Description
St Peter's Church in Norbiton was the first of Gilbert Scott's seven Commissioners Churches, and opened in 1842. A yellow and white brick building in Norman style, St Peter's was not completed according to Scott's original designs due to lack of funds, and he was apparently displeased with it. In c.1869 the chancel and baptistery were added. A photograph of c.1900 shows the church with railings to the road, entrance gateway with overthrow flanked by stone piers, and the churchyard with evergreen and deciduous trees. The churchyard today is bounded by a wall, the railings and gateway no longer in place.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Norbiton Parish Church |
|---|---|
| Site location | London Road/Cambridge Road, Norbiton |
| Postcode | KT2 6QL |
| What3Words | ///neat.admits.suffer |
| Type of Site | Churchyard |
| Borough | Kingston |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Public Transport | Rail: Norbiton. Bus: 131, 726, 57, 85, 213 |
| Research Updated | 13 February 2023 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Norbiton Common was enclosed in 1808, the name Norbiton referring to the 'north enclosure', with Surbiton referring to the 'south enclosure'. It was made a separate parish from Kingston Parish Church of All Saints (q.v.) in the 1830s. St Peter’s Church is on part of the grounds formerly belonging to Norbiton Place and was built as a result of public subscription, supported by Queen Adelaide, widow of William IV. Forty three designs were submitted in response to an advertisement, and the design put forward by Gilbert Scott (later Sir Giles) and Moffatt was selected. An abridged version proposing a pseudo Norman style to be carried out in grey yellow facing brickwork with stone dressings was finally adopted. The foundation stone was laid on 2 September 1840 and the completed building consecrated on 19 February 1842.
In c.1869 St Peter's church was extended eastwards when the present chancel was added, the original foundation stone removed from the old east wall and replaced in the new north wall of the chancel, with an additional stone commemorating the new work.
In c.1869 St Peter's church was extended eastwards when the present chancel was added, the original foundation stone removed from the old east wall and replaced in the new north wall of the chancel, with an additional stone commemorating the new work.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ189693 |
|---|---|
| Site Ownership | Church |
| Site Management | Church |
| Dates | 1841-2 |
| Designers | Church: Gilbert Scott & Moffatt |
| Listed Structures | LBII: St Peter'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 - Area pf Archaeological Significance |
Gallery
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Nearby parks and gardens
Cleave's Almshouses were founded in 1668, built at the bequest of William Cleave, who left a legacy of land and money to build the almshouses, ‘for the maintenance of twelve poor people of the parish of honest life and reputation, for ever'. Additional homes were built in 1880, 1910 and 2003, eventually creating a quad surrounding a quiet garden. The almshouses remain among the oldest surviving buildings in Kingston. The London Road frontage has a strip of garden with lawn, flower beds and a line of trees inside the low brick wall to the road, with an internal garden overlooked by the houses.
Fairfield Recreation Ground was provided as a public recreation ground in 1865 but had long existed as a market and meeting place. It continued to be used for livestock trading into the C20th, for example for Kingston Horse Fair from 1866 and a cattle market from 1925. It was also the venue for town celebrations and pageants. Today it is used for sports and informal recreation, a rectangular, largely grassed site that still has its Victorian railings. It is divided north / south by a path flanked by an avenue of mature lime trees, with trees around its perimeter including lime and London plane. Silver maple and cherry are among other trees planted in the park.
Kingston Cemetery was set up in 1855 on a hilly site bordered to the south by the Hogsmill River. It was simply laid out on formal lines and has two gothic chapels linked by a porte-cochère. The cemetery was extended in the south and in 1952 a brick Crematorium was built, with landscaping around the building completed in 1958. Throughout the cemetery are mature trees including various exotic species, and the cemetery has a war memorial.