A Hanwell Walk
Route & what to see
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london-footprints.co.uk |
A 4 mile circular walk from Ealing Hospital (as Uxbridge Road is dual carriageway this serves as a bus terminal for some routes). The walk is based on 2 Exploring Hanwell leaflets produced by Ealing Borough and a section of the Brent River Park Walk (also on the Capital Ring).
Exit onto Uxbridge Road and
go right
The Uxbridge Road was a turnpike coaching highway and retains a
horse trough on the central reservation. The Hanwell Bridge over
the River Brent is Grade II listed. The parapet is 19th century
and the arches are 18th century, possibly incorporating parts of
the Medieval bridge. The Edwardian tiled Viaduct pub replaced the
Horse & Groom Inn where Manor Courts and meetings were held.
Right into Lower Boston Road
Boston Place Cottages (numbers 5-11) are early Victorian and 11a
was a cart house. The green just beyond was laid out in 1903 on
the site of a gravel pit. Opposite St Mark's School was built in
1855 to replace the National School in Halfacre Road. It was
enlarged several times and acquired its grounds when adjoining
market gardens closed in the 1960s. St Mark's Church was built in
1879 but declared redundant in 1980 and has now been converted to
flats. Poor's Piece (King George's Field) was set aside for the
poor under the enclosure act of 1816. It was purchased by Ealing
Council in 1951 and laid out as a recreation ground.
Left along Westminster Road
The school of the non-conformist Union Church of 1867 is now St
Mary's Assyrian Church.
At the end go right along
the Broadway, crossing to the clocktower.
This was erected for King George VI's coronation in 1937
(plaque).
Bear left into Cherington
Road
This was formerly the location of the Grand Theatre and fire
station. Cherington House housed the Hanwell Local Board (formed
1885) from 1891. The Carnegie Library was designed by T Gibbs
Thomas in 1905/6.
Left into Balfour Avenue
At the end are the former Violin Workshops of WE Hill & Sons.
The buildings which date to 1887-8 and 1904-6 closed in the
1970s.
Right into York Avenue and
left along Station Approach.
Across Station Road at the end is Conolly Dell, a landscaped park
with three small lakes. There is a memorial fountain to Dr John
Conolly (physician of Hanwell Asylum 1839-44) as the park is part
of the grounds of his house.
Continue under the railway
along Golden Manor
This road was developed in the 1880s with large houses.
First right into Campbell
Road
There is a blue plaque on number 8, the home of painter William
Yeames. The first Hanwell Station was built to the west in 1837.
The present building of 1877 is Grade II listed with attractive
canopies and ironwork.
At the end go left along
Church Road
Number 122-8 is a large Georgian house, formerly called Elm
Grove, which became an asylum in the Victorian era. Number 134
was originally St Vincent's Lodge and is the oldest surviving
house in the area. Numer 136 was the lodge for The Grove whose
grounds are now used by the golf club. It was rebuilt to its
original design in the 1980s. Spring Cottage at number 99 dates
from the early 19th century. The Hermitage was built by the
church rector George Glasse in 1809 [pix]. St Mary's Church designed in 1841 by
Sir George Gilbert Scott is the third church on the site. Its
predecessors were a Georgian building of 1781-2 by T Hardwick and
a Medieval thatched church. Gainsborough's daughters are buried
in the churchyard. The gothic style Rectory Cottage was also
built by Glasse in 1793 as a charity school, replacing an earlier
building on the site. Its thatch was replaced by tiles after a
fire in 1917. There is a well in the garden and the remains of
the ancient parish brew house.
Enter Brent Lodge Park at
the gateway and bear left
Brent Lodge was sold to the council in 1936 and demolished but
the stable block (c.1800) remains. The park has a zoo, cafe &
toilets, children's playground and maze.
With your back to the maze
entrance take the path ahead to join the Brent River Park Walk
(signposted Hanwell Bridge)
The Wharncliffe Viaduct (Grade I listed) was built by IK Brunel
in 1838 to carry the Great Western Railway over the Brent River
valley. It was widened in 1877 when Hanwell Station was
relocated. It is an impressive structure (sadly spoiled by the
amount of 'tagging').
Follow the path underneath
and across the river then continue to Hanwell Bridge.
Look back to see the arms of Lord Wharncliffe on the viaduct.
The path under the road
(left fork) can be flooded in which case continue ahead, cross
with care or at the lights to the left and rejoin the path
opposite (Fitzherbert Walk). On reaching a wall on the right bear
right up to the towpath and go right.
The wall is that of the former Middlesex County Asylum (see
below). Further along is a blocked up entrance to Asylum Dock,
used to convey materials such as coal by barge. The four
rectangular holes were for fire hoses. The Grand Junction Canal
(built by William Jessop in 1794) goes up 53' over mile by
means of a flight of six locks. There are lock keeper's cottages
at four of them plus side ponds, added in 1816 to save water. The
locks (note dates) could accommodate a 14' barge or two 7'
narrowboats.
Continue to just beyond the
road crossing overhead.
This is known as Three Bridges, a scheduled ancient monument
built by IK Brunel in 1855-6. The road is above the towpath and
the railway below. Notice the grooves made by tow ropes at the
bridge.
Return and go up onto the
road (Windmill Lane) and follow it northwards.
This follows the western perimeter of the asylum.
Go right into Windmill
Avenue, left at the obelisk (Chevy Road) and right at West Park
Road
Some of the asylum buildings have been converted to apartments
and the grounds infilled with new developments since 1991.
Exit via Halliday Square
into Uxbridge Road and go right. Go through the large arch on the
right [pix] or if this is closed continue until
the wall finishes and go around to the inside of the gateway.
Walk towards the chapel.
Former asylum buildings are now part of St Bernards Hospital.
Walk through to the new buildings of Ealing Hospital and the bus terminus. Additional buses are available in Uxbridge Road.
The Middlesex County Asylum (commonly known as the Hanwell
Lunatic Asylum) was built on a 44 acre site in 1829-31. It was
noted for its humane methods for the treatment of mental
patients, including the use of employment therapy. Its
facilities, including workshops and gasworks, made it virtually
self-sufficient. It was extended in 1838 and the 1850s. The iron
fire escapes were added from 1860 and the chapel, in early
English style, was built in 1880. Originally designed for 300
patients the number rose to 2750 in 1916. Between 1888 and 1948
it was controlled by the LCC and in 1990 was attached to the new
Ealing Hospital. It was renamed St Bernards in 1937.
Resources
More info on the canal is available on the British Waterways website
A webpage with relevant pix/info is available
Pevsner 'London 3: North West' includes a plan of the asylum in
1874
Ealing Council website
london-footprints.co.uk 2007