Remember the days of highwaymen? Hatton Cross might seem like a modern transport hub now. It has a history that stretches back centuries. Hatton including Hatton Cross is a small settlement. It lies in the London boroughs of Hillingdon and Hounslow. Before 1965, it was part of Middlesex.
Hatton’s name has Anglo-Saxon origins. It comes from “Hǣðtūn,” meaning heath farmstead. Until 1819, heathland surrounded its cultivated areas.
The area around Hatton was once notorious. Highway robberies were common for many decades. The Green Man pub still stands. It features a hiding-hole behind the chimney. Dick Turpin Way nearby reminds us of those days.
Let’s step back to 1086. The Domesday Survey recorded Roger de Montgomery holding land in Hatton. Edward III built a house here called Hatton Grange. Richard II later held it.
In 1911, Hatton was a hamlet east of Staines upon Thames. Its location made it a haunt for highwaymen. They could easily access the Staines Road and Bath Road. The Green Man inn provided a convenient hideout.
Two annual fairs once took place here. One was on 7 May at Bedford. The other was on 14 June at Hatton. The Home Secretary abolished them in 1881.
Today, Hatton Cross is known for its transport links. The Hatton Cross Underground station serves the area. London Buses connect it to Heathrow Airport, Hounslow, and other destinations.
Hatton provides ancillary services to Heathrow Airport. Aircraft often fly overhead. Plane spotters gather at Myrtle Avenue to watch them.
You can find amenities at Hatton Green. The Green Man pub offers food and drink. Hounslow Urban Farm is next to Hatton Cemetery. It claims to be the largest urban farm in London.
Hatton Cross itself has a small café. There is also a convenience store within the station. A Barclays Bank and a petrol station serve the area.
Air France-KLM has its UK and Ireland head office at Plesman House in Hatton Cross. It opened here in 2006.
Significant changes have occurred over the years. As Heathrow Airport expanded, it took over much of Hatton’s land north of the A30 road. Several houses and farms disappeared. These include The Limes, The Cedars, and Hatton Gore.
South of the Great South West Road, Temple Hatton once stood. It became an orphanage before being replaced by airport-related premises. Steam Farm and Hatton Farm have also been lost to development.
Hatton Cross station opened on 19 July 1975. It became a terminus until Heathrow Central opened in 1977. The Piccadilly line extends to Heathrow Terminal 5 today.
The station’s architecture includes patterns derived from the British Airways Speedbird logo. William Mitchell created the concrete frieze at roof level.
While Hatton Cross has transformed, echoes of its past remain. From highwaymen to air travel, it has adapted to change. Next time you pass through Hatton Cross, remember its story. It is a story of transformation and resilience.