Portsmouth Road
From Dittopedia
The Portsmouth Road A307 runs from Kingston upon Thames to Cobham, via Surbiton, Long Ditton, Thames Ditton, and Esher. At nearly every point along this route, it is named the Portsmouth Road. At Cobham, the A307 joins the A3, which is generally also known as the Portsmouth Road.
History
The A307 follows the route of the old Portsmouth Road. Since the invention of the motorway, the Portsmouth Road has been diverted away from towns and instead routed through countryside.
Robert Clive was one of the first to divert the Portsmouth Road. (He believed it ran too close to his house at Claremont.)
The Portsmouth Road has a great tradition and history, taken by kings such as Charles II, and by the wealthy such as Arthur Onslow, by admirals, religious leaders and writers such as Samuel Pepys. Rocque's map of Surrey (1768) shows the road (once known as the Portsmouth Turnpike-road) running from Kingston and close to Surbeton, through Ditton Marsh, with Thames Ditton slightly to the north, and on towards Esher. Commons, and farms with access tracks, lay on both sides of the road. The village could be reached by Wharf Road from Claremont Wharf (not far from what is now called Winters Bridge) to a point near the High Street.
The Road and surrounding commons were notoriously dangerous -- there was the serious risk of both footpads (i.e. unmounted robbers) and highwaymen. Tom Waters, Jerry Abershawe, Evan Evans, William Hawke and Thomas Banks were all hanged in the 17th/18th centuries for banditry on the Portsmouth Road. Towards the end of the 18th century, an amateur police force of about 80 men was formed at Weston Green. In 1792, a group of vigilantes was formed and based at the Harrow Inn. Their backers included William Speer of Weston Grange, Thomas Bracey and William Chauncey.
References
- 1. Wikipedia
- 2. Burchett, P. 1984. A Historical Sketch of THAMES DITTON. Surrey: Thames Ditton and Weston Green Residents' Association. ISBN 0-904-81120-4.
