Heston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Heston |
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 St Leonard's Church |
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 Heston
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| Area | 7.51 km2 (2.90 sq mi) |
| Population | 37,045 (Heston Central, Heston East, Heston West wards 2011) |
| • Density | 4,933/km2 (12,780/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | TQ1277 |
| London borough | |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | HOUNSLOW |
| Postcode district | TW5 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| EU Parliament | London |
| UK Parliament |
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| London Assembly |
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Heston is a suburban area located in the London Borough of Hounslow. It's about 10.8 miles (17.4 km) west of Charing Cross in central London. Heston is close to the M4 motorway and the Great West Road. Historically, Heston was part of Middlesex.
Contents
Heston's Past: A Journey Through Time
The village of Heston is north of Hounslow. People have lived here since Saxon times. The first record of a priest in Heston is from the 7th century. The current Anglican parish church was built in the 14th century.
In 1229, Heston became separate from the parish of Gistleworth (Isleworth). King Henry III took control of Heston and later gave it to the Earl of Cornwall. After Henry III died in 1316, the Crown (the King or Queen) owned Heston. Later, it was given to St Giles' Hospital.
During the time of King Henry VIII, the monasteries were closed down. Heston then went back to the Crown. Queen Elizabeth I later gave Heston to Sir Thomas Gresham. She loved bread made from wheat grown in Heston so much that she asked for a special supply just for herself!
Being separate from Isleworth made the people of Heston feel more independent. They often had disagreements with the people and lords of Isleworth. Every year, they would perform a tradition called "beating the bounds." This meant walking around the parish boundaries to show everyone how far their land stretched. One story tells of Heston villagers throwing people from Isleworth across a ditch during one of these walks!
In 1925, the Great West Road was finished. This road became the southern border of Heston. The farmland around the village was then used for factories and new homes. The southern part of Heston, called Sutton, grew into a suburb. A Catholic church was also built in Heston in the 20th century.
Heston Aerodrome: A Place of Flight
Heston Aerodrome was an airport that operated from 1929 to 1947. It's famous for a special event in September 1938. The British Prime Minister at the time, Neville Chamberlain, flew from Heston to Germany three times. He was meeting with Adolf Hitler to try and prevent a war. He returned to Heston after the Munich Agreement with a paper he believed would bring "Peace for our time".
Today, homes and industrial buildings stand on some of the old aerodrome land. The M4 motorway also cuts across the former airport site. However, a large part of the area is now the Airlinks 18-hole golf course. Many roads in Heston have names linked to aviation. These include Alcock Road, Brabazon Road, Bleriot Road, and Spitfire Way.
Learning in Heston: Local Schools
Heston has several primary schools for younger students. These include Edison Primary School, Berkeley, The Rosary Catholic School, Westbrook Primary, Springwell School, and Heston Primary School. For older students, Heston Community School is a secondary school that also has a sixth form.
Heston Community: Getting Involved
There are three active community groups in Heston. The Heston Residents Association was formed in 1918. Heston West Big Local started in 2015, and Heston Action Group was formed in 2018. These groups help bring people together and improve the area.
Getting Around Heston: Transport Links
Underground Trains
The Hounslow West tube station is very close to Heston's southern border. It's about 1.1 miles (1.8 km) from the village hall. To the east, the nearest underground station is Osterley tube station, which is about 1.3 miles (2.1 km) away.
Main Roads
The A4 Great West Road forms the southern edge of Heston. This road leads to Heathrow Airport and beyond. The M4 motorway is about 0.5 miles (800 m) north of Heston. Its closest exit is Junction 3.
The A312, also known as The Parkway, runs north-south to the west of Heston. It connects Heston to places like Feltham and Harrow.
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Hayes North Hyde |
Norwood Green North Hyde |
across Osterley Park Hanwell |
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Osterley | ||
 Heston  |
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| Hounslow West North Feltham |
Hounslow | Isleworth Hounslow |
Famous Faces from Heston
Many interesting people have connections to Heston:
- Don Allum (1937–1992) was an oarsman. He was the first person to row across the Atlantic Ocean in both directions. He lived in Heston.
- Jimmy Page, a famous guitarist from the rock band Led Zeppelin, was born in Heston.
- Ritchie Blackmore, another well-known guitarist from bands like Deep Purple and Rainbow, grew up in Heston.
- Anthony Collins (1676–1729), a philosopher and friend of John Locke, was born in Heston.
- Composer Ernest John Moeran (1894–1950) was born in Heston.
- Horticulturist Ellen Willmott (1858–1934) was also born in Heston.
- Lynwood Palmer (1868–1941), a painter known for his race-horse paintings, lived in Heston for many years.
- Motorcycle racer Mike Hailwood had a flat in Heston where he kept his fast sports cars.
- Actor Sanjeev Bhaskar grew up in a flat above the shops on Vicarage Farm Road.
Images for kids
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Flats in Heston
Gallery
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St Leonard's Church
Main window: the crucifixion -
St Leonard's Church
Madonna and Child -
St Leonard's Church
St Clare and St Francis -
St Leonard's Church
Inscribed window -
St Leonard's Church
Interior -
Heston Type 1 Phoenix II G-AESV at Elstree Aerodrome
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Moto Heston East services
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Heston Farm Estate
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