ANDREWS...... WALTON....... BRIDGE!!!!!
The name Walton is Anglo-Saxon in origin and is believed to mean "farm of the Britons" or to have meant 'Saxon settlement'. Even before the Romans and the Saxons were present, there was a Celtic settlement here. The Anglo-Saxon word for the Celtic inhabitants who lived here before them is "Wealas".
Walton-on-Thames was also identified by William Camden as the place where Caesar forded the Thames on his second invasion of Britain, however according to Elmbridge Museum there is no evidence to support this.
In the Doomsday Book "waletona" was noted as having a church, two mills and a fishery.
Standing on the highest point of town, St. Mary's Parish Church dates back to before the Domesday Book (1086 AD). The church is of saxon origin, with parts dating back to the 12th and 15th centuries. The square flint tower, supported by a 19th century brick buttress, contains a peal of 6 bells, the oldest bearing the date 1606.
During the first world war New Zealand troops were hospitalised in the now demolished Mount Felix House. They are remembered by the street name New Zealand Avenue, the Wellington Pub and a small memorial in the Homebase car park.
Julia Elizabeth Wells was born October 1, 1935 in Walton-on-Thames, and later became Dame Julie Andrews.
Hersham and Walton Motors (HWM), now an Aston Martin and Audi dealer, constructed its own racing car in the early 1950s. Stirling Moss won his first Formula One Grand Prix in an HWM. In addition HWM was the world's first Aston Martin dealership.
There have been five bridges on the site so far and plans are well advanced for the sixth. Prior to the first bridge there was a ferry which goes back to, at least, the 15th century.
The first bridge, constructed between 1748 and 1750, was a wooden structure that stood until 1783. Canaletto painted a picture of this bridge in 1754.
The second bridge was constructed in 1788 and stood until 1859. Constructed of brick and stone it lasted much longer that its predecessor. This bridge was painted by Turner in 1805 following his sketching tour of the river Thames and Wey at that time.
