is a
Surrey suburb of
London ,
England . It occupies the southern most part of
Hounslow Heath extending to the
River Thames which is its southern boundary.
Geographically, Sunbury comprises two areas. The area adjacent to the river is commonly known as Lower Sunbury and has a village atmosphere, while the area to the north is known as Sunbury Common and is much more urban.
The modern centre of Sunbury, known as Sunbury Cross, is the point at which a major arterial route from
London , the A316, becomes the start of the M3 motorway. It is a largely suburban town with a number of office buildings and industrial estates clustered around Junction 1 of the M3.
Sunbury is the home of
BP s Engineering and Research Centre. Located to the north of Sunbury on the site of Meadhurst House, formerly owned by the
Cadbury family.
The Avenue, Sunbury, has been the home of the
London Irish Rugby Club since
1932 although since
2001 its premiership team has played at the Madejski stadium in Reading. However hundreds of minis, youngsters and adults turn out for the club each weekend in Sunbury during the rugby season.
To the east of Sunbury is
Kempton Park Racecourse .
Marking the western border of Sunbury is Queen Mary Reservoir which was constructed in
1925 .
Sunbury extends to the south as far as the
River Thames . This part of Sunbury has a village atmosphere and is commonly known as
Lower-Sunbury .
Lower Sunbury is the home of the
Sunbury Millennium Embroidery . The embroidery was conceived and designed in the 1990s and completed in 2000. Its eventual home will be a purpose built gallery due for completion in 2006.
The earliest evidence of occupation in Sunbury is provided by the discovery of Bronze Age
Funerary Urn s dating from the
10th Century BC .
It is mentioned in the Sunbury Charter in AD
962 .
Sunbury Church and the Ferry house nearby are mentioned in the book ''Oliver Twist'' by
Charles Dickens .
Nearest railway station:
Sunbury .
