Staines is an urban area in the Borough (Hundreds) of Spelthorne (Speletorne or Spelethorne 2 spellings noted). 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 Domesday Book. c.1086.)

HISTORY

ICE AGE = (circa. 10,000 BC). Evidence of people living here.

NEOLITHIC STONE AGE = (4,000-3,000 BC) Lake or Pile Dwellers remains found

BRONZE AGE = (1,700 BC) Findings of bodies from this age

IRON AGE = (circa. 750 BC), Findings of occupation on higher grounds

ROMAN = (43 - 406 AD) Many findings in the area.

Ad Pontes was changed to Staines after the Romans left, actually it was called Stane back then, the name (Anglo-Saxon) meant 'stones' and historians believe that was because when the town was sacked the bridge was partially destroyed leaving piles of stones in places. Another theory is that the stones were the Nigus (Negan) stones that were a Druidic circle in Staines. There will be more about this on the Churches page.

The earliest evidence of human activity in Staines is from the Paleolithic. Flint blades, along with reindeer and horse bone fragments, were found during excavations at Church Lammas, next to the Lammas Park.

The area was already settled by the Trinobantes Tribe when the Romans arrived, and the Tribe joined with Boudiccea, the Iceni Tribe and the Catuvellauni Tribe to fight the invaders in the area and south-east England. During the Battles Pontes was destroyed, burned, which has shown up in the archaeological digs in the town. However during the Roman occupation Pontes did expand as has been shown by the remnants in the recent excavations.

I remember in the 1960's a dig was going on at the old Barclay's Bank site and I went and helped, various items were found on that site that showed the expansion of the town, and that happened in Roman times. I can't say I dug anything up but it was an interesting few weeks. I didn't find out what had been found there until I started working as a Volunteer in the Spelthorne Museum in 2011, and saw that they had some pieces on display from that dig. During that era digs were going on in different places, such as the Friends' Burial Ground and the Mumford & Lobb site, because Staines was being developed yet again, and many of the old buildings were being torn down and the new happening one way system and Elmsleigh Centre was being built. (See Digs page below)

They say that due to a Collyrium Stamp, being found during an excavation of 73–75 High Street in 1989, they think that there was a healer living in the town.

I have recently, 2021, been given access to a lot of photos of digs in the area which I will make up a page for once I have finished with the updates on each page.

In May of 2012 Staines was renamed to Staines-Upon-Thames.

Staines is around 17 miles from Central London. (2023: It looks like the Mayor of London's 'Clean Air Zone' may soon be reaching us. This idea is not welcomed by local people.)

2021 - Buildings are again being demolished and high rise apartments are being built, changing the face of Staines once more.

Up to date News
24th September 2021

I have just seen this post on Face Book this morning. I thought it should be included on here. FYI. - Gloria

PETITION AGAINST HIGH-RISE HELL IN STAINES DELIVERED TO SPELTHORNE BOROUGH COUNCIL
FOR FULL COUNCIL DEBATE IN OCTOBER
A petition calling on Spelthorne Borough Council to prevent high-rise developments in the Staines Conservation Area and overlooking the riverfront was hand-delivered to the Council offices this morning with the request that it is on the agenda for debate at the next meeting of the Council on 14 October.

The focus of the petition is five sites in Staines Ward: Bridge Street Car Park and Hanover House, Debenhams, Old Telephone Exchange and Masonic Hall, Tothill Car Park, and Thameside House. The Council has identified these in its draft plan for the town for developments up to 15-storeys high. The petition was organised and promoted to residents by the Riverside Residents (Staines) Coalition and managed by the independent organisation 38 Degrees.

“Council rules dictate that any petition relating to a single ward that is signed by more than 1,000 is entitled to a debate in the full Council. Our petition has been signed by more than 3,500,” says a spokesperson for the Riverside Residents (Staines) Coalition".

22 November 2021
Update

As a result of the demonstration outside the council offices on Tuesday 9th November, Spelthorne Council has agreed to meet a delegation of protestors at the council offices on Monday 13th December at 6:00 p.m.
The meeting will be broadcast live on the council’s YouTube channel so it will be available for real-time online viewing for all.
The purpose of the meeting is for council officers to answer questions about the council’s apparent disregard of residents’ wishes about high rises in Staines, the role of council officers in the developers’ preparation of the plans to demolish the Debenhams building, the council’s lack of response to the outcome of the recent consultation with residents about the future of Staines and the many other issues raised at the protest.

April 2022
Update

The Debenhams building has been given local 'listed status' to help with saving it. It seems however that the Old Tephone Exchange and the Masonic Hall, have not been so lucky and high rise apartments will be erected in their spaces.

Debenhams reopened temporarily in early 2023 to allow a furniture business to use it's space.

August 2023
Update

A bid for two towers of 220 flats on the site of the former Debenhams in Staines has been rejected at appeal by a government inspector. The plans were refused by councillors in June 2022 and the applicant, Future High Street Living (Staines) Ltd, lodged an appeal with central government about the decision.

But the inspector, Hayley Butcher, dismissed the appeal, describing the Debenhams building as "unapologetically of its time, but also sympathetic to its historic surroundings". She said the building effectively worked as a "bookend" with the Premier Inn at the other end of the town's pedestrianised High Street, which was described in her decision as "domestic and human" in scale.

At four storeys high, she said the Debenhams building was "broadly in-keeping with the scale of surrounding buildings". The planned towers would have been 15 storeys tall.

Info from Surrey News in July 2023

I will continue to keep you updated on this.

Staines has always been a Market town even in Roman times, and history says that a market has been held in Staines since the iron age. I remember the market always being in the Town Hall square, and walking around it when I was a kid. It always amazed me because of the aroma that came from the stalls. Christmas even now has to have that smell of the market; celery, tangerines, and all the fruit and veg that goes with it. In 2001 the market moved it's location and is now held in the High Street. The smells have changed since I was a kid, now you get the aroma of hot dogs, burgers and donuts instead of the traditional ones, but the market continues in Staines. (see the photo plus page)

In Victorian times the Circus came to town, there is an old picture of elephants and camels walking along Clarence Street to the High Street, also another picture of a young boy standing close to a dancing bear in the High Street. Back in those days the circus and fairs used to set up close to the railway in the High Street. Another annual event in Victorian times was the Staines Fair. This took place along the High Street, where the vendors, often gypsies, lined up to sell their wares............ Looking at pictures of that time it doesn't look too different to the market of today that is held in the same place.

The Linoleum Manufacturing factory started in 1864, and by 1930 covered 45 acres. The Lino employed many local people over the years, including my own father who worked there after the war. I used to go to the Christmas party there every year and also the summer sports party out on the grounds. Where the Lino used to be is now the new 'Two Rivers' shopping centre. The footpath to the furthest shops is where the Old Hale Mill used to be and the River Colne still runs through the area.

Staines High Street 1947

Enjoy the Queen's 70th Celebrations
June 2022

RIP Queen Elizabeth ll, who passed in September 2022

The Coronation of King Charles 111 will be in early May, 2023

 

BRIDGES

Staines has been around since the Ice Age....... well the Thames has, if not the town itself! The River Thames was formed as it is today when the Ice Age ended, and archaeologists have found evidence that there were people living where Staines is now located even back as far as then. However the most historical finds are from Roman times.

It seems that Staines has always had bridges over the Thames, in fact when the Romans came in AD 43, they called their settlement Ad Pontes which means the Bridges. They made a new bridge over the river where the main London to Silchester road ran. For many centuries Staines was the only bridge crossing the Thames from London Bridge, so it was very important.

John and George Rennie made the present bridge that has been widened in recent years. When it was built in 1832, there was nothing much more than horse and cart traffic using it, now there are hundreds of vehicles a hour going over it. What a feat for it still to be standing. You know there used to be a sign on the bridge back in 1861 that said if anyone interfered with or damaged the bridge they could be sentenced to penal servitude for life! Seeing how strong the bridge is I wouldn't think anyone ever got into that situation....

Staines Bridge in the 40's or 50's. The green bus is probably the 441 going into Egham, it looks too tall to be the 462 or 436 which went down Chertsey Lane and into Chertsey. Those buses had to go under the low railway bridge at the top of Chertsey Lane and so had to be under a certain height.

I remember another bridge when I was a small child, it was on the Egham side of Staines bridge, and it was very rickety. It was built in 1939 as a spare in case the main bridge was bombed, and to carry extra troop traffic across the Thames. The Callender-Hamilton 'Bailey' bridge was changed to pedestrian only in 1947 and was torn down in 1959. I often have dreams about that bridge, and always I am afraid that it will fall into the water.
This is the 'Bailey' Bridge above the Staines bridge to the right. The Lagonda must be where the Chimney is, with the Ship pub below it with the black roof.
No roundabout next to the bridge back in these days.

Staines Bridge in the 1930's. The Town Hall is top middle, Clarence Street on the left, with Bridge House Hotel shown left as you came off the Bridge. The Regal Cinema was built there later. On the right side is the way people drove to Chertsey from the bridge as no roundabout back then.

Other bridges we have in Staines over the river is the railway bridge in Thames Street/Laleham Road, that one is made of iron and of course is a railway bridge built quite quickly when the trains needed a way across the river. Victorian.

The old Iron Bridge (railway) along the High Street. Also Victorian. That bridge was altered before the White Lion was demolished as the taller traffic had to go into the middle of the road because it used to be a bowed bridge. They changed it so that it was level all the way across. A train station to Windsor area used to be on top of the Bridge in Victorian times. (see below)

The photos of the newly renovated Iron Bridge 2022

The Original Iron Bridge in Victorian Times.This is why traffic had problems later due to the bow of the Bridge.

Even after the bridge had been altered vehicles still got stuck as the above photo shows.

Frank's snack bar was in the same space at the base of the bridge for many years

This photo of the Iron Bridge was taken by Derek Lyes in January 2022 just before the bridge was renovated and revamped.

The new Iron Bridge, looking towards the new Premier Inn. June 2022. taken by Jenny Hazell

There have been other bridges built over the Thames in Staines (one in 1797 and the other in 1803) but they didn't last too long although their remains can still be seen.

It is said that those bridge builders were not qualified to build such an undertaking.
This one I believe was painted in 1828. W Westall