is a
Thames -side area, formerly a
Village , in the
London Borough Of Richmond Upon Thames in
London ,
England .
Once famous for its
Market Garden s into well into the 20th century, it is now commuter-belt territory, housing developments having been built on these areas. Such development is constrained, however, since there is
Bushy Park and
Hampton Court Park on the west and the
River Thames to the east.
There is evidence of
Roman occupation; and the first
Bridge linking the village with
Kingston Upon Thames over the river is dated from c
1219 , replacing the Roman ford at this point. There is also a
Railway Station serving Hampton Wick, with good connections to London
Waterloo .
At Hampton Wick resided Sir
Richard Steele , in a house which he whimsically denominated "the hovel;" and "from the Hovel at Hampton Wick, April 7, 1711," he dedicated the fourth volume of the
Tatler to
Charles, Lord Halifax . This was probably about the time he became surveyor of the royal stables at
Hampton Court Palace , governor of the king's comedians, a
Justice Of The Peace for Middlesex, and a knight.
"Hampton" (short for Hampton Wick) is
Cockney Rhyming Slang for "prick".
