East Sheen

infobox UK place
country = England
map_type = Greater London
region= London
population=
official_name= East Sheen
london_borough= Richmond
latitude= 51.463702
longitude= -0.263803
constituency_westminster= Richmond Park
post_town= LONDON
postcode_district= SW14
postcode_area= SW
dial_code= 020
os_grid_reference= TQ205755

East Sheen, also known as 'Sheen' is an affluent and peaceful suburb of London, England in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.Mills, A., "Oxford Dictionary of London Place Names", (2001)] It forms part of the London post town in the SW postcode area. Because of its proximity to Central London, its well served transport links, reputable schools and its position next to the large expanse that is Richmond Park, East Sheen is a very popular area with high property prices.

The main high street is the Upper Richmond Road which has many small boutique clothing shops and delicatessans, the most well known in the area being Valentino's. Central to the area is a small square, known as the triangle, with a war memorial, and an old mile stone. There are a number of parks and open spaces in the area including Richmond Park, accessed via Sheen Gate; Palewell Common, which has a playground, playing fields, a polo field, tennis courts and a pitch and putt course; and East Sheen Common which leads onto bog gate, a secluded and hidden entrance to Richmond Park. The area is known for it's close-nit community, with a popular tennis club (East Sheen Lawn Tennis Club) and small local pubs such as the quaint The Plough and the larger Hare and Hounds on the Upper Richmond Road.

Etymology

The earliest recorded use of the name is c. 950 as "Sceon" and means "shed or shelters". The area was designated separately from Sheen (an earlier name for Richmond) from the 13th Century.

History

Throughout its history, East Sheen has not formed an independent unit of civil administration and was instead included as part of the Mortlake manor in the Brixton hundred of Surrey. [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/descriptions/entry_page.jsp?text_id=988410&word=East+Sheen IGEW] John Marius Wilson: "Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales" (1870-72)] It was included in the Metropolitan Police District in 1840. From 1892 to 1894 Mortlake (including East Sheen) formed part of the expanded Municipal Borough of Richmond.Vision of Britain - [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10058843 Mortlake parish] ( [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/bound_map_page.jsp?first=true&u_id=10058843&c_id=10001043 historic map] )] In 1894 nearby North Sheen was created as a civil parish, split from Mortlake and remained in the Municipal Borough of Richmond.Vision of Britain - [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10037098&c_id=10001043 North Sheen parish] ( [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/bound_map_page.jsp?first=true&u_id=10037098&c_id=10001043 historic map] )] The remainder of Mortlake (including East Sheen) was instead transferred to Barnes Urban District.Vision of Britain - [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10061600 Barnes UD/MB] ( [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/bound_map_page.jsp?first=true&u_id=10061600&c_id=10001043 historic map] )]

Famous residents

*Tim Berners-Lee - Engineer and founder of the world wide web
*Marc Bolan - Musician
*Omid Djalili - Comedian
*Debbie Harry - Musician
*Tim Henman - Sportsman
*Shaparak Khorsandi - Comedian
*Andrew Marr - Political broadcaster
*Davina McCall - Broadcaster
*Trevor McDonald - Broadcaster
*Catherine Tate - ComedianTom Hardy - Actor

Roy Kinnear, actor, is buried in East Sheen cemetery

Education

The most well known schools in the area are Tower House Boy's Preparatory School, a small independent prep-school for boys aged 4-13 and Sheen Mount School which is said to be one of the best and most competitive state primary schools in South-West London.

Transport

The area is served by Mortlake railway station.

References