Description
Hanworth was once a royal hunting park of Henry VII with a lodge adjacent to the parish church, and was popular with later monarchs including Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. The estate was acquired in 1828 by Henry Perkins who built Hanworth Park House on part of the land. In 1917 it became a private aerodrome, later opening in 1929 as the London Air Park where a number of flying clubs were based, Hanworth Park House becoming the club house in 1935. In 1956 the grounds of Hanworth Park House and the airfield were purchased jointly by Middlesex County Council and Feltham UDC and the park opened to the public in 1959.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | London Air Park |
|---|---|
| Site location | Hounslow Road/Park Road/Elmwood Avenue/Castle Way |
| Postcode | TW13 |
| What3Words | ///commented.exile.vibe |
| Type of Site | Public Park |
| Borough | Hounslow |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | 8am - dusk |
| Facilities | playground, cricket, rugby and football pitches |
| Public Transport | Rail: Feltham then bus. Bus: 285, 490, 726, H25 |
| Research Updated | 1 November 2005 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The land was once part of Henry VII's hunting grounds with a lodge, Hanworth House or Manor, located adjacent to the parish church of St George (q.v.). The park was a popular haunt of Henry VIII who gave it to Anne Boleyn in 1532 and then to Katherine Parr, who lived here after the King's death with her fourth husband Sir Thomas Seymour, Lord Admiral. Princess Elizabeth lived here, during which time Lady Jane Grey also stayed. In 1588 the manor was granted to Anne, Duchess of Somerset for her lifetime, and Queen Elizabeth I visited in 1600 and hunted here. In 1627 it was owned by Lord Cottingham, and Queen Henrietta and her court visited in 1635, but it was confiscated during the Civil War, eventually passing to Admiral Lord Vere Beauclerk, a grandson of Charles II and Nell Gwynne. Hanworth House burnt down in 1797, part of the coach houses remaining on Castle Way have now been converted to flats as Tudor Court (q.v.).
The estate was acquired in 1828 by Henry Perkins, a brewer, who built Hanworth Park House on part of the grounds. In 1917 J A Whitehead opened a private aerodrome here, at which time the Longford River, constructed in the 1630s to bring water to Hampton Court Palace and which flowed through the park, was culverted underground in order to accommodate the aerodrome. During WWI it was an Aircraft Acceptance Park but the aerodrome closed after the war. In 1929 it was revived and opened as the London Air Park and a number of flying clubs were based here, Hanworth Park House becoming the club house in 1935. Annual air displays during the 1930s attracted huge crowds, and the Graf Zeppelin landed here in 1932. In 1938/9 London Air Park Flying Club joined the Civil Air Guard, a government scheme set up to encourage an interest in flying and giving free training to young men not affiliated to any military body, with the agreement that members of the flying club would be available for call up into the RAF in the event of war. After WWII, the aerodrome ceased operating in 1946 due to its proximity to the new Heathrow Airport. The grounds of Hanworth Park House and the airfield, an area of c.150 acres, were purchased jointly by Middlesex County Council and Feltham UDC in 1956 and the park was opened to the public in 1959, largely laid out for recreational purposes including a swimming bath.
Hanworth Park House remains within the public park, surrounded by woodland with some very large trees including cedar of Lebanon, oak, horse chestnut and a group of false acacia, but is not publicly accessible. It was used for an old people's home but by 2006 it was no longer occupied. Hanworth Park House has since been purchased by a private owner who is seeking to save the historic house (see https://www.hanworthparkhouse.london/).
The estate was acquired in 1828 by Henry Perkins, a brewer, who built Hanworth Park House on part of the grounds. In 1917 J A Whitehead opened a private aerodrome here, at which time the Longford River, constructed in the 1630s to bring water to Hampton Court Palace and which flowed through the park, was culverted underground in order to accommodate the aerodrome. During WWI it was an Aircraft Acceptance Park but the aerodrome closed after the war. In 1929 it was revived and opened as the London Air Park and a number of flying clubs were based here, Hanworth Park House becoming the club house in 1935. Annual air displays during the 1930s attracted huge crowds, and the Graf Zeppelin landed here in 1932. In 1938/9 London Air Park Flying Club joined the Civil Air Guard, a government scheme set up to encourage an interest in flying and giving free training to young men not affiliated to any military body, with the agreement that members of the flying club would be available for call up into the RAF in the event of war. After WWII, the aerodrome ceased operating in 1946 due to its proximity to the new Heathrow Airport. The grounds of Hanworth Park House and the airfield, an area of c.150 acres, were purchased jointly by Middlesex County Council and Feltham UDC in 1956 and the park was opened to the public in 1959, largely laid out for recreational purposes including a swimming bath.
Hanworth Park House remains within the public park, surrounded by woodland with some very large trees including cedar of Lebanon, oak, horse chestnut and a group of false acacia, but is not publicly accessible. It was used for an old people's home but by 2006 it was no longer occupied. Hanworth Park House has since been purchased by a private owner who is seeking to save the historic house (see https://www.hanworthparkhouse.london/).
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ113724 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 52.61 |
| Site Ownership | LB Hounslow |
| Site Management | John Laing Integrated Services; Friends Group |
| Dates | C16th, 1959 |
| Listed Structures | LBII: Hanworth Park House |
| 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 | Hanworth Park (south only) |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes - Borough Importance II |
| Green Belt | Yes |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - SRB |
| Other LA Designation | Borough Park |
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
The first reference to a church here is in 1293 although the Manor of Hanworth is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. From the C15th - C17th the Manor was owned by the Crown, and members of the royal family undoubtedly worshipped at St George's when they were visiting Hanworth Park, where they hunted. The medieval church was demolished when a new church was built in 1812. The churchyard has a few graves from the C18th including a group by the south porch, although inscriptions are no longer decipherable. There are a number of yews including one at least 200 years old, although it was once rumoured to be 1,000 years old!
Hanworth was called 'Hanworde' in the Domesday Book in 1086 meaning a small village, and at that time held by Roger de Montgomery, Earl of Arundel. It was described as 'a small Royal seat in which Henry VIII took great delight'. Tudor Court near Hanworth Park was formerly the location of Henry VII's hunting lodge, which burnt down in 1797. The stables survived the fire, probably c.1770, and were later converted into flats in 1924. In the garden are the remains of large Tudor walls and fireplaces, which were probably the royal kitchens.
The Manor of Hanworth is referred in the Domesday Book and in the C15th was owned by the Crown. In 1519 Henry VIII gave it to the Rector of St George's Hanworth. Rectory Meadow, part of land owned by the Rector, was purchased under the auspices of the Middlesex County Council in 1946/48 for public open space, although discussions had begun in 1939. Hanworth Borough Council received a grant from King George's Fields Foundation towards the park, which opened in 1953.