Kingston upon Thames

Kingston upon Thames, town in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, London, England. Kingston upon Thames is situated 16 km (10 mi) south-west of central London, on the south bank of the Thames, opposite Hampton Court. It is a mainly residential settlement with some industry, including metalworking, plastics, and paint production. The town has one of outer London’s major shopping centres, a university (Kingston University, established 1992; formerly Kingston Polytechnic), and colleges of art and continuing education.

Located by a ford over the Thames, Kingston grew as a market town. The original bridge was built in 1100 and the market dates from the 13th century. Seven Anglo-Saxon kings were crowned in Kingston: Edward the Elder; Athelstan; Edmund; Eadred; Eadwig; Edward the Martyr; and Ethelred the Unready. The coronation stone can now be found in the grounds of the town’s Guildhall.

Among those associated with Kingston are the architect John Nash, who designed Southborough House in Surbiton; John Galsworthy, the playwright and novelist who was born in Kingston; the playwright and screenwriter R. C. Sherriff who was educated at Kingston Grammar School; and Edward Gibbon, the 18th-century historian who attended school in the town. Population (1991) 132,996.