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{{Short description|Suburban district in Surrey, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox UK place
|country                  = England
|official_name            = Molesey
|map_type                 = 
|coordinates              = {{coord|51.401|-0.363|display=inline,title}}
|population               = 19,088
|population_ref           = (2011 census)<ref name=ons>[http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk Key Statistics; Quick Statistics: Population Density] [[United Kingdom Census 2011]] ''[[Office for National Statistics]]'' Retrieved 21 November 2013</ref>
|static_image_name        = Bridge_Road_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1170972.jpg
|static_image_caption     = Bridge Road, East Molesey
|area_total_km2           = 5.87 
|civil_parish             = n/a
|shire_district           = [[Borough of Elmbridge|Elmbridge]]
|shire_county             = [[Surrey]]
|region                   = South East England
|constituency_westminster = [[Esher and Walton]]
|post_town                = {{ubl|EAST MOLESEY|WEST MOLESEY}}
|postcode_district        = KT8
|postcode_area            = KT
|dial_code                = 020
|os_grid_reference        = TQ145675
|charingX_distance_mi     = 12
|charingX_direction       = NE
}}
'''Molesey''' is a suburban district comprising two large villages, '''East Molesey''' and '''West Molesey''', in [[Borough of Elmbridge|the Borough of Elmbridge]], [[Surrey]], England. Molesey is within the [[Greater London Built-up Area]],<ref>{{NOMIS2011|id=E34004707|title=Greater London Built-up area|access-date=9 March 2022}}</ref> and is situated on the south bank of the [[River Thames]].

East and West Molesey share a high street and there is a second retail restaurant-lined street (Bridge Road) close to [[Hampton Court Palace]] in the eastern part of the district, which is also home to [[Hampton Court railway station]] in [[Transport for London]]'s Zone 6. Molesey Hurst or Hurst Park is a large park by the River Thames in the north of the area, and is home to [[East Molesey Cricket Club]]. The [[Hampton Ferry (London)|Hampton Ferry]] runs from here to Hampton on the Middlesex bank, from where it is a short walk to the central area of [[Hampton, London|Hampton]].

Molesey is divided into three [[wards of the United Kingdom|wards]]: Molesey South, East and North. The majority of Molesey's detached properties are in the east, which also contains the highest proportion of apartments of the three wards.

== History ==
The earliest documentary evidence of a settlement in Molesey appears in a 7th-century charter, shortly after [[Erkenwald]] founded [[Chertsey Abbey]] in AD 666. He secured from [[Frithuwald of Surrey|Frithwald]], sub-king of Surrey, a charter endowing the abbey with much of the surrounding land, including ''Muleseg''. [[Etymology|Etymologists]] suggest that the town's name is derived from the personal name ''Mul'' (pronounced Mule) compounded with the [[Old English]] word ''eg'', meaning an island or river meadow – thus Mul's Island. Therefore, Molesey is not, as commonly believed, named after the [[River Mole, Surrey|River Mole]] that runs through it. The [[prefix]]es ''East'' and ''West'' did not appear until about the year 1200, before which there was only one parish centred around what is now known as East Molesey.<ref>[http://www.moleseyhistory.co.uk/books/molesey/bom/index.htm The Book of Molesey by Rowland G M Baker]</ref> Molesey lay within the [[Anglo-Saxons|Saxon]] administrative district of [[Elmbridge (hundred)|Elmbridge]] [[hundred (division)|hundred]].

East Molesey appears in the [[Domesday Book]] of 1066 as ''Moleshire''. It was held partly by John from [[Richard Fitz Gilbert]] and partly by Roger d'Abernon. Its Domesday assets were: 2 [[hide (unit)|hide]]s and 3 [[virgate]]s. It had 7 [[plough]]s, 2 [[ox]]en, and {{convert|32|acre|ha}} of [[meadow]] and [[woodland]] worth 10 [[hog (swine)|hog]]s. It rendered £6 15s 0d. West Molesey was held by Odard Balistarius. Its Domesday assets were: 1 hide, 1 church, and 5 [[plough]]s. It rendered £2.50.<ref>[http://www.gwp.enta.net/surrnames.htm Surrey Domesday Book] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070715015325/http://www.gwp.enta.net/surrnames.htm |date=15 July 2007 }}</ref>

Along with neighbouring [[Thames Ditton]], East Molesey formed a part of the ancient [[Kingston upon Thames (parish)|parish of Kingston upon Thames]], based at the historic [[All Saints Church, Kingston upon Thames]]. From 1933, the Urban District of East and West Molesey became part of the [[Esher Urban District]], which was originally recommended by the [[Royal Commission on Local Government in Greater London]] (the Herbert Commission) for inclusion within the new ceremonial county of [[Greater London]]. In 1974, the district eventually merged with its neighbour to the west, Walton and Weybridge Urban District, to form the new [[borough of Elmbridge]] within Surrey.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elmbridge.gov.uk/Council/information/councilhistory.htm |title=History of Elmbridge Borough Council |access-date=2010-04-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223004856/http://www.elmbridge.gov.uk/Council/information/councilhistory.htm |archive-date=23 December 2010 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

Molesey was one of the many villages and towns along the Thames Valley affected by flooding in 1968; specifically here the flooding of the [[River Mole, Surrey|River Mole]]. Some barriers and overflow fields have been created since then by the Environment Agency and its precursors.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lower Mole Flood Alleviation Scheme|url=https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/ksles/lower-mole-flood-alleviation-scheme |publisher=[[Environment Agency]]|access-date=10 November 2022}}</ref>

The boundary between East and West Molesey uses a roughly due north–south compass axis, based on a point of division by the Molesey Stone on the grass outside Molesey Library on Walton Road, though the Stone has been moved from its original position and the actual boundary between East and West Molesey has become somewhat blurred and disputed.

=== Women's suffrage ===
On 8 June 1913, the grandstand at the former [[Hurst Park Racecourse]] in Molesey was virtually destroyed after an [[arson]] attack by [[suffragette]]s [[Kitty Marion]] and [[Clara Giveen]]. The attack was said to be in revenge for the death of [[Emily Davison]] at the [[Epsom Derby]] earlier that month.<ref>{{cite web|title=Clara Elizabeth Giveen (born 1887), Suffragette |url=https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp58990/clara-elizabeth-giveen|website=National Portrait Gallery|access-date=10 November 2022}}</ref> The pair were arrested the following day and imprisoned for three years, although both were released early after going on [[hunger strike]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Riddell |first=Fern |date=May 2018 |title=Death in Ten Minutes: The Forgotten Life of Radical Suffragette Kitty Marion |journal=BBC History Magazine|issn=1469-8552}}</ref>

== Locality ==
[[File:Molesey map 1.png|thumbnail|West Molesey, East Molesey and Hampton Court]]

Molesey is directly south of the River Thames, with several large reservoirs bordering the town to the west and south that provide water within the [[London Basin]]. Some of these are now disused and are being converted into nature reserves. To the west lie [[Bessborough Reservoir]] and [[Knight Reservoir]], to the north-west [[Molesey Reservoirs]], to the south [[Island Barn Reservoir]], and to the south-west [[Queen Elizabeth II Reservoir]]. There are walks beside [[Metropolitan green belt]] fields to the south along the river Mole to [[Esher]], and to the west along the Thames Path to [[Walton-on-Thames]].

[[Hampton Court Palace]] lies immediately north-east of East Molesey, across [[Hampton Court Bridge]].

[[File:Hampton Court tollbooth site.JPG|thumbnail|Hampton Court Bridge and East Molesey Riverbank]]

The Palace, together with the southern part of [[Bushy Park]] and most of [[Hampton Court Park]] are in the [[post town]] of East Molesey.

[[Molesey Lock]] is just above [[Hampton Court Bridge]], downstream of [[Sunbury Lock]] and upstream of [[Teddington Lock]]. [[Cigarette Island Park]] is just below the bridge, occupying the eastern extremity of the town.

[[Hurst Park Racecourse|Hurst Park]] is on the south bank of the Thames, from where there is a daily [[Hampton Ferry (River Thames)|ferry]] service to [[Hampton, London|Hampton]] on the Middlesex bank. It was home to a horse racing course from 1890 to 1962.<ref name=Course>{{cite web|url=http://www.moleseyhistory.co.uk/books/molesey/tm/tm_19.htm|title=Thameside Molesey – Hurst Park|website=www.moleseyhistory.co.uk|access-date=10 November 2022}}</ref>
 
The residential streets of East Molesey run directly into [[Weston Green]] and the northernmost stretches of residential [[Esher]] to the south, and [[Thames Ditton]] to the east and south-east. Together with the reservoirs, Green Belt land to the west and south-west divides West Molesey from [[Walton on Thames]].

The central shopping area of [[Kingston upon Thames]] lies {{convert|1.7|mi}} east of Bridge Road in East Molesey, while central [[Walton on Thames]] lies {{convert|2.3|mi}} to the west-southwest of West Molesey High Street.

=== Landmarks ===
Molesey itself has some interesting landmarks, including three listed Church of England churches and ''The Bell'', a [[public house]], formerly known as "The Crooked House", built in the mid-15th century. Other landmarks include The Jubilee Fountain in Bridge Road. There are three designated Conservation Areas in East Molesey.<ref name="East Molesey conservation areas">{{cite web |title=East Molesey conservation areas|url=https://www.elmbridge.gov.uk/planning/conservation-areas/east-molesey-conservation-areas |website= Elmbridge Borough Council  |access-date=21 July 2023}}</ref><ref name="Kent Town conservation area">{{cite web |title=East Molesey (Kent Town) conservation area|url=https://www.elmbridge.gov.uk/planning/conservation-areas/kent-town-conservation-area |website= Elmbridge Borough Council |access-date=21 July 2023}}</ref>

Other historic buildings include the [[Listed building|Grade II-listed]] Matham Manor, an altered 15th-century house with timber frames and red brick; and a 16th-century house, Quillets Royal, with an 18th-century extension (The Manor House). Both buildings lie near The Bell in Bell Road/Matham Road.<ref>[http://list.english-heritage.org.uk The Heritage List for England online. Retrieved 10 April 2012]</ref>

In April 2017, 15th-century St Peter's Church on Walton Road, said to be the oldest building in Molesey, had lead stolen from the roof and historic masonry damaged in a nighttime theft. Thieves used scaffolding put up to install an antenna approved by Elmbridge Council. Press reports alleged that police had been alerted to the crime by a local resident but that they had declined to attend.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pepe |first1=Darren |last2=Smurthwaite |first2=Tom |title=Thieves scale phone company scaffolding to steal lead from church |url=https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/theyve-destroyed-bit-history-thieves-12851933 |work=Surrey Live |date=6 April 2017 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Scout groups ===
Molesey has three [[The Scout Association|Scout]] groups which all belong to Esher District. 1st Molesey is a [[Royal Navy]]-recognised [[Sea Scouts (The Scout Association)|Sea Scout]] group whilst 2nd and 3rd Molesey are both Land Scout Groups. All groups have sections from Beavers right through to Explorers. The groups take part in a wide variety of activities and events throughout the year at various locations.

==River channels, flooding and speculative building==
{{More citations needed|section|date=March 2019}}
Molesey's [[conservation area]] is bordered to the south by a corollary channel of the [[River Mole, Surrey|River Mole]], known as the [[River Ember]], where successive environment authorities have implemented capacity-adding flood defences following a widespread and costly flood in 1968. Following further extensive flooding along the Thames in 2014, the Environment Agency is to carry out more large scale 'capacity building' work involving the construction of {{convert|9|mi|spell=in}} of new channels in areas upstream of Molesey as part of a flood relief project known as the River Thames Scheme (RTS) running between 2018 and 2027.

Before 1968, the whole area including expensive areas such as East Molesey flooded badly on a regular basis as they are in part located on the former flood plains of the Thames and the Mole. Even today localised flooding and standing water can be quite common in times of heavy rain as the area is very low lying and flat. Molesey can be the subject of flood warnings that affect the Thames Valley.

[[Molesey Lock]] is the third lock (and weir) on the River Thames, after Richmond and Teddington locks,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Complete List of Locks and Weirs on the River Thames |url=https://www.thamesvalleyguide.co.uk/what-to-do-and-see/around-the-river/locks/river-thames-list-of-locks-and-weirs |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=www.thamesvalleyguide.co.uk}}</ref> and marks the furthest point upstream that the influence of the tides on the Thames (regulated by the [[Thames Barrier]] at [[Woolwich]]) may be registered. The lock is located within {{convert|100|m}} of [[Hampton Court Bridge]], designed by architect Sir [[Edwin Lutyens]].

In the West Molesey area, some houses are the result of over-optimistic development in the 1930s by developer Donald Gordon Howard, who eventually went bankrupt trying to sell houses at exceptionally low prices – at £395 some of the cheapest in the London area – while implying a misleading proximity to Hampton Court. The attraction was cheap, low-lying land near the London reservoirs and quite remote from transport links, especially the railway. Speculative land dealing and building go back a long way in the area. Much of East Molesey resulted from large scale land speculation in the 1850s by Francis Jackson Kent who saw an opportunity to make a fortune when the railway arrived at Hampton Court in 1849, quickly buying up land nearby and selling it on to wealthy individuals or developers who rapidly built on low lying former meadows that had always been flood prone. They naturally remained so until the 1960s when the nearby River Mole was re channelled after a hugely expensive flood. Pictures of the East Molesey area and Hampton Court station environs (on the opposite bank to the Palace) in flood conditions recur in 19th and 20th centuries.

Molesey and adjacent areas of Esher, Walton and Hersham also have a significant amount of former council housing constructed by the predecessors to Elmbridge Council. There are also areas of post-war system built housing, thought{{by whom|date=October 2021}} to be of the concrete sectional type, built at the time of housing shortage in the years after World War 2 including on the West Molesey/East Molesey border. It was at one time home to the well-known company Roberts Radio who built a factory there in 1962.

== Transport ==
=== Railway ===
The railway station in East Molesey is {{rws|Hampton Court}}, in Transport for London's [[London fare zones|Zone 6]]. This is the terminus of a stopping commuter service to [[London Waterloo railway station|London Waterloo]] that takes around thirty-five minutes. Principal stops are [[Surbiton railway station|Surbiton]], [[Wimbledon station|Wimbledon]] and [[Clapham Junction railway station|Clapham Junction]]. Services are operated by [[South Western Railway (train operating company)|South Western Railway]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Timetables |work=South Western Railway |date=15 December 2024 |access-date=5 April 2025 |url= https://www.southwesternrailway.com/plan-my-journey/timetables}}</ref>

During the [[Hampton Court Palace Flower Show]], extra trains run to and from London.

=== Buses ===
Four bus routes serve the district:<ref>{{Cite web |title=East Molesey bus services |website=Bustimes.org |access-date=5 April 2025 |url= https://bustimes.org/localities/east-molesey}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=West Molesey bus services |website=Bustimes.org |access-date=5 April 2025 |url= https://bustimes.org/localities/west-molesey}}</ref>

* Eastbound: [[London Buses route 411]] is operated by [[London United Busways|London United]]. The short route begins at Central Avenue in West Molesey and runs through East Molesey, past Hampton Court station and on to Kingston town centre.<ref>[https://tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/411/?direction=inbound Route 411] Transport for London</ref>

* North-eastbound: East Molesey's northern point by its station, shopping parade and small riverside park is the terminus of a second Transport for London bus service, [[London Buses route R68|route R68]], operated by [[Transport UK London Bus]]. The route begins at Hampton Court station and runs through Hampton, [[Hampton Hill]], [[Teddington]], [[Strawberry Hill, London|Strawberry Hill]], [[Twickenham]] and [[Richmond, London|Richmond]], before ending at [[Kew]] retail park.<ref>[https://tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/r68/?direction=inbound Route R68] Transport for London</ref>

* Westbound: Route 461, operated by [[Falcon Coaches]] on behalf of [[Surrey County Council]], runs from Kingston, through Molesey and on to [[Walton-on-Thames|Walton]], terminating at [[Tesco]], [[Addlestone]].

* Southbound: Route 514, also operated by Falcon on behalf of Surrey County Council, runs from [[Hersham]] to Kingston via Molesey, Thames Ditton, [[Long Ditton]] and Surbiton.

==Demography and housing==
{| class="wikitable"
|- 
|+ '''2011 Census Homes'''
|-
!Output area !!Detached  !!Semi-detached!!Terraced!!Flats and apartments!!Caravans/temporary/mobile homes!!Shared between households<ref name=ons/>
|-
|East (ward)||909	||	677	||	334	||	753	||	1	||	11
|-
|North (ward)||454	||	879	||	818	||	358	||	0	||	0
|-
|South (ward)||247	||	1,113	||	867	||	595	||	0	||	2
|}
The average level of accommodation in the region composed of detached houses was 28%, the average that was apartments was 22.6%.

{| class="wikitable"
|- 
|+ '''2011 Census Key Statistics'''
|-
!Output area !!Population !!Households !!% Owned outright !!% Owned with a loan!!hectares<ref name=ons/>
|-
|East (ward)||6,337	||	2,685	||	38	||	40	||	298
|-
|North (ward)||6,008	||	2,509	||	37	||	41	||	164
|-
|South (ward)||6,743	||	2,824	||	27	||	41	||	125
|}
The proportion of households in the settlement who owned their home outright compares to the regional average of 35.1 per cent. The proportion who owned their home with a loan compares to the regional average of 32.5 per cent. The remaining segment is made up of rented dwellings (plus a negligible per cent of households living rent-free).

There is a locally moored boat, the [[West Molesey houseboat]], which is moored on the river Thames.

{{Geographic location
|title     = '''Neighbouring Settlements of Surrey and Greater London'''
|Centre    = Molesey
|North     = [[Hampton, London|Hampton]]/across the Palace and [[Bushy Park]]<br />[[Teddington]]
|Northeast = across the Palace and [[Bushy Park]]<br />[[Teddington]]
|East      = [[Hampton Court Palace]]<br />across [[Hampton Court Park]] & Golf Course<br />[[Kingston-upon-Thames]]
|Southeast = [[Thames Ditton]]
|South     = [[Weston Green]], [[Esher]] 
|Southwest ={{ubl|Fieldcommon, [[Walton-on-Thames]] | across Queen Elizabeth II reservoir | [[Walton-on-Thames]]}}
|West      = [[Sunbury-on-Thames]]
|Northwest = [[Hampton, London|Hampton]]
}}

== Crime ==
{{context|section|date=November 2023|details=some idea of how these crime statistics fit in over all. How, for example, do they compare to the rest of Surrey, or rest of UK: Are they high? Low? What?}}
[[Surrey Police]] statistics for reported crime in the West Molesey area for the period October 2021 to September 2022 recorded violence and sexual crime as the biggest single category with 328 instances, with anti-social behaviour having 180 instances and criminal damage and arson ranked third with 74. 31 burglaries were recorded, with 42 vehicle crimes.<ref>{{cite web|title=West Molesey: Crime types for the 12 months (Oct 2021 to Sep 2022)|url=https://www.police.uk/pu/your-area/surrey-police/west-molesey/?tab=statistics|website=www.police.uk|access-date=10 November 2022}}</ref>

There were two murders in West Molesey in 2016–2017. A woman was found murdered with a machete or axe in the front garden of her house on Walton Road, Molesey in March 2016, resulting in extensive national publicity.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Hughes |first1=Amani |last2=Ritchie |first2=Candice|date=14 March 2016 |title=West Molesey murder probe after body of woman found |url=https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/west-molesey-murder-probe-after-11036722 |access-date=10 November 2022|work=Surrey Live}}</ref> Police launched a second local murder investigation on 7 December 2017 when a woman reported as previously deliberately run down in the small hours of the morning in a car park on land between Hurst Road, Molesham Way and Walton Road, died in hospital.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Grafton-Green|first=Patrick|date=5 December 2017|title=West Molesey: Murder probe launched after woman rammed by car near Hampton Court |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/west-molesey-murder-probe-launched-after-woman-rammed-by-car-near-hampton-court-a3711376.html |access-date=10 November 2022|work=[[Evening Standard]]}}</ref>

== Sport ==
Molesey was once the bare-knuckle [[boxing]] centre of England,<ref>{{cite book|last=Baker|first=Rowland|title=Thameside Molesey|year=1989|publisher=Barracuda Books|location=Chesham, Buckinghamshire, England|isbn=978086023-414-2}} extracts available [http://www.moleseyhistory.co.uk/books/molesey/tm/tm_17.htm here]</ref> and had a famous [[horse race|horse-racing]] track stretching the length of the [[River Thames]] from where Hurst Park School now stands, down to [[Molesey Lock]]. The course closed in 1962,<ref name=Course/> and much of it was built on in the 1960s; the Hurst Park Estate has a mixture of three and two-storey homes and a block of flats overlooking the river. Part of the open space that was part of the racetrack is now a riverside park. There is a wide grass expanse, a playground and open access to the Thames; features here include the Hampton Ferry and Molesey Regatta, a major event in the sport of rowing with catering and evening outdoor music. There are some large iron gates in the access road to Hurst Park called Graburn Way which were built so that horse races then started just east of the road and enabled the course to have a 'straight mile'.

===Cricket===
{{Unreferenced section|date=March 2019}}
'Moulsey Hurst' is a very early site of cricket (from 1731) and that tradition is continued to this day by [[East Molesey Cricket Club]], which is located alongside the South bank of the Thames, {{convert|1/2|mi|spell=in}} from [[Hampton Court Palace]]. It was founded in 1871.

The club's first XI play in Surrey Championship Premier Division and there are four other senior Saturday league sides and two u21 Sunday league side, regularly competing against other Surrey clubs. The first recorded [[Leg Before Wicket]] (LBW) dismissal in first class cricket is said to have been given in a game between an XI of Surrey and a XIII of England at this site in 1795. Prior to this date there had been several attempts to formulate a law that would stop batsmen simply obstructing their wicket with their leg pads to prevent being bowled. The LBW law has been revised several times since then.

===Rowing===
[[Molesey Boat Club]] (established 1866) is home to some Olympic and World Championship medallists and domestic success at all ages, particularly in its adult crews. The rowing club also competes in the Amateur Molesey Regatta held annually in Hurst Park<ref>[http://www.moleseyboatclub.co.uk Molesey Boat Club website medal results 2011–2012. Retrieved 10 April 2012]</ref>

===Football===
{{Unreferenced section|date=March 2019}}
[[Molesey F.C.]] is a non-league football team based in West Molesey. The club is currently a member of the [[Isthmian League]] and play at the Herds Renault Stadium, Walton Road. The original football club was established by former [[Corinthian F.C.|Corinthian]] player James Jenkinson Knox in Autumn 1892 under the name Hampton Court and East Molesey Association Football Club. Their first match was played on 24 September 1892 against Barnes, winning 14–5. In 1946 Molesey United and West Molesey Old Boys merged to form Molesey Football Club. The new club joined the Surrey Intermediate League and won the league in their first season.

[[Metropolitan Police F.C.]] is a non-league football team based in East Molesey and are based at the Imber Court Sports Ground.

AFC Molesey is a former non-league football team that was also based in West Molesey, a member of the [[Surrey County Intermediate League (Western)]] Division One and played at the West Molesey Recreation Ground, Walton Road. Up to the date that the club folded, the club had seen its popularity grown significantly following its winning several honours including the Lower Junior County Cup in the 2007/08 season and successful consecutive league promotions.

Molesey Juniors F.C. is a community youth football organisation based at the Wilderness Playing Fields, East Molesey

===Swimming===
Just beyond the gates of Hurst Park used to be the home of the open air Upper Deck swimming pool, the nearest open air pool now being across the ferry up Hampton High Street in [[Hampton, London|Hampton]]. An indoor pool was built by the council nearby as a replacement. Flats are now built on the site of the outdoor pool. The entire riverside recreational area was previously referred to as [[Moulsey Hurst]].

Hurst swimming pool is in Dunstall Way in the north of Molesey.

=== Pool and billiards ===
The Poyntz Arms Public House and Molesey East & West Conservative Club host matches in the Tolworth and District Pool League.

=== Darts ===
Darts is a very popular sport in Molesey, played at several public houses including the Molesey Football Club, ''The Royal Oak'', ''The Cannon'' and the Royal British Legion. Teams are made up of patrons and club members. All teams compete in the Molesey and District Darts League.

=== Cycling ===
In 2012, Bradley Wiggins won the Olympic Time Trial event. The course passed through East and West Molesey and Hurst Park, and the event finish was at Hampton Court Palace, in the post town of East Molesey.

The Surrey Classic Cycle race previously passed East and West Molesey and Hurst Park yearly.

National Cycle Network route #4 passes along the River Thames towpath through Molesey.

=== Motorsports ===
The karting team, OsbornRacing is based in Daytona Sandown Park, with one of its drivers currently residing in West Molesey.

== Notable residents ==
{{more citations needed|section|date=October 2021}}
* [[Alfie Gilchrist]], [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] Footballer grew up in West Molesey, his family were all season ticket holders at Chelsea. Went to school at Esher High School 
* [[Dominic Wood]], English magician and presenter
* [[Ray Lewington]], [[Manager (association football)|football manager]] and former player
* [[Chemmy Alcott]], British Olympic alpine skier
* [[Rick Astley]], British pop musician, lives in East Molesey<ref>{{Cite news|last=Graham|first=Hugh|date=21 October 2018|title=Interview with Rick Astley |url= https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/property-home/article/rick-astley-interview-the-1980s-pop-star-on-diy-disasters-and-why-hes-never-gonna-get-into-gardening-vh7ccb32v|access-date=10 November 2022|work=[[The Times]]}}</ref>
* [[Mick Avory]], drummer and percussionist for rock band [[The Kinks]], grew up in West Molesey<ref>in Balmoral Crescent.</ref>
* [[Keith Barron]], actor, lived in the town from the 1970s to 2017
* [[Ed Bishop]], actor, lived in West Molesey
*[[Liv Boeree]], professional poker player, lives in East Molesey
*[[Ronald Brooks (cricketer)|Ronald Brooks]] (1899–1980), first-class cricketer and British Army officer
*[[Cottie Arthur Burland]] (1905–1983), head of ethnography at British Museum
*[[Bernie Constable]] (1921–1997), cricketer, brother of the below
*[[Dennis Constable]] (1925–2011), cricketer, brother of the above
*[[Bill Cotton]], the television producer and executive and the son of big-band leader [[Billy Cotton]], lived in East Molesey in his later years
*[[Terence Cuneo]] (1907–1996), artist lived for many years in East Molesey and is commemorated by a blue plaque on the site of his former home and studio in Ember Lane.<ref>{{cite news |last1=French |first1=Claire |title=Blue plaque unveiled in memory of artist Terence Cuneo |url=https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/local-news/blue-plaque-unveiled-memory-artist-5718267 |work=Surrey Live |date=15 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826210830/https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/local-news/blue-plaque-unveiled-memory-artist-5718267 |archive-date=26 August 2013}}
* {{cite news |title=Artist's family sell home to raise cash |url=https://www.surreycomet.co.uk/news/619908.artists-family-sell-home-to-raise-cash/ |work=Surrey Comet |date=5 August 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231101015332/https://www.surreycomet.co.uk/news/619908.artists-family-sell-home-to-raise-cash/ |archive-date=1 November 2023}}</ref>
*[[Hazell Dean]], pop music singer, lives in the town
*[[Bob Falconer]] ( born 1962), of East Molesey, a former English cricketer
*[[Kenneth Falconer (mathematician)|Kenneth Falconer]], mathematician, resident in the 1960s
*[[Ray Galton]] comedy dramatist, most notable for ''[[Hancock's Half Hour]]'' and ''[[Steptoe and Son]]'' 
*[[Marius Goring]], actor
*Herbert "Barry" Hart (1894–1954), sculptor and stone carver, died at 2 Walton Road, East Molesey<ref>{{Cite web|title=(Herbert) Barry Hart|url=https://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/person.php?id=msib2_1218817207|access-date=4 Jun 2021|website=Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011}}</ref>
*[[Roy Holder]], actor
*[[George Isaacs]], politician
*[[Jentina]], British rapper
*[[Eric Lyons]], architect
*[[Lee Mack]], stand-up comic, lives in East Molesey<ref>{{cite news |last1=Clarke |first1=Chloe |title=The comedian and ''Not Going Out'' star who calls Surrey home |url=https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/whats-on/film-news/lee-mack-comedian-not-going-22577143 |work=Surrey Live |date=28 December 2021|access-date=25 January 2023}}</ref>
*[[Howard Parkes]] (1877–1920), cricketer, buried at Molesey Cemetery, West Molesey<ref>{{cite web|title=Grave of Howard Roderick Parkes|url=https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/75229201/parkes,-howard-roderick/|publisher=Commonwealth War Graves Commission|access-date=10 November 2022}}</ref>
*[[John Orlando Parry]] (1810–1879), 19th century entertainer<ref>{{Cite DWB|id=s-PARR-JOH-1776|title=Parry, John, musician |access-date=8 November 2022}}</ref>
*[[Daniel Pemberton]], musician
*[[Luke Shaw]], professional [[Association football|footballer]], grew up in West Molesey<ref>{{cite web|title=Shaw Savouring Chelsea Contest |url=http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/shaw-savouring-chelsea-contest-740468.aspx|publisher=Southampton F.C.|access-date=17 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012052549/http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/shaw-savouring-chelsea-contest-740468.aspx|archive-date=12 October 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> and played for Molesey Juniors FC
*[[Alfred Sisley]] (1839–1899), Anglo-French impressionist painter, resided in East Molesey in 1874, executing nearly twenty paintings of the Upper Thames
*[[Steve Steen]], actor, lives in East Molesey
*[[Les Strong]], professional footballer who played for [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]] and [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]]
*[[Michael Underwood (physician)|Michael Underwood]], the physician who first described [[polio]], was born in West Molesey<ref>{{Cite ODNB|title=Underwood, Michael (1737–1820), man-midwife and surgeon|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/28000|url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/search?q=Underwood%2C+Michael+%281737%E2%80%931820%29%2C+man-midwife+and+surgeon}}</ref>
*[[Julius Vogel]] (1835–1899), Prime Minister of New Zealand, resident in East Molesey in his final years
*[[Matt Willis]], the musician, TV presenter and ex-actor, who is best known for being the bassist in [[Busted (band)|Busted]], lived in Molesey during his youth
*[[Freya Wilson]], actress
*[[Bridget St John]], singer-songwriter, was born in East Molesey

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
{{Commons category|Molesey}}
* [http://www.moleseyhistory.co.uk/ Molesey History] – This site has many books, papers and pictures on the history of Molesey and the surrounding area from Rowland G M Baker's collection.
* [http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/esher/ ''Molesey News & Mail''] local newspaper
* [http://www.moleseyresidentsassociation.org.uk/ Molesey Residents' Association] – The local Residents Association.
* [http://www.elmbridge.gov.uk/ Elmbridge Borough Council] – The local council.
* [http://www.moleseylife.co.uk/ ''Molesey Life''] – Local guide to Molesey and the Hampton Court Palace area
* [http://residents-association.com Thames Ditton and Weston Green Residents' Association] - local Residents Association

{{Elmbridge}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places on the River Thames]]
[[Category:Villages in Surrey]]
[[Category:Borough of Elmbridge]]