Affichage de 15888 résultats

Conveyances are transfers of land from one party to another, usually for money. Early forms of conveyance include feoffments, surrenders and admissions at manor courts (if the property was copyhold), final concords, common recoveries, bargains and sales and leases and releases.

A bargain and sale was an early form of conveyance often used by executors to convey land. The bargainee, or person to whom the land was bargained and sold, took possession, often referred to as becoming 'seised' of the land.

Feoffment was an early form of conveyance involving a simple transfer of freehold land by deed followed by in a ceremony called livery of seisin.

From the British Records Association "Guidelines 3 - Interpreting Deeds: How To Interpret Deeds - A Simple Guide And Glossary".

The Court of King's Bench was founded circa 1200 to hear common pleas, although it came to specialise in pleas of special interest and concern to the king, such as those which involved his own property interests, or breach of his peace, or an error of judgment by another royal court. By 1675 the King's Bench was the highest court of common law in England and Wales, with jurisdiction over both civil and criminal actions. Civil business was conducted on the 'Plea Side' and criminal business on the 'Crown Side'. It was absorbed into the High Court in 1875 (source of information: The National Archives Research Guides "Legal Records Information 34" and "Legal Records Information 36").

The Court of Exchequer originated after the Norman Conquest as a financial committee of the Curia Regis (the King's Court). By the reign of Henry II it had become separate, and was responsible for the collection of the king's revenue as well as for judging cases affecting the revenue. By the 13th century the court proper and the exchequer or treasury began to separate. The court's jurisdiction over common pleas now steadily increased, to include, for example, money disputes between private litigants. A second Court of Exchequer Chamber was set up in 1585 to amend errors of the Court of the King's Bench. These were amalgamated in 1830 when a single Court of Exchequer emerged as a court of appeal intermediate between the common-law courts and the House of Lords. In 1875 the Court of Exchequer became, by the Judicature Act of 1873, part of the High Court of Justice, and in 1880 was combined with the Court of Common Pleas (source of information: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008).

On 17th November 1967 the British Airports Authority unveiled a plaque at Heathrow Airport to commemorate the start of scientific mapping of Great Britain in 1784, the first baseline of the triangulation of Great Britain being situated close by.

A deed is any document affecting title, that is, proof of ownership, of the land in question. The land may or may not have buildings upon it. Common types of deed include conveyances, mortgages, bonds, grants of easements, wills and administrations.

From the British Records Association "Guidelines 3 - Interpreting Deeds: How To Interpret Deeds - A Simple Guide And Glossary".

The Augustinian canons of Holy Trinity, Aldgate owned land in Tottenham since the Middle Ages. Awlfield farmhouse was part of this estate. In 1619 the farm was leased out with demesne lands totalling 179 acres to Joseph Fenton, a barber-surgeon of London and the most substantial of the demesne tenants. Thereafter the farm was presumably leased, as in 1785, until in 1789 the house and 132 acres were bought by the tenant, Edwin Paine. The estate stretched westward across the Moselle, along the north side of Lordship Lane, thirty years later and was sometimes known as Church farm.

From: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 5: Hendon, Kingsbury, Great Stanmore, Little Stanmore, Edmonton Enfield, Monken Hadley, South Mimms, Tottenham (1976), pp. 348-355 (available online).

John Eliot senior (1683-1762) was born at St Austell, Cornwall, and was a successful merchant in Falmouth for some years before he moved to London, where he prospered with homes in Croydon and Bartholomew Lane, City of London. His son John (1707-1735) married Mariabella, the daughter of a wealthy tobacco merchant Peter Briggins, from whom he inherited property on which several houses were built in Bartholomew Close in the City. This became the Eliot family home, for it was a quiet and pleasant district, although in 1802 Bartholomew Fair was "Attended with unusual violence" (number 1371).

John Eliot inherited other property, including The King's Head Inn, Southwark, and property in Threadneedle Street and Mile End. The family appear to have retained the Falmouth House, and appear to have had an agent there to look after the business and estate interests. Eliot several times sent his grandson John (1735-1813) to attend to business and the West country Estates in or near Liskeard, Cornwall-Gormellick, Landazzard and Treworgey (see Nos. 116-156)-Topsham, Devon, and Ashmore Farm, Dorset, purchased by John Eliot in 1765 (see Nos. 157-3725).

A near neighbour of the Eliots was Robert Howard, metal and tin-plate worker of Old Street. The son of a brazier of Folkestone, he set up in London, and was one of many business and scientific men who borrowed money from John Eliot (III) the underwriter (see Number 929). His place of business was a large works, employing many local workmen, in Old Street on the site of the present Howard buildings; his daughter when an old woman wrote down her recollections of the works (Number 1709).

Robert Howard associated with A. Argand, the Swiss inventor of the standard oil lamp. The eldest son Robert spent some time at the Argand works near Geneva in 1788-9 and in his letters home he describes the lamps and the improvements, including the addition of the familiar double glass chimney, which it appears Howard effected on his own lamps (See Numbers 1297-1311). In later years the Howards paid an allowance to Argand and his daughter in their old age (see Numbers 1493-1513).

A daughter of the third John Eliot, Mariabella (1769-1852) married a son of Robert Howard, Luke (1772.-1864), who eventually inherited most of the Eliot property and was also a scientist of some note. Luke Howard served his apprenticeship with a chemist, Olive Sims, in Cheshire (see Nos. 1372-1377) and later founded a chemical manufacturing business at Plaistow (later moved to Stratford) in Essex, at first in conjunction with William Allen and then for a few years with Joseph Jewell. There are occasional references to the laboratory and to chemical experiments in Luke's letters and diaries.

Luke Howard, a member of the Askesian Society and elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1821, was especially known for his work in meteorology and for formulating the nomenclature of the clouds ( the familiar "cirrus", "nimbus", etc. ) Amongst other works he published in 1818 The Climate Of London (a copy of the enlarged 2nd. edition, 1833, is in the LMA library). He often noted weather conditions and barometer readings in his pocket diaries (see Nos. 1397-1406). This practice was also done regularly by an Eliot ancestor, Peter Briggins, in his diaries (see No. 2). Luke and Mariabella Howard lived at Plaistow near the laboratory when their children were young. Mariabella kept meticulous household accounts (Nos. 1394-1396) and also wrote charming letters to her husband and brother, mainly about the children. The eldest son was lively and needed a strict hand. At seven years old he helped his mother to bottle a cask of sweet wine, but "he tasted a little more wine...[and] a good deal of sugar off Mary's pies...and poor fellow he has smarted for his naughty tricks" (no. 1431). Mother was indulgent, but father recommended a rhubarb pill daily to cure his sweet tooth, and his grandfather insisted that he should not be allowed near the fishponds when visiting the cousins at Aspley.

Two of the sons followed early in their father's footsteps (Robert carried on the business, John became F.R.S) and as children on their seaside holidays at Folkestone they collected fossils, and seaweed to use as a hygrometer, while their sisters enjoyed bathing. While on such a holiday at Folkestone in 1812, Luke himself was questioned by armed men who were searching for a French General thought to be hiding in the neighbourhood (No. 1643). The daughters attended Quaker schools in Isleworth and Tottenham. There is no mention of the sons' schooling, but they may have attended the Quaker public school at Ackworth near Pontefract, Yorkshire, a school in which John Eliot (who lent money to the trustees) and Luke Howard were interested. Pontefract was the home of Luke Howards maternal relations, the Leathams. Later Luke purchased "The Villa" at Ackworth, which became his chief home (although there are no deeds of this property amongst his collection). Before moving to Ackworth, Luke Howard lived for a short time at Tottenham, Middlesex, and his son Robert lived there after his marriage to Rachel Lloyd, daughter of the Birmingham banker.

The Howards and Eliots and Peter Briggins were members of the Society of Friends. They normally attended the "Peel" meeting, which was handy for Bartholomew Close, but also went to Croydon and other places. John Eliot (III) and Luke Howard, in particular, attended meetings in various parts of Britain and sometimes abroad. They corresponded regularly with other friends, chiefly on religious matters, and also kept memoranda of meetings and matters of faith; many of the family papers consist of this type of material. A memorandum of John Eliot (III) describes his attendance before the Lord Mayor of London to answer his refusal as a Quaker to pay "Steeple house" rates; and the churchwardens of St. Bartholomew several times distrained upon his pewter-although apologetically, as Eliot and his family were good to the poor of the parish. Luke Howard was also afraid of destraint upon the laboratory. Church tithes, too, were refused on religious grounds and the "priest" personally attended the sheep shearing on the Eliot's Dorset estate, but "was uneasy at having to take it from a person who refused on religious grounds paying." Amongst essays on matters of faith is an article by Robert Howard senior refuting rumours that Quakers were hoarding corn during the shortage at the time of the French Wars. Luke Howard served on many Friends philanthropic committees.

These records, deposited by Messrs. Paine and Brettell of Chertsey, Surrey, solicitors, relate mainly to the purchase of Hanworth Park Estate by Henry Edwards Paine and Richard Brettell from the trustees of the will of Henry Perkins, the bibliophile, in October 1873, and the subsequent resale of the estate in smaller lots from then until 1882.

The collection includes documents which relate to the purchase of the Manor and Estate by James Ramsey Cuthbert from the Duke of St. Albans in 1810, and the sale of them by his son Frederick to Henry Perkins in 1828. On the death of Henry Perkins in 1855 the estate passed to his son Algernon as life tenant. He died without issue, so that in accordance with the Provisions of Henry Perkins' will the estate was sold by the trustees in 1873.

It had been the intention of Henry Paine and Richard Brettell to resell their purchase immediately as a whole, but they finally decided to split the part of the estate they had bought, - lots 1, 4 and 5 - into 19 lots which were first offered for sale in June 1874. They retained lot 3, the Manor of Hanworth. The sale of the estate took eight years, although auctions and sales were frequently arranged, and on occasions the price finally agreed on, was well below that originally asked. In April 1880, Richard Brettell conveyed his interest in Hanworth Park to Henry Paine in exchange for Paine's interest in lands jointly owned elsewhere, and in November of the same year the mortgage on the Estate was repaid.

The first and Largest purchaser was Alfred Lafone, who bought Hanworth Park House and surrounding land in the Park in 1874. Charles Pfander started purchasing land from the estate also in 1874, and James Scarlett bought "Queen Elizabeth's Gardens" in 1875. Many documents relate to the abortive negotiations for a sale to Jacobs Bradwell of Feltham in 1875. In 1878 Jasper Boswell bought 33 acres near the church yard opposite the land of Alfred Lafone, and in the next year Alfred Pullin Newman and his partner, William Hatch, bought much of the land Newman had leased with his brother since 1875. The final sale represented in this collection was in 1882, to Sidney Smith of Feltham, although correspondence relating to the estate continues until 1901.

Enfield Chase was enclosed under an Act of 1777. 'Chase' is another word for unenclosed park land, where hunting took place.

Lammas Lands became commons on Lammas Day (August 1st) when they were opened for common pasture until the spring.

The Middlesex Guildhall was the headquarters and central office of the Middlesex County Council. It was situated in Parliament Square, Westminster. In 1889 local government rearrangments meant that the Westminster area was moved from the county of Middlesex to the county of London. However, the Middlesex Guildhall remained there despite no longer being in Middlesex.

The Girls' Life Brigade was founded in 1902 by the National Sunday School Union. It aimed to encourage girls to become "responsible, self-reliant, useful Christian women". The movement was based at churches. Following a merger with other similar organisations, it is now part of the Girls' Brigade.

For more information see the Girls' Brigade website at http://www.girlsbrigade.org.uk/html/history.html (accessed June 2010).

A militia force was raised from the civilian population of a county, in order to supplement the regular army in cases of emergency. In 1554 a muster of men from the hamlets near the Tower of London was ordered, including Bethnal Green, Poplar and Stepney, then separate, rural villages. By 1605 East London had become an official military unit with the name Tower Hamlets, and the right to muster the militia was held by the Lieutenant of the Tower.

Information from The London Encyclopaedia, eds. Weinreb and Hibbert (LMA Library Reference 67.2 WEI).

Cuthbert Coates Smith of Herne Hill, engineer, and Bernard Edgar Aylwn of West End Lane, then Middlesex, engineer, traded as The Vaal Motor and Launch Company and were based at Eel Pie Island, Twickenham.

The documents in this collection are of two types, here divided into three parts. The first relates to the career of Gen. Sir Henry Charles Barnston Daubeny, G.C.B., 1810-1903, and includes his commissions from the rank of ensign in 1830 to that of colonel in 1857. He subsequently rose to the rank of general, and retired from the army in 1880. He was closely connected throughout his military career with the 55th Regiment of Foot, later the Border Regiment, and achieved the colonelcy of the 2nd Battalion in 1879. Besides being successively created C.B., K.C.B., and G.C.B., (ACC/1096/015,017,020), and honorary commander of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, he was created Knight of The Legion of Honour (15) and Officer of The Imperial Turkish Order of the Medjidie. The latter two decorations were granted as a result of his service in the Crimea, for which he also gained a pension of 100 p.a. (ACC/1096/012,013), and he served in the East Indies and China. He was a justice of the peace for Middlesex, and for Co Clare, Ireland. His appointment to the Commission of the Peace for the latter is included in this collection (ACC/1096/007). For the later years of his life he lived in Spring Grove, Isleworth, and devoted much of his time to a study of family history.

The final two parts of the collection deal respectively with pedigrees and genealogical notes, and with tombs, heraldry, and property connected with the Daubeny family. The division is not altogether clear cut, as some original bundles whose contents fall preponderantly into one category contain a few items from another. The Daubeny family was of direct Norman descent in the male line, and the head of the South Petherton branch was successively Baron Daubeny by tenure, by writ of summons to parliament (c 1295-1486) and by letters patent (1486-1548). The last of this line was Henry Lord Daubeny, later Earl of Bridgewater, who died without issue in 1548; his uncle and heir, James Daubeny of Wayford, never laid claim to the barony.

Later Daubenys had distinguished careers in the Church and the army. Colonel Henry Daubeny, 1779-1853, the father of H.C.B.D., who was also a keen genealogist, collected information concerning the Daubeny family and the related family of Hungerford, and compiled a manuscript pedigree (ACC/1096/041). His son continued his work on the pedigree with additions and corrections, and it was printed in 1884, but only as far as 1841. H.C.B.D. also arranged for the restoration of family tombs at South Petherton, Somerset, and Westminster Abbey. He collected material relating to families connected with the Daubenys by marriage (Hichens, Barnston, and Carpenter) and by name (the D'albinis, Delbenne and Theodore Agrippa D'Aubigne, grandfather of Madame de Maintenon). A recognised authority on the history of the family, he was consulted for advice and information by other Daubenys. Many members of the family took an active interest in the subject, not only in his lifetime, but also after his death, as can be seen in the correspondence concerning Philip D'Aubigni the Crusader (ACC/1086/130-137) and the shields of the barons of Magna Carta (ACC/1096/130-137). After his death the manuscript pedigree (ACC/1096/41) received further limited additions.

A large number of items in this collection have no indication of date, and can only be dated approximately. It should also be mentioned that the spelling of the family name differs between branches of the family, as well as varying at times in the family history; while Col. Henry and Sir Henry Charles Barnston favoured the form "Daubeney", other branches usually used the form "Daubeny". Sir Henry is often described as "Charles" to distinguish him from his father and three of his brothers who also bore the name "Henry" as a first Christian name. The best guide to the various Daubeny branches is the book of pedigrees (ACC/1049/041).

The Home Guard was first raised in May, 1940, on a semi-civilian basis in close association with the Police force, and was originally known as the Local Defence Volunteers. It was organized in companies, grouped in zones, corresponding to the Police districts, and In Middlesex there were four zones. In July, 1940, companies were organized in battalions, and after August, 1940; this semi-civilian force became known as the Home Guard. The following January, officers were given commissions and proper military status, and the force was brought under direct military control. In 1942, service in the Home Guard became compulsory. Early in 1943, zones were renamed Sectors. In the County of Middlesex there were 33 battalions, with a flotilla on the River Thames.

The operational, and recruiting area for the 1st (Middlesex) Home Guard, appears to have been within an area comparable with the Metropolitan Police Zone (Division) "T", including Heston and Isleworth; Staines; Ashford; Laleham; Harlington; Stanwell; Yiewsley and West Drayton; Hounslow; Whitton; Osterley; Cranford; Feltham; Bedfont; Hayes.

(Condensed from The Story of Middlesex, New Wartime Series, Vol. I, Number 2 - 1943, pp.59-61).

Probate (also called proving a will) is the process of establishing the validity of a will, which was recorded in the grant of probate.

If a person died intestate (without a valid will) their money, goods and possessions passed to their next of kin through an administration (or letters of administration) which had the same form in law as a will.

From the British Records Association "Guidelines 3 - Interpreting Deeds: How To Interpret Deeds - A Simple Guide And Glossary".

The documents are concerned with 69, later 73, Cambridge Road and 71, later 75, Cambridge Road.

'Mr. Ware' is probably Isaac Ware, the architect (d 1766), appointed clerk of works to His Majesty's palace in 1738. The King's River supplied Hampton Court Palace with irrigating and drinking water.

Richard Ford was senior magistrate at the Bow Street Office from 1800 to his death in 1806. John Cole Steele was murdered on Hounslow Heath 6 Nov. 1802. Possibly this case did not proceed beyond suspicion, for Devlin does not appear in the Middlesex Sessions books or Old Bailey Sessions register for this period.

A large house was built in Whitton in 1607, standing west of Hounslow Road, opposite the present church. It was rebuilt in 1724-25 for its owner, the Earl of Ilay, later that Duke of Argyll. In 1726 Ilay recieved permission to inclose more heath around the house, and laid out a park with a lake and a Gothic tower. The house was known as Whitton Place. A later owner sold Whitton Place to Sir William Chambers and constructed another house, Whitton Park, further north. Both houses are now demolished.

From: 'Twickenham: Introduction', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 3: Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell, Sunbury, Teddington, Heston and Isleworth, Twickenham, Cowley, Cranford, West Drayton, Greenford, Hanwell, Harefield and Harlington (1962), pp. 139-147 (available online).

The Mitchison family came from Northumberland. William Mitchison, whose will was dated 24 March 1817, owned the Benwell estate, Northumberland, and property in Newcastle-on-Tyne. This descended in turn to his two sons. Anthony, described as formerly of Wood Street, Cheapside, London, silk manufacturer, but late of Sunbury, died unmarried in 1836, aged 51 years, and was buried at Hampton. John the elder is described in a deed of 1834 as late of Gutter Lane, silk manufacturer, now of Sunbury. He owned property in Shoreditch, Islington, Soho and the City of London in the 1820's, although no draft or original deeds of these transactions are included in this accession. There are likewise no early deeds for the Manor Estate, Sunbury, which he probably purchased about 1828, and property in Lambeth which was acquired by him or his son, William Anthony Mitchison the elder. In 1839 he was operated on by Sir Astley Cooper, but, unfortunately, the shock of the operation rendered him temporarily insane. He eventually recovered his senses but the management of the estates, until his death in 1856, fell largely to his son, William Anthony the elder. By this time his elder surviving son, John Mitchison, the younger, was insane, though not certified as such until an inquiry in 1864 (ref: ACC/1156/69-71, 73-4).

After his father's death, William Anthony managed the estate on behalf of his brother John, whose Committee he became, his sister Juliana, who was domiciled in France, and himself, and acquired property in Kensington, Sunbury, Harmondsworth and elsewhere. William Anthony succeeded to John's estate in 1899, and on his death in 1900 left the estates to his three surviving sons, the Revd. Richard Stovin Mitchison, Herbert Sturges Mitchison and Arthur Maw Mitchison. They reached an agreement about the division of the estates between them (ref: ACC/1156/39), the properties being jointly managed until this could be effected. The Benwell and Sunbury Manor estates were sold, in 1903 and 1902-21 respectively, as were several other properties. The records end in the 1920's.

The Mitchisons inherited estates in Withern, Lincs., from the Stovin family (ref: CC/1156/178). Richard Henry Stovin bequeathed his estates to Richard Stovin Maw, eldest son of his deceased half-sister, Margaret. These lands were subsequently left mortgaged and in trust to his daughters, Catherine Sturges Maw, who died unmarried in 1902, and Harriett Jane Stovin Maw, who married William Anthony Mitchison the elder. The Withern Estate was sold by her sons in 1918-19 (ref: ACC/1156/167-177). Harriett and Catherine Maw were also beneficiaries under the will of their uncle, Joseph Sturges (d.1875), who set up a trust for the benefit of his nieces and nephews (ref: ACC/1156/190).

The parliamentary constituency of Tottenham is situated in the borough of Haringey. It was established in 1885 when it also included the Wood Green area. Between 1885 and 1918 the area returned Liberal candidates.

In 1918 the seat was divided into Tottenham North and Tottenham South, while Wood Green became a separate constituency. Between 1918 and 1950 the Tottenham seats were held by a mix of Conservative and Labour candidates. In 1950 the seats were reunited into the current Tottenham constituency, covering Tottenham, Tottenham Hale, Haringay, West Green, Seven Sisters, Bruce Grove, Northumberland Park and Finsbury Park. Since 1950 the seat has been held by Labour candidates.

The Wood Green constituency returned Conservative Members of Parliament between 1918 and 1950. Between 1950 and 1983 it returned Labour politicians. The constituency was abolished in 1983 and merged with Hornsey to form the parliamentary constitutency of Hornsey and Wood Green, comprising half of the borough of Haringey, covering Wood Green, Noel Park, Alexandra Palace, Muswell Hill, Crouch End, Cranley Gardens and Highgate. The new seat was held by the Conservatives until 1992 when a Labour candidate was successful. In 2005 and 2010 the seat was taken by the Liberal Democrats.

The church of Saint Alban, also known as Saint Alban the Martyr, originated in a mission run by the church of All Saints, South Acton, begun in 1882. The mission was run from halls and schools until 1887 when a permanent building was constructed. A district was formed in 1888. The patron was the bishop of London.

From: 'Acton: Churches', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 7: Acton, Chiswick, Ealing and Brentford, West Twyford, Willesden (1982), pp. 35-39. Available online.

The history of the church of Saint Mark, Noel Park, begins in 1884 when work commenced on the Noel Park Estate and services were held by Revd R.B. Dowling in a shop in Lymington Avenue. A site in Gladstone Avenue for the church, vicarage and a hall had already been purchased, with the help of the Bishop of London's Fund. The church hall was opened on 25 March 1885. The church of St Mark was consecrated on 1 November 1889, when an ecclesiastical district was assigned by the Ecclesiastical commissioners from part of Saint Michael's, Wood Green.

The Walsham-How Mission Hall was opened in 1913. It is named after Bishop Walsham-How, first Bishop of Wakefield, who encouraged the people of his native Shropshire to adopt the parish of Saint Mark as their county mission. This money was raised in Shropshire to erect the mission hall, which would be supported by the Shropshire Mission to East London.

St Mark's (Noel Park) Institute co-ordinated social societies connected with St Mark's, and their finances.

In 1615 Sir John Weld of Southgate erected a small chapel on his own land for the use of his family and local people. It was consecrated in 1615 on condition that all users took Easter communion at All Saints church and that the vicar of Edmonton should consent to baptisms and marriages there. The chapel was assigned a district chapelry in Southgate in 1851. The chapel was demolished in 1862 and replaced in 1863 by Christ Church, Southgate. The new church was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott in the Decorated style and contains stained glass windows designed by Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Edward Burne-Jones.

The church of Saint Peter, Page Green, Tottenham, originated in a mission hall built by the Draper's Company to serve the poor and populous district between Page Green and Tottenham Hale in 1883-4. Ten years later a permanent building was planned, which was consecrated in 1900 when a district chapelry was formed out of Holy Trinity parish. The church was declared redundant in July 1973 and the parish was reunited with Holy Trinity, Tottenham.

The medieval parish church of Perivale or Little Greenford, St Mary the Virgin, is situated in the valley of the River Brent south of Western Avenue in the south west corner of the parish. When suburban development reached Perivale in the 1930s, a mission church dedicated to St Nicholas was built on the north side of Western Avenue, where most of the development was taking place. The parish was extended to the east in 1932 to take in part of St James, Alperton and St Barnabas, Ealing. St Nicholas' Church was consecrated in 1935 and was assigned a conventional district, but was never licensed for marriages. It was placed in the care of a missioner with the intention that in time it would become a separate parish. It had its own Parochial Church Council and published its own parish magazine. In the 1950s the Bishop of London decided that Perivale should remain one parish. At the end of 1955 St Nicholas again became an integral part of the parish of Perivale and ceased to maintain separate accounts. The missioner was replaced by a priest-in-charge under the authority of the Rector of Perivale. The two parts of the parish were brought closer together at the end of 1959 when the priest-in-charge of St Nicholas, the Reverend W H Hobday, became Rector of Perivale. A new parish church was built in the early 1960s to replace both St Mary and St Nicholas. It is situated in Federal Road adjacent to St Nicholas Church, which is now the parish hall. It was consecrated in 1965 and dedicated to both St Mary the Virgin and St Nicholas. The old parish church was restored and continued in use until 1972 when it was closed and declared redundant. It is now an arts centre. St Mary's burial ground has been closed but occasional interments still take place there in private graves. The Perivale Committee was set up by St Mary's Parochial Church Council.

Until the mid 19th Century, Ashford, like Laleham, was a chapelry of Staines. Ashford Church was served by a curate appointed by the Vicar of Staines. In 1860 Asford became a perpetual curacy in the gift of the Lord Chancellor and in 1865 it bacame a vicarage. Ashford Church was at one time dedicated to St. Michael. In 1796 the church was pulled down and replaced by a brick built church on the same site. The present church of St Matthew's, designed by Butterfield, was built in 1857-59 immediately adjacent to the 1796 church which was demolished on the completion of the new church.

In 1872 the West London District Schools opened in Ashford. These were poor law schools which accommodated 800 children from Fulham, Hammersmith, Paddington and some of the Westminster parishes. The school was taken over by the London County Council in 1930 and was renamed Ashford Residential School. It closed in 1955.

The Victoria County History of Middlesex volume II (published in 1911) described late Victorian Ashford as being almost completely rural. 'Now ..... an entirely new town has arisen about the station to accommodate a population of the artisan class. To the east of the older part of the town is a group of private houses standing in their own gardens'. A new church, St. Hilda's was built in 1913 on the corner of Stanwell Road and Woodthorpe Road to serve the population living near the station. It was completed and consecrated in 1928, was assigned a conventional district and eventually in c. 1973 became a separate parish. The mission church of St Benedict in Napier Road provided for the rapidly growing district of Ashford Common to the south-east of the parish. St Hilda's is a daughter church of St Matthew, Ashford situated at the corner of Stanwell Road and Woodthorpe Road. A church hall was built on the site initially, followed by the first portion of the church in 1913. St Hilda's was completed and consecrated in 1928. It was licensed for marriages in 1939 and assigned a conventional district. It is now a separate parish.

St Benedict's mission church: A mission church had been established at Ashford Common by 1911 to serve the rapidly growing population. In 1930 a site was acquired for a permanent church in Napier Road. In 1936 a curate was placed in charge of the church. On 1 May 1940 St Benedict's ceased to be part of Ashford Parish and was handed over to the Vicar of St Saviour, Upper Sunbury.

See A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 2: General; Ashford, East Bedfont with Hatton, Feltham, Hampton with Hampton Wick, Hanworth, Laleham, Littleton (1911).

A priest is first mentioned in the manor of Harefield in 1086. In the late 12th century the advowson was given to the Knights Hospitallers, although the Newdigate family later became patrons of the church. The church building has some medieval features, but was restored and altered in 1768 and again in 1841. During the First World War Harefield Park became an Australian hospital, and an Australian graveyard was established in the church grounds.

From: 'Harefield: Church', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 3: Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell, Sunbury, Teddington, Heston and Isleworth, Twickenham, Cowley, Cranford, West Drayton, Greenford, Hanwell, Harefield and Harlington (1962), pp. 252-256. Available online.

Saint Philip the Apostle originated in an iron mission church established in 1899 by the London Diocesan Home Mission. The permanent church was built in 1906 and a consolidated chapelry was formed in 1907 from parts of the parishes of Holy Trinity and Christ Church. The Bishop of London was patron of the living. The church was designed in the Perpendicular style and seated 800. The organ came from St. Philip, Clerkenwell.

From: 'Tottenham: Churches', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 5: Hendon, Kingsbury, Great Stanmore, Little Stanmore, Edmonton Enfield, Monken Hadley, South Mimms, Tottenham (1976), pp. 348-355. Available online.

The church of St. Mary The Virgin has parts dating to 1130, although the church has been subsequently extended and restored. The advowson of the church was granted to the priory of the Holy Trinity, Hounslow. A vicarage was endowed by the Bishop of London in 1316, and the advowson was granted to the Bishop after the Dissolution.

From: 'Spelthorne Hundred: East Bedfont with Hatton', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 2: General; Ashford, East Bedfont with Hatton, Feltham, Hampton with Hampton Wick, Hanworth, Laleham, Littleton (1911), pp. 309-314. Available online.

Herbert Wilson, the rector of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, the parish church of Harlington, founded a mission church at Dawley in 1910. It stood on the west side of Dawley Road and was replaced in 1934 by the church of Saint Jerome.

From: 'Harlington: Churches', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 3: Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell, Sunbury, Teddington, Heston and Isleworth, Twickenham, Cowley, Cranford, West Drayton, Greenford, Hanwell, Harefield and Harlington (1962), pp. 270-273. Available online.

The church of Saint Alban the Martyr, Golders Green, was built as a chapel-of-ease to All Saints, Childs Hill, in 1910. It became the centre of a new parish taken from that of All Saints in 1922. The original church, a simple brick building, became the parish hall in 1933, when another church was built adjacent to it. The second church was by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, who also designed most of the fittings, in a Gothic inspired style. In 1979 St Alban was united with Saint Michael, Golders Green to form the new parish of Golders Green.

The church of Saint Anne originated as a mission church established by the London Diocesan Home Mission in 1899. A parish was formed in 1905 from the parishes of Christ Church, Holy Trinity and Saint John's, Kensal Green. The Bishop of London was patron. The church building, in brick with stone dressings, was completed in 1905 and seated 750.

Source of Information: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 7: Acton, Chiswick, Ealing and Brentford, West Twyford, Willesden (1982), pp. 236-241.

The chapel of Saint Mary, so called circa 1300 and in 1535, stood west of the manor house and was one of the smallest churches in Middlesex, seating around 40 people. It was rebuilt circa 1712 by Frederick Herne and in 1800 was a plain gabled building of brick with round-headed windows, a western entrance, and a bellcot. Thomas Willan and his architect William Atkinson removed the road between the church and the manor house, covering both buildings with cement to give the appearance of stone, and embellishing them with Gothic details. To accommodate a growing population, a church hall was built in 1937 and used for worship until in 1958 a new church, incorporating the old one as a Lady Chapel, was built to the design of N. F. Cachemaille-Day.

From: 'West Twyford: Church', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 7: Acton, Chiswick, Ealing and Brentford, West Twyford, Willesden (1982), pp. 175-176.

Saint Francis' Church began as a mission within the parish of Saint Andrew, High Road, Willesden in 1911. A permanent church was consecrated in 1933 and the parish became independent in December of that year. Steps towards reuniting the parish with its former parent began in 1976 when the vicar of Saint Francis' was appointed "priest in charge" of Saint Andrew's. The benefices were united in 1983 and the two parishes were formally merged in 1991, becoming known as Saint Andrew and Saint Francis of Assisi, Willesden.

The church of Saint Paul, Northfields Road, was constructed in a Gothic style in 1906 to 1907, seating 850. A parish was assigned in 1907, taken from Saint John's, Ealing Dean. The patron is the Bishop of London.

Source of information: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 7: Acton, Chiswick, Ealing and Brentford, West Twyford, Willesden (1982), pp. 150-153.

The church of Saint John was constructed in 1838 as a chapel of ease to the parish church at Norwood. A parish was assigned in 1850 and extended in 1880. The original church on Southall Green was replaced in 1910 by a larger building on Church Avenue, constructed in a Perpendicular style by C. G. Miller. The old church building was converted for use as a hall.

From: 'Norwood, including Southall: Churches', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 4: Harmondsworth, Hayes, Norwood with Southall, Hillingdon with Uxbridge, Ickenham, Northolt, Perivale, Ruislip, Edgware, Harrow with Pinner (1971), pp. 50-52.

Saint Andrew's church opened in 1865. The church was designed by George Gilbert Scott (1811-1878) in an early Gothic style. Reverend Richard Croft, Vicar of Hillingdon 1856-69 was responsible for asking Sir Gilbert Scott to design a new church for Uxbridge. The builder of the church was William Fassnidge of Uxbridge. The foundation stone was laid on 29-06-1864 and the completed church was consecrated on 01-05-1865.

The original church consisted of a chancel, aisled nave, south porch and sanctuary. The tower and shingled spire were completed in 1866. There have been various alterations to the church over the years including a major restoration project on the spire between 1952 and 1957. This project was led by the company Gray's of Holborn.

A mission room dedicated to Saint Peter was built in the Greenway in 1906.

From: "Hillingdon, including Uxbridge: Churches"; A History of the County of Middlesex, Volume 4: Harmondsworth, Hayes, Norwood with Southall, Hillingdon with Uxbridge, Ickenham, Northolt, Perivale, Rusilip, Edgware, Harrow with Pinner (1971), pp. 87 - 91.

All Saints, Harrow, was built in 1842 near an earlier Chapel of Ease and consecrated in 1850. Edward Munroe became the first curate. A separate parish was assigned to it in 1844 taken from St Mary's Harrow and a small part of Bushey (Hertfordshire). Two vestries were added in 1958. The church has six bells which date from 1890 and two from 1935.

Saint Mary, Willesden was the parish church for the whole of Willesden until 1867 when the rapid growth of population in the area led to the creation of new parishes. In 1811 the population was 751, by 1901 this had expanded to 100,000. The parish of Willesden has existed for over 1000 years. In 937 King Athelstan defeated the Danes at the battle of Brunanburh, and as a thank offering gave the Royal Manors of Willesden-cum-Neasden to the Dean and Chapter of Saint Paul's Cathedral (subsequently many of the vicars of Willesden have also been Canons of Saint Paul's). A church was built, possibly replacing an earlier wooden one. The earliest part of the church as it stands today dates from the thirteenth century with fifteenth and sixteenth century additions. The two Victorian restorations added a north aisle and a new south porch. Two notable fittings are the Purbeck marble font, dating from 1150 and the fourteenth century inner door to the south porch. By the sixteenth century the parish was a focus for pilgrims attracted by the shrine containing the statue of Our Lady of Willesden, popularly known as the Black Virgin of Willesden, which was supposed to possess miraculous powers. At the time of the Reformation it was seen as idolatrous and was taken to Chelsea and burned in 1538. A modern Black Virgin by C. Stern was installed in the church in 1972. During the period of the Civil War in the mid-seventeenth century, puritanical influence was strong. The parish was dominated by the Parliamentarian Sir William Roberts, a friend of Oliver Cromwell and Lord of the Manor of Neasden. He conducted marriages at his house and took charge of the registers during the Interregnum.

This list also includes records of Willesden General Hospital (DRO/113/WGH).

In 1899 Saint Mary's Church, Willesden, opened a mission in Dog Lane for railway employees. This was replaced in 1910 by Saint Raphael's, a London Diocesan Home Mission chapel for the Great Central Railway estate. Before a new church was built at Garden Way, Neasden in 1924, an iron church situated at the apex of Gresham and Woodheyes roads was used. Saint Raphael's church closed c.1972. It never became an independent parish church.

The parish of Christ Church was formed in 1867 from St Mary's Willesden; its patron and first rector being Dr Charles Williams. The Church, a limestone building in thirteenth century style, was designed by C.R.B. King and constructed between 1866-1909. It had a High Church reputation. The Church was damaged by bombs in 1940 and not reopened until 1948. During this period, services were held at Mapesbury Hall and St. Gabriel's, Cricklewood. In 1971, the parish was united with Saint Laurence, Brondesbury. In 1990 Christ Church was substantially remodelled; much of the building was converted to flats, with a reduced church remaining in operation.

Holy Trinity Church, Northwood, was founded in 1854 on a site given by Lord Robert Grosvenor. The church was constructed in a Victorian Gothic style by S.S. Teulon. Extensions were added in 1895 and 1928; while one of the stained glass windows is by Edward Burne-Jones.

From: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 4: Harmondsworth, Hayes, Norwood with Southall, Hillingdon with Uxbridge, Ickenham, Northolt, Perivale, Ruislip, Edgware, Harrow with Pinner (1971), pp. 142-144.

The church of Saint Mellitus was constructed in 1910, from the proceeds of the sale of Holy Trinity, Gough Square, London. A parish was formed in 1908 and included the chapel of Saint Mark, Lower Boston Road, as a chapel of ease. The patron is the Bishop of London. The building is in a Gothic style, designed by Sir Arthur Blomfield and Sons. The 'History of the County of Middlesex' notes that "the dedication of the church is probably derived from the legend, propagated by Sir Montagu Sharpe, that Mellitus, Bishop of the East Saxons, was instrumental in the conversion of the Anglo-Saxons of Hanwell".

From: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 3: Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell, Sunbury, Teddington, Heston and Isleworth, Twickenham, Cowley, Cranford, West Drayton, Greenford, Hanwell, Harefield and Harlington (1962), pp. 230-233.

The church of Saint Mark, Lower Boston Road, Hanwell, was constructed in 1879 in a Decorated style and was initially used as a chapel of ease to the parishes of Saint Mary and Saint Mellitus. The church was assigned its own parish in 1919 with the Bishop of London as patron.

From: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 3: Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell, Sunbury, Teddington, Heston and Isleworth, Twickenham, Cowley, Cranford, West Drayton, Greenford, Hanwell, Harefield and Harlington (1962), pp. 230-233.

In 1899, the detached part of the parish of Saint James, Clerkenwell which lay to the north east of Muswell Hill in the parish of Hornsey became a mission district. Services were held at the Norwegian House, a former restaurant in the grounds of Alexandra Park, which stood near to the junction of Alexandra Park Road and The Avenue. A year later, in 1901, an iron church dedicated to Saint Andrew was erected on land purchased by the Bishop of London's Fund. A new parish was created from the former mission district and part of the parish of Saint Michael, Wood Green. A permanent church, designed by JS Alder, was consecrated in 1903. A church hall, to the west, was opened in 1923 and was used for worship after the church was devastated by an incendiary bomb in 1944. Saint Andrew's was rededicated in 1957, having been remodelled by RS Morris to incorporate the shell of its predecessor. The parish was united with Saint Saviour, Alexandra Park Road, in 1993 to form the new parish of Alexandra Park. Saint Andrew is used as the parish church.

The Victoria History of the County of Middlesex, Volume V, p. 353

The church of Saint Alban was opened in 1889. Some of the fittings were from the old Saint Mary's Church, Teddington; while other fittings included seven silver lamps which were once in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The church was amalgamated with Saint Mary's, Teddington in 1975. The building became an arts centre.

From: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 3: Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell, Sunbury, Teddington, Heston and Isleworth, Twickenham, Cowley, Cranford, West Drayton, Greenford, Hanwell, Harefield and Harlington (1962), pp. 76-79.

The church of Saint Mary on Fore Street, Edmonton, was constructed in 1884. A parish had been assigned in 1883. The vicar of Edmonton, Robert S Gregory, gave £3,000 to the cost of construction. The church was demolished in 1957 and a small chapel opened in the vicarage. However, the vicarage was then demolished so a new building, Saint Mary's Church Centre, was constructed in 1970, containing a small church, meeting hall and accommodation for Sisters of the Community of St. Mary the Virgin.

From: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 5: Hendon, Kingsbury, Great Stanmore, Little Stanmore, Edmonton Enfield, Monken Hadley, South Mimms, Tottenham (1976), pp. 181-187.

St Mary Magdalene is the parish church for Littleton, Shepperton Green, Charlton Village and Ashford Common (South). It forms a United Benefice with St Nicholas Church, Shepperton. It is situated at Squires Bridge Road.

The parish of Saint Thomas, Acton Vale, was founded in 1915. The Bishop of London is patron. The parish replaced Saint Barnabas's. The site of the church was donated by the Goldsmiths' Company of London; while the construction was funded by the sale of the site of Saint Thomas Charterhouse, Goswell Road. The building was designed by Sir A. Blomfield in a Perpendicular style. A parish centre was added in 1973.

From: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 7: Acton, Chiswick, Ealing and Brentford, West Twyford, Willesden (1982), pp. 35-39.

The church of Emmanuel, Church Road, Northwood, was founded in 1896 by the Vicar of Holy Trinity, Northwood. Initially it was an iron church, but a permanent building was constructed in 1904, designed by Sir Frank Elgood.

From: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 4: Harmondsworth, Hayes, Norwood with Southall, Hillingdon with Uxbridge, Ickenham, Northolt, Perivale, Ruislip, Edgware, Harrow with Pinner (1971), pp. 142-144.