How about a journey back in time right here in Hanworth? This district in West London has a story etched into its very foundations. Historically a part of Middlesex, Hanworth has been under the London Borough of Hounslow since 1965.
Hanworth’s name likely comes from Anglo-Saxon roots. “Haen” or “Han” combined with “worth” suggests a “small homestead”. Imagine a small village nestled amidst the fields.
During Edward the Confessor’s reign, Hanworth was a sparsely populated manor. Ulf, a King’s “huscarl”, held it. Huscarls were bodyguards to Scandinavian Kings. They were often the Kingdom’s only professional soldiers. William the Conqueror gave Hanworth to Robert under Roger de Montgomery after most huscarls died at Hastings in 1066.
Sir Nicholas Brembre occupied the manor towards the end of the 14th century. He served as Mayor of London in 1377 and 1378. Sadly, he was hanged at Tyburn in 1387 for alleged treason.
In 1512, Hanworth became Crown property. Henry VIII, a keen hunter, gifted the manor to Anne Boleyn for her lifetime. Following her execution, it reverted to the King. He held it until his death in 1547. Then it passed to Catherine Parr. Princess Elizabeth, her stepdaughter, resided with her. Elizabeth often visited Hanworth Manor as Queen. She frequently enjoyed hunting on the heath.
General Sir William Roy oversaw a crucial project in 1784. It was the Principal Triangulation of Great Britain. He measured a baseline across Hounslow Heath. It passed through Hanworth Park towards Hampton Poor House. This earned him the Royal Society’s Copley Medal. It also formed the basis for Ordnance Survey maps still in use today.
Fire devastated the manor house in 1797. Only the stable block and coach house survived. The stable block is now flats. The coach house has been converted into homes. A new house, Hanworth House, was built around 1799 on the same site. In the 1830s, the current Hanworth Park House was erected. It stands derelict today within Hanworth Park. Locals are campaigning for its restoration.
William Whiteley, of Whiteleys in Bayswater, acquired 200 acres of farmland by the late 19th century. These farms, previously Butts and Glebe farms, became Hanworth Farms. They supplied the store’s food hall. Produce was transported daily by horse and cart. After Whiteley’s murder in 1907, his sons sold the farm to a jam manufacturer. In 1933, the land was sold for new housing.
Hanworth’s history is rich with notable figures. The Ambassador to Charles I, who negotiated the secret treaty with Spain in 1631, became Baron Cottington of Hanworth. He was honored “at Greenwich in a very solemn manner”.
Hanworth has several churches. Saint George’s Church is the main parish church. A church has stood on this site in Castle Way since at least the 14th century. All Saints’ Church was founded in 1935. Bertram Pollock, Bishop of Norwich, and the Rector of Saint George’s founded it. St. Richard’s Church was built in 1965.
From 1917 to 1919 and again from 1929 to 1947, Hanworth Aerodrome buzzed with activity. It was located in Hanworth Park. In the 1930s, it was known as London Air Park. Amelia Earhart famously flew to Hanworth after her 1932 transatlantic flight.
The construction of the A316 in the 1970s divided Hanworth. The library was moved to Mount Corner because of this. Forge Lane Infants and Junior School was built on the road’s south side. The war memorial was also relocated.
Today, Hanworth is a vibrant community. It boasts green spaces and a rich history. Hanworth Air Park Leisure Centre offers various sports facilities. It’s a testament to Hanworth’s blend of past and present.