Coordinates: 51°28′00″N 0°21′03″W / 51.4668°N 0.3507°W / 51.4668; -0.3507

Hounslow
Osterley House
Hounslow  Hounslow shown within Greater London
OS grid reference	TQ145755
- Charing Cross	10.6 mi (17.1 km)  ENE
London borough	Hounslow
Ceremonial county	Greater London
Region	London
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	HOUNSLOW
Postcode district	TW3
Dialling code	020
Police	Metropolitan
Fire	London
Ambulance	London
EU Parliament	London
UK Parliament	Brentford & Isleworth
London Assembly	South West
List of places: UK • England • London

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.^[1]

Etymology[link]

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-Saxon times.

History[link]

Positioned on the Great Western Road, Hounslow was centred around Holy Trinity Priory founded in 1211.^[2] 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 Heath 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'.^[3]

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.

London buses confined to Hounslow bus station during the 2009 snowfall

Transport[link]

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, hailing from the former British colonies.

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.

Hounslow Heath and other parks[link]

Hounslow Heath 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 ha), the residue of the historic Hounslow Heath that covered over 4,000 acres (1,600 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.

Notable people[link]

• Comedian Jimmy Carr was born in Hounslow

• Singer/songwriter Elvis Costello attended Hounslow Secondary Modern School (now St Mark's Catholic School)

• Actor Cyril Cusack (1910-1993) lived in Hounslow at the time of his death

• Ian Gillan, vocalist of rock band Deep Purple, was born in Hounslow

• Gustavus Green (1865-1964), aircraft engine pioneer, was born in Hounslow

• Charles Hawtrey (1914-1988), Carry On film legend, was born in Hounslow

• Actress Patsy Kensit lived in Hounslow during her teenage years

• Eminent historian Francis Maddison (1927-2006) was born and educated in Hounslow

• Award-winning musician M.I.A. was born in Hounslow

• Father Ted actor Dermot Morgan (1952-1998) lived in Hounslow at the time of his death

• Alistair Overeem, mixed martial arts champion, was born in Hounslow

• Cyril Vosper (1935-2004), adherent then critic of Scientology, was born in Hounslow

• Maria Whittaker, 1980s page three girl, was born in Hounslow

• Actor Jack Wild (1952-2006), definitive Artful Dodger in the film Oliver! and star of H.R. Pufnstuf, grew up in Hounslow

Gallery[link]

See also[link]

London portal

Nearest places

References[link]

Notes

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2010)

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Hounslow (town)

• Hounslow Online - www.hounslowtw3.net Hounslow's local community website
• Community Guide to Hounslow - www.activhounslow.com Hounslow's online guide

v t e London Borough of Hounslow Districts Brentford Brentford End Chiswick Cranford East Bedfont Feltham Grove Park Gunnersbury Hanworth Hatton Heston Hounslow Hounslow West Isleworth Lampton Lower Feltham North Feltham North Hyde Osterley Spring Grove Woodlands Attractions Boston Manor Chiswick House Griffin Park football stadium Hogarth's House Holland Gardens Kew Bridge Steam Museum Osterley Park and House (NT) Syon House Tabard Theatre Watermans Arts Centre Parks and open spaces Duke's Meadows Gunnersbury Park Hanworth Park Hounslow Heath Inwood Park Lampton Park Osterley Park Other topics People Public art Schools Bridges Barnes Railway Bridge Chiswick Bridge Kew Bridge Kew Railway Bridge Tube and rail stations Boston Manor Brentford railway station Chiswick railway station Feltham railway station Gunnersbury Hounslow railway station Hounslow Central Hounslow East Hounslow West Isleworth railway station Kew Bridge railway station Osterley Stamford Brook Syon Lane railway station Turnham Green Parks and open spaces in Hounslow