Description
St Matthew's Church was built by C L Luck in 1874/5 to serve the growing population of Surbiton and has a fine landmark spire, 'the stateliest church in Surbiton' according to Nikolaus Pevsner. Money for the church and vicarage came largely from William Matthew Coulthurst, a senior partner in Coutts Bank, who provided £24,000. A plaque set into the wall records Mr Coulthurst's bequest, which was partly in memory of his sister Hannah who had died. The church has a small area of garden around it with grass, roses, shrubs and trees, and a path runs around the church.
Practical Information
| Site location | St Matthew's Avenue/Kingsdowne Road |
|---|---|
| Postcode | KT6 6JZ |
| What3Words | ///garage.trout.home |
| Type of Site | Churchyard |
| Borough | Kingston |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Public Transport | Rail: Surbiton. Bus: 281, 406, 418 |
| Research Updated | 1 April 2012 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Adjacent to the church is the new Vicarage, which was built in 1939 to replace the original one built at the same time as the church. When it was first built the parish was created out of the old parishes of St Mary's Long Ditton and St John's Old Malden (q.v.). At that time the site of the church was a meadow, and St Matthew's Avenue and Kingsdowne Road were tracks. In 1934 St George's Church was built to serve the southern half of the parish, St Matthew's serving the northern part.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ185666 |
|---|---|
| Site Ownership | Church |
| Site Management | Church |
| Dates | 1874/5 |
| Listed Structures | LBII: St Matthew's 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 | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Local Area of Special Character |
Gallery
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
Fishponds was an C18th house in private grounds owned by Sir Frederick Butler. The estate was purchased by Surbiton UDC in 1935 although members of the Butler family continued to live in the house for their lifetime. Below the house is one of the ponds after which the house and public park are named. The land had once been part of Kingston Common and brick working caused the formation of ponds and the shape of the landscape. The steep bank of the eastern edge of the largest pond was the original limit of the brick earth excavations.
The Woods was a large Victorian house with a lake and mixed woodland in the grounds. The house was demolished in 1933 and in 1947 the site was purchased for a public park, which opened in 1951/2. Soon after the land was purchased it was suggested that it be turned into a bird sanctuary and called Jefferies Wood after the naturalist Richard Jefferies, who had lived in Surbiton. In 1980 part of the site became the Richard Jefferies Bird Sanctuary.
Hillcroft College originated as a private house built in 1877 for Wilberforce Bryant. In 1884 he set aside part of his estate for a meeting room and theatre, calling it The Gables. It had substantial grounds, part of which lie to the south-west and form the public park, The Woods. The College, founded in 1919 to provide education for working women, purchased the freehold and 6 acres of land in 1925 and moved here in 1926. The theatre was later sold when the college needed more space and the former winter garden was built over for a new hall.