Editing Tolworth (section)

==History==
Tolworth, in the [[Domesday Book]], was called ''Taleorde''. Its Domesday assets were held partly by Picot from [[Richard de Tonebrige]] and partly by Radulf (Ralph) from the [[Bishop of Bayeux]]. It rendered: {{frac|2|1|2}} [[hide (unit)|hide]]s; also 4 [[hide (unit)|hide]]s with [[Long Ditton]]; 1 [[Mill (grinding)|mill]] without dues, 8 [[plough]]s, {{frac|10|1|2}} acres and {{frac|1|2}} [[Rod (length)|rod]] of [[meadow]]. It rendered [[pound sterling|£]]6.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gwp.enta.net/surrnames.htm|title=Surrey Domesday Book|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030192829/http://www.gwp.enta.net/surrnames.htm|archive-date=30 October 2007}}</ref>

The Evelyn family, who had settled in Surrey, played a prominent role and established gunpowder mills at Tolworth, probably in 1561.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.sihg.org.uk/books/SurreyIndPast.pdf|title=Surrey's Industrial Past|editor-last=Crocker|editor-first=Glenys|publisher=[[Surrey Industrial History Group]]|isbn=0-9523918-8-0|year=1999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202225219/http://www.sihg.org.uk/books/SurreyIndPast.pdf|archive-date=2 December 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1870–72, John Marius Wilson's ''Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales'' described Tolworth like this: "TALWORTH, a hamlet in Long Ditton parish, Surrey; 2½ miles SSE of Kingston upon Thames. Acres, 1,190. Pop., 434. Houses, 81. An ancient manor-house here was held by the Earl of Kent, uncle of Edward III.; and is now a farmhouse."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/5597|title=History of Tolworth, in Kingston upon Thames and Surrey – Map and description|work=visionofbritain.org.uk}}</ref> For much of the 19th century, the Earls of Egmont were Tolworth's principal landowners

By 1908 things were changing: the population growth was accelerating due to the development of the brickfields and the construction of Tolworth Sewage Farm (which opened in 1891),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wellcomelibrary.org/moh/report/b19970596/31#?asi=0&ai=31&z=-0.7955%2C0.1079%2C2.0604%2C0.8854|title=Wellcome Library – View report page|work=wellcomelibrary.org}}</ref> both in Red Lion Lane (now Red Lion Road). With a proper sewerage system Tolworth was ready for development. St Matthew's Church had been built for a congregation of 800 and trams now ran from the Red Lion.<ref>St Matthew's Church had been built for a congregation of 800</ref>

In 1919 the Medical Officer of Health reported that Surbiton was a residential neighbourhood with no dominating factories or works. The only new feature of late, he said, is the springing up of a few "Motor Garages," each employing a few hands on the care and repair of cars. He advised that the Electric Light Works and a belated resuscitation of the Tolworth Brickfields represented the leading "Works" in Surbiton. The reference to the brickworks probably relates to it being owned by William Alen until his bankruptcy in 1881.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/24941/page/832|title=The London Gazette|journal=[[The London Gazette]]|date=22 February 2011|issue=24941|page=832}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://wellcomelibrary.org/moh/report/b19970638/9#?asi=0&ai=9&z=-1.3868%2C0.4563%2C2.9127%2C1.2504|title=Wellcome Library – View report page|work=wellcomelibrary.org}}</ref> The urban district council entered into an agreement with [[Callenders Cables & Construction]] (later to become [[British Insulated Callender's Cables]]) under which the company laid electrical supply cables around Surbiton. In 1916 the council sold the Surbiton and District Electricity Co, based in Hollyfield Road, to Callenders.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1932/apr/13/london-and-home-counties-joint|date=13 April 1932|title=London and Home Counties Joint Electricity Authority |work=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]]}}</ref> The opening of the Kingston by Pass ([[A3 road]]) in 1927 was a major catalyst for expansion which included six and a half miles of new residential roads, containing 2000 houses. This period also saw the construction of Tolworth Broadway, aligning with the Kingston Road, on the former Tolworth Lodge Farm.

In the 1930s and '40s the clay extraction requirements of a brickworks north of the A3 off Red Lion Road (now Red Lion Industrial Park) produced a large water-filled pit (known locally as "The Bluey") which was used as a landfill site for bomb-damage and industrial material removed from bomb-sites resulting from the "Blitz". The [[Civil Defence Corps]] used to have a training site with a full-size mock-up of a bomb-damaged housing estate. This land has been reclaimed and is now a recreation ground. The Tolworth Brickworks Company Ltd. decided in September 1946 that the company should be voluntarily wound up – a process that continued until at least 1951.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37734/page/4771|title=The London Gazette|journal=The London Gazette|date=20 September 1946|issue=37734|page=4771}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/39260/page/3318|title=The London Gazette|journal=[[The London Gazette]]|date=15 June 1951|issue=39260|page=3318}}</ref><ref>Tolworth Brickworks (Kingston By-Pass) Controlled Tip 1938, (including Bluey Pond) 1946, 1952 held by Kingston Museum and Heritage Service</ref> Clay extraction also took place at "The Wood" near Surbiton Station, Fishponds Park <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kingston.gov.uk/info/200216/conservation/747/list_of_conservation_areas/27|title=Fishponds Park – List of conservation areas – The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=15 November 2013|archive-date=3 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203004332/http://www.kingston.gov.uk/info/200216/conservation/747/list_of_conservation_areas/27|url-status=dead}}</ref> as well as in Claygate<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/ClaygateBrickfieldsLtd/CCA91920#page/n3/mode/2up|title=Claygate Brickfields, LTD|work=archive.org|year=1927}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Claygate_Brickfields|title=Claygate Brickfields|work=gracesguide.co.uk}}</ref>

Off Worcester Park Road/Old Malden Lane was the access to Tolworth Hall and nearby, along the [[Hogsmill River]], were watercress beds.

Until 1965 Tolworth, as a part of Surbiton, was in the county of [[Surrey]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.amberley-books.com/surbiton-through-time.html | title=Surbiton Through Time }}</ref>

===The Station Estate===
"The Estate that never was": plans for the Station Estate were approved by Surbiton Corporation and [[Surrey County Council]] in January 1940,<ref>Agreement between Tolworth Finance and Land Corporation Limited, The Surbiton Corporation and The County Council of Surrey dated 22 January 1940</ref> comprising 459 houses and 10 shops on four sites, separated by the Kingston Road and the Southern Railway [[Chessington Branch Line]] (which was to be extended to Leatherhead).

As part of the agreement the owners gave up part of the land to form the wider and re-aligned Kingston Road. Dean Court and Drayton Court were constructed in 1959 on part of the "Station Estate" land and the Developer "Lansdowne Court Investments" is acknowledged in the naming of Lansdowne Close.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=Lansdowne+Close,+Surbiton,+Greater+London+KT5,+United+Kingdom&aq=&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=64.664844,135.263672&vpsrc=0&ie=UTF8&geocode=Fdv1DwMdyLz7_w&split=0&hq=&hnear=Lansdowne+Close,+Surbiton+KT5,+United+Kingdom&t=m&z=17|title=Google Maps|publisher=Google Maps}}</ref> Earlier plans had envisaged six semi detached and one detached house between the Toby Jug and Tolworth Station.<ref>plan attached to conveyance dated May 1954 between the Tolworth Finance and Land Corporation and the Minister of Works</ref>

===Wartime Bomb Damage===
During [[World War II]] a number of [[V1 flying bomb]]s came down on [[Surbiton]] and Tolworth, including the notorious "Derby Day Disaster" of June 1944 when 12 people were killed by a V1 at Tolworth Park Road.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/70/a3326870.shtml|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120720125439/http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/70/a3326870.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 July 2012|title=BBC – Error 404 : Not Found}}</ref> Between 7 October 1940 and 6 June 1941, 25 high explosive bombs dropped on the current Tolworth and Hook Rise ward but there were as many again in the few adjacent streets around Douglas Road which is now part of Surbiton Hill ward.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bombsight.org/|title=Bomb Sight – Mapping the World War 2 London Blitz Bomb Census|author=University of Portsmouth, in collaboration with the National Archives and funded JISC.|work=Bomb Sight}}</ref>

=== The Ace of Spades===
A short distance away is the [[Ace of Spades (junction)]] at Hook, named after the famous "Ace of Spades Roadhouse"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishpathe.com/video/roadhouse-nights/query/roadhouse|title=Roadhouse Nights|author=British Pathé|work=britishpathe.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishpathe.com/video/londons-famous-clubs-and-cabarets-the-ace-of-spade|title=London's Famous Clubs And Cabarets – The Ace of Spades Club|author=British Pathé|work=britishpathe.com}}</ref> which became a popular venue following the opening of the Kingston by Pass in 1927 by the Minister of Transport, Stanley Baldwin. This was described as a pioneer roadhouse, with meals served at any time in a restaurant with seating for 700 to 800, dancing until 3&nbsp;am, a swimming pool, miniature golf course, polo ground, riding school, and an air strip. The pub was burnt down in the 1950s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edithsstreets.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/thames-tributary-tolworth-brook.html|title=Edith's Streets|author=M|work=edithsstreets.blogspot.co.uk|date=23 December 2010}}</ref>

===Historic bus stop===
Until 2011, the green at the junction of Ewell Road, Red Lion Road and King Charles Road opposite the former Red Lion Public house<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/surrey/tolworth_redlion.html|title=Red Lion, Tolworth|work=closedpubs.co.uk}}</ref> was the site of an extremely rare double fronted wooden bus stop,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.francisfrith.com/tolworth/photos/red-lion-gardens-c1965_t263001/|title=Tolworth, Red Lion Gardens c.1965|work=francisfrith.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.surreycomet.co.uk/news/9343912.Transport_history_lost_as_bus_shelter_is_removed/|title=Transport history lost as bus shelter is removed|author=Tom Barnes|work=Surrey Comet|date=5 November 2011 }}</ref> located at the former Tolworth turning point of the 603 trolleybus service, which ceased in May 1962. (It was previously served by trams between 1906 and 1931.) The shelter was removed after [[Transport for London]] decided that it was the only bus stop they were not prepared to maintain, on the basis that it was wooden.

===Musical heritage===

[[David Bowie]] launched his [[Ziggy Stardust Tour|Ziggy Stardust]] stage show with the [[The Spiders from Mars|Spiders from Mars]] at the Toby Jug pub in Tolworth <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.francisfrith.com/tolworth/photos/the-toby-jug-c1965_t263032/|title=Tolworth, The Toby Jug c.1965|work=francisfrith.com}}</ref> on 10 February 1972.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bowiewonderworld.com/faq.htm#pf07 |title=David Bowie FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions |publisher=Bowiewonderworld.com |access-date=7 November 2012}}</ref> Other bands to play there included [[Led Zeppelin]], [[Fleetwood Mac]], [[The Yardbirds]], [[John Lee Hooker]], [[Black Sabbath]], [[King Crimson]], [[Blodwyn Pig]], [[John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers]], [[Free (band)|Free]], [[Jethro Tull (band)|Jethro Tull]], [[Taste (Irish band)|Taste]], [[Family (band)|Family]], [[Chicken Shack]], [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]] and [[Ten Years After]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tullpress.com/mm4jan69.htm |title= Martin Joins Tull |publisher = [[Melody Maker]] |date= 4 January 1969 |accessdate=19 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/surrey/tolworth_tobyjug.html|title=Toby Jug, Tolworth|work=closedpubs.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockpopmem.com/Jethro-Tull-Toby-Jug-Blues-Club-Tolworth/59499.htm|title=Jethro Tull Toby Jug Blues Club, Tolworth '68 Flyer / Handbill |work=rockpopmem.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockpopmem.com/Jethro-Tull-Toby-Jug-Blues-Club-Tolworth/59494.htm|title=Jethro Tull Toby Jug Blues Club, Tolworth '68 Flyer / Handbill|work=rockpopmem.com}}</ref><ref>Surrey in the Sixties – Mark Davidson and Ian Currie</ref> The Toby Jug pub was demolished in the year 2000, becoming part of the controversial [[#Tesco-owned_former_green_fields|Tesco site]] (''detailed later in this article'').<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theplanner.co.uk/opinion/plan-b-the-town-that-fell-to-earth |title=Plan B: The town that fell to Earth |publisher=The Plannner |date=22 June 2016 |accessdate=19 July 2021 |archive-date=27 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027034551/https://www.theplanner.co.uk/opinion/plan-b-the-town-that-fell-to-earth |url-status=dead }}</ref> It is reported that there was a [[Maestrovox]] electronic organ attached to the piano in the pub dining room and dance hall.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.francisfrith.com/tolworth/|title=Tolworth photos, maps, books, memories – Francis Frith|work=francisfrith.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.debbiecurtis.co.uk/id99.html|title=Maestrovox Official Website|work=debbiecurtis.co.uk}}</ref> The pub is remembered by the naming of the adjacent Toby Way.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Toby+Way,+Surbiton,+United+Kingdom&aq=0&oq=toby&sll=51.377627,-0.279352&sspn=0.006355,0.016512&vpsrc=0&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Toby+Way,+Surbiton+KT5,+United+Kingdom&ll=51.377607,-0.280366&spn=0.006355,0.016512&t=m&z=17|title=Google Maps|publisher=Google Maps}}</ref>

During the 1980s gigs were occasionally held at Tolworth Recreation Centre, including on 12 March 1983 a gig by [[New Order (band)|New Order]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.new-order.net/no/gigs/#1983 |title=The New Order Gigography |publisher=New-order.net |access-date=7 November 2012}}</ref>