Prostitutes Kew
Botanical Legacy of Kew Gardens
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker served as Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. He was a prominent botanist and plant collector, significantly contributing to Kew’s development into a global botanical institution. Hooker led expeditions, including to the Himalayas in 1848-1850, where he collected over 7,000 plant specimens. His extensive correspondence with Charles Darwin, comprising around 10% of Darwin’s surviving letters, is a valuable historical record; Darwin confided his early thoughts on species mutability to Hooker in 1844. Kew is currently digitizing Hooker’s correspondence for online access.
Kew Motor Inn Prostitution Sting
Separately, the Kew Motor Inn, located near Main Street in Kew, gained notoriety. In March 2012, following a three-month undercover police investigation, the motel was shut down for promoting prostitution. It was described in reports as an alleged haven
for such activities. This closure was part of a significant prostitution sting operation.
Aftermath and Local Impact
Plans later emerged to potentially use the closed Kew Motor Inn site to house migrants. The motel was also known for its themed rooms. While Hooker’s scientific legacy at Kew Gardens endures, the Kew Motor Inn represents a distinct chapter in the area’s local history, marked by scandal and law enforcement action related to prostitution.
*TAGS* – undercover police investigation, prostitution sting operation, themed rooms motel
