Hounslow
Encyclopedia
Hounslow is the principal town in the London Borough of Hounslow
. It is a suburban development situated 10.6 miles (17 km) west south-west of Charing Cross
. It forms a post town
in the TW postcode area.
times.
that had been used as a military encampment by both Oliver Cromwell
and James II
developed a reputation as the haunt of highwaymen and footpad
.
The building of the Great Western Railway
line from London to Bristol from 1838 seriously impacted travel along the Great Western Road. By 1842 the local paper was reporting that the 'formerly flourishing village', which used to stable 2,000 horses, was suffering a 'general depreciation of property'.
The construction of the Great West Road in the 1920s gave the town a new lease of life as an industrial area. These factories were the town's primary employer until their decline in the 1970s. In the next two decades offices replaced factories and Hounslow expanded to what it is now.
of the London Underground
at Hounslow Central tube station
, Hounslow West tube station
and Hounslow East tube station
. South West Trains
also provide National Rail
services from Hounslow railway station
. Hounslow abuts the perimeter of London Heathrow Airport
, which is itself located in the London Borough of Hillingdon
. To the north of Hounslow is the Great West Road.
There is a large bus garage, with adjoining bus station, located at the junction of London Road and Kingsley Road. The property is owned by the Transdev London
group and operated through their company London United
Busways Ltd, previously owned by London Transport. In addition to its frequent and regular daytime services throughout the surrounding areas Hounslow figures on the N9 night service from Heathrow to Central London
.
Owing to its proximity to Heathrow and the ease of access into Central London, central Hounslow has developed a number of new hotels - some converted from former office buildings. In the 1960's Hounslow experienced a large influx of south Asian immigrants, Sikhs, Hindus and Pakistani's all hailing from the former British colonies. This first generation were subject to numerous clashes with fascist and racist groups, in particular those from Feltham. It should be noted that there are still to this day reports of racial conflicts between both Hounslow and Feltham, the latter of which is home to a high volume of EDL and BNP supporters.
Hounslow Heath Aerodrome
was a grass airfield, operational 1914-1920. It was situated in the London borough of Hounslow, and in 1919 was the location from which the first scheduled daily international commercial air services took place.
is a large public open space and local nature reserve
to the west of Hounslow, a London borough. It now covers about 200 acres (80.9 ha), the residue of the historic Hounslow Heath that covered over 4000 acres (1,618.7 ha).
The Heath has major historical importance, originally crossed by principal routes from London to the west and southwest of Britain. Staines Road, the northern boundary of the present Heath, is formerly the Roman Road
, Via Trinobantes. There are several historic references to Roman camps on or close to the Heath. Continuous recorded history dates back to Norman
times. It gave its name to what became Heathrow Airport.
London Borough of Hounslow
-Political composition:Since the borough was formed it has been controlled by the Labour Party on all but two occasions. In 1968 the Conservatives formed a majority for the first and last time to date until they lost control to Labour in 1971. Labour subsequently lost control of the council in the...
. It is a suburban development situated 10.6 miles (17 km) west south-west of Charing Cross
Charing Cross
Charing Cross denotes the junction of Strand, Whitehall and Cockspur Street, just south of Trafalgar Square in central London, England. It is named after the now demolished Eleanor cross that stood there, in what was once the hamlet of Charing. The site of the cross is now occupied by an equestrian...
. It forms a post town
Post town
A post town is a required part of all postal addresses in the United Kingdom, and a basic unit of the postal delivery system. Including the correct post town in the address increases the chances of a letter or parcel being delivered on time. Post towns are usually based upon the location of...
in the TW postcode area.
Etymology
The origin of the name Hounslow is uncertain. It may derive from the Anglo-Saxon Honeslaw (meaning an area of land suitable for hunting), or from a name or description for a mound or hill associated with the pagan Hundi, of Anglo-SaxonAnglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
times.
History
Positioned on the Great Western Road, Hounslow was centred around Holy Trinity Priory founded in 1211. The priory developed what had been a small village into a town with regular markets and other facilities for travellers heading to and from London. Although the priory was dissolved in 1539 the town remained an important staging post on the Great Western Road. The adjacent Hounslow HeathHounslow Heath
Hounslow Heath is a public open space and local nature reserve to the west of Hounslow, a London borough. It now covers about , the residue of the historic Hounslow Heath that covered over .-History:...
that had been used as a military encampment by both Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
and James II
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
developed a reputation as the haunt of highwaymen and footpad
Footpad
A footpad is an archaic term for a robber or thief specializing in pedestrian victims. The term was used widely from the 16th century until the 19th century, but gradually fell out of common use...
.
The building of the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
line from London to Bristol from 1838 seriously impacted travel along the Great Western Road. By 1842 the local paper was reporting that the 'formerly flourishing village', which used to stable 2,000 horses, was suffering a 'general depreciation of property'.
The construction of the Great West Road in the 1920s gave the town a new lease of life as an industrial area. These factories were the town's primary employer until their decline in the 1970s. In the next two decades offices replaced factories and Hounslow expanded to what it is now.
Transport
The area is served by the Piccadilly LinePiccadilly Line
The Piccadilly line is a line of the London Underground, coloured dark blue on the Tube map. It is the fifth busiest line on the Underground network judged by the number of passengers transported per year. It is mainly a deep-level line, running from the north to the west of London via Zone 1, with...
of the London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
at Hounslow Central tube station
Hounslow Central tube station
Hounslow Central is a London Underground station in Hounslow in west London. The station is on the Heathrow branch of the Piccadilly Line, between Hounslow West and Hounslow East stations. The station is located on Lampton Road about 500m north of Hounslow High Street and close to Lampton Park...
, Hounslow West tube station
Hounslow West tube station
Hounslow West is a London Underground station in Hounslow in west London. The station is on the Heathrow branch of the Piccadilly Line, between Hatton Cross and Hounslow Central stations. The station is located on Bath Road about 600m from the junction of Bath Road, Great West Road and Great...
and Hounslow East tube station
Hounslow East tube station
Hounslow East is a London Underground station in Hounslow in west London designed by Acanthus LW Architects.The station is on the Heathrow branch of the Piccadilly Line, between Hounslow Central and Osterley. The station is located on Kingsley Road about 400m north of Hounslow High Street. Hounslow...
. South West Trains
South West Trains
South West Trains is a British train operating company providing, under franchise, passenger rail services, mostly out of Waterloo station, to the southwest of London in the suburbs and in the counties of Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Berkshire, and Wiltshire and on the Isle of Wight...
also provide National Rail
National Rail
National Rail is a title used by the Association of Train Operating Companies as a generic term to define the passenger rail services operated in Great Britain...
services from Hounslow railway station
Hounslow railway station
Hounslow railway station, on the Hounslow Loop Line, is in the London Borough of Hounslow, in west London, and is in Travelcard Zone 5. The station and all trains serving it are operated by South West Trains. It was opened by the London and South Western Railway on 1 February 1850 on completion of...
. Hounslow abuts the perimeter of London Heathrow Airport
London Heathrow Airport
London Heathrow Airport or Heathrow , in the London Borough of Hillingdon, is the busiest airport in the United Kingdom and the third busiest airport in the world in terms of total passenger traffic, handling more international passengers than any other airport around the globe...
, which is itself located in 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...
. To the north of Hounslow is the Great West Road.
There is a large bus garage, with adjoining bus station, located at the junction of London Road and Kingsley Road. The property is owned by the Transdev London
Transdev London
London United is one of many operators of London Buses and is owned by the RATP Group, an international public transport operator owned by the government of France...
group and operated through their company London United
London United
London United is basketball team from London, England, currently competing in English Basketball League Division 2. In 2006 they were elected into the professional British Basketball League to replace the London Towers as the sole representatives for the capital city...
Busways Ltd, previously owned by London Transport. In addition to its frequent and regular daytime services throughout the surrounding areas Hounslow figures on the N9 night service from Heathrow to Central London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Owing to its proximity to Heathrow and the ease of access into Central London, central Hounslow has developed a number of new hotels - some converted from former office buildings. In the 1960's Hounslow experienced a large influx of south Asian immigrants, Sikhs, Hindus and Pakistani's all hailing from the former British colonies. This first generation were subject to numerous clashes with fascist and racist groups, in particular those from Feltham. It should be noted that there are still to this day reports of racial conflicts between both Hounslow and Feltham, the latter of which is home to a high volume of EDL and BNP supporters.
Hounslow Heath Aerodrome
Hounslow Heath Aerodrome
Hounslow Heath Aerodrome was a grass airfield, operational 1914-1920. It was situated in the London borough of Hounslow, and in 1919 was the location from which the first scheduled daily international commercial air services took place.-1909-1914:...
was a grass airfield, operational 1914-1920. It was situated in the London borough of Hounslow, and in 1919 was the location from which the first scheduled daily international commercial air services took place.
Hounslow Heath and other parks
Hounslow HeathHounslow Heath
Hounslow Heath is a public open space and local nature reserve to the west of Hounslow, a London borough. It now covers about , the residue of the historic Hounslow Heath that covered over .-History:...
is a large public open space and local nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
to the west of Hounslow, a London borough. It now covers about 200 acres (80.9 ha), the residue of the historic Hounslow Heath that covered over 4000 acres (1,618.7 ha).
The Heath has major historical importance, originally crossed by principal routes from London to the west and southwest of Britain. Staines Road, the northern boundary of the present Heath, is formerly the Roman Road
Roman roads in Britain
Roman roads, together with Roman aqueducts and the vast standing Roman army , constituted the three most impressive features of the Roman Empire. In Britain, as in other provinces, the Romans constructed a comprehensive network of paved trunk roads Roman roads, together with Roman aqueducts and the...
, Via Trinobantes. There are several historic references to Roman camps on or close to the Heath. Continuous recorded history dates back to Norman
Norman conquest of England
The Norman conquest of England began on 28 September 1066 with the invasion of England by William, Duke of Normandy. William became known as William the Conqueror after his victory at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066, defeating King Harold II of England...
times. It gave its name to what became Heathrow Airport.
Notable people
- Comedian Jimmy CarrJimmy CarrJames Anthony Patrick "Jimmy" Carr is an English-Irish comedian and humourist. He is known for his deadpan delivery and dark humour. He is also a writer, actor and presenter of radio and television....
was born in Hounslow
- Singer/songwriter Elvis CostelloElvis CostelloElvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
attended Hounslow Secondary Modern School (now St Mark's Catholic SchoolSt. Marks R.C SchoolSt Mark's Catholic School is a mixed comprehensive situated in Hounslow, West London. It is a specialist Technology School.-St. Mark's School Vision:...
)
- Actor Cyril CusackCyril CusackCyril James Cusack was an Irish actor, who appeared in more than 90 films.-Early life:Cusack was born in Durban, Natal, South Africa, the son of Alice Violet , an actress, and James Walter Cusack, a sergeant in the Natal mounted police. His parents separated when he was young and his mother took...
(1910-1993) lived in Hounslow at the time of his death
- Ian GillanIan GillanIan Gillan is an English rock music vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lyricist for Deep Purple. During his career Gillan also fronted his own band, had a year-long stint as the vocalist for Black Sabbath, and sang the role of Jesus in the original recording of Andrew Lloyd...
, vocalist of rockRock musicRock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Deep PurpleDeep PurpleDeep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
, was born in Hounslow
- Gustavus GreenGustavus GreenGustavus Green was a British engineer who made significant contributions to the design of early aircraft engines. Born in Hounslow on 11 March 1865 Green opened a bicycle factory in Bexhill-on-Sea, and in 1905 built his first lightweight, water-cooled aircraft engine and soon established the Green...
(1865-1964), aircraft engineAircraft engineAn aircraft engine is the component of the propulsion system for an aircraft that generates mechanical power. Aircraft engines are almost always either lightweight piston engines or gas turbines...
pioneer, was born in Hounslow
- Charles HawtreyCharles Hawtrey (film actor)George Frederick Joffre Hartree , known as Charles Hawtrey, was an English comedy actor and musician.Beginning at a young age as a boy soprano, he made several records before moving on to the radio...
(1914-1988), Carry OnCarry On filmsThe Carry On films are a series of low-budget British comedy films, directed by Gerald Thomas and produced by Peter Rogers. They are an energetic mix of parody, farce, slapstick and double entendres....
film legend, was born in Hounslow
- Actress Patsy KensitPatsy KensitPatricia Jude Francis "Patsy" Kensit is an English actress, singer, model and former child star, known for her television and film appearances. Her films include Lethal Weapon 2 and she has been married to rock stars Jim Kerr and Liam Gallagher, as well as herself fronting the band Eighth Wonder...
was born in Hounslow
- Eminent historian Francis MaddisonFrancis MaddisonFrancis Romeril Maddison was an English historian and Arabist. He was Curator of the Museum of the History of Science in Oxford, England.Francis Maddison was born in Hounslow, London, England...
(1927-2006) was born and educated in Hounslow
- Award-winning musician M.I.A.M.I.A. (artist)Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam , better known by her stage name M.I.A. , is an English singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, painter and director of Sri Lankan Tamil descent. Her compositions combine elements of hip hop, electronica, dance, alternative and world music. M.I.A...
was born in Hounslow
- Father TedFather TedFather Ted is a comedy series set in Ireland that was produced by Hat Trick Productions for British broadcaster Channel 4. Written jointly by Irish writers Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan and starring a predominantly Irish cast, it originally aired over three series from 21 April 1995 until 1 May...
actor Dermot MorganDermot MorganDermot John Morgan was an Irish comedian, actor and former schoolteacher, who achieved international renown for his roles as Father Ted Crilly in the Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted and a strip club MC in Taffin....
(1952-1998) lived in Hounslow at the time of his death
- Alistair OvereemAlistair OvereemAlistair Cees Overeem is a British born Dutch mixed martial artist and kickboxer, signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is the former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion, Dream Interim Heavyweight Champion, K-1 World Grand Prix Champion, and made history by being the only fighter in combat...
, martial artsMartial artsMartial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
champion, was born in Hounslow
- Cyril VosperCyril VosperCyril Ronald Vosper was a Scientologist and later a critic of Scientology. He wrote The Mind Benders, which was the first book on Scientology to be written by an ex-member and the first critical book on Scientology to be published .-Biography:Vosper was born in 1935, in Hounslow, Middlesex...
(1935-2004), adherent then critic of ScientologyScientologyScientology is a body of beliefs and related practices created by science fiction and fantasy author L. Ron Hubbard , starting in 1952, as a successor to his earlier self-help system, Dianetics...
, was born in Hounslow
- Maria WhittakerMaria WhittakerMaria Whittaker is a former English glamour model and Page Three girl.-Modelling career:Whittaker made her début as a Page Three girl in British newspaper The Sun in 1985, at the age of 16...
, 1980s page three girl, was born in Hounslow
- Actor Jack WildJack WildJack Wild was a British actor who is best remembered for his performances in both stage and screen productions of the Lionel Bart musical Oliver! with Ron Moody, Shani Wallis, and Oliver Reed. He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the age of 16 for the role of the...
(1952-2006), definitive Artful Dodger in the film Oliver!Oliver! (film)Oliver! is a 1968 British musical film directed by Carol Reed. The film is based on the stage musical Oliver!, with book, music and lyrics written by Lionel Bart. The screenplay was written by Vernon Harris....
and star of H.R. PufnstufH.R. PufnstufH.R. Pufnstuf was a children's television series produced by Sid and Marty Krofft in the United States. It was the first Krofft live-action, life-size puppet program. The seventeen episodes were originally broadcast September 6, 1969 to September 4, 1971...
, grew up in Hounslow
See also
Nearest places- BrentfordBrentfordBrentford is a suburban town in west London, England, and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It is located at the confluence of the River Thames and the River Brent, west-southwest of Charing Cross. Its former ceremonial county was Middlesex.-Toponymy:...
- ChiswickChiswickChiswick is a large suburb of west London, England and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It is located on a meander of the River Thames, west of Charing Cross and is one of 35 major centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically an ancient parish in the county of Middlesex, with...
- FelthamFelthamFeltham is a town in the London Borough of Hounslow, west London. It is located about west south west of central London at Charing Cross and from Heathrow Airport Central...
- Heathrow
- HestonHestonHeston is a place in the London Borough of Hounslow, west London. It is a suburban development area, based on a former farming village west south-west of Charing Cross.-History:...
- IsleworthIsleworthIsleworth is a small town of Saxon origin sited within the London Borough of Hounslow in west London, England. It lies immediately east of the town of Hounslow and west of the River Thames and its tributary the River Crane. Isleworth's original area of settlement, alongside the Thames, is known as...
- OsterleyOsterleyOsterley is a district in the London Borough of Hounslow in west London. It is situated approximately west south-west of Charing Cross.Osterley lies north of the A4 and extends further northwards beyond the M4 Motorway...
- Richmond
- WhittonWhitton, LondonWhitton is a town in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, situated 10.7 miles west south-west of Charing Cross in Central London...
External links
- Hounslow Online - www.hounslowtw3.net Hounslow's local community website
- Community Guide to Hounslow - www.activhounslow.com Hounslow's online guide