HOUNSLOW EAST, HOUNSLOW CENTRAL
Piccadilly Line (Heathrow)


Hounslow East and Hounslow Central are not really worth going out of your way for, but there are a few buildings of interest so I will give directions to those in case you find yourself in this part of the world with time on your hands.

Hounslow East The Tube station itself was given a new ticket hall etc. in 2002 – an excellent building (Arcanthus Lawrence Wrightson) with sweeping green roof. On leaving the station, turn left down Kingsley Road and walk towards the High Street. When you reach this, cross over and go right for a few minutes. Turn left down School Road, just before the High Street forks. At the T junction with Pears Road turn left. Walk past the the pretty Victorian primary school.


At No. 103 you will find Hyde House. Now converted to sheltered housing, this delightful building was built in 1854 as a barracks. However, it does not have an institutional appearance and indeed the row of yews in front of the house and the trees of the small green space opposite make this area an oasis in otherwise dreary surroundings. From the station to Hyde House is about ten minutes’ walk.

For Hounslow Central Station and an elegant house at the entrance of Lampton Park. Return to the High Street (right-hand fork) – it’s a little confusing here. Cross over and continue down the pedestrianised street. Trees have been planted near The Treaty Centre, so it is really quite pleasant. There is also an modern church, Holy Trinity (W.E. Cross 1961) with free-standing concrete tower. Not to everyone’s taste, but quite impressive in its way. Continue walking until you reach the end of the High Street.
Lampton Road is on the right. Go down this. After some faceless modern offices comes a somewhat flamboyant set of buildings, the Genada Guest House.




After these, at the corner of Bulstrode Road is an off-licence with old enamel advertising signs on the wall. Pass Hounslow Central Tube Station (more about that later) and continue down the road, now residential, towards the park. Ignore the first set of green iron gates and turn into Clovelly Road.




















Here you will find a handsome Victorian house converted to NHS use. Walk past the front of this and follow a path through a shrubbery. On your left is the Hounslow Civic Centre. Zoom past the enormous bright red brick car park as fast as possible to see The Lawn – a charming Regency house with two curved bays running the height of the house. From Hyde Road to the park is about 15 minutes’ walk.

Return to Hounslow Central Underground Station (1912) .This is an oddity, the little dormer windows give it a domestic look. Inside is a lot of whitewash and some attractive blue tiles – not like a normal station building at all. From here you might want to go on to the next station, Hounslow West, for another barracks (still in use) and Hounslow Heath where there is a large Local Nature Reserve. This has a separate entry - nature lovers will find it rewarding at any time of the year.

MAP

This is just one walk from the many to be found at London Tube Rambles. There are architectural gems, beautiful country views, historic places and whacky buildings to be found, even in the most unpromising areas covered by the Greater London Underground stations. Usually the places listed are within a mile of the Tube - often only five minutes walk away. If you reached this as an individual page via a search engine, you might like to go to www.londontuberambles.co.uk to see the other destinations explored . You'll be amazed at what's out there!


© DR2007