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West Drayton

This article is about the town in the London Borough of Hillingdon. For the village in Nottinghamshire, seeWest Drayton, Nottinghamshire.

West Draytonis a suburban town in theLondon Borough of Hillingdon.It was anancient parishin the county ofMiddlesexand from 1929 was part of theYiewsley and West Drayton Urban District,which became part ofGreater Londonin 1965. The settlement is near theColne Valley Regional Parkand its centre lies 1.9 miles (3 km) north ofHeathrow Airport.

West Drayton
St Martin's church
West Drayton is located in Greater London
West Drayton
West Drayton
Location withinGreater London
Population14,370
OS grid referenceTQ065795
•Charing Cross14.8 mi (23.8 km)E
London borough
Ceremonial countyGreater London
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townWEST DRAYTON
Postcode districtUB7
Dialling code01895
PoliceMetropolitan
FireLondon
AmbulanceLondon
UK Parliament
London Assembly
List of places
UK
England
London
51°30′15″N0°27′53″W/ 51.5043°N 0.4646°W/51.5043; -0.4646

Traditionally the Parish of West Drayton covers 3.4 square kilometres (1.3 sq mi). In 1901 the population of the civil parish was 984.[1]In the2011 Census14,370 people were living in the West Draytonelectoral ward.[2][3]The ward has threecouncillorsin theHillingdon Borough Council.[1][4]The vast majority of the housing in West Drayton is mid-20th century.

Toponymy

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In 939 the area was known asDraegtun.Tun/ton is cognate with the later form town, but originally implied any kind of farmstead of more than one family. Dray is cognate with draught (as indraft horse/a dray) implying a portage/slope used for dragging loads, or simply notable use of the dragged plough, quite possibly given about 13 other examples in England simply land under till.[5]It is recorded asDraitonein the 1086Domesday Book,and asWestdraytonin 1465.[6]It is thought that theWestmay have been added to differentiate the village fromDraytonnear Ealing.[7]

Geography

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West Drayton lies to the south of theGreat Western Main Linewhich run east–west, withYiewsleylying to the north of the railway line. It lies on the north side of theM4 motorwaywith the village ofHarmondsworthto the south, and is northwest of M4 junction 4 (Heathrow Airportspur). This intersects with the A408 (forStockley ParkandUxbridge) which forms West Drayton's eastern boundary withHayesuntil theHeathrow Expressrailway line forms this boundary at Prologos Park Heathrow. In this area lay the former hamlet ofStockley,known until 1912 as Starveall or Starvhall.[8]On the eastern side of West Drayton is the county boundary withBuckinghamshire.

West Drayton railway stationin Yiewsley is served by theElizabeth lineandGreat Western Railway(GWR). The Elizabeth line operates a stopping service betweenAbbey WoodandReadingand GWR operates a stopping service betweenLondon PaddingtonandDidcot Parkway.

West Drayton has five primary schools, West Drayton Academy, Laurel Lane Primary School, St Martin's CE Primary School, St Catherine Catholic Primary School and Cherry Lane Primary School. The community is served by thePark Academy West Londonsecondary school which is located on Park View Road in Yiewsley.

The Green

West Drayton has at its heart in the west of the parish aconservation area,The Green, along which are many buildings protected under UK law bygrade II and II* listing– residential and commercial.

Demography

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As of the 2011 census, 57% of the population was White British.[9]Living in the ward were 14,370 people according to the2011 Census.[2]

The decennial censuses between 1801 and 1901 each show a rise in population and a low population density. From 1801 when the population of the almost identically sized ecclesiastical parish (civil parishes were invented later in the 19th century) was 515; to 1901 when the population of the civil parish was 984.[1]

Local Government Elections

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West Drayton ward 2022 - 3 councillors returned to Hillingdon Council
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jan Sweeting 2,111
Labour Scott Myles Farley 1,968
Labour Mohammed Shofiul Islam 1,911
Conservative Kelly Martin 1,428
Conservative Sanjiv Bisnauthsing 1,312
Conservative Hanna Ahmed Ali 1,296
Green Sarah West 315
Green Iain John Bruce 272
Green Marcus Smith 209
Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition Carlos Barros 154
Turnout 34.07%
Labourhold Swing
Labourhold Swing
Labourhold Swing

History

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See also:Elthorne HundredandMiddlesex

The St Paul's Era

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The first record of West Drayton is from 939 whenÆthelstan,King of the English, gave the Manor of West Drayton to the Dean and Chapter of Cathedral church ofSt Pauls,recorded in theCartularium Saxonicum.[10] In the 1086Domesday Book,West Drayton was assessed at ten hides with land suitable for six ploughs.[11]The Parish had 17 landowners which indicated a population of less than 100.[12]In 1461 a separate smaller manor, Drayton and Colham Garden Manor was first recorded, lying between Swan road and Colham Mill road.[13]Both manors shared St Martin's Parish Church. Until 1525 West Drayton Manor was managed on behalf of the Dean and Chapter of St Paul's by an appointment known as aFirmariuswho was responsible for the day-to-day running of the estate.[12]

The Paget Era

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William Paget,1st Baron Paget.

From 1525 St Paul's began leasing West Drayton Manor to tenants. From 1537 the lessee of the manor wasWilliam Pagetwho held high office of state in the court ofHenry VIII.On 1 April 1546, the Dean and Chapter of St Paul's released the Manor of West Drayton to the Crown and two weeks later Henry granted the manor to the now knighted Sir William Paget.[12]In the same year Henry granted Paget six manors in his native Staffordshire.[14]Henry died in January 1547. Paget was made a peer of the realm as Lord Paget of Beaudesert byEdward VIin 1549.[14]

While he was leasing the manor William Paget used the existing building of St Pauls which was situated near St Martin's Parish church. Paget described the building as his"cotage at Drayton".[12]Once owning the manor he built a new manor house, completed by 1549, which occupied the western end of the churchyard. The Manor grounds contained the Church, ornamental gardens, stables, a dovecote and other outbuildings and was enclosed by a high brick wall and two gatehouses.[13]The wall and one of the gatehouses can still be seen today. The construction of the manor house and grounds resulted in the demolition of villagers' homes on Church Road and building on the graves of generations of West Drayton people in the churchyard. In addition to this, Paget enclosed 150 acres of common land to add to hisdemesne.In 1550 Paget legalised his position by obtaining a royal pardon for his actions.[12]The loss of the Parish churchyard was compensated for by the granting of an alternative burial site which was situated on the eastern side of where Drayton Hall is today. The burial site was used until 1888.[12]

Gatehouse to the former West Drayton Manor House

After serving asLord Privy SealunderMary I,poor health meant William Paget played little part in public life after the accession ofQueen Elizabeth Iin 1558, although as aPrivy Councillorhis advice was often sought.[14]He died in West Drayton on 9 June 1563.[14]He was succeeded by his sonHenry,who died five years later without maleissue.Henry's brotherThomasbecame the 3rd Baron Paget in 1568.

Thomas Paget(1544–1590) and his brotherCharleswere both devout Roman Catholics, and would not conform to the Protestant religion ofQueen Elizabeth I. Aided byHenry Percy,Paget fled to Paris on the uncovering of theThrockmorton Plotin November 1583, joining Charles who had been in exile there since 1581.[15]The failed conspiracy's plan was for an invasion of England by French forces under the command ofHenry, Duke of Guise,financed byPhilip II of Spain.English Catholics would then rise up and depose Elizabeth, placing CatholicMary, Queen of Scotson the English throne.

After his flight to France Elizabeth issued aproclamationcommanding Thomas Paget to return to England. In June 1584 a formal demand for the surrender of Paget was made toHenry III,King of France through the English ambassador, which was not carried out. In 1587 he wasattaintedof treason by act of parliament. Paget received a pension of 180 crowns per month from Philip II and died in Brussels in early 1590.[16]

In 1587, with Thomas Paget being attainted, his lands including West Drayton were confiscated by the Crown.[13]Elizabeth granted the manor to herLord Chancellor,Sir Christopher Hattonfor life. Hatton died in 1591 and from 1592 the manor was leased to herLord Chamberlain,George Carey.Carey became 2nd Baron Hunsdon in 1596 and entertained Elizabeth at the West Drayton Manor House in October 1602.[12]

In the next year 1603, both Elizabeth and George Carey died. With Elizabeth's death,James I,son of Mary Queen of Scots acceded to the English throne. In 1604 James restored the Paget family lands and honours to Thomas Paget's sonWilliam.[13]William like James I was a Protestant and had taken part in the successful Anglo-Dutchcapture of Cadiz(Gades) in 1596 withAdmiral Charles Howard,Sir Walter RaleighandRobert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex.[17][18]It is believed William Paget received possession of West Drayton Manor in 1610.[13]In 1612 William Paget became an 'Adventurer' (shareholder) and member of the Council of theVirginia Company(London Company) and theSomers Isles Company.ThePaget ParishandPaget Islandin Bermuda are named after him. He died on 29 August 1629 and is buried in St Martin's Churchyard.

William Paget's son,William Paget, 5th Baron Paget,(1609–1678) was among thePeerswho petitionedKing Charles Ion 18 August 1640 to summon a parliament for the redress of grievances. However at the start of theCivil Warhe did not wish to take up arms against the king and joined him at York in June 1642.[19]He raised a regiment of foot which fought for the King at thebattle of Edgehillon 23 Oct 1642. In 1643/44 he was with the King at Oxford.[19]Paget had his estatessequesteredby Parliament and was fined £500 for supporting the King.[12]He died in October 1678 and is buried in St Martin's Churchyard. William's son,William Paget, 6th Baron Paget,(1637–1713) was English Ambassador to Vienna (1689–1692) and Ambassador-Extraordinary to Constantinople (1692–1702). He participated in the negotiations which resulted in theTreaty of Karlowitzand was instrumental in the peace between Muscovy, Venice and the Ottomans.[20]

The Paget coat of arms
The Paget heraldic eagle in the coat of arms of the London Borough of Hillingdon

In 1714 William's son, Henry Paget the 7th Lord Paget,(1663–1743), was created1st Earl of UxbridgebyGeorge I.Paget was a member of thePrivy Counciland The town ofUxbridge, Massachusettsis named in his honour. He died in 1743 and was succeeded by his grandson,Henry Paget, 2nd Earl of Uxbridge(1719–1769). In 1755 Dawley House was acquired and the West Drayton Manor house was demolished around this time. Henry Paget died childless in 1769 and was buried in St Martin's Churchyard. The title of 9th Baron Padget was given toHenry Baylywhose name was changed to Henry Paget by Royal License in 1770. He was created 1st Earl of Uxbridge in May 1784. On 21 October 1786 Henry Bayly-Paget sold the Manor of West Drayton to Fysh Coppinger of Lincoln's Inn, for £12,000 ending the Paget family's relationship with West Drayton.[12]

The Parish of West Drayton within Middlesex in the early 19th century

St Martin's Church

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West Drayton's parish church, dedicated toMartin of Tours,was first mentioned in the 12th century.[21]However, no trace of the original church remains. The present church was first built in the 13th century, of which the base of the tower, the piscina and the north chancel wall are incorporated in the present building, which dates from the 15th century. The church was heavily restored and reordered in 1974, when the altar was resited at the west end. The baptismal font is a splendid example of mid-15th century work, and the parish chest is early 17th century. There are monumental brasses to Richard Roose (1406), Margaret Burnell (1529), her son John Burnell (1551) and Dr James Good (1581, a physician toMary, Queen of Scots). There is a small memorial tablet toGeorge Carey, 2nd Baron Hunsdon(1547–1603) who was Lord of West Drayton Manor between 1592 and 1603.[22]Carey's father was Queen Elizabeth I's cousin. The memorial states how 'bountiful' he was to the poor of the Parish. In his will Hunsdon left the sum of 'one hundred marks for the benefit of the poor of West Drayton for ever.' This is one of the oldest West Drayton Parish charities and its small income is still distributed each New Year's Day.[12]

St Catherine's Catholic Church

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Main article:St Catherine's Church, West Drayton

After the Potato Famine of the 1840s(known in Ireland as theGreat Famine or Great Hunger),Irish immigrants who were of theRoman Catholicreligion and principally from counties Cork and Waterford arrived in West Drayton and took up residence in poor housing by The Green which became known locally as the Irish hovels.[23]Today this is the site of Daisy Villas.[12]Work for the Irish immigrants was found in the market-gardens surrounding West Drayton.[24]

The nearest official place of Catholic worship was St. Mary's chapel at North Hyde, requiring a walk of over four miles each way to attend Mass on a Sunday.[12]Because of this distance a Roman Catholic Mass was offered in a stable at the back of the Kings Head Public House adjacent to The Green.[25]By 1862 the Reverend Andrew Mooney, priest at the St. Mary's North Hyde Orphanage was using a cottage in Money Lane called the 'White House' as a school and was conducting services there.[12]He was succeeded by the Reverend Peter Francis Elkins, also the priest at the North Hyde Mission to which the school at West Drayton was attached.[26][27]

On 30 May 1867 West Drayton became a Catholic Mission with the Rev. Elkins becoming the resident priest.[28]In July 1867 Rev. Elkins petitioned theArchbishop of Westminsterto support the building of a church and school.[29]The building of a church and school was given thespecial approbationof the Archbishop.[30]

St Catherine's Church

By September 1867 Rev. Elkins health had failed and the West Drayton Mission was undertaken by Reverend Michael Wren.[31]Through the autumn, winter and spring of 1867-8 Rev. Wren requested financial donations for the new church and school stating that West Drayton was the most destitute mission in England with upwards of 300 persons being compelled to remain in the open air during Catholic mass.[32]

On 19 December 1867 a house and land for the church and school was purchased at public auction for £855.[33][26]Rev. Wren used the house as his Presbytery and a temporary chapel was created in the adjoining coach-house and stables.[24]Premises at the back of the property were demolished to make room for the school.[34][26]

On 26 October 1868 theMost Reverend Dr. Henry Manning,Archbishop of Westminster laid the foundation stone of theChurch of St Catherine of Alexandria.[35]On 29 September 1869 he opened the church, preaching its first sermon.[36]

Despite Rev. Wren's efforts in seeking donations, a loan was required to fund the building of the church and school.[24]This debt resulted in the church not being consecrated until 29 September 1893, twenty-four years after its opening.[37]Both the opening and consecration of the church occurred on 29 September,Michaelmas,the feast of St. Michael, Rev. Michael Wren's patron saint.[38]

The church is built of buff stock brick with Bath stone dressing with dimensions of 85ft by 48ft and was designed by architects Samuel Joseph Nicholl and Thomas John Willson of London in the English Gothic style of the early 14th century.[39]It was fitted to accommodate 500 persons and was constructed by builders James and William Fassnidge of Uxbridge.[40]The schoolroom was 40ft long and 20ft broad and accommodated 250 children and was in use until 1939.[41][38]

Local economy

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Drayton Hall, offices of Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Kore Wireless and North South Wines

Historically, employment was commonly connected to agriculture, the railway yards and the canal. The formerRAF West Draytonhosted a militaryair traffic controlcentre co-located with the civilLondon Terminal Control Centre,residual functions of which were relocated toSwanwick, Hampshireentirely by January 2008.

West Drayton has a mixture of tradespeople, airport workers, construction workers andcommutersin office professions or public utilities such as schools and hospitals. Its housing hosts people with a range of incomes, with relatively large areas built aesthetically in keeping with existing housing by the local authority.

West Drayton has rapid connectivity to theM4and thereafter to theM25and motorways north-west and south-west. The M4 spur and the A408 Stockley Road by-pass links toHeathrow Airportand to theStockley Business Park,respectively. The Stockley Close Industrial estate lies on the eastern side of the by-pass. The businesses situated here are: Ocado, Greencore, Carrier Retail Systems, Amalga Ltd, Clevertronics, MNX Global Logistics and the Heathrow Parcel Centre.

Drayton Hall has the offices of Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Trizell Ltd, Kore Wireless and North South Wines. Britannia Court, on the east side of The Green, has the offices of the Schools HR Co-operative, MagLabs, Wells Burcombe LLP, MD Developments Ltd, Insultec Ltd, QIK Group and Flight Data Systems.

Culture and recreation

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Southlands Arts Centre
  • The Yiewsley and West Drayton Arts Council maintain theSouthlands Arts Centre.[42]They oversee events and promote local creativity. There are many exhibitions, music festivals, and creative endeavours from fine arts, photography, film-making and music groups.[43]
  • Community events and activities are held at the Yiewsley and West Drayton Community centre on Harmondsworth Road.[44]
  • West Drayton Library is situated on Station Road.[45]
  • The Yiewsley and West Drayton Band is a second section brass band established in 1890 and maintains a year-round programme of concerts and community events.[46]
  • 1381 Squadron (West Drayton & Yiewsley) Royal Air Force Air Cadets are based at Summer Drive.[47]
  • The 2nd West Drayton Scout Group are based at Rowan Road.
  • There are two local amateurfootballclubs, West Drayton FC and Townmead Youth FC.
  • The Closes public park has a playground, outdoor gym, Tennis courts and a multi use ball court.[48]
Mabey's Meadow in the Frays Island and Mabey's Meadow Nature Reserve

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^abc838 acres. 'Table of population, 1801-1901', inA History of the County of Middlesex:Volume 2, General ed. William Page (London, 1911), pp. 112-120. British History Onlinehttp://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/middx/vol2/pp112-120[accessed 25 May 2018].
  2. ^ab"Usual resident population".NOMIS.Office for National Statistics. 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 7 November 2020.Retrieved6 May2013.
  3. ^"2011 Census Ward Population Estimates | London DataStore".Archived fromthe originalon 22 February 2014.Retrieved9 June2014.
  4. ^"Application for London Living Rent".Hillingdon Council.
  5. ^"Key to English Place-names".kepn.nottingham.ac.uk.
  6. ^Mills, A. D.:A Dictionary of British Place-Names(Oxford University Press, 2003)
  7. ^"Survey of English Place-Names".epns.nottingham.ac.uk.Retrieved15 August2020.
  8. ^"Middlesex XIV.SE Revised 1938 Published 1946".maps.nls.uk.Ordnance Survey.Retrieved21 October2020.
  9. ^Services, Good Stuff IT."West Drayton - UK Census Data 2011".UK Census Data.Retrieved10 April2018.
  10. ^de Gray Birch, Walter (24 May 2012). "737".Cartularium Saxonicum Vol 2 AD 840-947.Cambridge University Press. p. 451.ISBN9781108045087.
  11. ^Hopkins, Heather (April 2009)."An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment for Inland Homes"(PDF).London Borough of Hillingdon.Retrieved30 May2011.
  12. ^abcdefghijklmnopqCox, A.H. (1983).West Drayton & Yiewsley through the centuries.Hillingdon Borough Libraries.ISBN0907869033.
  13. ^abcdefg"A history of the County of Middlesex Volume 3 West Drayton: Manors".www.british-history.ac.uk.British History Online. pp. 191–195.Retrieved15 August2020.
  14. ^abcdHawkyard, A. D.K."PAGET, William [by 1506-63]".www.historyofparliamentonline.org.Retrieved17 August2020.
  15. ^Kuin, Roger, ed. (2012).The Correspondence of Sir Philip Sidney.Oxford: Oxford University Press.ISBN9780199558223.
  16. ^Thompson Cooper."Thomas Paget, 3rd Baron Paget".gentrekker.com.Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. pp. 43, 59–60.Retrieved17 August2020.
  17. ^"William Paget, 4th Baron Paget".gentrekker.com.Retrieved24 August2020.
  18. ^"William Camden 1596".philological.bham.ac.uk.Retrieved25 August2020.
  19. ^abcCokayne, George E., ed. (2000).The Complete Peerage.Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing.
  20. ^"Papers of William Paget, 6th Baron Paget".archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk.Retrieved29 August2020.
  21. ^"St Martin's Church".www.stmartinwestdrayton.org.uk.Retrieved11 September2020.
  22. ^Weinreb, Ben;Hibbert, Christopher(1992).The London Encyclopaedia(reprint ed.).Macmillan.p. 754.
  23. ^Wren, Michael (27 February 1868). "To the editor of the Constitution". Cork: The Constitution.
  24. ^abc"An Appeal. St Catherine's Catholic Church, West Drayton, Uxbridge, Middlesex". The Ulster Examiner and Northern Star. 18 August 1876. p. 1.
  25. ^"Roman Cathloic Church of St Catherine".historicengland.org.uk.
  26. ^abc"St. Catherine's West Drayton. Its Fifty Years' Record". Southall-Norwood Gazette Hanwell and Uxbridge Observer. 3 October 1919. p. 3.
  27. ^"The Workhouse Question. - St. Mary's North Hyde". The Weekly Register and Catholic Standard. 18 February 1865. p. 100.
  28. ^"St Augustine, Apostle of England - New Mission". The Tablet. 8 June 1867. p. 363.
  29. ^Rev. Peter Francis Elkins (10 August 1867). "West Drayton". The Tablet. p. 501.
  30. ^Rev. Peter Francis Elkins (10 August 1867). "West Drayton". The Tablet. p. 501.
  31. ^Reverend Michael Wren (5 October 1867). "The West Drayton Mission". The Tablet. p. 636.
  32. ^Reverend Michael Wren (5 October 1867). "West Drayton". The Tablet. p. 632.
  33. ^"West Drayton, near the Great Western Railway Station A Valuable Copyhold Property". Uxbridge: Broadwater's Buckinghamshire Advertiser and Uxbridge Journal. 7 December 1867. p. 1.
  34. ^Rev. Michael Wren (30 May 1868). "The West Drayton Mission". The Tablet. p. 342.
  35. ^"West Drayton. Laying the Foundation Stone of the New Roman Catholic Chapel". Uxbridge: Broadwater's Buckinghamshire Advertiser, Uxbridge Journal. 2 November 1868. p. 4.
  36. ^"West Drayton". Windsor and Eton Express, Berks, Bucks and Middlesex Journal and West Surrey Gazette. 2 October 1869.
  37. ^"News from the Dioceses, England, Westminster". London: The Tablet. 7 October 1893. p. 598.
  38. ^abcdefghSkinner, James (2003).West Drayton and Yiewsley.The History Press.ISBN9780752428413.
  39. ^"Church of St Catherine of Alexandria About the Parish".parish.rcdow.org.uk.20 May 2022.
  40. ^"Solemn Opening of St. Catherine's Church, West Drayton". London: The Weekly Register and Catholic Standard. 2 October 1869. p. 212.
  41. ^"West Drayton". Windsor and Eton Express, Berks, Bucks and Middlesex Journal and West Surrey Gazette. 2 October 1869.
  42. ^"Yiewsley and West Drayton Arts Council".eventbrite.co.uk.Retrieved25 May2020.
  43. ^"Southlands Art Centre".southlandsarts.co.uk.Retrieved25 May2020.
  44. ^"Yiewsley and West Drayton Community Centre".www.ywdcc.org.uk.
  45. ^"West Drayton Library".www.hillingdon.gov.uk.Retrieved11 September2020.
  46. ^"The Yiewsley and West Drayton Band".ywdband.com.
  47. ^"1381 Squadron (West Drayton % Yiewsley)".www.raf.mod.uk/aircadets.
  48. ^"The Closes".archive.hillingdon.gov.uk.Hillingdon Council.Retrieved3 October2020.
  49. ^"Frays Island and Mabey's Meadow".www.wildlondon.org.uk.Retrieved21 January2021.
  50. ^"William Paget, 4th Baron Paget".bermuda-online.org.Retrieved25 August2020.
  51. ^"Southlands history".www.southlandsarts.co.uk.Retrieved17 August2020.
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