IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Viola Avenue, FELTHAM, TW14 0EN

Looking upstream on the western branch of the river. The eastern branch, the natural course, bypasses the mill site via weirs. Above the mill there was formerly a substantial mill pond. The leat for the upper set of mills at Hounslow Powder Mills was tapped off it.

Here the long distance path runs beside the River Crane, hidden on the right. In the foreground is a small bridge over a drain.

The London Loop path goes alongside the River Crane for most of the length between Hayes and Whitton. This is on the edge of Hounslow Heath where it crosses a drainage channel entering the Crane.

The river splits around a long island over this stretch. The island is on the right. This seems to be connected with a former snuff mill that used this river branch, the other branch being the mill bypass.

The River Crane here is followed for some considerable distance by the London LOOP path. This is looking upriver, not far from Baber Bridge. I am not sure of the purpose of the twin tunnel in the distance here.

This bridge together with a weir, sluices and mill race are the remains of Brazil Mill, one of the many mills along the Crane which up until the 20th century by all accounts was a very industrial river with sword works, copper and paper mills, dye works and gunpowder factories all in what is now West London suburbia. The mill here was recorded as making paper in 1671. By 1721 it was a dye works, making pigment from Brazil wood, hence the name. It burnt down around 1862. The surrounding woodland is still called Brazil Mill Wood. Article on River Crane Mills on http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=22278

The upstream end of a long island. The near route formerly powered a snuff mill. The far route, the natural course used by parish boundaries, bypassed the mill via weirs.

Looking north towards Baber Bridge. This is the north west corner of the present extent of Hounslow Heath.