Towns & Villages in Runnymede
Thorpe was mentioned in the Doomsday Book as 'Torpe', so we can see that the name has changed little in 900 years, and the 12th century church adds to the impression of a place which is aware of its own history. Great Fosters, now a hotel, stands on the site of a Tudor hunting lodge which was constructed by a courtier of Elizabeth I.
Great Fosters
Having said all this, of course, one has to be aware that Thorpe is also the home of the distinctly modern Thorpe Park, a famous theme park which attracts over 1 million visitors a year. Suffice to say that children love it!
St Marys 12th Century Church
The owners of Thorpe Park have set a good example to other businesses
in the borough by landscaping and tending the roundabout outside the
main entrance to Thorpe Park, and the company has established a good
rapport within the Borough.
Thorpe Place, currently the home of the American School in Switzerland (TASIS), was for many years the home of the Lord of the Manor. The core of the current building dates from 1801, but earlier manor houses had stood in the grounds since at least the 12th century, and the existing barn and stable complex date back to 1650.