Coronation Stone, Kingston upon Thames

A local legend that these Saxon coronations gave Kingston its name is contradicted by the records of the 838 council.

[1] Æthelstan was consecrated king at Kingston in 925, Eadred in 946 and Æthelred the Unready in 979.

[2] According to John Stow, writing in the late sixteenth century, Æthelstan was crowned on a stage in the market place, but it was later believed that the kings were crowned in the ancient church of St Mary, which collapsed in 1730.

It was used for a time in the late 18th century to the early 19th century as a mounting block, but in 1850 it was placed in the market place on a plinth in front of the old Town Hall (on the site now occupied by the 'Market House' today).

[2] In 2017, Kingston Council was considering an option of re-siting the coronation stone from the Guildhall's frontage back to its original location within the churchyard of Kingston's old parish church, All Saints' Church.