History
A BRIEF HISTORY OF KINGSTON-UPON-THAMES
SAXON AND MEDIEVAL KINGSTON
The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames is the oldest of only four Royal Boroughs in England and Wales. It was awarded the title because it was the place where seven Anglo-Saxon kings were crowned and the name, derived from Cyningestun, means royal estate or palace.
After the Norman Conquest, the town became a Royal Manor. In 1086 records show that the town owned five mills and three salmon fisheries. Three fish on a blue background became Kingston's official emblem.
Kingston was built at the first crossing point of the river Thames upstream from London Bridge and a bridge still exists at the same site. Kingston was occupied by the Romans and later it was either a royal residence or a royal demesne.
Kingston had a weekly market. From the 13th century it also had a fair. In the Middle Ages fairs were like markets but they were held only once a year and they attracted buyers and sellers from a wide area. In 1351 the king granted Kingston a second fair.
Kingston benefited when Cardinal Wolsey built Hampton Court in 1520. The huge staff at the palace were a ready market for the towns goods.