Secret Shepperton: England's Hollywood

Secret Shepperton explores the town's history, including its Iron Age settlement, invasions by Saxons, and its attraction to artists and writers such as Turner, Constable, Charles Dickens, and J. G. Ballard. It was also the site of H. G. Wells' War of the Worlds and the birthplace of Shepperton Studio, known as the 'Hollywood of England.'

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 96 pages
Publication date: 15 February 2022
Publisher: Amberley Publishing

Secret Shepperton delves into the town's rich history, tracing its origins back to its early days as an Iron Age settlement nestled along the banks of the River Thames. This is the very place where Julius Caesar crossed the river in AD 54, marking a significant moment in ancient history. Subsequent river discoveries have revealed that this area was frequently visited by invaders, including the Saxons, who grazed their sheep here and thus gave it the name Shepperton. Throughout its existence, Shepperton has attracted a diverse array of artists, such as renowned painters like Turner and Constable, as well as renowned writers like Charles Dickens and J.G. Ballard. Ballard's novel "The Unlimited Dream Factory" notably features a protagonist who gains energy by consuming the people of Shepperton. In H.G. Wells' "War of the Worlds," the Martians wreak havoc on Shepperton, destroying the town and turning the Thames into a boiling inferno with their heat rays. In the 20th century, Shepperton earned the nickname "playground of London," and Richard DOyly Carte even purchased an island here to create a miniature version of his iconic Savoy Hotel. In 1931, Sir Richard Burbridge, the chairman of Harrods, sold his Shepperton mansion to Norman Loudon at a time when the world of cinema was in its infancy, but a new trend was emerging—films with sound. This marked the early stages of Shepperton Studio, which continues to thrive today and is widely recognized as the "Hollywood of England."

Weight: 284g
Dimension: 166 x 233 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781398107168