Kew

Kew is a district located within the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, featuring a population recorded as 11,436 at the 2011 census. It stands as a residential area characterized by prosperous suburban attributes such as trees, gardens, sports-and-leisure open spaces, schools, restaurants, transport links, architecture, modest road sizes, and an absence of high-rise buildings.

What historical and geographical features define the landscape of Kew?

The name Kew derives from a combination of the Old French word kai, meaning landing place or quay, and the Old English word hoh, meaning a spur of land. This geographical land spur is formed by a distinct bend in the River Thames. Julius Caesar may have forded the Thames at Kew during the Gallic Wars in 54 BC. The area encompasses the Royal Botanic Gardens, also known as Kew Gardens, which is a World Heritage Site that includes Kew Palace. Additional landscape elements include The National Archives, which holds historical documents like the Domesday Book, as well as sports-and-leisure open spaces, trees, and gardens.

How did local development shape the residential environment?

Most of Kew developed during the late nineteenth century following the arrival of the District line of the London Underground. Further development occurred during the 1920s and 1930s when new houses were constructed on the market gardens of North Sheen, a former area incorporated into Kew in 1965. Additional residential expansion took place in the first decade of the twenty-first century, featuring river-fronting flats and houses built by the Thames on land previously owned by Thames Water. This residential growth contributed to a population rise from 9,445 to 11,436 between the 2001 and 2011 censuses.

Kew Wikipedia Entry