Nowadays Cross Deep is a wide road running parallel with the Thames, between King Street (the High Street) and the roundabout at Waldegrave Road/Strawberry Vale junction, forming part of the A310 to Kingston-upon-Thames.
Literally at the top of the road is the High Street, which has a great range of upmarket restaurants, bars and shops. The.area has benefited from massive regeneration and modernisation in preparation for the this years Rugby World Cup.
Cross Deep as an area though, has existed for centuries, it was where another stream ran into the Thames, and there were two small islands there. A deep crossing perhaps!
One of the first houses built here in circa 1690 was 'Cross Deep', which developed over the years into a large brick built three storey riverside house with five bays and a basement. Two semi-octagonal wings were added circa 1751 to a design by James Gibbs, one of Britain's most influential architects.
Enjoying such a rich history, Cross Deep still retains some beautiful buildings including Pope's Villa which is now 'Radnor House', a co-educational independent day school and Eyot Lodge, the Art Deco 'Thames Eyot' flats built in 1935.
Radnor Gardens just up the road, formed from the grounds of long gone Riverside properties, have a bowling green and childrens play area and boast a summerhouse and gazebo dating back to the 18th Century.
