Strand-on-the-Green

Strand-on-the-Green is an area of Chiswick in west London.

Strand-on-the-Green is located immediately to the east of Kew Bridge, along the north bank of the river Thames. The name is shared by the first part of the road east of Kew Bridge, its continuation on the riverside path, and the area itself.

The area is renowned as a particularly picturesque part of London. A footpath runs along the bank of the river, overlooked by numerous imposing 18th-century houses and local pubs, and, being a low part of the Tideway which has been narrowed with embankments on both banks, is flooded at spring tides; property flooding is rare but has occurred to basements and other storeys before the construction of the Thames Barrier.

The District line and London Overground both cross the river on the railway bridge erected in 1869 between the City Barge and Bull's Head pubs.

Moving downstream (from west to east), the three pubs along the river at Strand-on-the-Green are:

The Bell & Crown

The City Barge

The Bull's Head

Over 100 human skulls were reportedly found in the river Thames opposite Strand-on-the-Green during the 19th century, and although they have since disappeared, dating of other similar river skulls suggests they may have dated from c.600 BC. Pottery dating from Roman times has also been found in Strand-on-the-Green.

Strand-on-the-Green is first recorded as "Stronde" in 1353 ('strand' probably means 'shore'). It was called 'Strand Green' in 1593 and 'Strand under Green' in 1760. Almshouses, first built in 1658, still remain, though they were replaced by new buildings in 1721-24.

It was one of the four villages (Chiswick, Little Sutton, Turnham Green and Strand-on-the-Green) that merged to form the present-day Chiswick.

The opening of Kew Bridge in 1759 (which replaced a ferry on the same spot) and the royal palace at Kew increased the importance and popularity of the area, prompting the building of large houses and the development of small industries along the waterfront. These industries included malt-houses, repair yards, barge-builders and wharves. By 1860, Strand-on-the-Green also housed one of the largest laundries in London, the Pier House Laundry, whose brick facade is still visible to the left of Cafe Rouge. The laundry eventually closed in 1973.

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Wikipedia