Ham, London
Encyclopedia
Ham is a district in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
on the River Thames
.
word Hamme meaning place in the bend in the river. Together with Petersham
, Ham lies to the east of the bend in the river south of Richmond and north of Kingston
. It is connected to Teddington
by Teddington Lock Footbridge
at Teddington Lock
and, during the summer months Hammerton's Ferry
, a pedestrian ferry, links to Marble Hill House
, Twickenham
. Neighbouring settlements include Petersham
and Richmond, and on the opposite side of the river (linked by the lock and the ferry) Teddington
, Strawberry Hill
and Twickenham
.
Ham is bounded on the west, along the bank of the River Thames, by the strip of land known as Ham Riverside Lands. Part of this former meadow land was used for gravel
extraction. The last remnant of these gravel pits now forms an artificial lake, connected to the river by a lock
. In this area is Thames Young Mariners 10 acre (0.0404686 km²) site operated as a water activity centre by Surrey County Council
. The area along the riverside is preserved as a public amenity and nature reserve. A riverside towpath
runs along the whole of this stretch of the bank between Richmond and Kingston.
Situated mostly on low-lying river terrace, Ham is bounded to the east by Richmond Park
where the land rises at the escarpment
of Richmond and Kingston hill
s. Small stream
s draining this higher ground, flow into a stream that flows south-north along the foot of the hill, known as the Latchmere stream to the south and Sudbrook to the north. Now subterranean for most of its course, it emerges in Ham Common, near Ham Gate and flows briefly through Richmond Park and exits into Sudbrook Golf Course, returning underground before discharging into the Thames at Petersham.
Ham appears in Domesday Book
of 1086 as Estreham. It was held by Haimo the Sheriff (of Kent
) from Chertsey Abbey
. Its Domesday assets were: 1 plough. It rendered £1.
Situated between the Royal Courts at Richmond and Hampton Court, the predominantly agricultural area developed from the beginning of the 17th century, dominated by Ham House, the best preserved survivor of the period.
Ham's eastern boundary is formed by Richmond Park. When the park was enclosed by Charles I
in 1637, Ham parish lost the most of the affected land, over 800 acres (3.2 km²) stretching towards Robin Hood Gate and Kingston Hill, almost half of which was Common land
. In return for this, a deed was struck which has effectively protected most of the remaining common land, Ham Common, to the present day.
Other notable period houses in Ham cluster around the Common including the Cassel Hospital
and Ormeley Lodge
, which is currently owned by Lady Annabel Goldsmith
. Victorian buildings include Latchmere House.
Ham Polo Club
is situated at the end of a driveway off the Petersham Road. Though the club has been in existence since 1926 it was in 1954 that the old orchard of Ham House was converted in to a polo
ground for the club.
Between 1838 and 1848, Ham Common was the site of a utopian spiritual community and free school called Alcott House
(or the "Ham Common Concordium), founded by educational reformer and "sacred socialist" James Pierrepont Greaves
and his followers.
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames is a London borough in South West London, UK, which forms part of Outer London. It is unique because it is the only London borough situated both north and south of the River Thames.-Settlement:...
on 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,...
.
Location
Its name derives from the Old EnglishOld English language
Old English or Anglo-Saxon is an early form of the English language that was spoken and written by the Anglo-Saxons and their descendants in parts of what are now England and southeastern Scotland between at least the mid-5th century and the mid-12th century...
word Hamme meaning place in the bend in the river. Together with Petersham
Petersham
Petersham is a place in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames on the east of the bend in the River Thames south of Richmond, which it shares with neighbouring Ham. It provides the foreground of the scenic view from Richmond Hill across Petersham Meadows, with Ham House further along the River...
, Ham lies to the east of the bend in the river south of Richmond and north of Kingston
Kingston upon Thames
Kingston upon Thames is the principal settlement of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in southwest London. It was the ancient market town where Saxon kings were crowned and is now a suburb situated south west of Charing Cross. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the...
. It is connected to 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...
by Teddington Lock Footbridge
Teddington Lock Footbridge
Teddington Lock Footbridge consists of two separate bridges across the River Thames in England situated just upstream of Teddington Lock at Teddington. There is a small island between the bridges....
at Teddington Lock
Teddington Lock
Teddington Lock is a complex of three locks and a weir on the River Thames in England at Ham in the western suburbs of London. The lock is on the southern Surrey side of the river....
and, during the summer months Hammerton's Ferry
Hammerton's Ferry
Hammerton's Ferry is a pedestrian and cycle ferry service across the River Thames in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, London, England. The ferry links the northern bank near Marble Hill House in Twickenham with the southern bank near Ham House in Ham...
, a pedestrian ferry, links to Marble Hill House
Marble Hill House
Marble Hill House is a Palladian villa on the River Thames in southwest London, situated halfway between Richmond and Twickenham. The architect was Roger Morris, who collaborated with Henry Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, one of the "architect earls", in adapting a more expansive design by Colen...
, Twickenham
Twickenham
Twickenham is a large suburban town southwest of central London. It is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan...
. Neighbouring settlements include Petersham
Petersham
Petersham is a place in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames on the east of the bend in the River Thames south of Richmond, which it shares with neighbouring Ham. It provides the foreground of the scenic view from Richmond Hill across Petersham Meadows, with Ham House further along the River...
and Richmond, and on the opposite side of the river (linked by the lock and the ferry) 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...
, Strawberry Hill
Strawberry Hill, London
Strawberry Hill is an affluent area of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in Twickenham. It is a suburban development situated 10.4 miles west south-west of Charing Cross. It consists of a number of residential roads centered around a small development of shops and serviced by Strawberry...
and Twickenham
Twickenham
Twickenham is a large suburban town southwest of central London. It is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan...
.
Ham is bounded on the west, along the bank of the River Thames, by the strip of land known as Ham Riverside Lands. Part of this former meadow land was used for gravel
Gravel
Gravel is composed of unconsolidated rock fragments that have a general particle size range and include size classes from granule- to boulder-sized fragments. Gravel can be sub-categorized into granule and cobble...
extraction. The last remnant of these gravel pits now forms an artificial lake, connected to the river by a lock
Lock (water transport)
A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. The distinguishing feature of a lock is a fixed chamber in which the water level can be varied; whereas in a caisson lock, a boat lift, or on a canal inclined plane, it is...
. In this area is Thames Young Mariners 10 acre (0.0404686 km²) site operated as a water activity centre by Surrey County Council
Surrey County Council
Surrey County Council is the county council that governs the non-metropolitan county of Surrey in England. The council is composed of 80 elected councillors.The council is controlled by the Conservative party.The leader of the council is David Hodge....
. The area along the riverside is preserved as a public amenity and nature reserve. A riverside towpath
Towpath
A towpath is a road or trail on the bank of a river, canal, or other inland waterway. The purpose of a towpath is to allow a land vehicle, beasts of burden, or a team of human pullers to tow a boat, often a barge...
runs along the whole of this stretch of the bank between Richmond and Kingston.
Situated mostly on low-lying river terrace, Ham is bounded to the east by Richmond Park
Richmond Park
Richmond Park is a 2,360 acre park within London. It is the largest of the Royal Parks in London and Britain's second largest urban walled park after Sutton Park, Birmingham. It is close to Richmond, Ham, Kingston upon Thames, Wimbledon, Roehampton and East Sheen...
where the land rises at the escarpment
Escarpment
An escarpment is a steep slope or long cliff that occurs from erosion or faulting and separates two relatively level areas of differing elevations.-Description and variants:...
of Richmond and Kingston hill
Hill
A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills often have a distinct summit, although in areas with scarp/dip topography a hill may refer to a particular section of flat terrain without a massive summit A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills...
s. Small stream
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
s draining this higher ground, flow into a stream that flows south-north along the foot of the hill, known as the Latchmere stream to the south and Sudbrook to the north. Now subterranean for most of its course, it emerges in Ham Common, near Ham Gate and flows briefly through Richmond Park and exits into Sudbrook Golf Course, returning underground before discharging into the Thames at Petersham.
History
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 Estreham. It was held by Haimo the Sheriff (of Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
) from Chertsey Abbey
Chertsey 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...
. Its Domesday assets were: 1 plough. It rendered £1.
Situated between the Royal Courts at Richmond and Hampton Court, the predominantly agricultural area developed from the beginning of the 17th century, dominated by Ham House, the best preserved survivor of the period.
Ham's eastern boundary is formed by Richmond Park. When the park was enclosed by Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
in 1637, Ham parish lost the most of the affected land, over 800 acres (3.2 km²) stretching towards Robin Hood Gate and Kingston Hill, almost half of which was Common land
Common land
Common land is land owned collectively or by one person, but over which other people have certain traditional rights, such as to allow their livestock to graze upon it, to collect firewood, or to cut turf for fuel...
. In return for this, a deed was struck which has effectively protected most of the remaining common land, Ham Common, to the present day.
Other notable period houses in Ham cluster around the Common including the Cassel Hospital
Cassel Hospital
The Cassel Hospital was founded and endowed by Ernest Cassel in England in 1919. It was initially for the treatment of "shell shock" victims. Originally in Penshurst, Kent, it moved to Stoke-on-Trent during World War II. In 1948 it relocated to its present site at No...
and Ormeley Lodge
Ormeley Lodge
Ormeley Lodge is a 1715 built Grade II* listed Georgian house set in on the edge of Richmond Park in Ham, London, where Lady Annabel Goldsmith raised her children.- External links :*...
, which is currently owned by Lady Annabel Goldsmith
Lady Annabel Goldsmith
Lady Annabel Goldsmith is a British socialite and the eponym for a celebrated London nightclub of the late 20th century, Annabel's. She was first married for two decades to entrepreneur Mark Birley, the creator of Annabel's, which she helped make a glamorous success as her husband's inaugural...
. Victorian buildings include Latchmere House.
Ham Polo Club
Ham Polo Club
Ham Polo Club is a Hurlingham Polo Association Polo Club situated in Richmond, South West London. It is one of the oldest polo clubs in the United Kingdom and the last surviving club in London. The club occupies a location between Richmond Park and the River Thames overlooked by Ham House, eight...
is situated at the end of a driveway off the Petersham Road. Though the club has been in existence since 1926 it was in 1954 that the old orchard of Ham House was converted in to a polo
Polo
Polo is a team sport played on horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team. Sometimes called, "The Sport of Kings", it was highly popularized by the British. Players score by driving a small white plastic or wooden ball into the opposing team's goal using a...
ground for the club.
Between 1838 and 1848, Ham Common was the site of a utopian spiritual community and free school called Alcott House
Alcott House
Alcott House, in Ham, Surrey , was the home of a utopian spiritual community and progressive school which lasted from 1838 to 1848.-History and Ideology:...
(or the "Ham Common Concordium), founded by educational reformer and "sacred socialist" James Pierrepont Greaves
James Pierrepont Greaves
James Pierrepont Greaves , was an English mystic, educational reformer, socialist and progressive thinker who founded Alcott House, a short-lived utopian community and free school in Surrey...
and his followers.