Molesey Matters Articles

Last month I featured an article on ANZAC Day and the Mount Felix Hospital. Since April 2015 a small army of stitchers around Elmbridge have worked in teams, and sometimes on their own, to create 44 panels for the Mount Felix Tapestry.

George VI’s coronation at Westminster Abbey took place on 12 May 1937, the date previously intended for Edward’s coronation.

“ANZAC” was the name given to a combined force of First Australian Imperial Force and New Zealand Army troops who landed on Turkey’s Gallipoli Peninsula at around dawn on Sunday, the 25th day of April, 1915, barely nine months after the outbreak of World War I.

There are many types of historic pond. Some pond types are far better researched than others. Fish ponds, for example, are often well documented. Marl pits, on the other hand, are incredibly common in some parts of the country, yet little is known about them.

Terence Cuneo (1907–1996) was an English painter famous for his scenes of railways, horses, ceremonies, and military action. He was not only one of the world’s greatest military painters, he was also one of the top railway artists as well.

There has been a church on or near the site of St Peters for hundreds of years, West Molesey being mentioned in the Domesday Book. It replaced a much earlier building and there are many memorials and other artefacts which are older than the building.

Just before Christmas, Molesey Matters reader, Jacqueline Martin, contacted me regarding the artist Alfred Sisley. A few years ago, Jacqueline conducted some research for the Alfred Sisley Museum in Moret-sur-Loing outside Paris where the artist spent most of his life.

With the NHS constantly in the news at this time of year, and the ever-present threat of the closure of Molesey Hospital, we thought you might be interested in knowing about the first Cottage Hospital in Molesey.

Samuel Elias (better known as Dutch Sam April 4, 1775 in Petticoat Lane, London – July 3, 1816), was a professional boxing pioneer and was active between the years 1801 and 1814. Known as the hardest hitter of his era, he earned the nickname “The Man with the Iron Hand”

From an article taken from The Surrey Comet dated 21st December 1907!

The first Armistice Day was held at Buckingham Palace, commencing with King George V hosting a “Banquet in Honour of the President of the French Republic” during the evening hours of 10 November 1919.

One weekend last month, and if you were up and about early morning, you would have seen by Hampton Court Bridge, at the Thames Motor Yacht Club, a gathering of some of the most beautiful vintage boats.

In August 2015, Historic England listed Kent’s Chemist, 104 Walton Road, as a Grade II listed building. The listing is due to the efforts of the East Molesey Conservation Areas Advisory Committee, who spent a considerable time gathering information before submitting a detailed application on 2nd September 2014.

Horse racing saw a major boom during the Victorian era when increasing prosperity, saw an increase in the number of racecourses being built. Hurst Park, beside the banks of the Thames in West Molesey was one such course.