Kew
Kew is a place in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in South West London.
Kew is best known for being the location of the Royal Botanic Gardens (now a World Heritage Site). Other points of interest include Kew Palace and The National Archives (previously known as the Public Record Office).
Kew village refers to several parades of shops adjoining Kew Gardens station. It contains a mixture of independent retailers, several restaurants, including the well-reviewed The Glasshouse, and numerous cafes. Most of Kew developed in the late 19th century, following the arrival of the District Line of the Underground, and is characterised by large detached or semi-detached houses. It is a popular residential area because of its transport links and proximity to Kew Gardens.
Etymology
The name Kew is a combination of two words: the Old French kai (landing place; 'quay' derives from this) and Old English hoh (spur of land). The land spur is the bend in the Thames. The name was recorded in 1327 as Cayho.[1]
Education
Transport and locale
The traditional mode of transport between Kew and London, for rich and poor alike, was by water along the Thames.
Today the South Circular Road (the A205) passes through Kew, with Kew Road providing the main road link to Richmond. The M4 motorway starts a short distance north of Kew, providing access to Heathrow Airport and the west. The A316 road starts in Chiswick and continues over Chiswick bridge and junctions with the south circular at Chalker's Corner.
Since 1869 rail services have been available from Kew Gardens station. London Underground (District Line) services run to Richmond and to central London. London Overground trains run to Richmond and (via Willesden Junction) to Stratford.
- Nearest places
- Nearest railway station
- Nearest tube station
- Bridges
- Kew Bridge, which carries the A205 South Circular Road. Beside the bridge is Kew Gardens Pier, which serves tourist ferries operating under licence from London River Services.
- Kew Railway Bridge
Quotes
- I am His Highness' dog at Kew;
- Pray tell me, sir, whose dog are you?
- Epigram, engraved on the Collar of a Dog which I gave to his Royal Highness (Frederick, Prince of Wales) — Alexander Pope, 1688-1744
'Trams and dusty trees.
Highbury bore me. Richmond and Kew
Undid me.'
- The Waste Land, 1922 (T.S.Eliot), 1888-1965
Go down to Kew in lilac-time, in lilac-time, in lilac-time;
Go down to Kew in lilac-time (it isn't far from London!)
And you shall wander hand in hand with love in summer's wonderland;
Go down to Kew in lilac-time (it isn't far from London!)
- The Barrel-Organ, Alfred Noyes, 1880-1958
Sport and leisure
Kew has several sport clubs and gyms including Putney Town Rowing Club and Richmond Gymnastics Association.
Kew is also home to local football club, Kew Park Rangers. The club began in 1997 in Westerly Ware, a small park by Kew Bridge. Word quickly spread at the local school that there was a kick about on Saturday mornings and more children arrived until there were regularly about 10-12 children.
As the crowd of children grew, along side tournament and further development ambitions, the club decided to become official and registered for the Surrey County FA. Richmond Council eventually came up with a team pitch and a move to North Sheen Recreational Park in North Road was secured. Kew Park Rangers Football Club was born in the summer of 1999, and continues to grow year on year.
Gallery
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The Parish Church of St Anne -
Kew Green
References
- ^ Room, Adrian: Dictionary of Place-Names in the British Isles, Bloomsbury, 1988
External links
- Kew Society website
- Richmond Society website
- Kew Online
- Kew Meridian
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (Kew Gardens)
- Live and Do The Guide to Living in England