Egham Hythe
Encyclopedia
Egham Hythe is a place between Egham
and Staines
in Surrey
, England
, extending south of the River Thames
towards Thorpe Lea (Thorpe
), and includes the area surrounding Pooley Green. It is located 18.3 miles (29.4 km) west south-west of Charing Cross
in London, and is the site of Staines Bridge
.
until the dissolution of the monasteries
in 1537, did not support any settlement due to frequent flooding by the river Thames
.
The building of locks on the river in the 19th Century limited flooding sufficiently for people to begin living in Egham Hythe more readily. This increase in population was boosted by the building of the railway in the 1850s with stations at neighbouring Egham
and Staines
.
Egham Hythe gained its first school in the 1880s and its own parish church, having separated from Egham
in 1930. Much of the campaigning and financial support for the church came from local resident and
entrepreneur Edward Budgen
.
Though Egham Hythe suffered a particularly severe flood in 1947, the population increased greatly in the post-war period, as it did in much of the south-east of England.
Perhaps because of an unwillingness to build housing on the most flood prone areas next to the Thames, industry has always played an important role in the development of Egham Hythe. Prior to the Second World War
the area was home to Lagonda
, the motorcar manufacturers. The Lagonda site was later taken over by Petters Limited
and is now a Sainsbury's supermarket.
—and a new community centre. It is within the south westerly bounds of the M25 motorway
and contains several churches, including St Paul's.
since 1988. This 16 acres (64,749.8 m²) site contains at least 157 different plant species. It is managed to encourage biodiversity.
Egham
Egham is a wealthy suburb in the Runnymede borough of Surrey, in the south-east of England. It is part of the London commuter belt and Greater London Urban Area, and about south-west of central London on the River Thames and near junction 13 of the M25 motorway.-Demographics:Egham town has a...
and Staines
Staines
Staines is a Thames-side town in the Spelthorne borough of Surrey and Greater London Urban Area, as well as the London Commuter Belt of South East England. It is a suburban development within the western bounds of the M25 motorway and located 17 miles west south-west of Charing Cross in...
in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, extending south of the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
towards Thorpe Lea (Thorpe
Thorpe, Surrey
Thorpe is a village in Surrey, England, located between Egham and Chertsey. It lies just inside the circle of the western part of the M25, near the M3. Neighbouring villages include Virginia Water, Wentworth, Laleham and Lyne...
), and includes the area surrounding Pooley Green. It is located 18.3 miles (29.4 km) west south-west of Charing Cross
Charing Cross
Charing Cross denotes the junction of Strand, Whitehall and Cockspur Street, just south of Trafalgar Square in central London, England. It is named after the now demolished Eleanor cross that stood there, in what was once the hamlet of Charing. The site of the cross is now occupied by an equestrian...
in London, and is the site of Staines Bridge
Staines Bridge
Staines Bridge is a road bridge running in a south-west to north-east direction across the River Thames in Surrey. It is on the modern A308 road and links the boroughs of Spelthorne and Runnymede at Staines and Egham Hythe....
.
History
For many centuries the land of Egham Hythe, which belonged to Chertsey AbbeyChertsey Abbey
Chertsey Abbey, dedicated to St Peter, was a Benedictine monastery located at Chertsey in the English county of Surrey.It was founded by Saint Erkenwald, later Bishop of London, in 666 AD and he became the first abbot. In the 9th century it was sacked by the Danes and refounded from Abingdon Abbey...
until the dissolution of the monasteries
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
in 1537, did not support any settlement due to frequent flooding by the river Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
.
The building of locks on the river in the 19th Century limited flooding sufficiently for people to begin living in Egham Hythe more readily. This increase in population was boosted by the building of the railway in the 1850s with stations at neighbouring Egham
Egham railway station
Egham railway station serves the town of Egham in Surrey, England. The station is owned by Network Rail and managed by South West Trains, who provide the train services. The station is on the line from Waterloo to Reading between Virginia Water and Staines. The station is also served by trains to...
and Staines
Staines railway station
Staines railway station is in Staines, Surrey. South West Trains manage it and provide all services which are down to , and and up to London Waterloo....
.
Egham Hythe gained its first school in the 1880s and its own parish church, having separated from Egham
Egham parish church
St. John's Church, Egham or Egham Parish Church . or St. John the Baptist, Egham is an evangelical Anglican church located in the centre of Egham, Surrey, in the Diocese of Guildford . There are approximately 350 members on the Electoral Roll and a usual Sunday attendance in the region of 450...
in 1930. Much of the campaigning and financial support for the church came from local resident and
entrepreneur Edward Budgen
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
.
Though Egham Hythe suffered a particularly severe flood in 1947, the population increased greatly in the post-war period, as it did in much of the south-east of England.
Perhaps because of an unwillingness to build housing on the most flood prone areas next to the Thames, industry has always played an important role in the development of Egham Hythe. Prior to the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the area was home to Lagonda
Lagonda
Lagonda is a British luxury car marque, founded as a company in 1906 in Staines, Middlesex by a former opera singer from Ohio, but of Scottish ancestry, named Wilbur Gunn . He named the company after a river near the town of his birth, Springfield, Ohio, United States...
, the motorcar manufacturers. The Lagonda site was later taken over by Petters Limited
Petters Limited
Petters Limited , were a maker of stationary petrol and diesel engines from 1896 onwards.In 1915 Petter founded Westland Aircraft Works ....
and is now a Sainsbury's supermarket.
Today
Egham Hythe has two primary schools (Thorpe Lea School and The Hythe School) and is home to the area secondary school—The Magna Carta SchoolThe Magna Carta School
The Magna Carta School is an 11 -16 fully comprehensive school in the heart of Surrey, providing the local community with an outstanding educational establishment. It is named after the Magna Carta due to its proximity to where this historic document was signed...
—and a new community centre. It is within the south westerly bounds of the M25 motorway
M25 motorway
The M25 motorway, or London Orbital, is a orbital motorway that almost encircles Greater London, England, in the United Kingdom. The motorway was first mooted early in the 20th century. A few sections, based on the now abandoned London Ringways plan, were constructed in the early 1970s and it ...
and contains several churches, including St Paul's.
Thorpe Hay Meadow
Egham Hythe provides access to Thorpe Hay Meadow, one of the few surviving example of unimproved grassland on Thames Gravel in Surrey. It has been managed by Surrey Wildlife TrustSurrey Wildlife Trust
Surrey Wildlife Trust is a Wildlife Trust in Surrey, a county in South East England. The Trust's vision is for a living landscape in Surreythat is rich in wildlife and valued by all. It is the only organisation in Surrey that cares for all forms of wildlife in the county.Surrey Wildlife Trust is...
since 1988. This 16 acres (64,749.8 m²) site contains at least 157 different plant species. It is managed to encourage biodiversity.