VILLAGE LONDON

VILLAGE
LONDON

THE STORY OF
GREATER LONDON

by

EDWARD WALFORD, M.A.

VOLUME 1

THE ALDERMAN PRESS

Gil,
264-4733

+

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTORY.

PAGE

CHAPTER 1.

CHISWICK, TURNHAM GREEN, ACTON, STRAND-ON-THE-GREEN.

Gradual Extension of London-Horticultural Fêtes at Chiswick-Eminent Residents at Chiswick-Royal Visits-Corney House-Fairfax

House--Grove Park-Sutton Court-Turnham Green-Bedford Park-Acton Green-Professor Lindley-Acton-Its Early History-

Berrymead Priory--Lady Dudley's Bequest-Acton a Stronghold of the Puritan Party-The Rev. Philip Nye-Richard Baxter and Sir

Matthew Hale--Other Distinguished Residents-An Anecdote of Sir Walter Raleigh-Ancient Manors and Houses--Lord Ferrers'

Coach--Clergy Orphan Schools--- The Village of Acton-The Parish Church- The Registers Charitable Bequests-A Centenarian-The

Steyne—Skippon, the Parliamentary General-South Acton-Acton Wells-Acton Races-Friar's Place Farm— The Goldsmiths' Alms-

houses-Strand-on-the-Green

5

CHAPTER II.

GUNNERSBURY, EALING, AND HANWELL.

Gunnersbury-Descent of the Manor-The Princess Amelia a Resident here-Horace Walpole a frequent Guest—The Property bought by the

Rothschilds—The Gardens and Grounds-Gunnersbury House-Ealing-Extent and Nature of the Soil—The Manor-The Parish

Church-Sir John Maynard-John Horne Tooke-John Oldmixon-Christ Church-St. John's Church-Seats and Mansions--Dr. John

Owen-Dr. William King and other Eminent Residents-Ford Hall--Castle Bar Hill--- Princess Helena College - The Old Cross House

- The Town Hall-Ealing Great School-Ealing Common-Mrs. Lawrence's Gardens-Fordhook House, and Henry Fielding the

Novelist - The "Old Hat " Tavern-Hanwell—The Grand Junction Canal - The Parish Church-Jonas Hanway-The Town of Han-

well-The Central London District Schools-Charitable Institutions-Hanwell Lunatic Asylum-The Cemeteries-Electric Telegraphy

in its Infancy

17

CHAPTER III.

BRENTFORD.

Traffic through Brentford in the old Coaching Days-Government of the Parish-Old Bridge of the Brent–The Priory of the Holy Angels-

Inundations-Fondness of George III. for Brentford - The Dangers of the Road-Early History of Brentford-The Soil and the

Pleistocene Deposits-Murder of King Edmund-The Battle of Brentford-Visit of the Grand Duke of Tuscany--The "Two Kings of

Brentford"--The Dirt and Squalor of Brentford-How the Duke of Wellington nearly came to grief here-Ancient Hostelries-Old(East)

Brentford Church-New (West) Brentford Church-St. Paul's Church-The Town-hall and Market-house-Manufactories and Grand

Junction Waterworks-Grand Junction Canal-Drinking Fountain-Bear Baitings—The Old Market-place-The Elections for Middlesex

-"Wilkes and Liberty!"-A Brentford Elector— The Manor of Bordeston-Boston House-Sion House Academy-Wyke Farm—"Old

Gang Aboot"-The Pitt Diamond-Mrs. Trimmer-Extracts from the Parish Register

29

CHAPTER IV.

HESTON, ISLEWORTH, AND SION HOUSE.

Osterley Park-Sir Thomas Gresham visited by Queen Elizabeth-Lord Desmond - The Manor of Heston-Heston Church-The Soil-Sir

Joseph Banks and Anthony Collins residents here-Isleworth-Its Etymology-The River Cran-Sion House-Vicissitudes of the Nuns

of St. Bridget - The Rule of the Order of St. Bridget-Early History of the Monastery- The Wardrobes of the Nuns—The Duties of the

Abbess, Cellaress, &c.-Dissolution of the Monastery—Touching History of the Sisterhood - Remains of the Monastery-Katherine

Howard a Prisoner here-Funeral of Henry VIII.-Building of Sion House - The Family of Percy, Dukes of Northumberiand— The