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Sunbury-on-Thames
lies 12 miles west of central London in the Borough of Spelthorne.
The ancient
riverside settlement, which dates from the Bronze Age, takes
its name from a Saxon, Lord Sunna, who built a Burgh here
in the 10th century.
Today
the town is divided into two geographical areas: Lower Sunbury
and Sunbury Common.
Lower
Sunbury, beside the river, has retained its village atmosphere,
while Sunbury Common to the north is more urban.
Sunbury
Cross, the modern centre of the town, marks the point where
the A316 (the main road from London) becomes the M3. A number
of office buildings and industrial estates have grown up around
Junction 1 on the M3.
As well
as good road links, Sunbury also has excellent rail connections
and in recent times there has been a great increase in the
number of people commuting to London from Sunbury.
Bordering
Twickenham and Hampton, the town now forms an attractive leafy
suburb of London.
In 2006
a purpose-built gallery was opened in Lower Sunbury to hold
the Sunbury
Millennium Embroidery. Designed in 1990, and completed
10 years later, the 9 panels of embroidery celebrate the riverside
town of Sunbury in the year 2000.
The Walled
Garden in Lower Sunbury, set out on classical formal lines,
includes a flower bed dedicated to the Princess of Wales.
Beside the Walled Garden is Orchard Meadow which forms Sunbury's
village green. There are pretty walks along the Thames and
boats can be hire at Wilson's Boat Yard.
Sunbury
has been the home of the London Irish Rugby Club since 1932.
Just
to the east of Sunbury lies Kempton
Park Racecourse, known as 'London's Racecourse'. In 2006
the racecourse, which stages both National Hunt and Flat racing,
re-opened with a new all-weather track and floodlighting.
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Sunbury-on-Thames
