Have you ever wondered what this grand, imposing house, right in front of you, has witnessed? It’s Hillingdon House, a Grade II listed mansion that has seen more than its fair share of history. This building, as you see it today, has a story woven into its very bricks and mortar, a story that goes back to 1717.
You are standing on land once meant for hunting. The very first house on this site was built as a hunting lodge for the Duke of Schomberg. He was a British army commander of German origin, known for a peculiar trait – his love of arguing. It is said he would argue with anyone except the enemy.
The house, later owned by the Chetwynd family, was sold in 1786 to the Marchioness of Rockingham. She lived here until her death in 1804, after which it passed to her stepsister. After a few more transitions in ownership, the house was sold to Richard Henry Cox, a member of the Cox banking family.
But the original house wasn’t fated to last. Sadly, the building was destroyed by fire. The Hillingdon House we see today is what was built in its place in 1844, in a classical Victorian style.
The Cox family owned Hillingdon House for many years, but in 1915, the British Government bought it. During World War I, the house became a Canadian Convalescent Hospital. Later, the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) occupied the building and, in 1918, after the formation of the Royal Air Force, Hillingdon House became the headquarters of the RAF Central Depot.
During the war, a young man named T.E. Lawrence, better known as “Lawrence of Arabia”, served at Hillingdon House. He wrote about his time here in his book, “The Mint,” commenting on the starkness of the building’s windows and the lounging clerks enjoying early tea.
In 1958, the house saw another change of purpose. It became the headquarters of the RAF School of Education. From the early 1960s, it was the home of the Southern Region Air Traffic Services HQ.
Today, this building stands as a testament to a rich and diverse history, serving as a reminder of its many roles and the people who lived, served, and worked here, from the first hunting lodge to the modern-day banquet hall.