Chessington history essay

Chessington is an area in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames within Greater London.

Sir Jack Brabham, Australian Formula 1 World Champion owned a house which he sometimes lived in, opposite the garage he owned. George Cohen, member of the 1966 England World Cup-winning team. Jimmy Conway, Fulham & Republic of Ireland footballer, lived on Leatherhead Road, until 1976. Samuel Crisp, dramatist in the 1700s, lived in Chessington Hall.

In a world first, Chessington launched Pandamonium LIVE show, featuring life-size and life-like animatronic pandas. Trail of the Kings was re-vamped and introduced Kamal, an endangered Asiatic male lion. In the same year, Kamal and Rani successfully bred 3 lion cubs, a major success for Chessington Zoo’s breeding programme.

The original mansion was built in 1348, probably as a country house named Chessington Lodge. 1642 – 1660 During the Civil War the original building became a Cavalier stronghold, and was burnt to the ground by Cromwell’s forces. Rebuilt after the restoration, it was renamed ‘Burnt Stub’, and has continued to be so known.