Spring Grove is the north-western district of the town of Isleworth within the Borough of Hounslow in London, England.[1] In general terms it lies east of the district of Lampton; north of the district of Woodlands; west of the Barnes-to-Feltham railway loop line; and south of the district of Osterley. Spring water that rose in the area in the eighteenth century was employed for agricultural and horticultural purposes.
Spring Grove | |
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Spring Grove House in 1988 | |
Location within Greater London | |
London borough | |
Ceremonial county | Greater London |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | ISLEWORTH |
Postcode district | TW7 |
Dialling code | 020 |
Police | Metropolitan |
Fire | London |
Ambulance | London |
London Assembly | |
The area is centred around Spring Grove House, the former home of botanist and explorer Sir Joseph Banks, which is now part of West Thames College. In the 1850s-1860s the vision for the area was of a grand Victorian suburb with Italian-style villas designed by John Taylor. Other architectural features include a former college by John Norton & P. E. Massey, and a variety of Arts and Crafts semi-detached houses. Isleworth Crown Court is situated in the Spring Grove area, in a building that was previously a hostel for paraplegics, which was extended in the 1990s.[2]
The prime purpose of Spring Grove in recent centuries appears to have been the gradual provision of residential areas for middle-class communities. Georgian residences appeared first, with large plots of land. With the railway service (Isleworth railway station was formerly called 'Spring Grove & Isleworth') came substantial Victorian property development. During the twentieth century further residential development occurred, and with the turn of the twenty-first century, some of the large villas gave way to modern development of various forms.
The district has over the course of a century or so also embraced a number of large educational establishments, including Brunel University London[3][4] and West Thames College.
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The original Spring Grove house, built in 1645, as it appeared in 1820
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18th century etching of Spring Grove House
References
edit- ^ Willey, Russ. Chambers London Gazetter, p 466.
- ^ "Exploring Spring Grove Isleworth". hounslow-heritage.org.uk. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ "Meetings, agendas, and minutes" (PDF). 4 September 2021.
- ^ "Spring Grove Conservation Area Appraisal - Consultation Draft" (PDF). London Borough of Hounslow. November 2018.
Further reading
edit- History of Spring Grove, Spring Grove Residents' Association