New Malden and Bees explained.
A number of people have started asking us 'How are bees associated with New Malden?' and, in view of the fact that there is a large mural in the new Jubilee Square referencing bees and the area, we feel that some explanation (and, indeed, clarification) is required to separate fact from fiction.
A local resident likes legends and stories and felt that New Malden 'needed' a legend. Taking inspiration from the historical fact, as is set out below, she created a story about apple trees, blossom, honey and kings and queens of England considering the area for the source of their honey. Using the apparent suffices 'Nor' and 'Sur' of Norbiton and Surbiton for 'north and south' respectively and converting the remaining 'biton' into 'Bee town' we now have people believing that there WAS a north bee town and a south bee town and that honeycomb was stored at Coombe.
No, none of this is - in any way - true. It is a great story but, as a Heritage Society trying to preserve local history, we'd rather people new the facts as opposed to the fabrication, clever though it may be as this is equally fascinating.
Yes, there IS and association with bees in New Malden, but only in so far as the effort promised by the residents of New Malden in 1866 as below.
Happy for the cycle path to be called the Beeline (very clever) and love the sign at the station and look for the 'arriving' bee on the brickwork. But as for apple trees, blossom, honey, kings and queens and bee towns north and south, well don't BEE-lieve all you may read!
A local resident likes legends and stories and felt that New Malden 'needed' a legend. Taking inspiration from the historical fact, as is set out below, she created a story about apple trees, blossom, honey and kings and queens of England considering the area for the source of their honey. Using the apparent suffices 'Nor' and 'Sur' of Norbiton and Surbiton for 'north and south' respectively and converting the remaining 'biton' into 'Bee town' we now have people believing that there WAS a north bee town and a south bee town and that honeycomb was stored at Coombe.
No, none of this is - in any way - true. It is a great story but, as a Heritage Society trying to preserve local history, we'd rather people new the facts as opposed to the fabrication, clever though it may be as this is equally fascinating.
Yes, there IS and association with bees in New Malden, but only in so far as the effort promised by the residents of New Malden in 1866 as below.
Happy for the cycle path to be called the Beeline (very clever) and love the sign at the station and look for the 'arriving' bee on the brickwork. But as for apple trees, blossom, honey, kings and queens and bee towns north and south, well don't BEE-lieve all you may read!
