Springtime in Hanworth Park

Image: © Marathon Taken: 4 Apr 2012

Hanworth Park House was built between 1802 and 1835 as a replacement for the manor house that had served as a hunting lodge for, among others, Henry VII, Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I. It was used as a military hospital during the First World War, as a flying club between the wars, a hotel from 1936 to 1953 and an old people's home from 1953 to 1992 when it closed. Hanworth Park House is now fenced off and semi-derelict. The park was used as a grass airfield between 1917 and 1919, and 1929 and 1947. In the 1930s, it was best known as a centre for private flying, society events, visits by the Graf Zeppelin airship, and for aircraft manufacture by General Aircraft Limited (GAL) 1934-1949. In 1946, Heathrow came into use as the principal London Airport, and for several years flights at Hanworth were subject to Heathrow air traffic clearance, eventually growing to delays of several hours so that no fixed-wing flights were recorded after 1955. In 1956, Feltham Urban District Council purchased Hanworth Park. The Longford River was partly culverted and covered to permit aircraft to taxi over it. This view of Hanworth Park looks towards the back of the houses in Uxbridge Road.

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