Saturday, 21 September 2013

Making your home in Wimbledon

By Monica George


Before Wimbledon was known as a haven for tennis lovers in the London area, there was actually life to be found. Believe it or not, it turns out after much research that human beings had a lot going on in the area now known as Wimbledon back in the times when Greeks and Romans held power over humanity. Now, there may not be any actual evidence of the archaeological nature that proves that Romans were hanging out in Wimbledon, but the place was nicknamed "Caesar's Camp." King Edgar the Peaceful also referred to an area as "Wimbedounyng," believed to be Wimbledon, in a speech given in the year 967.

In 1328, the first public records were documented that gave the location of Wimbledon an actual name. These were created when the Archbishop of Canterbury claimed it to be one of his possessions. Because of this, the size and importance of the area grew to greater proportions, eventually becoming the home of Thomas Cecil (the Earl of Exeter) where he built the Wimbledon House. Cecil also helped to form a deeper connection between London and the budding Wimbledon, eventually leading to visits by Elizabeth I and James I. In 1838, the first train passed through the village. This lead to the establishment of many shops and different trades and businesses.

There are many things to do in Wimbledon. The obvious sport of tennis, whether playing or watching a riveting match is one of these activities, but on top of that there is a large passion for horseback riding at the Village Sables. The Wimbledon Village Stables are recorded to be the oldest stables in England.

If you prefer running to horseback riding, you may find the group The Windmilers to be a more suitable match for you. The group of 300 runners meets up each Saturday at the Windmill to run a 5K course.

Football is the other most famous pastime in Wimbledon. The Wimbledon FC began as a team that did not belong to a league, but after a streak of successful games over the years, the team was moved 70 miles away to a different village called Milton Keyes in the late 1980s. The Wimbledon stadium that had been used for the games was deemed unfit for such a successful team. Upon the moving of the team, the locals became very upset and a new team, AFC Wimbledon was formed.

Until May of 2011, the AFC Wimbledon played small minor league games. They now are a part of the English League of football teams. Any sports lover must see one of their games and take in this rich (and often unmentioned) part of Wimbledon culture.

The Edwardian style theatre found in the heart of the village is another must see for those who love the arts. Whether you are a lover of history, drama, or music, this beautifully restored theatre still has some of it's Baroque roots visible in the decoration and has housed a handful of well known artists of theatrics including Noel Coward, Ivor Novello, Sybil Thorndike, and Gracie Fields.

Whether you travel to Wimbledon short term or long term, with a family, or as an individual- you are guaranteed to find things to suit your fancy no matter if you are a tennis fan or not.




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