WALTON-UPON-THAMES, a village, a parish, and a sub-district, in Chertsey district, Surrey.
The village stands on the river Thames, 1 mile N of the Southwestern railway, and 4¼ E of Chertsey; contains remains of President Bradshaw’s house; is a resort of anglers, tourists, and holiday parties; and has a post-office under Weybridge-Station, a r. station with telegraph, two hotels, and a horse and cattle fair on Easter Wednesday and Thursday.
The parish includes Hersham village, and comprises 6,834 acres. Real property, £17,141. Pop. in 1851, 2,881; in 1861, 4,010. Houses, 728. The increase of pop. arose from the erection of houses on the Oatlands Park estate, and from the erection of villas and ornate cottages in other parts. The property is much subdivided.
Ashley Park House is said to have been built by Cardinal Wolsey; and is now the seat of Sir H. Fletcher, Bart. Mount Felix, Burwood Park, Apps Court, and Burhill also are chief residences. St. George’s hill commands fine views; has remains of a Roman camp, called Cæsar’s; and is open to the public.
A long bridge spans the Thames and an adjoining meadow; was built in 1687; and commands an exquisite view of the river, particularly at sunset; but the central arch fell in 1859. Coway-Stakes, generally regarded as the place where Cæsar crossed the Thames in pursuit of Cassivelaunus, is adjacent to Mount Felix.
The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Winchester. Value, £225. Patron, the Lord Chancellor. The church is partly transition Norman and all good; and the vestry contains a curious relic called the “Gossip’s Bridle.”
The p. curacies of Hersham and Oatlands are separate benefices.
There are a Wesleyan chapel, a literary institution, two national schools, the Metropolitan convalescent hospital, and charities £109.
The sub-district includes Weybridge parish, and comprises 8,126 acres. Pop., 5,613. Houses, 1,033.
Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].
