Editing Staines-upon-Thames (section)

==Notable buildings and landmarks==
===Blue Anchor===
[[File:Staines MarketSq BlueAnchor.jpg|thumb|Blue Anchor, Market Square]]
There is thought to have been an inn on the site of the Blue Anchor since the 16th century.<ref name=Jackson_2002_p13>{{harvnb|Jackson|2002|p=13}}</ref> The present building dates from the early- to mid-18th century and is constructed in brick. Much of the interior is thought to be original, including the wooden [[panelling]], several [[fireplace]]s and at least one of the [[stairs|staircases]].<ref>{{NHLE|num=1204918 |desc=The Blue Anchor Public House|fewer-links=yes|grade=II*}}</ref> Within a few decades of completion, five of the upstairs windows had been bricked up to reduce [[window tax]] [[liability (financial accounting)|liability]].<ref name=Jackson_2002_p13/> During renovation work in 1957, one of the [[oak]] beams in the building was dated using [[dendrochronology]] and was found to be 650 years old.<ref>{{harvnb|Mills|1993|p=11}}</ref>

===Coal Tax posts===
There are three surviving [[coal-tax post]]s in the Staines area.<ref name=Goble_2016_p13>{{harvnb|Goble|2016|p=13}}</ref> These posts marked the limits of the tax jurisdiction of the [[Corporation of the City of London]] and were erected under the provisions of the London Coal and Wine Duties Continuance Act 1861.<ref name=Crossland_1991>{{cite journal |last1= Crossland |first1= E.A. |year= 1991 |title= City posts |url= https://leatherheadhistoryarchive.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/VOL_5_NO_4_1991.pdf |journal= Proceedings of the Leatherhead & District Local History Society |volume= 5 |issue= 4 |pages= 121–124 |access-date= 24 May 2021 }}</ref> The two posts currently on Wraysbury Road were relocated to their present positions in the second half of the 20th century. The third, a {{cvt|3|m|ft|adj=mid|high}} cast-iron obelisk, is in Thames Street close to the Thames Lodge Hotel.<ref name=Goble_2016_p13/>

===London Stone===
[[File:London Stone, Staines 028.jpg|thumb|right|upright|London Stone]]
{{see also|London Stone (riparian)}}
The London Stone is a carved stone pillar, positioned beside the River Thames next to the Lammas Recreation Ground.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1187015|desc=The London Stone|grade=II|fewer-links=yes}}</ref> The first stone was erected by the Corporation of the City of London in 1280 or 1285, following its purchase of the river rights from [[Richard I]]. Originally positioned close to the Market Square, it marked the western boundary of the corporation's jurisdiction<ref>{{harvnb|Maryfield|2006|p=56}}</ref> and is thought to have indicated the [[head of tide|tidal limit]] of the Thames in medieval times.<ref>{{harvnb|Thacker|1920|p=394}}</ref> It was moved to its current position in the 17th or 18th century and was replaced by a replica in 1986. The original stone is now held by the Spelthorne Museum at Staines Library.<ref>{{harvnb|Mills|1993|p=37}}</ref>

===Reservoirs===
[[File:Staines reservoirs and Heathrow Airport from the air - UK Geograph 6374081.jpg|thumb|right|Looking northeast across the [[King George VI Reservoir]] (left) and [[Staines Reservoirs]] (right) towards [[Heathrow Airport]].]]
{{main|Staines Reservoirs|King George VI Reservoir}}
The twin Staines Reservoirs, to the northeast of the town, were completed in 1902 and have a combined capacity of {{cvt|15|Mm3|impgal}}.<ref name=Staines_Rev>{{Cite web|last=London Metropolitan Archives|date=1897–1902|title=Staines reservoir joint committee: water supply and distribution|url=https://aim25.com/cgi-bin/vcdf/detail?coll_id=14282&inst_id=118&nv1=search&nv2=|access-date=16 June 2020|website=aim25.com|archive-date=18 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618100325/https://aim25.com/cgi-bin/vcdf/detail?coll_id=14282&inst_id=118&nv1=search&nv2=|url-status=live}}</ref> They are filled from the Staines Reservoirs Aqueduct, which runs from the Thames at Bell Weir Lock, [[Hythe End]].<ref name=SCC_Flood>{{cite web |url= https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/50827/S19-Report-River-Ash-Area.pdf |title= S19 Flood Investigation Report River Ash and Knowle Green Area |date= 20 April 2015 |publisher= Surrey County Council |access-date= 7 June 2022 |archive-date= 21 April 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220421204935/https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/50827/S19-Report-River-Ash-Area.pdf |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |date=18 June 1901 |title= The Staines Reservoirs |page=5 |issue= 36484}}</ref>{{refn|Severe flooding in Staines in February 2014, was caused in part by the overflowing of the Staines Aqueduct, following a period of heavy rainfall. A short stretch of the channel walls partially collapsed as a result of the high flow rates and the aqueduct was closed throughout the summer of 2014 for repair work.<ref name=SCC_Flood/>|group=note}} The two reservoirs are separated by a {{cvt|1030|m|yd|adj=mid|long}} embankment and, under normal operating conditions, the water level of the northern reservoir is {{cvt|3|m|ft}} higher than that of the south.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Long-term stress measurements in the clay cores of storage reservoir embankments|url=https://britishdams.org/2004conf/papers/watts.pdf|access-date=17 June 2020|website=British Dams.org|archive-date=18 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918111244/https://britishdams.org/2004conf/papers/watts.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> During the Second World War, Staines Reservoirs were used by [[No. 617 Squadron RAF]] to practise aiming [[bouncing bomb]]s in preparation for [[Operation Chastise]].<ref name=Maryfield_2006_pp111-112/>

The King George VI Reservoir was completed in 1939, but was left unfilled for the duration of the Second World War. In 1942, it was used by the [[Royal Air Force]] for [[Fog Investigation and Dispersal Operation]] experiments.<ref>{{harvnb|Williams|1997|p=8}}</ref> It was finally opened by [[King George VI]] in November 1947 and holds {{cvt|20|Mm3|impgal}}.<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |date=7 November 1947 |title=350-acre reservoir opening at Staines by the King today |page=3 |issue= 50912}}</ref>

===Town Hall===
{{main|Staines Town Hall}}
The Town Hall, in the Market Square, was designed by [[John Johnson (architect, born 1807)|John Johnson]] in the [[Renaissance architecture|Renaissance style]] and was completed in 1880.<ref name=NHLE_Town_Hall>{{NHLE|desc=Town Hall|num= 1187053|fewer-links=yes|grade=II|access-date=29 December 2020}}</ref> It replaced a medieval market hall, which was closed in 1862.<ref>{{harvnb|Reynolds|1962|pp=21–22}}</ref> The building is constructed in white brick with stone dressing with a fish-scale slate roof and the clock was manufactured by [[Gillett & Johnston|Gillett & Bland]].<ref name=NHLE_Town_Hall/>

The Town Hall was used as the council headquarters until 1976, when Spelthorne Borough council relocated to Knowle Green.<ref name=Jackson_2002_p21>{{harvnb|Jackson|2002|p=21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/historic-staines-town-hall-could-11767282 |title= Historic Staines Town Hall could be turned into apartments under council plans |date= 19 August 2016 |publisher= Get Surrey |access-date= 29 December 2020 |archive-date= 2 March 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210302113618/https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/historic-staines-town-hall-could-11767282 |url-status= live }}</ref> In the early 1990s, it was used as an arts centre and, in 2004, it became a wine bar.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs/page.php?PgID=602924&ClubID=889 |title= Staines Town Hall |publisher= Staines Rotary Club |access-date= 29 December 2020 |archive-date= 30 November 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201130150130/https://www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs/page.php?PgID=602924&ClubID=889 |url-status= live }}</ref> In January 2018, the building was converted into thirteen residential apartments.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/staines-town-hall-flats-plan-14221003|title= Staines Town Hall flats plan developer vows to return 'fabric of building to its former glory' despite access and parking concerns|date= 31 January 2018|publisher= Get Surrey|access-date= 29 December 2020|archive-date= 26 October 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201026220850/https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/staines-town-hall-flats-plan-14221003|url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.morganellis.co.uk/case-studies/altura/staines-town-hall.html|title=Staines Town Hall|publisher=Morgan Ellis|access-date=29 December 2020|archive-date=15 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220515121726/https://www.morganellis.co.uk/case-studies/altura/staines-town-hall.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===War memorial===
[[File:War Memorial, Market Square, Staines-upon-Thames.jpg|thumb|right|upright|War Memorial, Market Square]]
Staines War Memorial was designed by E. J. Barrett and was installed in the Memorial Gardens in 1920. It takes the form of a statue of the winged [[Nike (mythology)|figure of Victory]] and is constructed in [[Portland stone]].<ref name=Jackson_2002_p21/><ref name=IWM>{{cite web |url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/23791 |title=Memorial: Staines |author=<!--Not stated--> |year=2019 |publisher=Imperial War Museum |access-date=11 May 2022 |archive-date=11 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511191019/https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/23791 |url-status=live }}</ref> The names of 196 men who died in the First World War are inscribed on the plinth,<ref name=IWM/> beneath which is an inclined stone tablet listing those who died in the Second World War.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1440376|desc=Staines War Memorial|grade=II|fewer-links=yes}}</ref> The memorial was moved to the Market Square in 2002.<ref name=Jackson_2002_p21/>