Hillingdon Court
Encyclopedia
Hillingdon Court is a Grade II listed mansion in Hillingdon
, within the London Borough of Hillingdon
. Originally built in 1858 as the family home of the Mills family, the mansion has formed part of the ACS Hillingdon
International School since 1978. Much of the remaining grounds came under public ownership in 1928 and have become public parkland and housing.
, partner in the London bank of Glyn, Mills & Co., bought two houses in rural Vine Lane in 1825, following his marriage to Emily Cox, daughter of the banker Richard Henry Cox. The Coxs had a house in Hillingdon. Mills had both houses demolished and the sites combined to allow for the construction of a new mansion. Designed by Philip Charles Hardwick
, the mansion was built of white brick and stone between 1854 and 1858. Mills and ten members of his family lived there, with 33 servants.
Sir Charles' son, Charles Mills, 1st Baron Hillingdon
, began purchasing surrounding land following his creation as Baron Hillingdon
in 1886. His holdings eventually reached 3185 acres (12.9 km²), which Baron Hillingdon used for shooting.
, died and the estate was put up for sale. Part of the estate was purchased by the Uxbridge Urban District on 31 March 1928 and became Hillingdon Court Park. The Roman Catholic order of the Sacred Heart purchased the mansion in 1920 for use as a nursing home for the elderly. While under the ownership of the order, the drawing room was used as a chapel.
During the Second World War, the mansion was damaged in a bombing raid in October 1940. Seven bombs fell on the building and grounds, with one falling directly down the well shaft in the central courtyard. Another penetrated a bedroom wall, waking the resident inside who had been sleeping. The bomb failed to detonate, and the lady is recorded as having told staff it was time she headed to the air raid shelter.
purchased the mansion the following year and established a new campus school. New buildings adjoining the mansion were built in 1986 incorporating a gymnasium and cafeteria; a new wing was built in 1997.
Many of the original features of the mansion remain and have been restored under the ownership of ACS International Schools. The drawing room was restored to its original appearance when owned by the Mills, and the oak floor in the main reception room has had a protection cover fitted. The dining room has also been returned to its original appearance. A tunnel connecting the mansion to the tradesman's entrance, constructed to stop anyone inside the mansion from seeing tradesmen approaching or leaving, no longer exists.
The eight main rooms including bedrooms and dressing rooms on the middle floor were converted into classrooms for the school, while the basement which included two bedrooms, a coal cellar, wine cellar, gun room and boiler house, was also restored for the school's use.
Hillingdon
Hillingdon is a suburban area within the London Borough of Hillingdon, situated 14.2 miles west of Charing Cross.Much of Hillingdon is represented as the Hillingdon East ward within the local authority, Hillingdon Council...
, within the London Borough of Hillingdon
London Borough of Hillingdon
The London Borough of Hillingdon is the westernmost borough in Greater London, England. The borough's population was recorded as 243,006 in the 2001 Census. The borough incorporates the former districts of Ruislip-Northwood, Uxbridge, Hayes and Harlington and Yiewsley and West Drayton in the...
. Originally built in 1858 as the family home of the Mills family, the mansion has formed part of the ACS Hillingdon
ACS International Schools
ACS International Schools is a group of three schools based in England and one in Qatar. Until 2005, the organisation was known as American Community Schools. The four campuses are located in Cobham and Egham in Surrey and in the London Borough of Hillingdon and Doha, Qatar which is due to open in...
International School since 1978. Much of the remaining grounds came under public ownership in 1928 and have become public parkland and housing.
Construction
Sir Charles MillsSir Charles Mills, 1st Baronet
Sir Charles Mills, 1st Baronet was a British banker and member of the Council of India.Born at Popes, Hatfield, he was the third son of William Mills, a director of the Honourable East India Company, and the younger brother of John Mills.Like his father, he was connected with the banking firm of...
, partner in the London bank of Glyn, Mills & Co., bought two houses in rural Vine Lane in 1825, following his marriage to Emily Cox, daughter of the banker Richard Henry Cox. The Coxs had a house in Hillingdon. Mills had both houses demolished and the sites combined to allow for the construction of a new mansion. Designed by Philip Charles Hardwick
Philip Charles Hardwick
-Life:Philip Charles Hardwick was a notable English architect of the 19th century who was once described as "a careful and industrious student of mediaeval art"...
, the mansion was built of white brick and stone between 1854 and 1858. Mills and ten members of his family lived there, with 33 servants.
Sir Charles' son, Charles Mills, 1st Baron Hillingdon
Charles Mills, 1st Baron Hillingdon
Charles Henry Mills, 1st Baron Hillingdon , known as Sir Charles Mills, 2nd Baronet, from 1872 to 1886, was a British banker and Conservative politician....
, began purchasing surrounding land following his creation as Baron Hillingdon
Baron Hillingdon
Baron Hillingdon, of Hillingdon in the County of Middlesex, was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom held by the Mills family. This family descended from Charles Mills, a Director of the Honourable East India Company and a member of the Council of India. On 17 November 1868 he was created a...
in 1886. His holdings eventually reached 3185 acres (12.9 km²), which Baron Hillingdon used for shooting.
Sale
In 1919, the second Baron Hillingdon, also Charles MillsCharles Mills, 2nd Baron Hillingdon
Charles William Mills, 2nd Baron Hillingdon , was a British banker and Conservative politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1885 to 1892....
, died and the estate was put up for sale. Part of the estate was purchased by the Uxbridge Urban District on 31 March 1928 and became Hillingdon Court Park. The Roman Catholic order of the Sacred Heart purchased the mansion in 1920 for use as a nursing home for the elderly. While under the ownership of the order, the drawing room was used as a chapel.
During the Second World War, the mansion was damaged in a bombing raid in October 1940. Seven bombs fell on the building and grounds, with one falling directly down the well shaft in the central courtyard. Another penetrated a bedroom wall, waking the resident inside who had been sleeping. The bomb failed to detonate, and the lady is recorded as having told staff it was time she headed to the air raid shelter.
Educational use
Following the end of the war, the house became a convent school for girls, which it remained until 1977. ACS International SchoolsACS International Schools
ACS International Schools is a group of three schools based in England and one in Qatar. Until 2005, the organisation was known as American Community Schools. The four campuses are located in Cobham and Egham in Surrey and in the London Borough of Hillingdon and Doha, Qatar which is due to open in...
purchased the mansion the following year and established a new campus school. New buildings adjoining the mansion were built in 1986 incorporating a gymnasium and cafeteria; a new wing was built in 1997.
Many of the original features of the mansion remain and have been restored under the ownership of ACS International Schools. The drawing room was restored to its original appearance when owned by the Mills, and the oak floor in the main reception room has had a protection cover fitted. The dining room has also been returned to its original appearance. A tunnel connecting the mansion to the tradesman's entrance, constructed to stop anyone inside the mansion from seeing tradesmen approaching or leaving, no longer exists.
The eight main rooms including bedrooms and dressing rooms on the middle floor were converted into classrooms for the school, while the basement which included two bedrooms, a coal cellar, wine cellar, gun room and boiler house, was also restored for the school's use.