Description
Hanwell is mentioned in the Domesday Book as an independent manor although it became a subsidiary of Greenford. First mention of a Christian church at Hanwell occurs in 958 AD and in the C12th a small thatched church was built, later rebuilt in 1781/2. The village consisted of only a few houses along Church Road until the late 1830s but in 1841 a larger parish church was needed for the growing population and the current church was built. The walled churchyard overlooks the Brent Valley and is part of the rural landscape of Brent Lodge Park, once owned by Hanwell Rector G H Glasse; the church lych gate is now the entrance to the park. Among the monuments in the churchyard are box tombs, a monument to Glasse's wife and daughter, and one gravestone dated 1707 by the west door.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Hanwell Parish Church |
|---|---|
| Site location | Church Road, Hanwell |
| Postcode | W7 3BJ |
| What3Words | ///rate.pretty.vibes |
| Type of Site | Churchyard |
| Borough | Ealing |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Public Transport | Rail: Hanwell. Bus: E1, E3. |
| Research Updated | 1 November 2010 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The name Hanwell probably derives from Anglo Saxon 'hana', a cock, and 'wielle' a stream and meaning a cock-frequented stream. Hanwell is mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086 as an independent manor although it became a subsidiary of Greenford under the Abbot of Westminster. First mention of a Christian church here occurs in 958 AD and by 1100-1199 a small thatched church was built on the site although the village consisted of only a few houses along Church Road until the late 1830s. The medieval church was rebuilt in 1781/2 by Thomas Hardwick, a significant part of the cost contributed by the rector Samuel Glasse, who was also chaplain to George III. This classical brick building had a turret and cupola at the west end but, despite the addition of a gallery in 1823, by 1840 a larger parish church was needed for the growing population.
The current church was built in 1841/2, an early commission of Sir Gilbert Scott, working with W B Moffatt, a flint building with stone dressings and a tall spire that remains a highly visible landmark. In the tower a large clock probably from the C18th church was installed and remained in use until 1980. The area included large estates such as Hanwell Park and Hanwell Grove. Brent Lodge, which had been part of the Hanwell Park Estate until 1782, was acquired in 1795 by the then Rector George Henry Glasse, son of Samuel Glasse, having become Rector of Hanwell when his father resigned in 1785. A classical scholar and schoolmaster, Glasse built up his estate near the church. Development of the area accelerated when the Great Western Railway arrived in 1838 and Brunel built the Wharncliffe Viaduct; Hanwell Bridge extended the London road west over the Brent river. The building of the Central District School for poor-law children in 1856, among whose pupils was Charlie Chaplin, also brought more people to the area and by 1885 Hanwell was an urban district. In 1926 it amalgamated with the Borough of Ealing.
The walled churchyard overlooks the Brent Valley and is part of the rural landscape of Brent Lodge Park (q.v.). Among the monuments are box tombs, a neo-classical style monument commemorating G H Glasse's wife Hannah and daughter Anna (d.1802), and one gravestone dated 1707 outside the west door. The lych gate is now the entrance to Brent Lodge Park, the entrance to the railed churchyard now a simple gate with metal overthrow. There are roses and yews visible from Church Road, while to the north and running down the slope of the hill the burial ground extends in a more wooded area.
The current church was built in 1841/2, an early commission of Sir Gilbert Scott, working with W B Moffatt, a flint building with stone dressings and a tall spire that remains a highly visible landmark. In the tower a large clock probably from the C18th church was installed and remained in use until 1980. The area included large estates such as Hanwell Park and Hanwell Grove. Brent Lodge, which had been part of the Hanwell Park Estate until 1782, was acquired in 1795 by the then Rector George Henry Glasse, son of Samuel Glasse, having become Rector of Hanwell when his father resigned in 1785. A classical scholar and schoolmaster, Glasse built up his estate near the church. Development of the area accelerated when the Great Western Railway arrived in 1838 and Brunel built the Wharncliffe Viaduct; Hanwell Bridge extended the London road west over the Brent river. The building of the Central District School for poor-law children in 1856, among whose pupils was Charlie Chaplin, also brought more people to the area and by 1885 Hanwell was an urban district. In 1926 it amalgamated with the Borough of Ealing.
The walled churchyard overlooks the Brent Valley and is part of the rural landscape of Brent Lodge Park (q.v.). Among the monuments are box tombs, a neo-classical style monument commemorating G H Glasse's wife Hannah and daughter Anna (d.1802), and one gravestone dated 1707 outside the west door. The lych gate is now the entrance to Brent Lodge Park, the entrance to the railed churchyard now a simple gate with metal overthrow. There are roses and yews visible from Church Road, while to the north and running down the slope of the hill the burial ground extends in a more wooded area.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ147807 |
|---|---|
| Site Ownership | Church of England, Diocese of London |
| Site Management | Church |
| Dates | medieval onwards |
| Listed Structures | LBII*: St Mary's Church. LBII: Glasse Monument in churchyard |
| 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 | Ealing |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Churchfields, Hanwell |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Area of Archaeological Interest |
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
Brent Lodge Park is on the site of the former landscape park of Brent Lodge, created by the Rector of Hanwell. He acquired the house in 1795 and enlarged it, created a new driveway and landscaped the grounds, building a cottage orné in the east. Owners in the C19th added a walled garden, stable block, greenhouses and other outbuildings, and ornamental tree planting continued. It became the home of Sir Montagu Sharpe and his wife, who eventually sold the estate to Ealing Council in 1931. Brent Lodge Park was opened to the public and various recreational facilities have been added over the years, including Brent Lodge Animal Centre, which has developed from a small group of aviaries in the 1960s. The gardens are on the higher ground overlooking the parkland and river, either side of the main path on the east of the site, and provide the setting for the buildings and animal enclosures. The park became part of the wider Brent River Park in 1976.
Churchfields Recreation Ground was former glebe lands for St Mary's Church Hanwell. The land was owned by Sir Montagu Sharpe of Brent Lodge when it was purchased in 1898 by the local council for public open space. In 1902 the purchase of the Rector's Glebe next to the recreation ground completed the open space and by then fencing and path repair had been carried out, seating provided and two 'handsome fountains' erected. Close to the centre of the recreation ground is a War Memorial erected by the Boy Scouts in 1919. The site has views towards the Wharncliffe Viaduct, built by Brunel in 1836/7. A line of mature trees marks its northern boundary with Church Road and an avenue of mature horse chestnut trees crosses the ground along the diagonal path from the parish church.
Conolly Dell was formerly part of the grounds of The Lawn, the home and private asylum of Dr John Conolly after his retirement as Superintendent of Hanwell Asylum where he worked from 1839-44, He pioneered humane treatment and non-restraint of the mentally ill. Part of the grounds of The Lawn were given as public open space in 1911, named in his memory, with a memorial surmounted by a winged figure. The sloping garden has a series of ponds, rockery garden and fine trees.