Staines is an urban area in the Borough (Hundreds) of Spelthorne (Spelethorne). The main towns in Spelthorne are Staines (Stanes), Ashford (Exeford), Stanwell (Stanwelle), Shepperton (Scepertone), Sunbury (Sunbarie). Staines is the administrative centre of the Borough and has the largest shopping area. Spelthorne is a district of London, that has a population of approximately 90,000, and covers 21 square miles.

(words in brackets are from the Doomsday Book. c.1086.)

The Ashby's were a very prominent family that came to Staines back in the 1750's. Thomas Ashby was the first to move here, he was a Quaker, young, poor but hardworking and before long he had managed to buy a number of properties in the area, including Corner Hall in Church Street, that is opposite St Mary's Church. It is a Grade 11 listed building, so still stands today.

The Corner Hall, Vicarage Road. Thomas Ashby's first home. (Taken in 2021)

In 1796 he started Banking in 57 Church Street, (a listed building that still stands today and has other Companies in it!) and that was a successful enterprise as well. He later moved it into the High Street. The Old Barclays Bank that was demolished in the 60's was originally the Ashby Bank. Thomas's four sons all went into the Banking business as well, the bank had various names along the way until eventually it had nine branches and thirteen sub-branches. Thomas died in 1813.

His son, Thomas Junior, started the brewing business in the same house, 57, Church Street, (which incidentally is also a listed building,) he moved the business to different places, below you will see a photo that was taken between 1903 - 1931, where the brewery is seen.

At the top left is what was called the 'Ashby's Malt House and Brewery Tower' and is now known as the Courage Tower. Next to it in the photo is Church Street, and on the upper right is the white corner building, (also listed) that is still there today in Clarence Street, but much whiter! Between the two roads is Bridge Street, along where all of these brewery buildings were located. You can see what we know as drying sheds or Oasthouses. There are also a lot of other buildings including a couple of chimneys.

On the lower left area next to the river, has to be the 'Coal, wharfing and barging' business that was started by William Ashby around 1811. It was later owned by the Gardam family.

The Courage building was built on the land where the above photo was taken. This model of it was given to the Spelthorne Museum when the building was being demolished a few years ago. It is on display in the Elmsleigh Room

A postcard sent on 29th May, 1919 of the Ashby Beer Cellar number 1
Ashby's were the biggest producers of Beer in the Staines area.

Courage Tower in the 40's
You can just see the Crown on the top of the tower. In front is the Cock Inn, no longer a Public House but a private company.

The Courage Tower today.
The actual crown on top of the tower is listed, and so this building can't be demolished. Instead apartments have been built inside it. It is almost opposite number 57 Church Street where the Ashby Brewery began.

Elmsleigh House
The large house at the top is Elmsleigh House. From 1870 to 1888 it was occupied by one of the Ashby's, Morris Jr. The House was demolished to make way for the new Elmsleigh Shopping Centre in 1974. The Spelthorne Museum is on the corner of Elmsleigh Road and Thames Street.

To be continued

Various Staines information, historic or otherwise, are listed on the page Links below. Art Works in Staines Ashby's Banks Books Church Street Churches Cinema's Clarence Street Common Land Companies Destruction Digs Dragonfly Dezignz Extras 1 Floods Golden Boy High Street Iron Bridge Links The Lino Maps Museum Talks 2023 Oast House Photos plus Premier Inn Pubs Research info Restaurants Roman Medical Instruments Shops Alphabetically Part 1 A - K Shops Alphabetically Part 2 L - Z Shops - Now Shops thru the years - High Street Shops thru the years - Other Streets Smiths to Banks Stations Thames Street Town Hall White Lion