Description
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.
Practical Information
| Site location | Park Road/Country Way |
|---|---|
| Postcode | TW13 |
| What3Words | ///dawn.daisy.kick |
| Type of Site | Public Open Land |
| Borough | Hounslow |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | 8am - dusk |
| Facilities | tennis courts, bowling green, football, toilets |
| Public Transport | Rail: Feltham then bus. Bus: H25, 290, 111 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The Domesday Book records that in 1086 the Manor of Hanworth was owned by Roger de Montgomery, Earl of Arundel; in 1294 two-thirds of the manor was owned by Wallingford and the remainder by the Abbot and Convent of Westminster. In the C15th the manor was in the ownership of the Crown and in 1519 Henry VIII gave it to the Rector of St George's Church (q.v.). Rectory Meadow was part of land owned by the Rector and in 1946/8 it was purchased under the auspices of the Middlesex County Council for public open space. Discussions about purchasing the land had begun in 1939 and it was finally sold for £10,000 and opened to the public in 1953, with football, cricket, bowling, tennis and putting greens. Hanworth Borough Council received a grant of £3,500 from King George's Fields Foundation. The Foundation, set up following King George's death in 1936, provided funding for the creation or improvement of a great many playing fields. The Changing Rooms have recently been upgraded by Hanworth Villa and converted into a social centre.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ116717 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 5.1 |
| Site Ownership | LB Hounslow |
| Site Management | John Laing Integrated Services |
| Dates | 1948-53 |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Hounslow |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | Not known |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | Yes |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - SRB |
| Other LA Designation | Local 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
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 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 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.