Description
Bedfont was a small isolated hamlet dating back to medieval times, surrounded by Hounslow Heath. Bedfont Green fronts the medieval church of St Mary the Virgin and forms the setting of Burlington House, to the south of which there was once a pond. It was formerly more tree-covered, particularly with horse chestnuts but many were lost in the hurricanes of 1987. Fairgrounds used to be held here, particularly during Ascot Week as the route to the racetrack was through the village.
Practical Information
| Site location | Staines Road, East Bedfont |
|---|---|
| Postcode | TW14 |
| What3Words | ///amuse.income.tells |
| Type of Site | Public Open Land |
| Borough | Hounslow |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Public Transport | Rail: Feltham then bus. Bus: H25, 116 |
| Research Updated | 1 June 2005 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Bedfont remains rural and was a small isolated hamlet dating back to medieval times surrounded by Hounslow Heath (q.v.), which was enclosed in 1813. The land was then used for agriculture and market gardening. Bedfont Green fronts the medieval parish church of St Mary the Virgin (q.v.), forming the setting of Burlington House to the east. A pond south of Burlington House that is shown on the 1869 OS map is no longer in existence. The Green today is an open grassed area with scattered mature trees including oak and evergreens, and mature lime trees to the east that were planted along the boundaries in the late C19th. The Green formerly had more trees, particularly horse chestnuts and it was once described as 'littered with conkers', but many were destroyed in the hurricanes of 1987. A small row of old shops and cottages on one side of Staines Road overlooking the Green no longer exists.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ085736 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 1.33 |
| Site Ownership | LB Hounslow |
| Site Management | John Laing Integrated Services |
| Listed Structures | LB: The Green |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | No |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Hounslow |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Bedfont Green |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | Neighbourhood Park. Local Open Space |
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.
Nearby parks and gardens
Bedfont is mentioned in the Domesday Survey of 1086 and St Mary's church dates from the C12th, with various later extensions to the building. Overlooking Bedfont Green, the church's small churchyard has a low brick wall at the front, with a higher wall to the rear. Either side of the path to the church door are two ancient yew trees, famous for their peacock topiary. They were originally created in 1704 and for centuries were the pride of the village, apparently created to shame two haughty spinsters of the parish. The practice of churchyard topiary, popular in the C18th, later lapsed, but the peacocks were later restored in 1990.
Fairholme Estate is a low-rental housing development in Arts and Crafts style built by T Cecil Howitt as a result of a bequest by Elizabeth Jones, a resident of Fulham. It consists of 72 houses set around a large quadrangle and communal garden. The one- and two-storey houses have a variety of Dutch gables and tile-hung walls; the community hall has a central colonnade and clock tower. The well kept gardens fronting onto Staines Road have shrubberies and ornamental beds, with a carved sundial on the lawn near the main entrance.
St Mary's Burial Ground was opened at a service on 6 May 1876, when more space was needed for the parish burials of St Mary's East Bedfont. The land was previously in agricultural use, known as Little Field. In 1935 adjacent land was conveyed to the local Burial Board for Bedfont Cemetery, which was consecrated in July 1941. St Mary's Burial Ground is much overgrown and wooded with mown paths cutting through the undergrowth, with a few tombs visible. The lych-gate was damaged in 1989 and replaced in 1990/2. The cemetery has tarmac paths and an avenue of lime trees along the path, with hawthorn hedging, some ornamental trees and a small brick shelter. It adjoins Bedfont Lakes Country Park.