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Sunbury-on-Thames is a place in the Spelthorne borough of Surrey in the United Kingdom. It is leafy affluent suburb of London. It is bordered by Twickenham and Hampton, with its southern borders lying on the banks of the River Thames.
Suburban town
Geographically, Sunbury comprises two areas. The area adjacent to the river is commonly known as Lower Sunbury and has a more relaxed, village atmosphere, while the area to the north is known as Sunbury Common and is more urban.
Marking the western border of Sunbury is Queen Mary Reservoir which was constructed in 1925. Lower Sunbury has become increasingly popular with young first time buyers looking to start families. The mixture of Victorian terraces and 1930's semi detached houses in the leafy village offers a favourable and more affordable alternative to London.
Industry and commerce
It is a largely suburban town with a number of office buildings and industrial estates clustered around Junction 1 of the M3. Sunbury is the home of BPs Engineering and Research Centre. Located to the north of Sunbury on the site of Meadhurst House, formerly owned by the Cadbury family. A number of other companies, including Chubb, also have a presence.
The Avenue, Sunbury, has been the home of the London Irish Rugby Club since 1932 although since 2001 its premiership team has played at the Madejski stadium in Reading. However hundreds of minis, youngsters and adults turn out for the club each weekend in Sunbury during the rugby season. To the east of Sunbury is Kempton Park Racecourse.
Lower Sunbury is the home of the Sunbury Millennium Embroidery. * The embroidery was conceived and designed in the 1990s and completed in 2000. Its eventual home will be a purpose built gallery due for completion in 2006.
History
The earliest evidence of occupation in Sunbury is provided by the discovery of Bronze Age funerary urns dating from the 10th century BC. It is mentioned in the Sunbury Charter in AD 962. Sunbury Church and the Ferry house nearby are mentioned in the book Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens.
Transport
The modern centre of Sunbury, known as Sunbury Cross, is the point at which a major arterial route from London, the A316, becomes the start of the M3 motorway. Good road and rail links have caused the number of commuters to greatly increase recently.
Nearest places
Nearest railway stations
- Sunbury
- Kempton Park (only on race days).
External links
"Sunbury-on-Thames"