Description
There was a large parish church in Kingston by the C12th, an earlier church having been rebuilt by Gilbert, Sheriff of Surrey, who gave it to Merton Priory. The foundations of a small chapel of earlier date, which was possibly the site of coronations, were excavated in 1926 and are visible in the churchyard, with a plaque marking the site. The churchyard to the north of the church has been cleared of gravestones, except for some table tombs and a sarcophagus, and some headstones have been placed on the boundary facing the east end of the church and on the south side. The ornamental gates were donated as a war memorial. Trees in the churchyard include mature limes, a yew and a number of chestnuts.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Kingston Parish Church |
|---|---|
| Site location | Market Place/Church Street/Clarence Street, Kingston |
| Postcode | KT1 1JP |
| What3Words | ///mint.lamps.bucks |
| Type of Site | Churchyard |
| Borough | Kingston |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Events | Concerts in church |
| Public Transport | Rail: Kingston. Bus: 371, K1, 65. |
| Research Updated | 1 March 2004 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Kingston's early importance arose from its ancient river crossing, a bridge having been in existence here since 1193. The early name of the settlement was Moreford (the Great Ford), then becoming Cyningestum meaning the King's Estate, and later Kingston, so-called for once being the residence of Surrey under-kings, as well as of King John. Kingston was also the place where 7 West Saxon kings were reputedly crowned, although the number of coronations that took place is disputed. Kingston was granted a town charter in 1200. Among its former industries were brewing, malting, tanning, milling, boat-building, river barge traffic and fishing, and the borough crest still features 3 salmon. The old town centre was around the Market Place and Nikolaus Pevsner described it as 'the best preserved medieval street plan in outer London' (Buildings of England, London 2: South). Until 1863 Kingston was bypassed by the railway, because the town officials had refused to accept the line in the 1840s, as a result of which the railway ran to Surbiton before Kingston.
The parish church of All Saints still stands in a prominent position in the centre of Kingston, the body of the present church dating from the C14th and C15th. It was restored in 1862-6 by R Brandon and then in 1883 by J L Pearson, its C18th tower restored in 1973. The church has fine monuments dating from the C15th onwards. Among those buried here was William Cleave (d.1667), the benefactor of Cleave's Almshouses (q.v.), which still stand in Old London Road, among the oldest buildings in Kingston. At one time the famous Coronation Stone was in the churchyard, later moved to Market Place and then in 1935 to its present site by the Guildhall and Clattern Bridge. The original main entrance gates to the church lie on the south side and have been restored; a path leads from this to the market place. In 1826 an overflow burial ground was opened nearby, now Memorial Gardens (q.v.) and until Kingston Cemetery (q.v.) was opened in 1855 these two burial grounds served Kingston.
The parish church of All Saints still stands in a prominent position in the centre of Kingston, the body of the present church dating from the C14th and C15th. It was restored in 1862-6 by R Brandon and then in 1883 by J L Pearson, its C18th tower restored in 1973. The church has fine monuments dating from the C15th onwards. Among those buried here was William Cleave (d.1667), the benefactor of Cleave's Almshouses (q.v.), which still stand in Old London Road, among the oldest buildings in Kingston. At one time the famous Coronation Stone was in the churchyard, later moved to Market Place and then in 1935 to its present site by the Guildhall and Clattern Bridge. The original main entrance gates to the church lie on the south side and have been restored; a path leads from this to the market place. In 1826 an overflow burial ground was opened nearby, now Memorial Gardens (q.v.) and until Kingston Cemetery (q.v.) was opened in 1855 these two burial grounds served Kingston.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ179692 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.36 |
| Site Ownership | Church |
| Site Management | Churchyard: Grounds maintenance contractor: Quadron Services Ltd |
| Dates | C12th, 1883 |
| Listed Structures | LBI: All Saints Parish Church. LBII: Gate piers to church |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | No |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Kingston |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Kingston Old Town |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Strategic Area of Special Character; Thames Policy Area |
| Other LA Designation | Local Open Space (Public Open Space) |
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.
Nearby parks and gardens
Kingston War Memorial Gardens was originally set up as an overflow burial ground to the parish churchyard in 1826. It closed in 1855 when the new Kingston Cemetery opened outside the town centre. It was laid out as public garden, with gravestones moved to the perimeter. The War Memorial was unveiled in 1923. Kingston's annual Remembrance Day service takes place in the War Memorial Gardens
Hogsmill River Park is a linear park created in the 1980s that continues the link to other open spaces through the borough along the route of the Hogsmill River, which flows north through New Malden and Berrylands to the Thames just by the Guildhall. Evidence of bronze and iron age settlements have been found by the river, which was called the Hogsmill relatively recently, and was previously known as the Malden River, and in 1439 as the Lurteborne.
The Guildhall was on the site of the C18th Clattern House, which was next to the early C19th Assize Courts, both demolished in 1933. Used for municipal offices from 1891 Guildhall housed the library until 1903, when Kingston Library on Fairfield opened. A new larger Guildhall was built in 1935, and was further extended in 1968. The Guildhall Grounds are landscaped with grass, paths, shrub beds and trees. The ancient Coronation Stone surrounded by mid-C19th railings was moved to the Guildhall grounds in 1935 from the site south of Market Place where it had been set up in 1850. Nearby is the C12th Clattern Bridge over the Hogsmill River, which runs along one boundary of the grounds.
