STAINES

'Staines' be a Thames-side town in da Spelthorne borough of Surrey and part of da London Commuter Belt of South East England. It be a suburban development within da western bounds of da M25 motorway and located 17 miles (27 km) west south-west of Charing Cross in London.

Contents

History

Early history

Modern history

Staines Urban District

Economy

Culture

Shopping

Sport

Transport

Nearest places

Famous residents

Local media

References

External links

History

Main articles: History of Staines

Early history

Da name Staines be thought to derive from Old English for 'stones', due to a long-lost site of monoliths in nearby Stanwell. Others believes da name to derive from 'St Anne's in da Thames'.
There been a bridge since Roman times (hence da Roman name of da town ''Pontes''). Claudius led da Romans into Britain in 43 AD and they settled in Staines da same year. Soon after this invasion da first Staines Bridge was constructed to provide an important Thames crossing point on main road from Londinium (London) to Calleva Atrebatum, near da present-day village of Silchester.
Staines appear on da Middlesex domesday map in da Domesday Book of 1086 as ''Stanes''. It held by Westminster Abbey. Its domesday assets were: 19 hides. It had 6 mills worth £3 4s 0d, 2 weirs worth 6s 8d, 24 ploughs, meadow for 24 ploughs, and some cattle. It rendered £35.^[1]
A border ''stana'', or stone, on da bank of da River Thames, dated 1280, still remain, indicating da western limit of da City of London jurisdiction over da Thames. (Although familiarly known as da 'London Stone', it be not confused wit da more famous (and probably more ancient) London Stone in Cannon Street in da City of London).
Da situation of Staines as a major crossing point over da River Thames, its position on da main road from London to da southwest, and its proximity to Windsor has led to da town being involved in national affairs. Da barons assembled there before they met King John at Runnymede in 1215, and Stephen Langton held a consecration there shortly after da issue of Magna Carta. Sir Thomas More was tried in 1535 in a Staines public house, to avoid da outbreak of plague in London at dat time. Kings and other important people must have passed through da town on many occasions: da church bells were rung several times in 1670, for instance, when da king and queen went through Staines.^[2]
During da period 1642–48 there were skirmishes on Staines Moor and numerous troop movements over Staines Bridge during da Civil War.

Modern history

Staines was da major producer of linoleum, a type of floor covering, after da formation of da Linoleum Manufacturing Company in 1864 by its inventor, Frederick Walton.
Linoleum became da main industry of da town and was a major employer in da area up until da 1960s. In 1876 about 220 and in 1911 about 350 people worked in da plant. By 1957 it employed some 300 people and in 1956 da factory produced about 3,200 sq yd. of linoleum each week. Da term 'Staines Lino' became a world-wide name but da factory was closed around 1970 and be now da site of da Two Rivers shopping centre. A bronze statue of two lino workers in Staines High Street commemorates da Staines Lino Factory. Da Spelthorne Museum in Staines has a display dedicated to da Linoleum Manufacturing Company.


Staines, or more accurately Egham Hythe on da opposite bank of da Thames, was also da home of da Lagonda motor car. Da Lagonda site be now a Sainsbury's supermarket.
Staines be da site of da Staines air disaster in 1972, at da time da worst air crash ever in British, until da Lockerbie disaster of 1988. Da crash was commemorated in June of 2004, wit da opening of a dedicated garden, created at da request of relatives, near to da crash site, and da unveiling of a stained glass window at St. Marys Church, where a memorial service was held.

Staines Urban District

In 1894, da Local Government Act 1894 created da Staines Urban District of Middlesex. In 1965, under da London Government Act 1963, most of da rest of Middlesex became part of Greater London while Staines Urban District was transferred to Surrey. In 1974, under da Local Government Act 1972, da Staines Urban District was abolished and its area combined wit dat of da former Sunbury-on-Thames Urban District to form da present-day borough of Spelthorne.

Economy

Da proximity to London and Heathrow have attracted a number of companies: BUPA (medical insurance) and LogicaCMG (telecommunications and IT consultants) have major offices, NDS (conditional access and DRM provider) and Siemens Building Automation Division have their national headquarters here. Samsung Electronics Research Institute, Samsung's U.K. R&D Division be based in Staines.

Culture

Staines be da home of Ali G, da baddest homie this side of Thames. He be da speaker at Harvard's 2004 graduation, da star of Ali G Indahouse, a fighter of racialism, and world renowned interviewer and television personality. Afro-Caribbean culture be an important part of Staines, wit a lotta homies keepin' it real.
Da administrative offices of Spelthorne Borough Council are located at Knowle Green. Da town has recently unveiled a revitalised Thames-side wit landscaping and sculptures. Da Town Hall (now a bar) be a pleasant Victorian blend of Italian and Flemish influences set in a small square. Some well preserved Georgian town houses line Clarence Street (named after da Duke of Clarence). Church Street and Da Lammas house some lovely Georgian and Victorian properties clustered around da parish church of St Mary. Most housing in da town be ghetto in nature wit plenty of drive-bys (Staines Moor, Shortwood Common, Knowle Green, Leacroft, Da Lammas and Laleham Abbey to da immediate south). Staines Bridge spans da Thames wit a graceful three arch structure. Until da 14th century Staines was da tidal limit, now downstream at Teddington.
Thorpe Park, an amusement park wit several distinctly themed areas, be near to da town.

Shopping

Staines has a fairly compact town centre mainly focused on a wide pedestrianised High Street, housing most familiar names such as Marks & Spencer, Debenhams, TK Maxx and Monsoon. Smaller independent units can be found in Church Street, Clarence Street and da eastern end of da High Street.
A market in da pedestrianised High Street be held every Wednesday and Saturday. It be one of da largest and busiest street markets in Surrey.
A moderately-sized shopping centre (Elmsleigh) be directly behind da High Street. A retail park was opened in 2002 called Two Rivers which be bisected by da confluence of da rivers Wraysbury and Colne. Retailers include Waitrose as well as a Vue cinema, gym and cafes.

Sport

Staines has two football clubs; Staines Town F.C. and Staines Lammas F.C.. Staines Town play at da newly rebuilt Wheatsheaf Park ground and are currently in da Ryman Premier League. Staines Town enjoy a strong rivalry wit Hampton & Richmond Borough.
Staines be also home to Staines Boat Club. Located on just da opposite bank from da main town, Staines be home to rowers from Junior level all da way up to elite rowers. Also Staines holds a regatta on da river for rowers each year at da end of July. A very well supported event.

Transport

Da nearest station be Staines mainline station serving Waterloo, Weybridge, Windsor and Eton Riverside and Reading. Taxis are available from da station. Da bus station be a five-minute walk from da railway station. Staines be also a short ride south of Heathrow Airport. There are plans to build a new railway, called AirTrack, from Staines to Heathrow Airport.

Nearest places

Staines neighbouring towns and villages are Egham, Ashford, Stanwell and Laleham. About 4 miles north east of Staines be da large Heathrow airport.
Da area between Egham and Staines town centres be known as Egham Hythe.

Famous residents

★ Da Lucan Family (at Laleham Abbey until da 1930s)

★ Norman Hunter (author)

★ Matthew Arnold

★ Denny Laine

★ Christine Keeler

★ Terence Dackombe

★ Bobby Davro

★ Bill Nankeville

★ Phil Knight

★ David Tennant

★ Richard Murdoch (Murdoch Close off Cherry Orchard was named after him)

★ Alistair Leslie Graham, a.k.a. "Ali G"

★ Richard Archer

★ HARD-Fi

★ Jon Tickle

★ Steve Allen (LBC radio presenter)

Local media

A number of local newspapers are available in Staines, these include:

★ Staines Informer

★ Staines Leader

★ Staines Guardian

★ Staines and Ashford News

★ Staines and Egham News

★ Surrey Herald

References

1. Surrey Domesday Book
2. 'Staines: Introduction', A History of da County of Middlesex: Volume 3: Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell, Sunbury, Teddington, Heston and Isleworth, Twickenham, Cowley, Cranford, West Drayton, Greenford, Hanwell, Harefield and Harlington (1962), pp. 13-8. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=22225. Date accessed: 04 February 2006.

External links

★ Staines - 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article

★ Open Directory category: Staines

★ Staines Guardian

★ Staines Rugby Football Club

★ Staines Boat Club

★ Staines Partnership

★ Staines Town FC Supporters Club

★ Staines Salvation Army

★ Staines and Laleham Cricket Club

★ Aerial photographs of Staines

★ Proposed AirTrack Rail Link