Hampton

Hampton is an area within the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, although it was previously classified within the county of Middlesex. It is based around an old village which is situated on the northern most bank of the River Thames. Its current population is estimated to be around 9000 – 9500 and is the home of Hampton railway station.

The district may get its name from the Anglo Saxon words “hamm” (which means an area within the bend of a river) and “ton” (which means settlement). The district is adjacent to several nearby similarly named areas, such as Hampton Hill, Hampton Wick and Hampton Court. Hampton Hill is a nearby town to Hampton that is situated further away from the River Thames and was created from an ‘overspill’ of the populace of Hampton. It is home to a bustling high street containing various cafes, pubs, retailers, etc. Hampton Wick is also built alongside the Thames as the neighbouring Hampton and is mainly a residential area that houses many commuters that frequently travel into inner London. Its residential expansion however is restricted by nearby landmarks Hampton Court and Bushy Park.

Hampton Court is a royal palace, but has not been inhabited by monarchy since the 1700’s. It was built around 1514 by Cardinal Wolsey. Nowadays the palace stands as a tourist attraction and is open to the public. It hosts various Festivals, such as the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show and the Hampton Court Palace Festival (Which is held once a year). There are many gardens and botanical landscapes within the palace grounds, including the Hampton Court Maze which is another attraction for tourists. Hampton is also closely located to Bushy Park and Kingston.

Hampton is home to many educational premises, churches and retailing services. It is also home to the Large Operational Water Treatment Works (WTW) which is owned by Thames Water and was built in the mid 19th century after the Metropolis Water Act was passed in 1852, which made drinking from the Thames beneath Teddington Lock illegal, due to the sheer amount of sewage that was present in this area.