KINGSTON-ON-THAMES, a town and borough in Sur rey, England, II m. S.W. of Charing Cross, London; on the S.R. Pop. (1931) 39,052. The position of Kingston on the Thames where it was fordable accounts for its origin; its later prosperity was due to the bridge which existed in 1223 and possibly long before. In 836 or 838 it was the meeting-place of the council under Ecgbert, and in the loth century some if not all of the West Saxon kings were crowned at Kingston. In Edward the Confessor's time it was a royal manor, and in io86 included a church, five mills and three fisheries. Domesday also mentions bedels in Kingston. The original charters were granted by John in 1200 and 1209. Henry III. sanctioned the gild-merchant which had existed previously, and granted other privileges. Henry VI. incorporated the town. The market, still held on Saturdays, was granted by James I., and the Wednesday market by Charles II. To these a cattle-market on Thursdays has been added by the corporation. The only remaining fair, now held on Nov. 13, was
granted by Henry III. It is near Richmond and Bushey Parks, and is a residential district. The ancient wooden bridge (1223) was superseded by a structure of stone in 1827. The parish church of All Saints, mainly Perpendicular, contains several brasses of the 15th century, and monuments by Chantrey and others; the grammar school, rebuilt in 1878, was originally founded as a chantry by Edward Lovekyn in 1305, and converted into a school by Queen Elizabeth. Near the parish church stood the chapel of St. Mary, where the Saxon kings were crowned. The ancient stone used as a throne at these coronations was removed to the market-place in 185o. There are large market gardens in the neighbourhood, and the town possesses oil-mills, flour-mills, iron foundries. Its industries include paper making and stationery, and manufacture of machinery. Kingston returns one member to parliament.