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.)

During the phases of making Staines an up-to-date town, buildings were pulled down. Some were demolished to make the one way system, (South Street), some to make way for other buildings, that housed shops.

Here are a few of these buildings that were taken from our landscape and town.

This was on the corner of Norris Road. 74 High Street
A Dig was done under this building (I believe in the 1980's) when it was taken down, and a Tessellated floor was discovered.
It had to have been beautiful when it was first laid.

(See Digs page)

 

Westbourne House. This was along the High Street, close to where McDonald's is now.

The building was purchased by Mr Reeves, the Butcher, and demolished in 1899, making way for the 'pretty' buildings. Where McDonalds is now located was the Post Office first, the two buildings next to there were one of Mr Reeves' butcher shops and housing.

If you look up at the top of the McDonalds building you will see this hiding in clear site, it gives the date when Mr Reeves had the building made.

The White Lion public House and Inn. This was located on the Woolworths side of the Iron Bridge along the High Street. I think most people in Staines at that time were shocked that this building was torn down as it had been given 'Listed Building' status only three years previously, (1953). It had been there for many, many years, and was a landmark on any High Street photos. But went it did and this is what it was pulled down for...
More details of this pub are on the White Lion link below.

The start of South Street that goes around the shopping area to Thames Street

The Margaret Pope school that was on Thames Street. At one point it housed the 'Palace' cinema. (What a lovely Museum this building would have made!)
The children that attended this school soon moved over to the Kingston Road School, which has also gone now.

The Congregational Church that was in Thames Street and was demolished for the road widening in 1956.

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 Extras (not mine)