Staines
Encyclopedia
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 London
.
of the River Thames
at Staines since Roman times. The emperor Claudius
sent the Romans into Britain in 43 A.D and they settled in Staines the same year. Soon after this invasion the first Staines Bridge
was constructed to provide an important Thames crossing point on main road from Londinium (London) to Calleva Atrebatum, near the present-day village of Silchester
. The name comes from the Old English, meaning "[the place at the] stone[s]". The Roman name for Staines was "ad Pontes" (plural "at the bridges") implying that there was more than one bridge and it is believed that these bridges traversed Church Island
.
Staines appears on the Middlesex
domesday map in the Domesday Book
of 1086 as Stanes. It was held by Westminster Abbey
. Its domesday assets were: 19 hide
s. It had 6 mill
s worth £3 4s 0d, 2 weir
s worth 6s 8d, 24 plough
s, meadow
for 24 plough
s, and some cattle. It rendered £35.
A border stana, or stone, on the bank of the River Thames
, dated 1280, still remains, indicating the western limit of the City of London
jurisdiction over the Thames. (Although familiarly known as the 'London Stone', it is not to be confused with the more famous (and probably more ancient) London Stone
in Cannon Street in the City of London).
The situation of Staines as a major crossing point over the River Thames, its position on the main road from London to the southwest, and its proximity to Windsor
has led to the town being involved in national affairs. The barons assembled there before they met King John at Runnymede
in 1215, and Stephen Langton
held a consecration there shortly after the issue of Magna Carta
. Sir Thomas More was tried in 1535 in a Staines public house, to avoid the outbreak of plague in London at that time. Kings and other important people must have passed through the town on many occasions: the church bells were rung several times in 1670, for instance, when the king and queen went through Staines.
During the period 1642–48 there were skirmishes on Staines Moor and numerous troop movements over Staines Bridge during the Civil War
.
Staines was the major producer of linoleum
, a type of floor covering, after the formation of the Linoleum Manufacturing Company in 1864 by its inventor, Frederick Walton. Linoleum became the main industry of the town and was a major employer in the area up until the 1960s. In 1876 about 220 and in 1911 about 350 people worked in the plant. By 1957 it employed some 300 people and in 1956 the factory produced about 2675 m2 of linoleum each week. The term 'Staines Lino' became a worldwide name but the factory was closed around 1970 and is now the site of the Two Rivers shopping centre completed circa 2000. A bronze statue of two lino workers in Staines High Street commemorates the Staines Lino Factory. The Spelthorne Museum in Staines has a display dedicated to the Linoleum Manufacturing Company.
The Lagonda Car factory was in Staines and manufactured Lagonda cars from the site where Sainsburys is today.
The town was the site of the Staines air disaster in 1972, at the time the worst air crash in Britain
until the Lockerbie disaster of 1988. The crash was commemorated in June 2004, with the opening of a dedicated garden near the crash site, created at the request of relatives, and the unveiling of a stained glass window at St. Marys Church, where a memorial service was held.
created the Staines Urban District
of Middlesex
. In 1965, under the London Government Act 1963
, most of the rest of Middlesex became part of Greater London
while Staines Urban District was transferred to Surrey
. In 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972
, the Staines Urban District was abolished and its area combined with that of the former Sunbury-on-Thames Urban District
to form the present-day borough of Spelthorne
.
have attracted a number of companies: BUPA
(healthcare), Logica (telecommunications and IT
consultants) have major offices, NDS
(conditional access
DRM
provider), Siemens
Building Automation Division and British Gas (part of Centrica) have their national headquarters here. Samsung Electronics Research Institute (SERI), Samsung's U.K R&D Division, is based in Staines.
At one time British Mediterranean Airways
had its head office in the Cirrus House in the London Borough of Hounslow
, near Staines.
are located at Knowle Green. The town has recently unveiled a revitalised Thames-side with landscaping and sculptures. The Town Hall (now a bar) is a pleasant Victorian blend of Italian and Flemish influences set in a small square. Some well preserved Georgian town houses line Clarence Street (named after the Duke of Clarence). Church Street and The Lammas house some lovely Georgian and Victorian properties clustered around the parish church of St Mary
. Most housing in the town is middle class in nature with plenty of green spaces (Staines Moor
, Shortwood Common, Knowle Green, Leacroft, The Lammas and Laleham Abbey to the immediate south). Staines Bridge spans the Thames with a graceful three arch structure completed in 1832. Until the 14th century Staines was the tidal limit, now downstream at Teddington
.
Staines is the home of the fictional character Ali G
.
Rock band Hard-Fi
are from Staines.
, Debenhams
, T.K. Maxx
, JD Sports
, Sony
, McDonald's
x2, Argos
, PC World
, Tesco
, Waitrose
, Monsoon
, HMV
and H&M
. Smaller independent units can be found in Church Street including Iris Bloomfield Florists and Refresh Juice Cafe, Clarence Street and the eastern end of the High Street.
A market in the pedestrianised High Street is held every Wednesday and Saturday. It is one of the largest and busiest street markets in Surrey.
A moderately-sized shopping centre (Elmsleigh) is directly behind the High Street. A retail park was opened in 2002 called Two Rivers which is bisected by the confluence of the rivers Wraysbury
and Colne
. Retailers include Waitrose
as well as a Vue
cinema, gym and cafes.
Outside the High street there are also many other parades of shops like Stainash and Edinburgh Drive.
and Staines Lammas F.C.
Staines Town play at the newly rebuilt Wheatsheaf Park ground and have recently been promoted to the Conference South
. Staines Town enjoy a strong rivalry with Hampton & Richmond Borough
. Staines Lammas were champions of the Combined Counties League Division One in the 2007-08 season and additionally run various age group teams. Staines is also home to a number of successful junior football clubs: Staines Town, Staines Lammas and Staines Albion, as well as girls clubs — Colne Valley
and the U11, one of the best girls junior clubs in Surrey.
Staines Rugby Club which used to play in Lammas park relocated to The Reeves Snakey Lane near Hanworth in the 1960s but still proudly bears the name of the town with teams named Swans, Cobs and Mucky Ducks. The Club is in National league 3 London & South East and offers a Mini and youth section.
Staines' town rowing club Staines Boat Club
is situated on the river and competes at an international level.
Staines Swimming Club funded in the early 1900's and affiliated to the Amateur Swimming Association
is based at Spelthorne Leisure Centre and provides competitive swimming from inter club level up to national level.
There are also many local gyms in the area including the recently revamped Matthew Arnold Sports Centre which is home to a Lifestyle fitness suite. Based along the Kingston road the centre's revamp has included a cv suite, spinning studio and dedicated free weights room. There are also local sports clubs including tennis, rowing and various football and rugby teams.
Staines is also home to T.S Thamesis, Staines and Egham Sea Cadet Corps. This is a uniformed youth organisation for young people aged between 10 and 18 years old. They meet in The Lammas Recreational Ground, Staines.
Motorcycle speedway racing was staged in Staines at a stadium in Wraysbury Road. Events in 1938 and 1939 are well know but it is possible that a venue was active from at least 1931 as a team named Staines raced at Caxton Speedway (near Cambridge 1931 - 1933 inclusive).
serving London Waterloo
, Weybridge
, Windsor and Eton Riverside and Reading
. Taxis are available from the station. The bus station is a five-minute walk from the railway station. Staines is also a short ride south of Heathrow Airport.
There are proposals to build a new line, called Heathrow Airtrack
, from Staines to Heathrow Airport's Terminal 5 station
. As part of these proposals a new station, to be called Staines High Street railway station
was due to be built between the existing Staines station, and Wraysbury railway station
although planners have now decided that this will not go ahead and the existing station at Staines would have an additional platform built instead.
, Wraysbury
, Ashford
, Stanwell
, Laleham
and Chertsey
. About 3 miles north east of Staines is the large Heathrow airport.
The area between Egham and Staines town centres is known as Egham Hythe
.
Spelthorne
Spelthorne is a local government district and borough in Surrey, England. It includes the towns of Ashford, Laleham, Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell and Sunbury...
borough of 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...
and Greater London Urban Area
Greater London Urban Area
The Greater London Urban Area is the conurbation or continuous urban area based around London, England, as defined by the Office for National Statistics. It had an estimated population of 8,505,000 in 2005 and occupied an area of at the time of the 2001 census. It includes most of Greater London,...
, as well as the London Commuter Belt
London commuter belt
The London commuter belt is the metropolitan area surrounding London, England from which it is practical to commute to work in the capital. It is alternatively known as the Greater South East, the London metropolitan area or the Southeast metropolitan area...
of South East England
South East England
South East England is one of the nine official regions of England, designated in 1994 and adopted for statistical purposes in 1999. It consists of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex...
. It is a suburban development within the western 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 located 17 miles 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
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Early history
There has been a crossingCrossings of the River Thames
This is a list of crossings of the River Thames including bridges, tunnels and ferries. There are 214 bridges, over 20 tunnels, six public ferries and one ford.-Barrier and boundary:...
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,...
at Staines since Roman times. The emperor Claudius
Claudius
Claudius , was Roman Emperor from 41 to 54. A member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, he was the son of Drusus and Antonia Minor. He was born at Lugdunum in Gaul and was the first Roman Emperor to be born outside Italy...
sent the Romans into Britain in 43 A.D and they settled in Staines the same year. Soon after this invasion the first 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....
was constructed to provide an important Thames crossing point on main road from Londinium (London) to Calleva Atrebatum, near the present-day village of Silchester
Silchester
Silchester is a village and civil parish about north of Basingstoke in Hampshire. It is adjacent to the county boundary with Berkshire and about south-west of Reading....
. The name comes from the Old English, meaning "[the place at the] stone[s]". The Roman name for Staines was "ad Pontes" (plural "at the bridges") implying that there was more than one bridge and it is believed that these bridges traversed Church Island
Church Island, River Thames
Church Island is an island in the River Thames in England on the reach above Penton Hook Lock, near Staines Bridge in Staines, Spelthorne, Surrey. It connects by a footbridge to Church Street, Staines, near a recreation ground....
.
Staines appears on the Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
domesday map in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
of 1086 as Stanes. It was held by Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
. Its domesday assets were: 19 hide
Hide (unit)
The hide was originally an amount of land sufficient to support a household, but later in Anglo-Saxon England became a unit used in assessing land for liability to "geld", or land tax. The geld would be collected at a stated rate per hide...
s. It had 6 mill
Mill (grinding)
A grinding mill is a unit operation designed to break a solid material into smaller pieces. There are many different types of grinding mills and many types of materials processed in them. Historically mills were powered by hand , working animal , wind or water...
s worth £3 4s 0d, 2 weir
Weir
A weir is a small overflow dam used to alter the flow characteristics of a river or stream. In most cases weirs take the form of a barrier across the river that causes water to pool behind the structure , but allows water to flow over the top...
s worth 6s 8d, 24 plough
Plough
The plough or plow is a tool used in farming for initial cultivation of soil in preparation for sowing seed or planting. It has been a basic instrument for most of recorded history, and represents one of the major advances in agriculture...
s, meadow
Meadow
A meadow is a field vegetated primarily by grass and other non-woody plants . The term is from Old English mædwe. In agriculture a meadow is grassland which is not grazed by domestic livestock but rather allowed to grow unchecked in order to make hay...
for 24 plough
Plough
The plough or plow is a tool used in farming for initial cultivation of soil in preparation for sowing seed or planting. It has been a basic instrument for most of recorded history, and represents one of the major advances in agriculture...
s, and some cattle. It rendered £35.
A border stana, or stone, on the bank 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,...
, dated 1280, still remains, indicating the western limit of the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
jurisdiction over the Thames. (Although familiarly known as the 'London Stone', it is not to be confused with the more famous (and probably more ancient) London Stone
London Stone
The London Stone is a historic stone that is now set within a Portland stone surround and iron grille on Cannon Street, in the City of London.-Features:...
in Cannon Street in the City of London).
The situation of Staines as a major crossing point over the River Thames, its position on the main road from London to the southwest, and its proximity to Windsor
Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
has led to the town being involved in national affairs. The barons assembled there before they met King John at Runnymede
Runnymede
Runnymede is a water-meadow alongside the River Thames in the English county of Berkshire, and just over west of central London. It is notable for its association with the sealing of Magna Carta, and as a consequence is the site of a collection of memorials...
in 1215, and Stephen Langton
Stephen Langton
Stephen Langton was Archbishop of Canterbury between 1207 and his death in 1228 and was a central figure in the dispute between King John of England and Pope Innocent III, which ultimately led to the issuing of Magna Carta in 1215...
held a consecration there shortly after the issue of Magna Carta
Magna Carta
Magna Carta is an English charter, originally issued in the year 1215 and reissued later in the 13th century in modified versions, which included the most direct challenges to the monarch's authority to date. The charter first passed into law in 1225...
. Sir Thomas More was tried in 1535 in a Staines public house, to avoid the outbreak of plague in London at that time. Kings and other important people must have passed through the town on many occasions: the church bells were rung several times in 1670, for instance, when the king and queen went through Staines.
During the period 1642–48 there were skirmishes on Staines Moor and numerous troop movements over Staines Bridge during the Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
.
Modern history
Staines was a site for a horse change on The Trafalgar Way in 1805, announcing the victory over the combined French and Spanish fleet and the death of Nelson. This is commemorated on a plaque on Staines townhall.Staines was the major producer of linoleum
Linoleum
Linoleum is a floor covering made from renewable materials such as solidified linseed oil , pine rosin, ground cork dust, wood flour, and mineral fillers such as calcium carbonate, most commonly on a burlap or canvas backing; pigments are often added to the materials.The finest linoleum floors,...
, a type of floor covering, after the formation of the Linoleum Manufacturing Company in 1864 by its inventor, Frederick Walton. Linoleum became the main industry of the town and was a major employer in the area up until the 1960s. In 1876 about 220 and in 1911 about 350 people worked in the plant. By 1957 it employed some 300 people and in 1956 the factory produced about 2675 m2 of linoleum each week. The term 'Staines Lino' became a worldwide name but the factory was closed around 1970 and is now the site of the Two Rivers shopping centre completed circa 2000. A bronze statue of two lino workers in Staines High Street commemorates the Staines Lino Factory. The Spelthorne Museum in Staines has a display dedicated to the Linoleum Manufacturing Company.
The Lagonda Car factory was in Staines and manufactured Lagonda cars from the site where Sainsburys is today.
The town was the site of the Staines air disaster in 1972, at the time the worst air crash in Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
until the Lockerbie disaster of 1988. The crash was commemorated in June 2004, with the opening of a dedicated garden near the crash site, created at the request of relatives, and the unveiling of a stained glass window at St. Marys Church, where a memorial service was held.
Staines Urban District
In 1894, the Local Government Act 1894Local Government Act 1894
The Local Government Act 1894 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales outside the County of London. The Act followed the reforms carried out at county level under the Local Government Act 1888...
created the Staines Urban District
Staines Urban District
Staines was a local government district from 1894 to 1974 around the town of Staines. Apart from Staines itself, it also covered Ashford, Laleham and Stanwell....
of Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
. In 1965, under the London Government Act 1963
London Government Act 1963
The London Government Act 1963 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which recognised officially the conurbation known as Greater London and created a new local government structure for the capital. The Act significantly reduced the number of local government districts in the area,...
, most of the rest of Middlesex became part of Greater London
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
while Staines Urban District was transferred to 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...
. In 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972
Local Government Act 1972
The Local Government Act 1972 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974....
, the Staines Urban District was abolished and its area combined with that of the former Sunbury-on-Thames Urban District
Sunbury-on-Thames Urban District
Sunbury on Thames - also known as Sunbury - was a local government district from 1894 to 1974 around the town of Sunbury-on-Thames, also covering Littleton and Shepperton....
to form the present-day borough of Spelthorne
Spelthorne
Spelthorne is a local government district and borough in Surrey, England. It includes the towns of Ashford, Laleham, Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell and Sunbury...
.
Economy
The proximity to London and HeathrowLondon Heathrow Airport
London Heathrow Airport or Heathrow , in the London Borough of Hillingdon, is the busiest airport in the United Kingdom and the third busiest airport in the world in terms of total passenger traffic, handling more international passengers than any other airport around the globe...
have attracted a number of companies: BUPA
Bupa
Bupa is a large British healthcare organisation, with bases on three continents and more than ten million customers in over 200 countries. It is a private healthcare company, in direct contrast to the UK's National Health Services, which are tax-funded healthcare systems and do not require private...
(healthcare), Logica (telecommunications and IT
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
consultants) have major offices, NDS
NDS Group
NDS Group Plc. is a developer of pay TV technology. NDS was established in 1988 as an Israeli start up company. It was acquired by News Corporation in 1992. The company is currently headquartered in Staines, United Kingdom...
(conditional access
Conditional access
Conditional Access is the protection of content by requiring certain criteria to be met before granting access to this content...
DRM
Digital rights management
Digital rights management is a class of access control technologies that are used by hardware manufacturers, publishers, copyright holders and individuals with the intent to limit the use of digital content and devices after sale. DRM is any technology that inhibits uses of digital content that...
provider), Siemens
Siemens AG
Siemens AG is a German multinational conglomerate company headquartered in Munich, Germany. It is the largest Europe-based electronics and electrical engineering company....
Building Automation Division and British Gas (part of Centrica) have their national headquarters here. Samsung Electronics Research Institute (SERI), Samsung's U.K R&D Division, is based in Staines.
At one time British Mediterranean Airways
British Mediterranean Airways
British Mediterranean Airways Limited, trading as BMED, was an airline with operations from London Heathrow Airport in England. It operated scheduled services as a British Airways franchise to 17 destinations in 16 countries throughout Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia from London...
had its head office in the Cirrus House in the London Borough of Hounslow
London Borough of Hounslow
-Political composition:Since the borough was formed it has been controlled by the Labour Party on all but two occasions. In 1968 the Conservatives formed a majority for the first and last time to date until they lost control to Labour in 1971. Labour subsequently lost control of the council in the...
, near Staines.
Culture
The administrative offices of Spelthorne Borough CouncilSpelthorne
Spelthorne is a local government district and borough in Surrey, England. It includes the towns of Ashford, Laleham, Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell and Sunbury...
are located at Knowle Green. The town has recently unveiled a revitalised Thames-side with landscaping and sculptures. The Town Hall (now a bar) is a pleasant Victorian blend of Italian and Flemish influences set in a small square. Some well preserved Georgian town houses line Clarence Street (named after the Duke of Clarence). Church Street and The Lammas house some lovely Georgian and Victorian properties clustered around the parish church of St Mary
St Mary's, Staines
St Mary's, Staines, is a church in the town and parish of Staines, in the Spelthorne borough of Surrey and the Greater London Urban Area. Located on a rise not far from the Thames at the west end of the town, the church is part of the Diocese of London within the Church of England...
. Most housing in the town is middle class in nature with plenty of green spaces (Staines Moor
Staines Moor
Staines Moor is a Site of Special Scientific Interest at the NW corner of Surrey, England. It is around 2 sq km in area, and consists of rough pasture. The River Colne, Hertfordshire runs through it. It lies between Staines to the south and the village of Stanwellmoor to the north.The Staines Moor...
, Shortwood Common, Knowle Green, Leacroft, The Lammas and Laleham Abbey to the immediate south). Staines Bridge spans the Thames with a graceful three arch structure completed in 1832. Until the 14th century Staines was the tidal limit, now downstream at Teddington
Teddington
Teddington is a suburban area in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in south west London, on the north bank of the River Thames, between Hampton Wick and Twickenham. It stretches inland from the River Thames to Bushy Park...
.
Staines is the home of the fictional character Ali G
Ali G
Ali G is a satirical fictional character invented and performed by English comedian Sacha Baron Cohen. Originally appearing on Channel 4's Eleven O'Clock show, Ali G is the title character of Channel 4's Da Ali G Show, original episodes of which aired in 2000 and on HBO in 2003–2004, and is the...
.
Rock band Hard-Fi
HARD-Fi
Hard-Fi are an English indie rock band formed in Staines, Surrey in 2003. The band's members are Richard Archer , Ross Phillips , Kai Stephens and Steve Kemp .They achieved chart success with their third single, "Hard to Beat" and then followed by other successful singles such as...
are from Staines.
Food & Shopping
Staines has a fairly compact town centre mainly focused on a wide pedestrianised High Street, housing most familiar names such as Waterstones, Marks & SpencerMarks & Spencer
Marks and Spencer plc is a British retailer headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, with over 700 stores in the United Kingdom and over 300 stores spread across more than 40 countries. It specialises in the selling of clothing and luxury food products...
, Debenhams
Debenhams
Debenhams plc is a British retailer operating under a department store format in the UK, Ireland and Denmark, and franchise stores in other countries. The Company was founded in the eighteenth century as a single store in London and has now grown to around 160 shops...
, T.K. Maxx
T.K. Maxx
T.K. Maxx is a retailer with stores throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany and Poland. The company is part of the TJX Companies which also owns other 'off-price' retail chains such as T.J. Maxx and Marshalls in the United States and Winners in Canada...
, JD Sports
JD Sports
JD Sports Fashion plc, more commonly known as just JD, is a sports-fashion retail company based in Bury, Greater Manchester, England with shops throughout the United Kingdom and with one in Ireland...
, Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
, McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
x2, Argos
Argos
Argos is a city and a former municipality in Argolis, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Argos-Mykines, of which it is a municipal unit. It is 11 kilometres from Nafplion, which was its historic harbour...
, PC World
PC World (retailer)
PC World is OWNED BY THE GOVERNMENT one of the WHER MA MEMORY STICK ?!?!??! United Kingdom's largest chains of mass-market computer superstores. It is part of Dixons Retail plc. PC World operates under the brand name PC City in Spain, Italy and Sweden....
, Tesco
Tesco
Tesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
, Waitrose
Waitrose
Waitrose Limited is an upmarket chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom and is the food division of the British retailer and worker co-operative the John Lewis Partnership. Its head office is in Bracknell, Berkshire, England...
, Monsoon
Monsoon Stores Ltd
Monsoon Accessorize is a design-led retailer based in London operating two international retail clothing chains - Monsoon and Accessorize.- History :...
, HMV
HMV
His Master's Voice is a trademark in the music business, and for many years was the name of a large record label. The name was coined in 1899 as the title of a painting of the dog Nipper listening to a wind-up gramophone...
and H&M
H&M
H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB is a Swedish retail-clothing company, known for its fast-fashion clothing offerings for women, men, teenagers and children....
. Smaller independent units can be found in Church Street including Iris Bloomfield Florists and Refresh Juice Cafe, Clarence Street and the eastern end of the High Street.
A market in the pedestrianised High Street is held every Wednesday and Saturday. It is one of the largest and busiest street markets in Surrey.
A moderately-sized shopping centre (Elmsleigh) is directly behind the High Street. A retail park was opened in 2002 called Two Rivers which is bisected by the confluence of the rivers Wraysbury
Wraysbury River
Wraysbury River is a river in England that branches off the River Colne at West Drayton and rejoins it at Staines before it flows into the River Thames....
and Colne
River Colne, Hertfordshire
The Colne is a river in England which is a tributary of the River Thames. It flows mainly through Hertfordshire and forms the boundary between the South Bucks district of Buckinghamshire and the London Borough of Hillingdon...
. Retailers include Waitrose
Waitrose
Waitrose Limited is an upmarket chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom and is the food division of the British retailer and worker co-operative the John Lewis Partnership. Its head office is in Bracknell, Berkshire, England...
as well as a Vue
Vue (cinema)
Vue Entertainment , formerly known as SBC International Cinemas, is a cinema company in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. The company was formed in May 2003 when SBC acquired 36 Warner Village cinemas. There are now 69 Vue cinemas, with 654 screens totaling 140,500 seats, including the rebranded...
cinema, gym and cafes.
Outside the High street there are also many other parades of shops like Stainash and Edinburgh Drive.
Education
Staines has two secondary schools and two independent schools:- Matthew Arnold SchoolMatthew Arnold School (Staines)Matthew Arnold School is a British co-educational secondary school in Staines, a suburb of London, taking pupils from the age of 11 to 16 .-Admissions:The school is a specialist Business and Enterprise College...
- The Magna Carta SchoolThe Magna Carta SchoolThe 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...
, a technology college with over 1500 students. It is located in Egham HytheEgham HytheEgham Hythe is a place between Egham and Staines in Surrey, England, extending south of the River Thames towards Thorpe Lea , and includes the area surrounding Pooley Green...
, thus it has a Staines postcode, but is in Runnymeade. - Staines Preparatory SchoolStaines Preparatory SchoolStaines Preparatory School is a co-educational independent day school in the Knowle Green area of Staines, England. Its pupils are boys and girls aged 2.5 - 11. , the student body numbered 334, 128 girls and 206 boys. The day fees for the school range between £3,675 - £7,650 per annum...
, an independent, ages 3–11 school - Our Lady Of the Rosary, a Catholic school
- river bridge (formerly known as kingscroft)
Sport
Staines has two football clubs; Staines Town F.C.Staines Town F.C.
Staines Town FC are an English football club based in Staines, Surrey. They are currently competing in the Conference South. The team are usually known as 'The Swans'...
and Staines Lammas F.C.
Staines Lammas F.C.
Staines Lammas Football Club is a football club based in the town of Staines, Surrey, England. For the 2007–08 season, the club played and became champions of the Combined Counties Football League Division One, which they had joined in 2003, after that league amalgamated with the Surrey...
Staines Town play at the newly rebuilt Wheatsheaf Park ground and have recently been promoted to the Conference South
Conference South
Conference South is one of the second divisions of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National...
. Staines Town enjoy a strong rivalry with Hampton & Richmond Borough
Hampton & Richmond Borough F.C.
Hampton & Richmond Borough F.C. are an English football club based in the suburb of Hampton, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. They were founded in 1921 and formerly known as Hampton F.C. until 1999 when they changed their name in an attempt to draw a wider support base from around the...
. Staines Lammas were champions of the Combined Counties League Division One in the 2007-08 season and additionally run various age group teams. Staines is also home to a number of successful junior football clubs: Staines Town, Staines Lammas and Staines Albion, as well as girls clubs — Colne Valley
Colne Valley
The Colne Valley is a steep sided valley on the east flank of the Pennine Hills in the English county of West Yorkshire. It takes its name from the River Colne which rises above the town of Marsden and flows eastward along the floor of the valley....
and the U11, one of the best girls junior clubs in Surrey.
Staines Rugby Club which used to play in Lammas park relocated to The Reeves Snakey Lane near Hanworth in the 1960s but still proudly bears the name of the town with teams named Swans, Cobs and Mucky Ducks. The Club is in National league 3 London & South East and offers a Mini and youth section.
Staines' town rowing club Staines Boat Club
Staines Boat Club
Staines Boat Club is a rowing club based on the River Thames at Staines, Surrey in England. It was founded in 1851 and was one of the founding member clubs of the Remenham Club.The club and boat house is situated on the southern bank of the river at Staines....
is situated on the river and competes at an international level.
Staines Swimming Club funded in the early 1900's and affiliated to the Amateur Swimming Association
Amateur Swimming Association
-History:It was the first Governing Body of swimming to be established in the world and today remains the English national governing body for swimming, diving, water polo, open water, and synchronised swimming....
is based at Spelthorne Leisure Centre and provides competitive swimming from inter club level up to national level.
There are also many local gyms in the area including the recently revamped Matthew Arnold Sports Centre which is home to a Lifestyle fitness suite. Based along the Kingston road the centre's revamp has included a cv suite, spinning studio and dedicated free weights room. There are also local sports clubs including tennis, rowing and various football and rugby teams.
Staines is also home to T.S Thamesis, Staines and Egham Sea Cadet Corps. This is a uniformed youth organisation for young people aged between 10 and 18 years old. They meet in The Lammas Recreational Ground, Staines.
Motorcycle speedway racing was staged in Staines at a stadium in Wraysbury Road. Events in 1938 and 1939 are well know but it is possible that a venue was active from at least 1931 as a team named Staines raced at Caxton Speedway (near Cambridge 1931 - 1933 inclusive).
Transport
The nearest station is Staines railway stationStaines 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....
serving London Waterloo
Waterloo station
Waterloo station, also known as London Waterloo, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex. The station is owned and operated by Network Rail and is close to the South Bank of the River Thames, and in Travelcard Zone 1....
, Weybridge
Weybridge railway station
Weybridge railway station serves Weybridge in the Elmbridge district of Surrey, England. It is located on the South Western Main Line operated by South West Trains, 19 miles from London Waterloo....
, Windsor and Eton Riverside and Reading
Reading railway station
Reading railway station is a major rail transport hub in the English town of Reading. It is situated on the northern edge of the town centre, close to the main retail and commercial areas, and also the River Thames...
. Taxis are available from the station. The bus station is a five-minute walk from the railway station. Staines is also a short ride south of Heathrow Airport.
There are proposals to build a new line, called Heathrow Airtrack
Heathrow Airtrack
Heathrow Airtrack is a proposed railway link in west London, England, UK. The line as proposed by BAA, would have run from into central London and across the suburbs of south-west London. BAA announced that it was abandoning the project in April 2011...
, from Staines to Heathrow Airport's Terminal 5 station
Heathrow Terminal 5 station
Heathrow Terminal 5 station is a shared railway station at London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 which was opened on 27 March 2008. It was designed by architects HOK International in conjunction with Rogers, Stirk, Harbour & Partners....
. As part of these proposals a new station, to be called Staines High Street railway station
Staines High Street railway station
Staines High Street railway station was on the Windsor & Eton line of the London and South Western Railway. It was opened on 1 July 1884 and closed on 1 February 1916 and was built for trains using the West Curve...
was due to be built between the existing Staines station, and Wraysbury railway station
Wraysbury railway station
Wraysbury railway station is a railway station serving the village of Wraysbury in Berkshire, England.The station is located on the line between Windsor and Eton Riverside and London Waterloo...
although planners have now decided that this will not go ahead and the existing station at Staines would have an additional platform built instead.
Nearest places
Staines neighbouring towns and villages are EghamEgham
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...
, Wraysbury
Wraysbury
Wraysbury, traditionally spelt Wyrardisbury, is a village and civil parish in Berkshire, England. It is located in the very east of the county, in the part that was in Buckinghamshire until 1974...
, Ashford
Ashford, Surrey
Ashford is a town almost entirely in the Surrey borough of Spelthorne in England, with a small part falling within Greater London. It is a suburban development situated 15 miles west south-west of Charing Cross in London and forms part of the London commuter belt...
, Stanwell
Stanwell
Stanwell is a suburban village in the Surrey borough of Spelthorne. It is located 15.7 miles west south-west of Charing Cross and half a mile from the southern boundary of London Heathrow Airport and the London Borough of Hillingdon...
, Laleham
Laleham
Laleham is a village in the borough of Spelthorne, in the county of Surrey in South East England and adjoins Staines. It is within the historic boundaries of Middlesex. To its south is Laleham Park by the River Thames, across green belt farmland to its north and south east are Ashford and...
and Chertsey
Chertsey
Chertsey is a town in Surrey, England, on the River Thames and its tributary rivers such as the River Bourne. It can be accessed by road from junction 11 of the M25 London orbital motorway. It shares borders with Staines, Laleham, Shepperton, Addlestone, Woking, Thorpe and Egham...
. About 3 miles north east of Staines is the large Heathrow airport.
The area between Egham and Staines town centres is known as Egham Hythe
Egham Hythe
Egham Hythe is a place between Egham and Staines in Surrey, England, extending south of the River Thames towards Thorpe Lea , and includes the area surrounding Pooley Green...
.
Notable people
- The Lucan family, at Laleham Abbey until the 1930s
- Norman HunterNorman Hunter (author)Norman George Lorimer Hunter was a British children's author, best known for his novels' character Professor Branestawm.-Career:Hunter wrote popular books on writing for advertising, brain-teasers and conjuring among many others...
, author - Matthew ArnoldMatthew ArnoldMatthew Arnold was a British poet and cultural critic who worked as an inspector of schools. He was the son of Thomas Arnold, the famed headmaster of Rugby School, and brother to both Tom Arnold, literary professor, and William Delafield Arnold, novelist and colonial administrator...
- Denny LaineDenny LaineDenny Laine is an English songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, guitarist, and lead singer of The Moody Blues' 1965 debut album "The Magnificent Moodies"; and, later, best known for his role as co-founder of Wings...
- Christine KeelerChristine KeelerChristine Margaret Keeler is an English former model and showgirl. Her involvement with a British government minister discredited the Conservative government of Harold Macmillan in 1963, in what is known as the Profumo Affair....
, actor - Terence Dackombe, writer Spitting Image; actor Krays, Cockneys vs. Zombies
- Bobby DavroBobby DavroBobby Davro is a British actor and comedian. He is mainly known for his work as an impressionist...
, comedian - Bill NankevilleBill NankevilleBill Nankeville is a British national champion mile runner and won the AAA mile title four times in five years between 1948 and 1952, his best recorded time was 4:08.8 set in 1949...
- Richard MurdochRichard MurdochRichard Bernard Murdoch was a British comedic radio, film and television performer.Richard Bernard Murdoch attended Charterhouse School. He then appeared in Footlights whilst a student at Pembroke College, Cambridge...
, Murdoch Close off Cherry Orchard was named after him - Hard-FiHARD-FiHard-Fi are an English indie rock band formed in Staines, Surrey in 2003. The band's members are Richard Archer , Ross Phillips , Kai Stephens and Steve Kemp .They achieved chart success with their third single, "Hard to Beat" and then followed by other successful singles such as...
, indie rock band - Richard ArcherRichard ArcherRichard John "Rich" Archer is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is the lead vocalist, guitarist, principal songwriter and main composer of indie rock band Hard-Fi. Hard-Fi have produced several top 10 hits and two #1 albums. The influence of Archer's hometown of Staines is often...
- Jon TickleJon TickleJonathan "Jon" Tickle is a television presenter in the UK, who initially rose to fame as a contestant on the fourth series of the British Big Brother. He appeared before this, however, as a contestant on the gameshow Blockbusters in 1991. He is also a co-presenter on the Sky Digital television...
- Nina WadiaNina Wadia-Television and film:Wadia first came to prominence in BBC sketch show Goodness Gracious Me, playing characters such as Mrs "I can make it at home for nothing!" and one half of The Competitive Mothers...
, actor - Ali GAli GAli G is a satirical fictional character invented and performed by English comedian Sacha Baron Cohen. Originally appearing on Channel 4's Eleven O'Clock show, Ali G is the title character of Channel 4's Da Ali G Show, original episodes of which aired in 2000 and on HBO in 2003–2004, and is the...
, a fictional character played by Sacha Baron Cohen - Wylie McKissockWylie McKissockSir Wylie McKissock, OBE was a British neurosurgeon. He set up the neurosurgical unit at the Atkinson Morley Hospital, was Britain's most prolific leucotomist , and president of the Society of British Neurological Surgeons.McKissock was born in Staines, Surrey. His parents were Alexander Cathie...
, neurosurgeon
Local media
A number of local newspapers are available in Staines, these include:- Staines InformerStaines InformerThe Staines Informer is a weekly free newspaper distributed in the area in and around Staines. It is now owned by the Trinity Mirror group through their North Surrey and London Newspapers division.The Staines Informer began in 1974...
- Staines and Ashford News
- Staines and Egham News
- Surrey Herald
External links
- Online Guide to Staines
- Kingdom Living Church, Staines
- The Matthew Arnold Sports centre(Lifestyle Fitness)
- Staines - 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article
- Staines Restaurant & Karaoke Bar
- Staines Guardian
- Staines Rugby Football Club
- Staines Boat Club
- Staines Partnership
- Staines Town FC Supporters Club
- Staines Salvation Army
- Staines and Laleham Cricket Club
- Aerial photographs of Staines
- Proposed AirTrack Rail Link
- Staines Arts magazine
- Staines Bridge article and illustration Extract: The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, by Various, Vol. 19. No. 548, Saturday, May 26, 1832.