Eddie Menday: Ha ha, walk was fun

Jul 24 2008 By Eddie Menday

Cranford House

I was rather pleased when I was asked to lead a heritage walk in Cranford, as part of Hounslow's recent Older People's Festival. It would enable me to see the progress that had been made in the restoration of the park.

The old house that once stood on an area now fenced off was first associated with the Berkeley family from 1618, when Elizabeth, widow of Sir Thomas Berkeley, purchased the manor and house.

She died in 1635 and is buried in nearby St Dunstan's Church and is commemorated with a fine marble monument.

The old manor house was altered in 1722, by James, Earl of Berkeley, who was a vice-admiral. It was said that the south side of the house resembled the bow of a ship. However, there is no evidence of this claim.

The house was extended in 1792, and for more than 200 years it was one of the homes of the Berkeley family, near enough to London but away from the grime of the city. The ancient seat is at Berkeley Castle, on the banks of the River Severn, Gloucestershire.

The features still to view are the old carriage house and stables, which also serve as a small museum, and the ha-ha - a ditch which enables an uninterrupted view from the house across the park, and also keeps out any cattle or sheep that may be grazing in the park.

There are a number of ancient trees in the woods, and one old oak, which is propped up, is thought to be 400 to 500 years old.

A new innovation is the orchard, where traditional varieties of apple and pear trees have been planted, and are expected to fruit this year.

Several of the group on the heritage walk told me that it had opened up a new world for them, and that they had not realised that the park and wood were so extensive.

I had mentioned in my talk that Moreton Berkeley, the 6th Earl, who did not really want the title, lived and died in the Red House in Cranford Lane, which later became the editorial offices of the Middlesex Chronicle for a few years.

Later in the day, a woman who had been on the walk telephoned me to say that the Red House was in the process of being demolished.
It is so sad that so many of our old buildings are being torn down without a thought for their past.

JULY 24, 1908

A grievous mishap occurred to George Thomas of Brentford when he was making a plucky attempt to stop a runaway horse. A market van, with one horse attached, was being driven along the London Road in Isleworth when the horse bolted. It dashed off in the direction of nearby schools, to which hundreds of children were making their way. Mr Thomas, seeing the danger, ran to the runaway, seizing it by its reins. But he was kicked in the back and rendered unconscious. However, his brave action allowed others to stop the horse and secure it.

JULY 24, 1908

The Rev Thomas Saunders, who was recently chosen as the new Primitive Methodist minister for Hounslow, opened his ministry on Sunday, when he addressed the young people of the church. The customary recognition meeting was held in the church on Wednesday evening, when Mr GA Griffiths presided, with many local clergy present.The Rev L McCrea, in an address of welcome, said that the church should not be a cemetery for burying talents, but a place where they could be available for the Master's service.

JULY 24, 1908

Good weather favoured the 7th annual exhibition of flowers, fruit, plants and vegetables of the Feltham, Bedfont and Hanworth Horticultural Society. The committee encountered many difficulties in their preparations for the show and in finding a venue. Mr JA Parker came to the rescue and put his meadow, in Old Feltham, at their disposal. The weather was delightful and the whole day turned out the best it could have been. The entries were larger than in the past six years and of fine quality. There were 113 classes and only one, for marigolds, received no entries.