Beneath our feet lies a story. It is a tale of family fortunes bombings and the transition from private estate to the public parkland we enjoy today at Hillingdon Court Park.
Hillingdon Court Park started as part of a grand vision. Sir Charles Mills a partner in the London bank of Glyn Mills and Co purchased two houses along rural Vine Lane in 1825. This followed his marriage to Emily Cox. The Cox family already had a house in Hillingdon. Mills demolished both houses to create a single grand estate.
Between 1854 and 1858 architect Philip Charles Hardwick designed and built a white brick and stone mansion. This new mansion became Hillingdon Court. Imagine ten members of the Mills family living here. They required 33 servants to maintain their lifestyle.
Later Charles Mills son expanded the estate. In 1886 he became Baron Hillingdon. He began acquiring surrounding land eventually holding 3185 acres. The Baron used this vast land for shooting.
After the second Baron Hillingdon died in 1919 the estate was put up for sale. In 1928 the Uxbridge Urban District purchased part of the estate. This became Hillingdon Court Park a space for public enjoyment.
The Roman Catholic order of the Sacred Heart bought the mansion in 1920. They used it as a nursing home for the elderly. The drawing room transformed into a chapel. Hillingdon Court served a new purpose.
The Second World War brought danger to Hillingdon Court. In October 1940 seven bombs struck the building and grounds. One bomb fell directly into the well shaft in the central courtyard. Another pierced a bedroom wall waking the sleeping resident. The bomb thankfully failed to detonate. The resident calmly suggested it was time to head to the air raid shelter.
After the war Hillingdon Court transitioned again. It became a convent school for girls until 1977. A year later ACS International Schools purchased the mansion. They established a new campus school here.
New buildings adjoined the mansion in 1986. A gymnasium and cafeteria were added. A new wing followed in 1997. Hillingdon Court adapted to modern educational needs.
Many original features of Hillingdon Court remain. ACS International Schools has carefully restored them. The drawing room is back to its original appearance when the Mills family owned Hillingdon Court. A protective cover safeguards the oak floor in the main reception room. The dining room also reflects its original design.
A tunnel once connected the mansion to the tradesmens entrance. This design kept tradesmen out of sight from those inside the mansion. The tunnel no longer exists. The middle floors eight main rooms became classrooms. The basement with its bedrooms coal cellar wine cellar gun room and boiler house was also restored for school use.
Today Hillingdon Court Park offers more than just history. Fine old parkland oaks dot the landscape. Some trees are quite old. There is a large clump of oak creating a woodland area. Recent plantations feature mixed tree species. Look for oak silver birch poplar aspen and sycamore. Near the tennis courts you will find ornamental rose gardens. A hedged garden boasts conifers shrub beds and specimen trees.
Hillingdon Court Park provides amenities for all. Enjoy the tennis courts playground and bowls green.
Consider Hillingdon Court Park then a place of layered history. From a family estate to a nursing home a school and finally a public park. It is a space for recreation education and reflection. As you wander remember the many lives and stories woven into this landscape.