Tudor Court, Castle Way, Hanworth Park

Image: © Stefan Czapski Taken: 3 Nov 2012

Old 'West Middlesex' is an area where odd little pockets of an earlier landscape survive surrounded by 20th century suburban development. There is little in Hanworth dating back further than the 1930's - so this rather eccentric building, just south of St George's church, came as quite a surprise. The name reflects the fact that a much older house once stood here - a hunting lodge used by Henry VIII and other Tudor monarchs. Little seems to remain from those times - though a length of high wall at the SW end of the churchyard looks Tudor. In any case, the Tudor house was replaced during the 18th century by a house that has in its turn been demolished - though fragments from that era can be seen from the churchyard. What you see here - converted to residential use - would appear to be a gatehouse and stables. The Middlesex edition of Pevsner's 'The Buildings of England' suggests a date of 'c.1850-60', and dismisses the present building as 'of no merit'. I think that's too harsh - Tudor Court does its bit to liven up these otherwise rather humdrum suburbs. The whole is almost a folly - with curious touches, like stained glass (or painted) windows protected by cast-iron grilles. Ian Yarham has contributed a more comprehensive history of the houses which have occupied the site: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2887473

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