Weybridge Things to Do Tips by planxty

A small literary pilgrimage.

If you have read my other tips on Weybridge, you will know that I had followed a "trail" from St. James Church and the grave of the one time Duchess of York, to the memorial to her situated on the aptly named Monument Green. I was wandering about, trying to take a photo in the failing light when I was approached by a friendly elderly gentleman out walking his dog. We had a brief conversation about the town and what I had done that day. I told him that I did a bit of writing on an internet travel website and he pointed to a nearby, fairly undistinguised house and said it might be worth my while having a look at that, with which he wandered off.

Intrigued by this enigmatic old gent, I walked the few yards to the house, wondering what could possibly be so interesting and was rewarded with a blue plaque on the wall of what is obviously a well cared for family home declaring that it was here that the celebrated author E.M. Forster lived and wrote many of his novels, probably most famously "A Passage to India". Forster's other works include "Howards Way" and "A Room with a View".

Obviously, it is not possible to enter the premises now but it is worth a look if you are at the Monument or if you are a fan of the author.

Address: Monument Green, Weybridge, Surrey.

A monument with a history.

If you have read my other tips on Weybridge, you will have seen that I visited the parish Church of St. James and the grave site of the delightfully named Frederica Charlotta Ulrica Catherina, one time Duchess of York and local benefactress, departed this life in 1820 at the nearby Oatlands Park.

I had been told that there was a monument to her, situated in the very appropriately named Monument Green, and so set off to find it. It is indeed an impressive edifice, looking slightly too large and imposing for the surrounding topography and there is a reason for that. It was never intended to be here, and was originally situated in central London at Seven Dials in the theatreland area of Covent Garden. Indeed, as I write, the long-running show Chicago (excellent, and I recommend it) is in a theatre overlooking the original site. It is clear that Frederica etc. was much loved as the original monument was raised largely by public subscription. The good lady was born in Berlin and I suppose (my history is not that good) that this may be a forerunner of our current Royal Family which has a large Germanic heritage.

So why was the monument moved? Well, there are various theories. One of the more romantic is that it was torn down in an attempt to find treasure reputedly buried beneath it. History does not record that any was found.

It is an impressive memorial and well worth a look should you find yourself in the town.

Apologies for the main image but it was late in the day and the light fading badly.

Address: Monument Green, Weybridge, Surrey.

A wonderful old Church.

Although not the original Church building here, the site of St. James Church, Weybridge has been a place of Christian worship for over eight centuries. The current building dates from 1848 and was extended considerably in 1889. It replaced the former Church of St. Nicholas, although why the name was changed is a mystery to me. It was the work of John Loughborough Pearson and is a pleasant enough typically Victorian Church.

Visiting on a Spring midweek afternoon, I was lucky enough to run into the assistant Rector, a delightful man called Rev. Barry Hengist, and we had an interesting chat about matters theological, architectural and historical. It certainly added a lot to my visit. I had been admiring a very fulsome memorial in the rear of the Church to the delightfully named Frederica Charlotta Ulrica Catherina, one time Duhess of York and local benefactress, departed this life in 1820 at the nearby Oatlands Park. The Revd. Hengist informed me her grave was in the adjoining churchyard and told me where to find it (see photo). There is also a memorial to her in the town (see seperate tip).

The second cruciform monument pictured fascinated me due to the slightly odd juxtaposition of the Latin and Greek inscriptions and the obviously Celtic decoration. All this in the Home Counties of England.

If you happen to be in Weybridge do pop in, it is a friendly and interesting place.

Address: Church Street, Weybridge, KT13 8DE

Directions: Right in the centre of town.

Phone: +00 44 (0)1932 856399

Website: http://www.stjamesweybridge.org.uk/

A very old example.

Readers of my other pages will know that I absolutely love canals and waterways and, indeed, am fortunate enough to crew on a friends narrowboat occasionally. It was therefore a great treat to find Weybridge Town lock on a recent wander through the Surrey countryside. As the sign indicates, the navigation between Weybridge and Godalming was begun in 1635 and completed in 1653 thereby making it one of the earliest rivers made navigable in the UK, and so of great interest to me as it long predates the main canal building period.

The navigation was the brainchild of Richard Weston (1591–1652) and when you consider that he had to flee England during the English Civil War, you get an idea of just how old the navigation is. With connections to the (disused) Wey and Arun Canal and the Thames, it was possible to move goods about from London to the sea. Coal was brought from London and diverse goods taken on the return trip. It must haver been quite a successful navigation as commercial traffic only ceased in 1983 whereas many other canals in England had fallen into disuse many years before.

If you have the slightest interes in the canal system in the UK or just like a pleasant view, it is well worth a visit.

Directions: Adjacent to the Wey Bridge.

Website: http://www.weyriver.co.uk/theriver/wey_nav_9.htm