Chessington

Chessington is an area in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames within Greater London, which was historically part of Surrey.

Neighbouring settlements include Tolworth, Ewell, Surbiton, Claygate, Epsom, Oxshott, Leatherhead, Esher, Kingston upon Thames, Worcester Park and Malden Rushett.

In the English Civil War it became a royalist stronghold and was razed to the ground by Oliver Cromwell's Parliamentary forces, giving it its modern name.

The site became an inn and was then rebuilt on a grander scale from the 18th century by the Vere Barker family in a Neo-Gothic Victorian style.

[3] Chessington Hall has a place in 18th-century literary history, as home of Samuel Crisp, a failed playwright and close friend of Fanny Burney.

[4] At 207 Hook Road is a Blue plaque commemorating the author Enid Blyton, who lived at the address between 1920 and 1924.

It became a vital part of Britain's defence against the Luftwaffe in World War II, and originally featured a number of large barrage balloon sheds as well as extensive garages and workshops for the station's support vehicles.

Within the town there are various sporting organisations including: Non League football clubs Chessington & Hook United F.C.

and Epsom Athletic F.C., who both play football in the Combined Counties League; and Kingston RFC based on the Hook Road.

The line past Chessington South has fallen into heavy disrepair and leads over a concrete bridge into a patch of full-grown trees.

The crossover, signal, and rail electricity at this point are still active, even though a passenger train has never passed over this section.

Map of Chessington in the 1880s
St Mary's Church, Chessington
Hook Road, Chessington