RICHARDSONs from Hounslow Heath ~ Hounslow, England 1831

On Hounslow Heath, Richard Wilson circa 1770 ~~Tate Collection

'On Hounslow Heath' painted by Richard Wilson, 1713-1782, from the Tate Collection
To view this painting at the source go to Tate Collection.



Hounslow, Middlesex, England

OS Grid Reference: 51°28'N 0°21'W

Name Origin: Old English Honeslaw Hund's barrow.

From A Topographical Dictionary of England, Samuel Lewis, 1831:

HOUNSLOW, a chapelry (formerly a market town) partly in the parish of ISLEWORTH, but chiefly in that of HESTON, hundred of ISLEWORTH, county of MIDDLESEX, 9½ miles (W.S.W.) from London. The population is returned with the respective parishes. This place, anciently called Hundeslawe, is situated on the principal road to the West of England: it consists chiefly of a long street, extending from east to west, irregularly paved, but lighted with gas; and the inhabitants are well supplied with water. A priory of friars, of the order of the Holy Trinity, was founded here in the thirteenth century, the revenue of which, at the dissolution, was £80. 15. 0¼. In 1296, a charter was granted to the prior, for a weekly market on Thursday, and an annual fair: the former has been discontinued for more than thirty years; but fairs are held on Trinity Monday and Tuesday, and the Monday following Michaelmas-day, for the sale of horses, cattle, &c.

Adjoining to the town, on the west, was formerly an extensive heath, which had been the site of ancient encampments, and was at different periods a military station, or place of rendezvous for troops, especially in the reigns of Charles I. and James II.: the latter monarch was visiting his army encamped here, in June 1688, when he was alarmed by the acclamations of the soldiers, on the arrival of the news of the acquittal of the 'seven bishops,' who had been tried for a supposed libel against the government. On this heath, about forty years since, barracks for cavalry were erected, which afford accommodation for three hundred and sixty men, with their horses. The buildings consist of a centre forming the officers' apartments, and east and west wings, with some additional erections, within an enclosure of nearly four acres in extent; and at a short distance is the ground for military exercise.

The heath has been enclosed, in pursuance of an act of parliament passed in the 53rd of George III., since which many buildings have been erected here. About two miles to the south-west of Hounslow are the extensive gunpowder-mills of Messrs. Curtis and Harvey, which have been very much improved within the last few years, and where a curious pump, worked by wind-sails, raises from thirty to fifty tons of water in a minute. Here is also another gunpowder-mill, and a mill for dressing flax. Hounslow is within the jurisdiction of a court of requests for the recovery of debts under 40s., held at Brentford during the summer half year, and at Uxbridge during winter.

The living is a perpetual curacy, in the archdeaconry of Middlesex, and diocese of London, and in the alternate patronage of the Bishop of London, and the Dean and Canons of Windsor. The ancient chapel of the priory, which, since the Reformation, had been used as a chapel of ease to Heston, was taken down, and in June 1828, the erection of a new church on its site was commenced, which was completed in December 1829, at an expense of £5310. 10., defrayed partly by the parliamentary commissioners, and partly by voluntary contribution: it is a fine edifice in the later style of English architecture, with a low spire and two turrets; and it contains one thousand and thirty-five sittings, of which, four hundred and eighteen are free. Hounslow is about to be constituted a distinct parish, so far as regards ecclesiastical affairs. There are places of worship for Independents and Wesleyan Methodists.

The old English tune is Over the Hills and Far Away,
sequenced by Barry Taylor at Taylor's Traditional Tunebook.

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~RICHARDSONs from Hounslow Heath~ |   | Memorial to Edward Arthur James Richardson |   | Ted Richardson - In Memoriam |   | The Screen Painters of Baltimore |   | Ted Richardson in the News, 1985 |   | Primrose Day ~ April 19th |   | Uncle Ben's Stories |   | Ben Richardson in LA Times |   | Ben Richardson, Washington Post |   | Ben Richardson, Baltimore Sun |   | Ben Richardson, 1967 News Clipping |   | Ben Richardson in The News American |   | Harry Richardson and Family |   | Aunt Flo's Letters |   | Aunt Florrie's Journal |   | Frank Heming, World War 1 |   | Grandfather's Memoirs |   | Arthur Richardson Memoirs 1 |   | Arthur Richardson Memoirs 2 |   | Edward and Emily's Saga |   | John and Polly Mills |   | Richard Richardson's Story |   | Dr. Jamison and the Boer War |   | Hounslow Heath, England |   | Farm Laborer's Cottage of 1860's |   | Richardson Genealogy & Scrapbook |   | Links of Interest |   | ~Neddy's Nook on the Net~

"RICHARDSONs from Hounslow Heath ~ Hounslow, England 1831",
was created by Edna Richardson Barney.
The painting is from Tate Collection.
The graphics are from Ritva Väänänen at Ritva's Gallery and The Graphics Cupboard.
Copyright© 2001-2003 Edna Barney, All Rights Reserved
www.ednabarney.com