Open House Festival

Exploring Spring Grove Isleworth

walk/tour

Various including John Taylor Jnr and John Norton & P E Massey , 1860

Forecourt, Isleworth Railway Station, London Road, Isleworth, TW7 4BX

Centred on Spring Grove House, once Sir Joseph Banks home, the 1850s vision was for a neighbourhood with grand villas designed by John Taylor Jr.. Today's wider architecture includes a former college by John Norton & P Massey, plus quirky arts & crafts properties.

Getting there

Tube

Hounslow East

Train

Isleworth

Bus

237

Additional travel info

H37 bus from Hounslow East Underground; 117 stops nr station, also 235

Access

Facilities

Accessibility notes

Walking tour on mostly flat surfaces along paths, pavements and roads.

Create a free visitor account to book festival tickets

Activities

Tue 16 Sep

Walking tour

14:30–16:15

Exploring Spring Grove Isleworth

Circular walking tour in Conservation Area on mostly pavements, paths and roads with some gentle inclines.

How to book

Please create a free visitor account to book your festival tickets.

About

Development- Early 20th century, to 1860s, to 1930s

Once known as Smallberry Green, now the area takes its name from Spring Grove House one time home to Sir Joseph Banks. The vision of subsequent owner Henry Daniel Davies was for a grand Victorian suburb within some 300 acres of land. Examples of these Italianate influenced villas designed by John Taylor Jr. survive. Davies later lived in the largest of the houses he conceived called Thornbury, now Campion House, derived from ownership by the Society of Jesus 1911-2005. Today this grand stuccoed mansion is bordered by a public open space.

Listed Spring Grove House was described in 1840 as a "fine square building of brick covered with Roman cement, terrace along the south front and walks leading to extensive lawns and a lake". It was enlarged and altered during later ownership by Andrew Pears great grandson of the inventor of Pears' transparent soap. The music room and winter garden are considered fine examples of late 19thC rooms.

Among newer additions to the area is a swathe of quirky arts and crafts semi-detached rough cast and tile hung properties. While the Crown Court's 1990s extension is an add-on to former ward blocks of a hostel built 1948 as a home for paraplegics.

Online presence

www.hounslow-heritage.org.uk/heritagewalks

Nearby

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