Ever dream of living in a place frequented by royalty and celebrities? Welcome to Coombe. This historic neighborhood in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames has a fascinating past. Coombe sits on high ground east of Norbiton.
Originally, Coombe centered on Coombe House. It was a large residence built in the 1750s. Sadly, Coombe House has been demolished. However, you can still see its red brick boundary walls on Traps Lane.
Coombe’s history stretches back much further. Roman coins and ancient remains were unearthed near Warren Road. In the Domesday Book of 1086, Coombe appears as Cumbe. It was partly held by Hunfrid the Chamberlain and Ansgot the Interpreter.
The Neville name is deeply intertwined with Coombe. King John gifted Coombe to Hugh de Nevill in 1215. By 1260, the area was known as Coombe Nevill.
Sixteenth-century records mention a gallows in Coombe. It was likely near Kingsnympton Park estate. Public executions reputedly took place here.
In the early 1700s, the Fox and Coney pub opened. It stood at the junction of George Road and Kingston Hill. Rebuilt in 1728, it became the George and Dragon. It operated until 1985 and then transformed into the Kingston Lodge Hotel.
By 1761, John Spencer, 1st Earl Spencer, owned Coombe. Coombe Warren was once a wild woodland. It covered the ridge known as Coombe Hill. People used it for hunting and fairs. Jerry Abershaw, the Coombe Wood Highwayman, roamed here. He frequented the Bald Face Stag pub. He often sought shelter in these woods.
In 1822, the Admiralty established a semaphore station in Coombe Warren. It was part of the London to Portsmouth line. Though the station vanished, it lives on in the name Telegraph Cottage.
Looking at an 1865 Ordnance Survey, much of the area west of Warren Road was open country. By 1911, two golf courses emerged. Large houses appeared along George Road. These included Coombe Croft. Briefly, it was home to John Galsworthy’s family. Today, it is Rokeby School for Boys.
During World War II, German bombs fell on Coombe. Today, Coombe is a prestigious residential area. House prices are high here. Golf courses dominate much of the landscape. Coombe Wood and Coombe Hill are very popular. Three private estates occupy the area. These are Coombe Hill, Coombe Warren, and Coombe Park.
Coombe boasts several notable buildings. These include Tudor-era structures that supplied water to Hampton Court Palace. Coombe Conduit stands on Coombe Lane West. Ivy Conduit sits on the grounds of Holy Cross Preparatory School. Gallows Conduit is on the grounds of Hampton Spring house.
Warren House is another landmark. It was built in the 1860s for banker Hugh Hammersley. Architect George Devey extended it later. Cedar Court on Coombe Hill Road is unique. It incorporates timbers from a medieval inn from Colchester.
Many famous people have called Coombe home. Actor Joss Ackland lived at Ravenswood Court. Racing drivers Malcolm and Donald Campbell resided on Kingston Hill. Dwight D. Eisenhower, during World War II, lived at Telegraph Cottage. He enjoyed playing golf here. Even Queen Elizabeth I visited Coombe in 1602. Coombe has drawn people seeking tranquility. It remains a peaceful oasis in Greater London. A place of history, prestige, and lasting appeal.