Ham

Ham is a district in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames on the River Thames. Situated between the Royal Courts at Richmond and Hampton Court, the predominantly agricultural area developed from the beginning of the 17th century, with the construction of Ham House in 1610, the best preserved survivor of the period. The related history of the Earls of Dysart dominated the development of Ham and Petersham for the following four centuries. Ham's modern eastern boundary is formed by Richmond Park. When the park was enclosed by Charles I in 1637, Ham parish lost the most of the affected land, over 800 acres (3.2 km2) stretching towards Robin Hood Gate and Kingston Hill, almost half of which was Common land. In return for this, a deed was struck which has effectively protected most of the remaining common land, Ham Common, to the present day.