About Hersham Village
Hersham: a special village at the heart of Elmbridge in Surrey
Exactly what and where is Hersham?
For a distinct and historic Parish, it is surprising, following many boundary changes over the years, where and how far the boundaries of Hersham stretch.
The Parish of St Peter’s Church encompasses what many of us feel is the Hersham area. The historic boundaries may be generally summarised as follows:
To the north, the main line railway is an obvious boundary
To the south and east, the River Mole is also an obvious boundary
To the west, St Georges Hill was originally part of the Parish, but now Seven Hills Road marks a clear division.
There are, historically, grey areas. Netherby Park was once Hersham, but is now firmly in the Weybridge camp. Painshill was also Hersham but the motorway standard A3 now creates of itself a natural boundary.
In Elmbridge, what was known as the Hersham Settlement Area, comprised of Hersham North and Hersham South wards, served by 9 local Councillors.
Following a Government boundary review, Hersham’s representation was reduced to the ward of Hersham Village, served by 3 local Councillors. The areas that were taken away were added to other wards and the effect of this is that we have a further 9 local Councillors that represent areas immediately adjoining the Hersham Village Ward.
Map of Hersham Village Ward
Notwithstanding the confusing boundary changes, there is one constant theme that has not changed and we are so proud to state, with absolutely no apology, that
A village is not just a number or an area on a plan,
It is a COMMUNITY,
It is A LOCAL COMMUNITY,
it is A PROUD LOCAL COMMUNITY,
it is a VIBRANT PROUD LOCAL COMMUNITY.
YES, HERSHAM HAS IT ALL
The hub of the village centres around the large village green which provides welcome open space protected from development in perpetuity, a play area and an old school building which still serves its original educational purpose as a nursery. St Peters Church with its impressive spire is adjacent together with the well-known War Memorial
The village green is used extensively: village fairs and events, travelling fairs, school fetes, parties and Church events, picnics and general recreation
Close to the green are two traditional pubs, protected residential conservation areas, community facilities, a variety of local shops cafes and restaurants, doctors’ surgery, dentist, a council run car park and access to riverside and country walks.
A very short walk north finds more shops, cafes, local businesses, Barley Mow public house and Lidl supermarket close to the bypass.
The superb facilities of Burhill Golf Club are very close.
There is even a bypass, ensuring the centre around the green is as calm and quiet as possible.
Perhaps the most well-known facility is The Hersham Green Shopping Centre, immediately to the east of the village green, built in the early 1980s providing 13 retail units and Waitrose supermarket. The large adjacent car park is a superb facility, serving not only the retail units but by all who need to visit for wider shopping, school drop off and pick up, patients for the Doctors Surgery, the Community Centre, riverside walks, users of local Churches and church halls. The list is very long………
The Hersham Green Centre is CURRENTLY UNDER THREAT of residential redevelopment.
