Richmond is a suburb of London on the southwest side. It is included in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. The town got its start, as well as its name, in the 16th century with the construction of Richmond Palace. Richmond was developed as a suburb of London when, in 1846, a railway station opened in the town. In 1890 is was deemed a municipal borough and in 1933 it was made larger. Since 1965 is has been included as part of Greater London. It now is an important local commercial center with many parks and open areas. The retail and night time economy has seen a recent boom.

The area that the town of Richmond is on used to be part of a town named Shene that existed until 500 years ago. While Shene was shown on the Domesday map as Sceo, it Saxon spelling in 950 AD, it was not listed in the Domesday Book. Henry I briefly lived in Shene in the King's house. Edward I who was know as the "Hammer of the Scots", took his entire court to the Shene manor house in 1299. The manor house, which was located on the riverside just east of the bridge, then became considered as a royal residence. In 1305 William Wallace was executed in London by Edward I and the Commissioners from Scotland went down on their knees in front of Edward in Shene.

His son, Edward II, did not do as well as his father. He was defeated in 1314 by the Scots in the Battle of Bannockburn. After this he started a monastery in Shene for Carmelites. In 1327 Edward III took over the throne when he was just a boy and gave his mother, Isabella, the manor. He then proceeded to make improvements to the property, spending more that 2,000 pounds. Edward III died at the manor in 1377 in the middle of the refurbishments. Richard II made Shene his permanent home in 1383, making him the first English king to do so. In 1395 when his wife Anne of Bohemia died at only 28, Edward II was so upset that her began to tear the manor down. In 1414 and 1422 the manor had major restoration made but in 1497 is was finally completely destroyed by a fire.

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