weybridge Cricket Club, all serving the area for many years. Addlestone & Weybridge Town F.C. was the main football club in Weybridge until becoming defunct in 1985, however there are several amateur teams in the local area.

Notable Residents

*Nina Bawden lived in Weybridge in the 1960's and 70's - her famous book Carrie's War was written at her house in Hanger Hill - now demolished along with the private school 'Wallop School'
*E.M. Forster wrote his most famed book, Howards End, in Weybridge between 1908 and 1910.

Nearest Places

* Walton-on-Thames
* Addlestone
* Byfleet
* New Haw
* Shepperton can be seen the other side of the Thames

Brooklands race circuit

The famous former Brooklands Aerodrome and Race Circuit is located near West Byfleet. It is now the location for the Brooklands Museum. The brainchild of Hugh Locke-King, it was opened on June 17, 1907 and was the first custom-built motor race circuit in the world. It was the first ever oval style race track built for cars. Requirements of speed and spectator visibility led to the track being built

Wikisource Link

*

External links

* [http://www.elmbridge-online.co.uk/weybridge/history.html History of Weybridge]
* [http://www.allaboutweybridge.co.uk/aaw/monument_green_York_history.htm The York Column Monument and Monument Green History]
* [http://www.weyriver.co.uk/theriver The River Wey and Wey Navigations Community Site]
* [http://www.surreyproperty.com/weybridge-aerial-photographs.html Aerial photographs of Weybridge]
* [http://www.weybridgeonline.co.uk/ Weybridge News & Mail]

References

* [http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/sccwebsite/sccwspublications.nsf/591f7dda55aad72a80256c670041a50d/1c602ea59c869c9180256e600054b26c/$FILE/Town%20populations.pdf Population figures (PDF)]