The Twickenham Museum
Exhibitions : Public Houses

Hampton Wick Pubs
Being at the end of Kingston Bridge and near Hampton Court meant that there were many pubs.

A postcard showing the King's Head in c 1905
Hampton Wick grew up at the Middlesex end of Kingston Bridge. In the 16th and 17th centuries the bridge was the first above London, and this together with the vicinity of Hampton Court Palace, meant that there were a number of inns in the area. Among these were a White Hart on the present site (rebuilt c 1930) at 1 High Street and The King's Head which had gone by 1752. The connection with the present King's Head (itself rebuilt in 1906) is not clear.
The Swan before re-building in 1931

The Swan at 22 High Street is mentioned in a document of 1610. The date 1535 painted on the front suggests when it was first built. It was rebuilt in 1931. The King's Arms near the Lion Gate to the Palace is mentioned in records of 1658 but this was probably an earlier building on the site.

A plan and elevation of the White Horse from 1947

The Rose and Crown and The White Horse are mentioned in the earliest surviving book of Vestry Minutes in 1788. The Rose and Crown was at 61 High Street and The White Horse was in Old Bridge Street. Neither are in existence today. Later public houses include The Foresters at 45 High Street (documented in 1861) and The Railway Inn (mentioned in 1859).

medForesters.jpg

The Foresters later had a face-lift with the addition of Dutch gables. The Railway Inn closed down in 2010. The Grove Inn is mentioned in 1853. It closed and became a petrol station and garage, Grove Motors, from 1920 for around 60 years. It was then converted to offices and is now known as Navigator House.

The Greyhound Hotel, Hampton Court, with staff

Two further premises, near Hampton Court, were opened in the 1850s and 1860s. These were The Queen's Arms (listed in 1867) and later converted to a private house known as “Bastians”. The Greyhound Inn dates to the 1850s and still trades, under the name of The Liongate Hotel.

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