The town of Richmond grew around the Tudor royal palace by the River
Thames. Much of the land was used by the royals for hunting, first in
the Old Deer Park and then in Richmond Park, but in the 18th and 19th
centuries the area became a fashionable place of residence close to
London, particularly around Richmond Hill. The town expanded into a
municipal borough in 1890 and is now part of London, a thriving shopping
and cultural centre for the area. This book explores the less well-known
episodes and characters in the history of Richmond through the years,
from its royal beginnings, the establishment of a tapestry works at
Mortlake, the connection with the River Thames through boat building and
the ferry before Richmond Bridge was built, home of the artistic and
other famous people including three leading explorers, to the secret
nineteenth century plot to destroy Kew Gardens and the story behind the
establishment of the Poppy Factory in 1922 and the wartime exodus down
the river by barge of evacuees from East London and the village of
Belgian refugees.With tales of remarkable characters, unusual events and
tucked away or disappeared historical buildings and locations, Secret
Richmond upon Thames will appeal to all those with an interest in the
history of this corner of South West London.
