The London Loop Leg 15
Banstead Station to Kingston Station
Saturday, 29th March, 2008 
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The London Loop is a 140 mile walk around London and roughly just inside the M25 (although you do not see it) passing through as many green places as possible such as parks, woods, commons, riverside protected areas and open farmland. The West Essex Ramblers are covering this in about 10 mile stretches over the period 2006 to 2008. We are following the path through "The London Loop" by David Sharp, ISBN1854107593, £13 rrp.
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Click photos below for larger image
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Some commentary on the photos,
which is also a reflection on the walk
[Road information is just to help identify where we were].
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1
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After we left the station we entered Banstead Downs golf course (Image 1) and joined the London Loop. The golf course was well wooded as shown by a tree lined path (Image 2). Unfortunately there was a good deal of Urban walking (Image 3), although not unpleasant, including the modern church of St Paul's (Image 4).
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2
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[We crossed the A232].
We went under a railway bridge into Warren Farm, now a Woodland Trust property, and there were directions for everywhere.
To the left was Bourne Hall 1¼ mile; Kingston Bridge 8 mile; and Uxbridge Lock 28 mile!
To the right was Banstead Downs 2¼ mile; Coulsdon 4 mile; and Petts Wood 31 mile!
However we were more local and off to 'Nonsuch Park'.
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3
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Nonsuch Park is an open spacious area where Henry VIII's Nonsuch Palace once stood. Image 1 showed a more modern building of Nonsuch Mansion in the trees, built in a Gothic style in 1804. We went along the main drive (Image 2) and left it temporarily to view three obelisks (Image 3) where the palace was sited: the third obelisk is mostly eclipsed by the distant second one. The map of Image 4 showed the position of the three obelisks in the centres of the three parallel walls - see Legend for symbol. The former Banqueting Hall (Image 5) was replaced by trees.
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4
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[We crossed the A240].
We passed The Castle (Image 1) (now, Ewell Castle Senior School) and later Glyn House (Image 3) (now, Ewell Castle Junior School). Opposite the castle was St Mary's church tower (Image 2) the only remains of a medieval church - a new church was a built in the mid 19th century nearby.
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5
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[We crossed the B2200].
Soon we reached the entry (Image 1) to Bourne Hill Park where there was a lake (Image 2) just inside the gates. We took a drinks break in Bourne Hall (no picture). There were waters (Image 3) outside the park wall which was part of the source springs generating the River Hogsmill.
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Opposite Picture 5, Image 3 and across Chessington road was the Upper Mill and mill pond (Image 1) and then we walked on and passed the front of the mill (Image 2).
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We walked around a playing field (Image 1) and after a railway there were more foliaged walks (Image 2) close to the River Hogshead. To cross the railway there was a walkway built over the River Hogsmill (Images 3 & 4) which we followed and then turned right, ie, we crossed the river as well.
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There was now a green river walk (Images 1 to 4) even though housing (virtually hidden) was close by on either side of the river. The stepping stones were just visible in Image 2.
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The information board of the Hogsmill area showed our route** from Chessington Road (by the mill) to The Hogsdmill pub. It gave a very good account of the path and historically background of the area.
** Picture 5, image 3 to Picture 12, image 1 inclusive.
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10
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Here there were weeping willows by the path and river.
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11
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There was more river to see (Images 1 & 2). [We went under the A240]. Then we came across the Surbiton Raceway go-kart track (Images 3 & 4) where there was a good race like atmosphere.
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12
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We arrived at The Hogsmill pub (Image 1) and took lunch here. We left the river on an urban bit and passed St John the Baptist church (Image 2), Malden. We then rejoined the river, went under a railway (Image 3) and continued along the River Hogsmill (Image 4).
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Catkins were out (oops, a bit out of focus).
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This Information board covered the our route**, it called it "The Hogsmill Valley Walk", from the railway bridge (after The Hogsmill pub) up to the A3 and dealt predominately with its nature aspects.
** Picture 12, image 3 to Picture 16, image 1 inclusive.
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15
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I looked back at this fine tree and the image also showed someone at the Information Board of Picture 14.
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We crossed the river and walked SW along the A3, then crossed the A3 via a subway to the north side (Image 3) and then headed back towards the river (Image 2) with the A3 on our right. We turned left at the river and it was now on our right hand side. Image 3 looked back the way we had come and Image 4 looked forward.
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17
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Just another tree.
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18
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We crossed and left the River Hogshead (at Image 1, I think) at Surbiton Hill Park (a road) and walked about a mile on roads until we passed over the Hogshead again (Image 2) on Villiers Road. Soon we rejoined the Hogshead, and crossed to the south side. We continued passed Springfield Road bridge, Image 3 is a photo that looked back, and shortly afterwards Image 4 was taken that also looked back.
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19
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As we looked east from the High Street we saw in Image 1 not only the Guild Hall on the left of the image, but also The Saxon Kings' Coronation Stone** enclosed in light blue wrought iron railings (enlarged view in Image 2). A few steps away was Clattern Bridge (pre 1293) (Image 5) viewed later from the river and east looking (some image 1 detail was above the bridge). After an "infill" of fishes (Image 3) there was interesting information about the bridge on the plaque of Image 4.
**The names of the seven kings were written around the base. The seven kings were: Edward the Elder, Athelstan, Edmund, Edred, Edwy, Edward the Martyr, and Ethelred. It was moved to its present position after the building of the Guildhall in 1935.
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20
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With Clattern Bridge behind us we viewed Wadbrook Street (bridge) (Image 1) followed by the confluence of the Hogsmill and the Thames (Image 2). Images 3 & 4 were the final approach to Kingston Bridge and the completion of 143 miles, in 15 sections, around the periphery of the outer London Boroughs.
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