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Manor Road, WALTON-ON-THAMES, KT12 2PD

River House at Walton-on-Thames was home to composer Sir Arthur Sullivan during the late 19th Century. He was part of the famous duo Gilbert & Sullivan. To view the house see https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6459740

This is River House and lawn. During the late 19th Century it was home to composer Sir Arthur Sullivan (part of the famous duo Gilbert & Sullivan). An interview with the composer at the house in 1897 can be read by following the link https://gsarchive.net/sullivan/interviews/lawrence.html . The lawn is now part of Riverside Park. open to the public and overlooking the River Thames. This is on the Thames Path National Trail and the route of the London Green Belt Way.

River House built c1860 is inextricably linked to Walton’s history and its riverside. The house was at times the focus for regattas on the river but was perhaps most famously the home of the composer Sir Arthur Sullivan (1842-1900) for four years. Refer to picture Image for a view of the blue plaque.

The blue plaque on River House celebrating the residence of Sir Arthur Sullivan. Refer to picture Image for details of his residence in Camberley.

The house stands on a mound, close to the river. Its gardens are open to the public, and accessible from the tow path.

In 1909 American composer Jerome Kern (1885 - 1945) was visiting Walton-on-Thames with two friends and went into the Swan Hotel for some food and refreshments. They stayed for many hours with Jerome playing the hotel's piano. They were served by Eva Leale (1891 - 1959) the landlord's beautiful daughter and he fell in love with her. They married in St Mary's Church at Walton the following year. He spent a lot of time at the pub and wrote some of his songs there. During his lifetime he wrote almost 1,500 songs and is arguably the father of American musical theatre. His songs including "Ol' Man River", "Rock a Bye Baby", "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes", "Sunny" and many others which are still commonly sung today. The couple were happily married for 34 years and his wife Eve and their daughter were at his beside when he died at the age of 60 in New York, the city where he was also born. US President Ronald Regan declared 27th January 1985, one hundred years after his birth, to be Jerome Kern Day and it was celebrated throughout the country. A memorial concert was also held in St Mary's Church to mark the occasion. Today on a wall inside The Swan you can see this framed copy of Eva and Jerome's marriage certificate.

The Church is on the A3050 Terrace Road. The Church's website, currently showing some rather alarming typos, is here http://www.waltonmethodist.org.uk/index.html

On Terrace Road.

In 1909 American composer Jerome Kern (1885 - 1945) was visiting Walton-on-Thames with two friends and went into the Swan Hotel for some food and refreshments. They stayed for many hours with Jerome playing the hotel's piano. They were served by Eva Leale (1891 - 1959) the landlord's beautiful daughter and he fell in love with her. They married in St Mary's Church at Walton the following year. He spent a lot of time at the pub and wrote some of his songs there. During his lifetime he wrote almost 1,500 songs and is arguably the father of American musical theatre. His songs including "Ol' Man River", "Rock a Bye Baby", "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes", "Sunny" and many others which are still commonly sung today. The couple were happily married for 34 years and his wife Eve and their daughter were at his beside when he died at the age of 60 in New York, the city where he was also born. US President Ronald Regan declared 27th January 1985, one hundred years after his birth, to be Jerome Kern Day and it was celebrated throughout the country. A memorial concert was also held in St Mary's Church to mark the occasion. Today on a wall inside The Swan you can see a framed copy of Eva and Jerome's marriage certificate. This blue plaque on the outside wall of The Swan remembers Jerome Kern. This is on the Thames Path National Trail and the route of the London Green Belt Way.

The Swan dates back to 1770 and was named after the ancient ceremony of Swan Upping which is performed on the Thames each July. The first written mention of The Swan occurs in 1770, when it appears on the Walter Leigh Manorial maps when it was then just a small alehouse. When visited by the composer Jerome Kern in 1910 he met and married the landlord's daughter. Refer to picture Image for signpost at the pub.