Nestled between the towns of Esher, Weybridge and Walton-on-Thames, you’ll find the village of Hersham...

Village voice...

There’s a lot more to Hersham than meets the eye… it’s not a big place but there are some fascinating little gems to be discovered.

One person who knows the village better than most is local resident Paul Adams, who has lived there for 51 years.

“I can remember three butchers at one stage,” says Paul. “There are less independent shops these days, but there is still a sense of community.

“There is also a lot going on for the kids too – scouts and youth groups as well as the cubs and rangers.

“In fact, a lot of people are moving in for the very good schools here.”

Grab a bite…

Sadly, the brilliantly quirky restaurant, The Dining Room, closed at the start of this year after 30 years at the heart of the Surrey dining scene, but there are still some other options. Located in Queens Road, The Watermans Arms (01932 501571) offers traditional fresh food as well as bed and breakfast. In nearby Hersham Road, The Royal George (01932 220910) does a popular Thai menu from Monday to Saturday, while traditional roasts are served on Sundays from midday until 3pm. The village is also bordered by Weybridge, Walton-on-Thames and Esher, so you’re never too far from a dining hotspot!

Did you know?

The church of St Peter’s is well worth a visit. Paul Adams and his friend Bob Garnish (pictured below left) are usually there to open it up on a Saturday morning and to point out a number of interesting features.

The great west window has a magnificent stained glass display of the saints – each with their name engraved underneath – and below, unusually, there is a memorial to men, women and children killed in action or raids in World War One.

Outside in the graveyard there is a single war grave and nearby a stone placed exactly at the point of the altar of the original church, St Trinity, which was demolished in 1893 to make way for St Peter’s.

Did you know 2?

Hersham has an interesting manufacturing past. In the early 1920s, the Hackbridge Electric Construction Company moved its huge transformer factory to the village, and not far away was the home of the British specialist car manufacturer AC Cars Ltd.

Making the headlines...

A couple of miles outside Hersham lies Whiteley Village – a unique retirement village founded in 1907 by the local philanthropist William Whiteley of the department store fame. Designed and built along the Arts and Crafts style in an unusual octagon arrangement, the buildings are home to over a hundred older residents.

On another point of interest, the octagon layout was apparently used to devastating effect by the German Luftwaffe during World War Two. Highly visible from the air, it acted as a homing beacon for targeting the nearby Vickers factory.

Getting there…

Located close to the A3 London to Portsmouth road, Hersham sits on the A244 from Esher. Parking shouldn’t be a problem either. Hersham railway station is served by the Waterloo to Woking service and there are also frequent buses – check out the 458 and 459 timetables.

Get in touch...

... with your news from Hersham and what makes the village special to you by dropping us a line at facebook.com/surreylife and twitter.com/surreylife or by visiting us at surreylife.co.uk.

Next month: We will be visiting the village of Cranleigh.