Twickenham

Twickenham is a town in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in the south-west of London

History

pre-Norman

Excavations have shown settlements in the area dating from the Early Neolithic, possibly Mesolithic periods. Occupation seems to have continued through the Bronze Age, the Iron Age and the Roman occupation. The area was first mentioned in a charter of 13 June 704AD (as 'Tuican hom' and 'Tuiccanham') to cede the area to Waldhere, Bishop of London, 'for the salvation of our souls.' The charter is signed with 12 crosses. The signaturies included Swaefred, King of the East Saxons, Cenred, King of the Mercians, and Earl Paeogthath.

Related Topics:
Neolithic - Mesolithic - Bronze Age - Iron Age - Roman occupation - Charter - 13 June - 704 - Bishop of London

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Norman

In Norman times Twickenham was part of the Manor of Isleworth - itself part of the Hundred of Hounslow (mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086). The manor had belonged to Earl Aelfgar in the time of King Edward, but was granted to Walter de Saint-Valery (Waleric) by William after the conquest.

Related Topics:
Norman - Manor - Hundred of Hounslow - Domesday Book - 1086

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A fortification was built in the town some time after. The prominent ragstone tower still survives intact - as part of the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Church Street. The area was farmed for the next few hundred years, with the river providing opportunities for fishing, boatbuilding and trade.

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17th century

Bubonic Plague spread to the town in 1605. 67 deaths were recorded. It appears that Twickenham had a Pest House (short for "pestilence") in the 1600's, although the location is not known.

Related Topics:
Bubonic Plague - 1605 - Pest House

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There was also a Watch House in the middle of the town, with stocks, a pillory and a whipping post - its owner charged to "ward within and about this Parish and to keep all Beggars and Vagabonds that shall lye abide or lurk about the Towne and to give correction to such..."

Related Topics:
Watch House - Stocks - Pillory - Whipping - Parish

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In 1633 construction began on York House. It was occupied by the Earl of Manchester in 1656 and later by Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon. It is now the home of the local legislature.

Related Topics:
York House - Earl of Manchester

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1659 saw the first mention of the Twickenham Ferry, although ferrymen had already been operating in the area for many generations. Sometime before 1743 a 'pirate' ferry appears to have been started by Twickenham inhabitants. There is current speculation that it operated to serve 'The Folly' - a floating hostelry of some kind. Several residents wrote to the Lord Mayor of London: "…Complaining that there is lately fixed near the Shore of Twickenham on the River Thames a Vessell made like a Barge and called the Folly wherein divers loose and disorderly persons are frequently entertained who have behaved in a very indecent Manner and do frequently afront divers persons of Fashion and Distinction who often in an Evening Walk near that place, and desired so great a Nuisance might be removed,…"

Related Topics:
Twickenham Ferry - Lord Mayor of London - River Thames - Barge - Fashion - Distinction

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:(The same issue still seems to be a preoccupation with residents - with many deeply concerned about Twickenham's burgeoning nightlife, the extension of Pub opening hours and the habit of binge drinking).

Related Topics:
Pub - Binge drinking

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The Plague struck again in 1665. 24 deaths were recorded.

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18th century

Gunpowder manufacture on a industrial scale started in the area in the 1700's - the site located between Twickenham and Whitton along the banks of the Crane River. There were regular explosions and loss of life. On 11 March 1758 one of two explosions was felt in Reading, Berkshire, and in April 1774 another explosion terrified people at church in Isleworth. In 1772 three mills blew up, shattering glass and buildings in the neighbourhood. Horace Walpole wrote complaining to his friend and relative Seymour Conway, then Lieutenant General of the Ordnance, that all the decorative painted glass had been blown out of his windows at Strawberry Hill.

Related Topics:
Gunpowder - Whitton - Crane River - 11 March - 1758 - Reading, Berkshire - 1774 - Isleworth - 1772

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Later

During the 1700s and 1800s a number of fine houses were built and Twickenham became a popular residence for more people of 'Fashion and Distinction' - John Hooker, Princess Anne (future Queen), Lady Wentworth, Sir Godfrey Kneller, James Johnston, Sir Robert Shirley, Alexander Pope (Voltaire visited him in Twickenham), Lady Mary Wortley Montague, Thomas Twining, Horace Walpole, Thomas Hudson, David Garrick, Paul Whitehead (Secretary and Steward of the notorious Hell-Fire Club), Edward Ironside (Businessman and author of The History and Antiquities of Twickenham), Louis Philippe (sometime King of France), J M W Turner, Alfred Lord Tennyson, and Richard Doddridge Blackmore (author of Lorna Doone). In 1838 Charles Dickens rented a flat at Ailsa Park Villas in St Margarets.

Related Topics:
Princess Anne - Alexander Pope - Horace Walpole - David Garrick - Hell-Fire Club - Louis Philippe - King of France - J M W Turner - Alfred Lord Tennyson - Richard Doddridge Blackmore - Lorna Doone - Charles Dickens

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In 1895 Twickenham Urban District Council was formed. In 1902 the council bought Radnor House as the home of the leglislature. The council bought and occupied York House in 1924. (Radnor House was destroyed by a Luftwaffe bomb in 1940).

Related Topics:
1895 - 1902 - Radnor House - Luftwaffe - Bomb - 1940

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The same year (1902) electricity was introduced to Twickenham. The following year, 1903, Trams were introduced to the town.

Related Topics:
Electricity - 1903 - Tram

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In 1926 Twickenham was constituted as a 'borough'. 11 years later the urban district Councils of Teddington, Hampton & Hampton Wick merged with Twickenham. In 1965 the boroughs of Twickenham, Richmond & Barnes amalgamated to become the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.

Related Topics:
1926 - Borough - 1965 - Richmond - Barnes - London Borough of Richmond upon Thames

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The Member of Parliament for Twickenham has been Liberal Democrat Dr Vincent Cable since his election in 1997. Twickenham (UK Parliament constituency) includes St. Margaret's, Whitton, Heathfield, Teddington, Hampton, Fulwell, Hampton Hill and Hampton Wick.

Related Topics:
Member of Parliament - Liberal Democrat - Dr Vincent Cable - 1997 - Twickenham (UK Parliament constituency) - St. Margaret's - Whitton - Heathfield - Teddington - Hampton - Fulwell - Hampton Hill - Hampton Wick

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