Parish of St Dunstan, Cranford , Church of England

Cranford parish covered around 737 acres, surrounded by the Crane river, Hounslow Heath and the Bath Road. In 1930 the civil parish became part of the urban district of Hayes and Harlington. The Cranford Vestry appears to have been a small body, usually attended by 3 to 5 persons and meeting twice a year. Their major concerns were rates, poor relief and the election of parish officers, including churchwardens, an overseer, surveyors and a constable. A small workhouse was constructed in 1776. A parish council was formed in 1895 and was largely concerned with election of parish officers and the disposal of sewage.

A priest is first mentioned at Cranford in 1086. The advowson was held by the Knights Templars and the Hospitallers, and subsequently by the king. The church of Saint Dunstan is small; the chancel and tower date from the 15th century, while the nave was destroyed by fire in 1710 and rebuilt in 1716. Restorations were carried out in 1895.

Source of information: 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). Available online.