Boston Manor House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Boston Manor House |
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Front view of Boston Manor House
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| Type | Manor house |
| Location | Brentford |
| OS grid reference | TQ 16839 78339 |
| Area | Greater London |
| Built | 1622 |
| Architectural style(s) | Jacobean |
| Owner | London Borough of Hounslow |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name: Boston Manor House, Boston Manor Park | |
| Designated | 11 July 1951 |
| Reference no. | 1079603 |
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Boston Manor House is a beautiful old house in west London. It was built in 1622 and is a great example of Jacobean architecture. This style was popular when King James I was in charge. The house was once the main home of a large estate called a "manor."
Today, Boston Manor House is part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It sits next to Boston Manor Park, a public green space with a lake.
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History of Boston Manor
The name "Boston" first appeared around the 1170s. Back then, it was spelled "Bordwadestone." This name likely meant "Bord's farmstead." The first owner recorded was Ralph de Brito. We don't know where his original house was.
He built a small church, or chapel, dedicated to St. Lawrence. The area around this chapel became the boundary of the manor. This area was part of Hanwell parish for a long time.
Around 1280, King Edward I gave this land to a group of nuns at St Helen's Bishopsgate. This made Boston a recognized village. The King did this to make collecting taxes easier. It also helped keep the land together.
In 1539, King Henry VIII made big changes across England. The nuns' convent was closed, and the land went back to the King.
The King then gave the land to Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset in 1547. This was during the reign of King Edward VI.
When the Duke lost his position, the land went back to the Crown. Later, Queen Elizabeth I gave it to her favorite, Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester. He quickly sold it to Sir Thomas Gresham. Sir Thomas was a very rich merchant and banker. He also owned Osterley as his summer home. He later started the Royal Exchange in London.
Sir Thomas Gresham had no children, so the property went to his stepson, Sir William Reade. Sir William lived at Osterley. He got permission from King James I to inherit Boston Manor. He married Mary Goldsmith. After Sir William died, Mary built the current Boston Manor House in 1622–1623.
Mary then married Sir Edward Spencer. After Mary died in 1658, the land passed to her heir, John Goldsmith. In 1670, John's family sold Boston to another rich merchant, James Clitherow I. He paid £5,136 for the house and its 230 acres of land.
The Clitherow family owned the manor for the next 250 years. Over time, the land became smaller. The nearby town of Brentford grew and spread onto the manor's property. This area became known as the Manor of New Brentford.
By 1621, the population had grown a lot. The local council became known as the New Brentford Township. You can see "NBT" on old boundary stones in the area.
In the 18th century, people mostly called the area "Boston Manor."
John Bourchier Stracey-Clitherow was the last private owner. In 1923, he sold the house and its remaining 20 acres. The Brentford Urban District Council bought it. It opened as a public park in 1924.
Boston Manor Park has won the Green Flag Award many times. This award recognizes the best green spaces in England and Wales. The park received it in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009.
Boston Manor House Today
History of the House
The house was built in 1622-1623 for Dame Mary Reade. Her late husband had received permission from King James I to own Boston Manor. Later, the Clitherow family added extensions to the north. These included the kitchen and rooms for the staff.
John Bourchier Stracey-Clitherow was the last private owner. He sold Boston Manor House in 1923. The Brentford Urban District Council bought the house and 20 acres of land. It opened as a public park in 1924.
The house was badly damaged during World War II. A V-1 flying bomb fell nearby. For a while, it was used as a school. After a lot of repair work, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother reopened it in 1963. It became a visitor center and museum.
Because of its unique look, the house has often been used for filming historical movies.
At one point, the southwest corner of the house needed urgent repairs. Scaffolding was put up to support it for several years. Experts said the foundations needed fixing to stop further damage. The lower bricks were bowing out, and a crack was visible. Luckily, this has now been repaired.
A group called the Friends of Boston Manor helps to restore and care for the house and park.
After six years of renovation, the house reopened to the public on July 7, 2023.
What the House Looks Like
Boston Manor House is a very important historic building. It is a Grade I listed building. This means it's one of the most important historical buildings in England. It's the only Jacobean building in Hounslow.
The house is made of thick red bricks and has three floors. The windows have stone frames. There's a stone border between the second and third floors. The roof has three pointed gables on the long sides and two on the shorter sides.
The pipes that collect rainwater from the roof have dates on them. The three on the original part of the house say 1662. Another says 1670, when a third gable was added. One says 1915, when the drainage system was improved.
In old grand houses, the "front" usually faced a beautiful garden. But later, a new doorway and porch were added to the east side. This porch is made of light-colored stone. It looks like it might have come from another old building.
When you go through this porch, you enter the main hall. To your left is the dining room. It's painted a bright yellow, which was a popular and expensive color long ago. It has old pictures of local scenes.
Further into the hall, on the left, is the library. This room is currently closed to visitors because of wall repairs. Beyond the library door is another door leading to the garden.
The main hall also has a beautiful Jacobean staircase. It's mostly original. The steps are not as steep as modern stairs. They are wide and creak gently as you walk. The staircase has carved oak posts and balusters. On the opposite side, there's a painted balustrade that looks real. This painting technique, called Trompe-l'œil, is very rare for this time in England. It is now protected behind clear sheets.
Small plaster lions were added to the top of the staircase posts in the 19th century. Each lion holds a shield with the coat of arms of a different Clitherow family member. These might have been added for a visit from King William IV and Queen Adelaide.
From the two landings, you get a great view of the garden and its cedar trees. These trees were planted in 1754. It's fun to imagine King Charles I looking out these windows. He might have watched the Battle of Brentford from here. But this is just a local story, not a proven fact. The house is full of history, but only one ghost is said to live here. It's believed to be the spirit of young John Clitherow, who sadly drowned.
After the second flight of stairs, you reach the second floor. To the right is a small room. Next to it is the state bedroom. It has a wonderful Jacobean plaster ceiling with detailed designs. The center shows a female figure representing "Hope" with an anchor. This symbol is very old.
From here, you can go into the state drawing room. This room is famous at Boston Manor House. It's large and has a magnificent Jacobean ceiling. Some parts of the design were by a 17th-century Dutch artist named Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger. In one corner, you can see the date the house was built. In another, you can see Mary Reade's initials. The fireplace also has beautiful carvings. One carving shows Abraham about to sacrifice Isaac. These detailed carvings are excellent examples of the Jacobean style.
On the wall of the top flight of stairs, you can see some 18th-century wallpaper. It was found during restoration work. Even though it's old, it's considered one of the best examples still around today.
Like many old homes, Boston Manor House was updated over time. The Clitherow family added sash windows. They also installed central heating and gas for the kitchens. The walls are covered with hand-printed wallpaper. Many of the old furniture pieces in the house are on loan from the Gunnersbury Park Museum.
The house also has an art collection. It includes paintings of Christopher Clitherow by Godfrey Kneller, and of Syon House and Isleworth by James Isaiah Lewis. There are also portraits of James Clitherow by Henry William Pickersgill and George Romney.
Park Opening Hours and Events
The park is free to enter and open every day from 8 AM until dusk. It has a modern playground for children. There are also three tennis courts and a basketball court. Volunteers from the Friends of Boston Manor run a cafeteria on weekends. A Nature Trail has also been created. The park has formal lawns and a beautiful lake with wild birds. Car boot sales are held on the first Saturday of every month from 9 AM to 1 PM.
Other Historic Places Nearby
Boston Manor House is surrounded by other interesting historic places:
- To the northwest is Southall Manor House, about 3.7 miles away.
- To the north is Pitzhanger Manor House & Gallery, about 2.3 miles away.
- To the northeast is Gunnersbury Park Museum, about 2.6 miles away.
- To the west is Osterley Park House, about 2.8 miles away.
- To the east is Chiswick House, about 3.4 miles away.
- To the south are Syon House (2.3 miles), Kew Palace (3 miles), and Ham House (6.8 miles).
Transport and Location
You can reach Boston Manor by London Buses routes 195 and E8. The local London Underground station is Boston Manor, served by the Piccadilly line.
The area's post town is TW8 BRENTFORD. The M4 motorway overpass runs through Boston Manor Park.
Images for kids
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Front view of Boston Manor House
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Christopher Clitherow (1666–1727) by Godfrey Kneller
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The unsafe south west corner, now repaired
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Jacobean staircase
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The State Drawing room
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James Clitherow (1731–1805) by George Romney
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The ornamental lake
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London Underground roundel of the Boston Manor station
