Parish of St Mary, Hanwell , Church of England

The parish of Hanwell ran alongside the eastern bank of the Brent river. The northern, western and southern borders of the parish were formed by the Brent and Thames rivers, while the eastern border was composed of fields and commons. The parish was 1209 acres in size, with a further 74 acres of detached land to the north-west which belonged to the parish as it was owned by Hanwell Manor. New Brentford was part of Hanwell parish until the eighteenth century, but had a separate chapel. The original parish of Saint Mary was reduced in size between 1908 and 1951, when several new parishes were created: Saint Mellitus, Saint Mark, Saint Thomas and Saint Christopher. The patronage of the parish rested with the Abbot of Westminster, and later the Bishop of London.

The Vestry were responsible for a number of local administrative functions, although they shared poor relief with a local charity. There was no parish workhouse, rather, some small houses were available at low or no rent.

The church of Saint Mary is first mentioned in the 12th century, although it is probably older. The medieval church was demolished in 1781 as it was too small; while its replacement was demolished in 1841 for the same reason. The church was reopened in 1842.

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).