Funny old name, Staines; funny old place, Staines but it has so much going for it. How come it has so much going wrong for it?

Take the name, Staines; sounds like a blot doesn’t it? An ink-spill on the map instead of a place richer in history than many of its better known sister towns like Kingston and Richmond. Settled in by the Romans in 43AD, that makes it nearly 2000 years old. Back then it was known as St Annes, now there’s a name; Staines? St.Annes? No contest. St.Annes-on-Thames, even better; Staines? St.Annes-on-Thames; absolutely no contest. Imagine what a name change like this would do for the standing of the town; tourism for a start. No, don’t snort, it’s perfectly feasible; look.

Staines appears on the Middlesex domesday map in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Stanes. Let’s have an authenticated copy of this document and others like it. There’s the Staines London Stone, dated the year 1280, still easily accessible on the bank of the Thames.

The greatest historical document, the Magna Carta, that led to the rule of constitutional law in the English speaking world was signed just outside of Staines and the memorial is there at Runnymede.

The situation of Staines as a major crossing point over the River Thames, its position on the main road from London to the southwest, and its proximity to Windsor and Hampton Court via road and river had Staines often involved in national affairs. England’s barons assembled in Staines before they met with King John at Runnymede in 1215 for the signing of the Magna Carta, and Stephen Langton held a consecration there shortly after the issue of Magna Carta. Sir Thomas More was tried in 1535 in a Staines public house, because there was an outbreak of plague in London at that time. The church bells were rung several times in 1670, when King Charles 2nd and Queen Catherine went through Staines.

Staines Moor is one of the last remaining Commons of the medieval Manor of Staines. The Moor has been registered Common Land since 1065 and only registered Commoners are entitled to graze their animals on it. During the civil war in 1642-48 there were several skirmishes on Staines Moor and numerous troop movements over Staines Bridge.

Staines was a site for a horse change on The Trafalgar Way in 1805, announcing the victory over the Spanish and the death of Nelson. This is commemorated on a plaque on Staines townhall building.

Staines was the major producer of linoleum after the formation of the Linoleum Manufacturing Company in 1864 by its inventor, Frederick Walton. Linoleum became the main industry of the town and was a major employer in the area up until the 1960s. The term ‘Staines Lino’ became a worldwide name but the factory was closed around 1970 and is now the site of the Two Rivers shopping centre completed circa 2000. A bronze statue of two lino workers in Staines High Street commemorates the Staines Lino Factory.

Staines was the site of the Staines air disaster in 1972, at the time the worst air crash to have occurred on British soil, until the Lockerbie disaster of 1988. The crash was commemorated in June 2004, with the opening of a dedicated garden, created at the request of relatives, near to the crash site, and the unveiling of a stained glass window at St. Marys Church, where a memorial service was held.

How many more ‘places of interest’ does Staines need? Then there’s Ali G and Hard Fi, Christine Keeler, Bobby Davro, and Richard Murdoch, to name just a few of Staines’ famous residents. And I haven’t even mentioned the river!

Boat trips to Runnymede, to Windsor, to Hampton Court, bringing more visitors, busy bars and restaurants by the river.

And, remember, with visitors and tourism comes money, lots of money, and jobs, lots of jobs, particularly for the youngster now growing up in Staines, and a better class of retailers (no more empty shops) and a better looking town with better resources for everyone.

So, how about it folks? Let’s make Staines famous again; St Annes on Thames.

Author Bio: To find out more about Staines and the surrounding area visit Your online guide to Staines.

Category: Travel
Keywords: Staines, Activ Staines, online guide to Staines, local information, tourism