Ham Village

Ham’s existence was first recorded around 1150 and the name derives from the Old English hamm, which here meant ‘land in a river bend’. Henry V acquired the manor of Hamme Upkyngeston in 1415, bringing the village into a closer relationship with the royal estate at Richmond upon Thames.

Large houses appeared from the end of the 17th century – including the grade II* listed Ormeley Lodge, Sudbrook Lodge and Manor House, among several other survivors – but in 1800 Ham was still primarily rural and most of the villagers were employed in agriculture. All of Ham’s three large farms were owned by Lord Dysart of Ham House.