Weybridge
Weybridge is a town in the Borough of Elmbridge in Surrey, England, around 17 mi (27 km) southwest of central London. The settlement is recorded as Waigebrugge and Weibrugge in the 7th century. The earliest evidence of human activity is from the Bronze Age. During the Anglo-Saxon and medieval periods, Weybridge was held by Chertsey Abbey.
1. Weybridge is a town by the River Wey in the Elmbridge district of Surrey. It is bounded to the north by the River Thames at the mouth of the Wey, from which it gets its name.
2. An old tradition claims that this is the point where Julius Caesar crossed the Thames in 55BC.
3. Weybridge grew into a commuter town with the advent of the fast train link into London Waterloo and many new houses have been built around the Oatlands Park and Broadwater Lake area.
4. Of the may notable people that have lived in Weybridge are John Lennon, Ringo Starr and Cliff Richard. Jacqueline Bisset was born in the town, and E.M. Forster wrote Howards End in Weybridge between 1908 and 19 10. Weybridge is also mentioned in War of the Worlds by HG Wells.
5. Weybridge also has a variety of sports clubs including ECB Premier League club Weybridge Cricket Club, Weybridge Vandals Rugby Club,Weybridge Vandals Cricket Club, Elmbridge Canoe Club, Weybridge Bowls Club, Weybridge Rowing Club, Weybridge Mariners Recreational Rowing Club and Weybridge Sprinters Club.
6. The world's first purpose-built racing circuit was constructed at Brooklands in 1907.
The track hosted the first British Grand Prix in 1926 and was used by Malcolm Campbell to develop his final land speed record car, Campbell-Railton Blue Bird.
Throughout the 20th century, Brooklands was an important location for the aerospace industry and aircraft developed and tested there included the Sopwith Camel, the Wellington bomber and the Hurricane fighter. Vickers established a factory at the circuit in 1915 and aircraft manufacturing continued at the site until 1988.
More information on Weybridge can be found on Wikipedia.