Surbiton & Thames Ditton

	A Surbiton & Thames Ditton Walk Route & what to see
	london-footprints.co.uk

A 3¼ mile circular walk around Surbiton with a 3 mile extension to Thames Ditton. Surbiton is 'leafy suburbia' with a number of conservation areas. Many buildings date from its periods of growth with the arrival of the railway and the inter-war years.

Exit Surbiton Station on the Victoria Road side and go left along this road
The railway located to its present site in 1838. The current station building was designed by J R Scott in 1937. Early houses in Victoria Road were converted to commercial use around 1870. The station and properties opposite are listed buildings.

Left into Upper Brighton Road, right at Lovelace Road then left along Corkran Road.
This area has large detached houses from the 1860s to 1930s.

Right at Woodlands Road then left along Ashcombe Avenue.
Southborough House is a Grade II listed building of 1808 designed by John Nash. [webpage]

Left along Langley Avenue. At the junction cross and go right along Kingsdowne Road. Left at Ewell Road.
There are five late 19^th century detached villas in Gothic style on the left.

Enter Fishponds Park on the right
This has mature trees, ponds, streams and steep banks with dense hedging along the boundaries. The area was used for the extraction of brick earth and the manufacture of bricks.

Follow the path bearing left past a pond and towards the house.
The original mid 18^th century house was much altered in the 19^th century.

Continue along the path exiting into Mayberry Place
The terraced artisans cottages were built on former brickfields in the late 19^th century.

Left at Browns Road then right along Ewell Road.
The Surbiton Hospital site is being redeveloped to provide new healthcare facilities and a school. Methodist Church. Beyond this are civic buildings from the inter-war years; fire station, library and Crown Court.

Opposite the fire station detour into South Bank to view Hillcroft College.
This was built as The Gables for Wilberforce Bryant (of Bryant & May matches) in 1884.

Return and continue down Surbiton Hill Road.
St Mark's Church, visable to the left, was destroyed in WWII except for the tower and rebuilt in 1960. Hollyfield School occupies attractive buildings. At the road junction the former assembly rooms are now part of Surbiton High School. They were designed in 1882 by A Mason.

Left alond Maple Road.
Claremont Hall is now used as a nursery.

Left along Claremont Road.
This area with The Cresent and its gardens was developed from 1838. At the end of the gardens is the listed Clock Tower of 1905-6.

Detour left into St Mark's Hill
The Coronation Hall, opened in June 1911 as a lecture hall was later a cinema then used for bingo. It is now a Wetherspoons pub.

Cross to the station or to continue the walk go along St James' Road opposite this.
The Surbiton Club. Claremont Hospital.

Left along Maple Road.
This area was developed in the 1860s-1880s in Gothic and Italianate styles. St Andrews Church was designed by A W Blomfield in 1871. The garden square is unique to SW London.

Right at Brighton Road then left along Portsmouth Road.
The waterworks moved upstream from Chelsea in 1856. On the left the buildings have been converted to residental use. On the right are the remains of filter beds and the current Thames Water premises [wikipedia article]. Beyond these is the Thames Marina.

Right at Ditton Reach then go left through the grass area. Left at Ferry Road.
A double fronted house was the police station.

Continue along Portsmouth Road to the right then right at Giggs Hill Road alongside the green.
St Leonards Cottages.

Right at Watts Road.
The clinic and library are modern buildings. Further along is Cooper Hall & Cottage (left) and Byways and Rose Cottage (right).

Continue along the High Street.
The old slaughterhouse and the home of Cesear Picton have plaques. The Home of Compassion consists of a main house (built as Boyle Farm), a former chapel and a priory. The premises do not appear to be in use. Alongside the Ye Olde Swan pub is a footbridge to Thames Ditton Island (no public access). Ferry Works are now industrial units but were occupied by AC Cars 1911-29. A former foundry opposite has a plaque.

Return and take the path to the church.
Parts of St Nicholas date back to the Norman period but there are many additions and alterations. It is usually open to visitors and a guide book is available. [website]

Continue along Church Walk then detour right into Speer Road to view the former school.

Take Speer Road southwards.
The United Reformed Church is in an unusual style.

At the crossroads go right into Embercourt Road
The Vera Fletcher Hall was built in 1887 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. It was saved from demolition to provide community facilities including a theatre. [website]

Return to the crossroads to access Thames Ditton Station.

Resources
Conservation area documents for Surbiton [click here] Areas: 3, 4, 8, 10, 19, 26 are relevant. Page 5 has a map and photos.
Conservation area studies for Surbiton [click here] Select area on left for further documents including OS maps.
Conservation area map of Thames Ditton [click here]
Thames Ditton information [website]
Photographs of Thames Ditton [webpage]
Thames Ditton [pix]

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