Ashford (Surrey)
Coordinates: 51 ° 26 ′ N , 0 ° 27 ′ W
Ashford is a city that is almost entirely for district Spelthorne the county (County) Surrey in southern England heard. Located about 15 miles west-southwest of Charing Cross near Heathrow Airport , one of the many commuter communities around London , has a population of about 25,000. The River Ash flows through the place.
In reference books, the town is often referred to as Ashford, Middlesex to distinguish it from the large town of Ashford in Kent. Middlesex is the name of the historic county to which Ashford was a part; since 1965, when Middlesex County Council was dissolved, the city has been administered by Surrey County Council and a small part of what belongs to London is administered by the London Borough of Hounslow .
Urban development
Archaeological finds date Ashford to the Bronze Age , but the first recorded settlement is likely of Anglo-Saxon origin. The village is first mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086; on the map it is entered there as "Exforde".
At the end of the 18th century, Ashford had 400 residents. The connection to the railway network by the London and South Western Railway in 1848 let the population grow further, which finally gave rise to the well-known architect William Butterfield to build a larger church, which was consecrated in 1858 and completed in 1865. In 1873 it was decided to build a rectory. At that time Ashford had 1,019 residents, and further growth was mapped out with the opening of the West London District School in 1872.
Due to its proximity to the capital and good transport links, Ashford became a popular place to live for commuters in the 20th century. Today's cityscape is a mixture of villas and castle-like buildings, which mainly date from the period from 1930 to 1960. The main shopping street is Church Road , which is also home to the Ashford Campus of Brooklands College , the Ashford Library and a memorial to the dead of the two world wars .
The main employer in Ashford itself is the energy company BP International . A significant number of the residents work at Heathrow Airport ; many others are employed in London or have jobs in the area west of London also known as the Thames Valley (" Thames Valley").
Most of the Borough of Spelthorne is part of the Green Belt of London and is interspersed with gravel pit lakes, which are now part of London's water supply. The Staines Reservoir in the northeast is a designated bird sanctuary, while the Queen Mary Reservoir has become a popular sailing area.
In Shortwood Common said area between Ashford and Staines still feeding cattle. The pond there with the surrounding area is one of the last regional refuges for a diverse flora and fauna and has therefore been declared a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Church Road
St Matthews Parish Church
Shortwood Common
sons and daughters of the town
- Ray Dorset (born 1946), front man, singer and songwriter for the band Mungo Jerry .
- Norman Willis , General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) 1984–92 and President of the European Trade Union Confederation 1991–93.
- Bobby Davro , actually Robert Nankeville, actor and comedian .
- Lynda Chater , novelist.
- Russell Grant , astrologer and resident of Staines, Lord of Ashford since 1996.
- Robert Evans (* 1956), politician and parliamentarian of the Labor Party.
- Spelbound , acrobatic troupe, 2010 winner of the casting show Britain’s Got Talent .
- Dan Flint, drummer for the rock band You Me at Six .
- Tony Doyle (* 1958), former racing cyclist.
Web links
- Tour UK Travel Guide (English)
- Website of St Matthew's Church (English)
- Ashford - website of British History Online (English)