IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
London Road, STAINES-UPON-THAMES, TW18 4EX

From the end of Kingston Road

This Roman Frieze on London Road is just next to the Old Police Station. London Road is on the route of the old Roman Road from London to Silchester. It depicts the Roman era in Staines, when the town was known as Ad Pontes (by the bridges). An inscription on the sculptor states: “This panel is based on a Samian pot in the style of the potter “Cornutus” AD 125 found on this site” Other inscriptions on the frieze are AD Pontes AD XLV, Giorgio Fanelli Facit MMII, Hadrian’s Wall CXXII. So I suppose these represent AD Pontes AD 45, Giorgio Fanelli Facit 2002 (possibly maker and date), Hadrian’s Wall 122 (the building of the wall began in AD 122).

A London Country bus on the south London orbital 725 route between Gravesend and Windsor via Swanscombe, Northfleet, Dartford, Crayford, Bexley, Sidcup, Chislehurst, Bromley, Beckenham, Addiscombe, Croydon, Wallington, Sutton, North Cheam, New Malden, Worcester Park, Kingston, Hampton Court, Sunbury, Ashford, Staines, Egham and Englefield Green. RF221 - an AEC Regal, deputising for an AEC Swift that would normally be operating on this route in 1976 - is on the eastbound run, on Kingston Road. Behind the bus was Staines police station - recently replaced by a new building further along Kingston Road. The ironwork on the roof carried the air raid siren. The front of the old police station can be seen in Image by Ray Stanton. The old station and the building to the right of the bus appear to have been converted into offices. The traffic lights behind the bus are at the junction with London Road / High Street. The parade of shops opposite the junction have been demolished and replaced with an office block.

Lots of interest in this 1976 view of a number 90 bus arriving from Richmond. The vehicle is an AEC Swift with Marshalls bodywork. Although dual entrance, in 1976 these vehicles had their centre doors sealed and additional seating installed and they were recoded from SM to SMD. They operated the route for only 2 years in this form before being withdrawn and replaced by Leyland Nationals. The stop is a rare example of a dual logo bus and coach stop and is still mounted on the old cast iron pole rather than the standard concrete stop that was introduced in the 1940's The shops on the left include a London Co-Operative Society (LCS) store complete with clock. The fronts of the stores here have all been rebuilt along with the roofline. The LCS is now Camberley Auto Factors. The line of trees behind the bus on the right of the shot still exists, but Staines Methodist Church on the corner of Sidney Road - the spire of which is visible above the bus - has been demolished and replaced with housing. The old church was demolished sometime after 1987 when a new building was erected in Thames Street. Info regarding the church supplied by Ian Sankey.

The new police station can be seen in the distance. (Also on http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/268082).

Now built on - the site, not the rubbish.