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Home , Blondin Park, Boston Manor, Boston Manor Park, Brentford Urban District, Chiswick House, Elthorne (ward)

Park Conservation Management Plan

Peter McGowan Associates, landscape architects

London Borough of

Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan

Consultants Peter McGowan Associates Landscape Architects and Heritage Management Consultants 86 Constitution Street Edinburgh EH6 6RP 0131 261 6265 • [email protected] with Morag Cross in association with Jura Consultants and LDN Architects

First issued May 2011/ revised and updated April 2018

Boston Manor Park 1 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 Contents

Boston Manor Park site location 4 1 Introduction 5 1.1 Background 5 1.2 The park today 5 1.3 Historical outline 6 1.4 Access 6 1.5 Ownership, boundaries and report coverage 7 1.6 Approach and presentation 7 2 Understanding the park 8 2.1 Site, landform and geology 8 2.2 Urban context, urban design analysis 9 2.3 Noise 10 2.4 Zones of distinct landscape character 11 2.5 Landscape development of Boston Manor park: summary chronology 16 2.6 Survey of designed landscape features 36 2.6.1 General 36 2.6.2 Archaeology 36 2.6.3 Water features 36 2.6.4 Built features 38 2.6.6 Access and circulation 45 2.6.7 Park facilities 49 2.6.8 Woodland, trees and gardens 52 2.6.9 Veteran and specimen trees 57 2.6.10 Planned or notable views 58 2.7 Planning designations and nature conservation 60 2.8 Park use and Friends 60 2.9 Park management 61 2.10 Strategic context 62 3 Analysis and Statement of Significance 64 3.1 Analysis, park in its cultural context 64 3.2 Statement of significance, levels of significance 65 3.3 Statutory designations as a basis for significance 66 3.4 Statement of Significance 67 4 Management issues and threats to significance 70 5 Park conservation and management, objectives & policies 72 5.1 Conservation goal 72 5.2 Conservation and management objectives for the park 72 5.3 Conservation and management policies 73 5.3.1 Conservation of whole site and its character 73 5.3.2 Boston 73 5.3.3 Othe built features and lake 73 5.3.4 Accessibility and circulation 73 5.3.5 Biodiversity: woodland and trees 74 5.3.6 Archaeology 74 5.3.7 General improvement and intrusive features 74 5.3.8 Visitor access and experience 74 5.3.9 Sports and play facilities 74 5.3.10 Increasing understanding 74 5.3.11 Sustainability and climate change 75 6 Conservation and management proposals 76 6.1 Boston Manor house 76 6.2 Design improvements to other built features and lake 77 6.3 Accessibility and circulation 77 2 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 6.4 Biodiversity: woodland, trees and garden spaces 77 6.5 Archaeology 78 6.6 General improvements and intrusive features 78 6.7 Visitor access and experience 78 6.8 Sports and play facilities 78 6.9 Increasing understanding 78 6.10 Management and maintenance 78 6.11 Cost and funding 79 6.11.1 Outline costing 79 6.11.2 Sources of funding 79 7 Conclusion 80

Appendix 1 81 Historical maps and plans

Appendix 2 111 Full development chronology from research

Appendix 3 155 Sources and references

Figures, survey and management plans 163 (at back of report in printed version; in separate digital file)

Figure 1 Site boundaries

Figure 1a Designated area boundaries and features

Figure 2 Urban form analysis

Figure 3 Landscape character zones

Figure 4 Water features

Figure 5 Built features and enclosures

Figure 6 Access and circulation features

Figure 7 Woods and planted features

Figure 7a Veteran trees

Figure 8 Park facilities

Figure 9 Significance by area or feature

Figure 10 Management zones

Figure 11 Management proposals Boston Manor Park 3 Conservation Management Plan April 2018

Boston Manor Park – view south along or Spine path in 1960s and 2010; view north in 2015 4 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018

Gunnersbury M4

Boston Manor Park

Brentford Thames

Syon

Boston Manor Park site location (circled in red) Boston Manor Park 5 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 1 Introduction

1.1 Background In 2010 Hounslow Borough Council with support from English Heritage commissioned a suite of reports for Boston Manor house and park. The reports included a Conservation Management Plan for the house, Conservation Management Plan for the park and an Options Appraisal for both. These reports have been produced by a team of consultants and each report has been informed by the other. In recognition of the range of interests in Boston Manor the findings have been reported in three separate volumes. These studies were used to develop proposals to conserve and the house and park and provided the basis for Stage 1 funding application to the Heritage Lottery Fund. Following the success of the Stage 1 application for the park the present version of the Conservation Management Plan has been prepared during the development stage of the park project. Boston Manor park has provided the setting for the house through its long history and has seen substantial change in this highly urbanised locality. It is now a greatly valued and well-used public park. The park has been the subject of an earlier management plan and other studies, and the first purpose of the present CMP is to appraise its needs from a landscape conservation and public use viewpoint to provide the context for decisions about the conservation and future use of the house. The most major change to the park was the construction of the elevated section of the M4 in the early 1960s, but there are continuing pressures on the land of the park for car parking. The issue of ‘planning gain’ for conservation of the house and park from permitting corporate car parking means that the use of the park is integral to the future of the whole complex. The options appraisal is intended to provide the basis for decisions about the long- term future of the house within the context of its public park setting. The three strands of Jura Consultants’ commission have been produced by a team under their direction with LDN Architects providing the main inputs to the house options appraisal and conservation plan and Peter McGowan Associates being principally responsible for this conservation management plan for Boston Manor park.

1.2 The park today Boston Manor park is a park of great significance within the LBH owing to its historic house and the landscape in which it is set. It is the largest public open space in the area at 13.75 hectares (34 acres). In order to protect the park as an asset it has been designated as a Key Park within Hounslow’s Parks and Green Spaces Strategic Framework. In 2005 Boston Manor park first received a Green Flag Award, which has been retained in subsequent years. A Management Plan for Boston Manor park written by John Laing Integrated Services (JLIS) provided guidance for the management and any relevant development of the park to the year 2013. Greenspace 360 currently oversee management and maintenance of all LBH parks and open spaces including Boston Manor park. The house is now managed directly by LBH. The park benefits from a very active friends organisation – Friends of Boston Manor (FOBM) – who, among other activities, run the Pavilion café, manage tennis courts and training, raise funds for the park, and act as a voice for local users, liaising with the Council and park managers. 6 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 1.3 Historical outline BMP has been a public park since 1924 when the house and surrounding 20 acres were purchased by Brentford Urban District Council after the remaining estate was sold by the last of the Clitherow family. For most of its history the park has been privately owned estate landscape laid out as the setting for the manor house, as pleasure grounds and as a working landscape. The Manor of Boston was created by King Edward I about the year of 1280 by separation from and granted to the priory of St. Helen in Bishopsgate in the late 12th century, which held it until the dissolution of the monasteries in 1538. Boston Manor house was built in 1623 by Lady Mary Reade, a young widow who remarried not long after its completion to Sir Edward Spencer of . During the Civil War in 1642, the battle of Brentford took place nearby. In 1670 the estate of some 230 acres was sold to James Clitherow, an East India merchant for £5,136, who extended the house to the north. It remained the home of the Clitherow family for seven generations during the next 254 years, until it came into the ownership of the Council. Although Brentford had become built-up as an industrial area by the second half of the 19th century, Boston Manor house and its grounds remained rural. A description in 1886 referred to the charm of the woodland walk, a vista cut creating a view of the park from the house, rose walks and the fine kitchen garden. In 1918, the estate had become increasingly costly to maintain and, in order to avoid the threat of the house being demolished and the park developed for housing, Colonel Stracey Clitherow sold Boston Manor house and 50 acres of land to Brentford Urban District Council, who opened the park to the public on 11 September 1924. The house was badly damaged during World War II, however grants were secured for its restoration. The works were completed and the house was reopened by the Queen Mother in 1963. Part of the house was later leased to the Housing for Women Association who converted it into flats for their members, apart from the State Rooms, and in the 1990s also converted the stable block into self- contained flats. The historic house is home to the vast majority of the Borough’s rare paintings collection, mainly historic local views of Brentford, and . For a more detailed historical accounts see Section 2.5 and Appendix 2.

1.4 Access The park is accessed by people walking via three main entrances in the north- west and east off Boston Manor Road and in the south via a footbridge over the from the towpath, which in turn links with the Great West Road (A4) and other routes. The canal towpath forms part of the Capital Ring strategic Metropolitan walking route, developed by the Walking Forum in partnership with local authorities. The LPFF playing fields are accessed from two entrances on Boston Gardens, the south-eastern one gated and locked and leading via a track to the pavilion and parking area. Limited car parking (approximately 50 spaces) is available in the south-east corner of the park, with access from Boston Manor Road, and was refurbished in spring 2010. Boston Manor is the nearest tube station located 0.5km north of the park along Boston Manor Road, at the north of the LPFF area. Buses E8 from or Brentford and 195 from Brentford to /Hayes buses stop outside the park and the H91 stops nearby on Great West Road. Brentford mainline train station lies 0.5km to the south of the park. Boston Manor Park 7 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 1.5 Ownership, boundaries and report coverage The boundary taken for this study covers all the land of the former estate that can still be classed as open space and has elements of the park designed landscape remaining, as shown in Figure 1. This includes two main areas. First, 14.07 hectares (34.76 acres) of the park proper, mainly owned by LBH. Second the playing fields of the London Playing Fields Association to the west, together with area of the island between the and canal (owned by the Canal and River Trust, replacing British Waterways from 2012) to the south, amounting to 13.68 hectares (33.80 acres). This site area is bounded by Boston Manor Road and housing on the north- east, the headquarters of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to the south-east; the Grand Union Canal or river Brent to the south-west and the tracks to the north-west of the playing fields. The elevated crosses the site on a north-west to south-east line, and is a dominant feature within the park. The park land owned by the Council is broadly covered by Zones 1 to 9 shown in Figure 3, the core of the landscape. The Grand Union Canal and Boston Manor Conservation Area (No. 22, 40.114 Ha) covers the core park area and the canal corridor with the borough, as shown on Figure 1a. The analysis of the landscape and conservation policies and proposals are organised to concentrate in detail on the core area of the park proper, with the outer areas considered in less detail. This core area equates to the boundary of the HLF park project.

1.6 Approach and presentation The methodology adopted for the study is that of the conservation plan process, including the production of management and conservation proposals, in the following stages: • Understanding the site, based on research and site surveys • Assessing the significance of the site and its features • Defining conservation and management issues, including threats to significance • Establishing conservation policies for the retention of the significance • Preparing an overall strategy and management policies • Developing outline options for conservation, restoration and management, including action proposals. 8 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018

Looking towards Boston Manor Park from Great West Road bridge over Grand Union Canal

2 Understanding the park

2.1 Site, landform and geology Boston Manor park is approximately 14.07 hectares in size, while the wider site including the LPFF sports pitches and river Brent island adds another 13.68 hectares, excluding the embanked part of the M4 motorway. The site occupies gentle slopes forming the north side of the river Brent valley, from approximately 18.5m AOD at the park’s north entrance to approximately 6.0m on the canal towpath. Boston Manor house overlooks the park from the north near its highest point. Generally the park slopes gently to the south and south-west, but the valley of the river Brent forms a relatively steep sided and wooded western boundary of the park. The park is bounded by Boston Manor Road and residential areas on the north-east, the headquarters of GlaxoSmithKline to the south-east; the Grand Union Canal to the south-west and the Piccadilly tube line beyond the playing fields to the north-west. The elevated section of the busy M4 motorway crosses the park from north-west to south-east, and is a dominant feature within the park. Brentford and BMP lie within the bowl of the London Basin, with most of the built-up area of the city lying on Tertiary and younger sediments. The centre of the basin is dominated by the valley of the Thames, which forms a level corridor running from west to east, around half a mile wide to the west of London, expanding to two miles wide to the east. This is bordered by slightly higher and older terraces often extending several miles from the floodplain, for example in Hounslow. The Brent is one of several significant rivers entering the Thames on its north, together with those of the Colne, Crane and Lea.

Cluster of tall buildings on M4 viaduct approaching Boston Manor Boston Manor Park 9 Conservation Management Plan April 2018

Boston Manor Road near the park on north

2.2 Urban context, urban design analysis (Figure 2) Boston Manor park is set in an area of extreme contrasts, with the most urban of townscapes at the south-east end, dominated by high office blocks and motorway viaduct, and leafy suburbs of semi-detached houses and plane trees at the north-west, and with the almost rural corridor of the Grand Union canal to the south. Although small in relation to other parks and open spaces in the locality – park, park, , Kew Gardens – its accessibility, facilities and relationship to transport corridors (M4, A4, Boston Manor Road, Piccadilly Line, canal) gives it high visibility, presence and usefulness. The apparent preponderance of early 19th century suburbia of semi-detached houses and short terraces, belies the fact that the major land use in the immediate area is recreation – playing fields (of schools, rugby, cricket and tennis clubs and public provision), golf courses, parks and cemeteries. Nonetheless, the park contributes to the character of Boston Manor Road and the quality of the area, by its mature trees behind high brick estate wall, with glimpses of the house. The cluster of tall buildings at the M4/A4 intersection is both a major feature on the local roads, most particularly seen from elevated positions on the motorway, and from the south end of the park. The curved slabs and high tower of GSK is most dominant due to their sheer size and extent, but the point-blocks of the University of West London and Great West House, slab of 100 Great West Road and residential towers to the east together create a dramatic urban scene. Glass- and steel-sheathed advertising pylons emphasise this verticality from the ground and from the motorway. The generally well-treed and rural approach to London on the M4 through the fields and scattered suburbs of West Drayton, Harlington, and Northwood Green, and through and other

On M4 motorway viaduct over park 10 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018

Urban contrasts: Georgian house and street trees, Thames Valley University tower (now University of West London) and motorway on structure at the end of Boston Manor Road close to south- east gate to the park green space, is punctuated by the treetops of Boston Manor park and the gateway formed by the high-rise blocks either side of the elevated road. The meandering course of the Grand Union canal forms the south-west boundary of the park and playing fields site, the canal being on the course of the river Brent apart from one separate meander close to the house and lake. The wooded island formed here and the rest of the well-treed bank of the canal create a green corridor, screening to a high degree the industrial areas to the south on Transport Avenue, although the waste transfer facility is still visible from open areas of the park. The view of the canal from the A4 bridge is notable, framed between the Sky TV and GSK buildings with their planted terraces and high quality external areas, with the trees of Boston Manor park in the background, all contrasting both with the more urban setting of the canal to the south and with the straight corridor of the Great West Road and its constant heavy traffic.

2.3 Noise Boston Manor park is a very noisy place, despite the impression of tranquillity in its core area gained from its spacious grass and leafy enclosure. There is a constant drone of traffic from the M4 and A4, as well as Boston Manor Road. Planes from Heathrow fly overhead at frequent intervals, with Piccadilly Line trains rattling by to the north. Hangman’s Field is probably the noisiest area, being nearest to the A4 and without the noise screen of the GSK slab at the canal gap. Under the elevated M4 is the quietest space, with motorway noise spreading up and sideways, affecting the park to a lesser degree than would be assumed.

Canal corridor on south of park Boston Manor Park 11 Conservation Management Plan April 2018

Zone 1, North lawn

2.4 Zones of distinct landscape character (Figure 3) Identification of areas of distinct landscape character is an aid to the description of the landscape and to understanding its structure. Such zones can also be useful in organising survey work and in planning management. The main determinants of variations in character are: • landform (natural and man-modified) • vegetation cover and pattern • watercourses and main routes • built and other designed features • land use. In our assessment shown in Figure 3 Boston Manor park site contains thirteen zones as follows. Zones 1 to 9 (shown bolder) lie in the main park. Zone 1, North lawn Zone 2, South lawn Zone 3, Lake Zone 4, Walled garden and service yard Zone 5, Formal park Zone 6, Sports pitch Zone 7, Meadow Zone 8, Motorway tree belts Zone 9, Woodland nature area Zone 10, Island woodland Zone 11, Underworld woodland Zone 12, Playing fields north Zone 13, Playing fields south The main features of the zones are as follows (all features mentioned are described in detail in later sections or as entries in the Gazetteer).

Zone 1, North lawn A confined area of lawn, shrubbery, mature trees and drives contained by the north elevation of Boston Manor house and its west wing on the south-west, the stables block on the north-west, the estate wall along Boston Manor road on the north-east, and a tree belt to the south-east. This is the most formal part of the park, although laid out naturalistically, and focuses on the main entrance and port-cochère of the house, with a flag-pole in the centre of the lawn. The 12 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018

Zone 2, South lawn central gable of the stable block with clock and campanile with weather-vane above forms another focal point to the north. Several large Cedars of Lebanon are notable among the trees edging the south belt. Two gateways give access to the oval drives encircling the space, the west gate being in active use and the east gate permanently closed. Apart from the at the gates, there are no external views from ground level, the enclosing features noted above providing visual containment.

Zone 2, South lawn A spacious lawn that provides the outlook on the south-west side of the house, although again the space is well contained, in this case by trees or woodland on three sides, associated with the lake area to the north-west, the main wooded area of Zone 9 to the south-west and trees in the formal park to the east. Two major paths, one running across the house frontage, the other at right angles, are part of the main circulation in the park, with a third narrower path completing the circuit around the area to the north-west and south-west. A veteran cedar of Lebanon is a notable feature on the south side of the lawn, with other younger cedars and a Wellingtonia to its east. Other significant trees in this area include two Zone 2, view from front of veteran oaks at the north end of the east path, another large oak tree terminating house the path line to the south, and yews close to the west wing of the house. Views are again contained within the space, with view across the lawn to the south elevation of the house being the most notable. The elevated section of M4 motorway lies a short distance to the south, although woodland and individual trees makes this virtually invisible in the summer months when trees are in full foliage. In winter glimpses of the motorway are seen. Noise from the motorway is omnipresent in all seasons, although is less than from an at-grade motorway.

Zone 3, Lake Boston Manor Park 13 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 Zone 3, Lake The lake zone lying to the west of the house comprises the lake of 0.46 hectares, an encircling path linking to the low-key northerly park entrance, and tree cover with some shrubbery on the lake margins and between the path and park boundary on the north and west, which creates dense shade. Boston Manor Road forms the north-east boundary, the stables block and south lawn lie to the east, the Zone 9 woodland to the south and Boston Gardens road, ‘Lakeside’ garden, and open grounds and tree belt (in Zone 11) to the west. The silted and generally poor condition of the lake, with fallen trees, battered safety railings and rat-traps, detracts from what should be a main attraction of the park. Views again are fairly well contained and feature the lake, with good cross-lake views from the south-west side to the house in Zone 2.

Zone 4, Walled garden and service yard A small area including the square high-walled garden laid out geometrically with a perimeter path, mixed border beds and central drinking fountain, and an unkempt service yard used for park maintenance, enclosed by a tree belt and shrubbery to the west and by the park wall on the north-east.

Zone 5, Formal park Most of the park’s facilities and horticultural features are concentrated in this east part of the park. The park wall and walled garden wall form most of the north- east boundary, with tree belts associated with the motorway on the south-west, and the south lawn to the north. The southern end of the area is dominated by the M4 motorway crossing on steel girder structure with, beyond, the east part of the GSK complex including a two-level car park beneath the motorway. The main path serving the park forms a spine on the east, with wall-foot mixed borders, grass verge and formal beds on the east and various park facilities on the west. These include, from the north, three tennis courts, a disused bowling Zone 4, Walled garden and green laid out with equipment for older children and fitness equipment, another service yard fitness area with timber equipment, under-8s children’s play area, a public car park for approximately 50 cars and, beneath the motorway, a fenced multi- use games area (MUGA). Further north are lawns with formal beds and shrub borders. At the extreme east is the main vehicular entrance to the park that is also a principal pedestrian access. The zone is more open than those to the north, particularly in south part where there are no large mature trees, so that the elevated motorway is visible together with the towers and slab blocks of GSK and the University of West London that form a dominating urban complex. As one moves through this area, different views open up, with views both between the motorway tree belts and under the motorway, and over the tree belt and motorway structure to the tall blocks, with the park facilities in the foreground. Further north the motorway tree belt more effectively screens the elevated structure.

Zone 5, Formal park 14 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018

Zone 7, Meadow

Zone 6, Sports pitches A simple area of grass football pitches, contained by the motorway tree belts on the north-east, woodland in Zone 9 on the north-west and other young tree belts to the south-west. A tree and shrub belt within the park along the GSK boundary provides a setting for the main south-east path that runs alongside it, but does little to screen the GSK complex of buildings in longer views. The GSK complex is the dominating feature of this space. The pitches are assigned to Spartans Youth Football Club whose changing pavilion is in Zone 5. Zone 6, Sports pitches Zone 7, Meadow An area of grass and wildflower meadow that was formerly a cricket pitch and is now managed for nature conservation. Its is similar in size and character to Zone 6 and is again dominated by the GSK complex. Young tree belts divide the area from Zone 6 on the north-east, while narrow belts of trees and shrubby vegetation along the Grand Union Canal boundary and banks lie along the north- west and south-west boundaries. The main south-east path continues through the space to a footbridge across the canal at the south. A gate into the GSK complex also lies in this corner, with others to the north.

Zone 8, Motorway tree belts The motorway viaduct is planted either side with belts of mainly broadleaved trees (see 2.5.8 for species composition). The date of planting has not been ascertained but they are considerably less than 50 years old and so cannot have been planted at the time of the motorway construction. To have built the motorway across a public park without such basic mitigation seems inconceivable by today’s standards. The tallest of the trees reach motorway deck level and provide a fair degree of screen in summer in closer views, but the structure rides over the canopy in longer views over open ground, eg. from the south across Zone 8, Motorway tree belts Zone 6. Beneath the viaduct, the contrast of the dry ground with evenly-spaced, massive, graffitied concrete piers supporting the motorway and the belts of greenery either side creates a strange landscape, well used as a walking route despite it dubious attraction. Views along the route can be dramatic.

Zone 9, Woodland nature area Mixed broadleaved woodland (see 2.5.8 for species composition) with a wide age structure comprised of areas of long-established parkland plantation mainly to the north and west, within which there are notable old oaks, sweet chestnut and beech, and areas of restocking and extension planting, mainly to the east. The motorway viaduct divides the area in two, with the north part being mainly on steeper ground falling down to the river, and the south part more open and accessible with meandering grassy or chipped-bark paths. The plankton- covered and rubbish-infested river Brent forms the west boundary, with the north of the woods abutting the lake and South lawn, and the east side of the wood Zone 9, Woodland nature opening onto the Sport pitches and Meadow areas. area Boston Manor Park 15 Conservation Management Plan April 2018

Zone 10, Island woodland

Zone 10, Island woodland Another area of broadleaved woodland, lying on the island formed between the Grand Union Canal and the meander of the river Brent, with the river section fed by overflow weirs at each end of the island. The island is cut in two by the motorway viaduct and is accessible from a bailey bridge over the river between the motorway piers, with the corridor under the motorway terminating at the west weir. A sleeper path leads from beside the bridge to the south weir and onwards to a canal lock; other worn paths run beside the watercourses. Use of all these routes is not for the feint-hearted on account of its seclusion. The notable views are dramatic vistas along the motorway corridor and sights of the canal from the weirs and at the lock.

Zone 11, Underworld woodland Unmanaged broadleaved woodland and non-native invasive species (giant hogweed, Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam) on the steepish slopes above the meander of the river Brent, giving way to scrub and open grassland higher up between the lake and the LPFF playing fields of Zone 12. If Zone 10 is uninviting, this area is uninviting and inaccessible, with only a narrow worn path threading between stems of giant hogweed on the strip flat floodbank beside the river, accessed from the playing fields under the viaduct or through a broken fence on beside the nature trail in Zone 9. This is significant as it is the only link between the park and the LPFF playing fields Zone 11, Underworld woodland Zone 12, Playing fields north A wide open mown grass space – the LPFF playing fields – lying between narrow tree belts on three sides and Zone 11 on the east. Behind the tree belts lie the rear gardens of the houses of Boston Gardens to the north, the M4 motorway, which transfers from elevated structure to low embankment in the east of the area, and the Piccadilly Line also on embankment to the west. A large pavilion building lies off-centre on the south side. The area can be accessed via a track and locked gates at the east end of Boston Gardens and from open gates at the west end of the same road.

Zone 12, Playing fields north 16 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018

Zone 13, Playing fields south The open space allows views over the park treetops, with the veteran cedar prominent, to the towers of the M4/A4 junction, with the omnipresent planes from Heathrow overhead. Parts of the motorway are visible between the trees to the south and will be more visible in winter.

Zone 13, Playing fields south Essentially a smaller version of Zone 12 – further playing fields with a more intimate feel due to the greater sense of enclosure of the smaller space, again formed by narrow tree belts on each side, that on the south being along the canal bank. A short track leads from near the pavilion in Zone 12, under the end of the motorway viaduct and into the space.

2.5 Landscape development of Boston Manor park: summary chronology The following is a summary of the 50 page research document covering the development of the Boston Manor estate and park contained in Appendix 2. Included here are some of the most significant or informative events. For sources refer to the date in the Appendix. Items in blue cross refer to the historic maps and plans in Appendix 1. 705 Dr Glanville traces the origin of the name ‘Brent’ to ‘the old British brigantia, meaning holy or high water,’ and first recorded in AD 705. ‘As Bregentforda the settlement was host to a meeting of Offa’s Council in AD 780. Not until 1016 at the Battle of Brentford ... is there any specific indication that Brentford was one of the fording places.’ Certain features of place name survival suggest that the ford over the Brent itself, rather than the ford over the Thames, became important in the continuation of settlement here. 1086 The present site of Boston manor was probably part of the parish of Hanwell, in the Hundred of , and owned by the Abbot of Westminster; the manor was probably created by abbot Gervais de Blois in the 12th century. The boundaries are thought to have been delineated to include a range of economically productive resources such as fisheries and water meadow. 1157 Boston, although not in the Domesday Book, belonged to Westminster Abbey in this year under the alias of ‘Bordwattestun.’ It was probably included in Hanwell when that was given to the abbey before 1086. By the 12th century, ‘a separate estate had appeared in the town, which later became known as the Manor of Boston.’ Late 12th century Edward I granted the manor to the Priory of St Helen, Bishopsgate. It was probably used as a grange (farm run by and for the benefit of the religious order). 1281 The Sheriff of was authorized to gather funds for building a bridge at the ‘Brayn ford.’ Boston Manor Park 17 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 1294 The earliest definite evidence for the ownership of the manor is found in court proceedings into the proprietorship of various lands in Middlesex, and their accompanying rights. The jury found in favour of the prioress of St Helens, London. 1306 The king granted the priory the right to hold a weekly market at their manor of Brentford. 1538 Prioress Dame Mary Rollesley surrendered the priory and its possessions to Henry VIII. He had already leased it to John Rollesley, under a deed dated to 1534. 1547 Edward VI granted the manor to the Duke of Somerset (his uncle), but on Somerset’s forfeiture and execution in 1552 it would have reverted to the Crown. 1572 granted the Manor of Boston to her favourite Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, who reportedly sold it the same year, according to local historian D Lysons based on information from James Clitherow III (1766-1841). The purchaser was Sir , founder of the Royal Exchange. 1598 Death of Lady Gresham, widow of the owner of Boston Manor. The manor was inherited by Sir William Reade, her son by her first marriage. 1609 First wife of Sir William Reade died; at some point after this he married Lady Mary, his much younger second wife. 1621 Sir William Reade died, and his widow, Lady Mary, inherited the life use of the property. It was then to go to Reade’s three granddaughters by his first wife. Mary built the core of the present house, as recorded by the dates of 1623 on the drawing room ceiling and 1622 on the rainwater heads of the lead downpipes. 1623 First portion (left and central parts) of present building completed by this date. 1635 Moses Glover map covering Brentford with the land of ‘Sr Ed. Spencer K’ shown by a drawing of ancient trees and a representation of Boston Manor house. (Appendix 1.01) 1642 Battle of Brentford during the English Civil War, when Prince Rupert attacked the Parliamentary garrison defending the town, which he then captured and sacked. The Parliamentarians won at Turham Green, the following day. As a Royalist, Sir Edward Spencer was taxed £400 on the value of his estate, to help defray the cost of the Parliamentary Army. Moses Glover map, 1635 1658 Death of Lady Mary Reade or Spencer, who bequeathed Boston Manor to her relative John Goldsmith, from whom James Clitherow (born 1618, son of Sir Christopher, Lord Mayor of London) bought the house. 1670 Clitherow paid an annuity to Nicolas Hilton of ‘West Braintford ... Gardiner ... according to Lady Spencers Will,’ from 1671-76, by when he had died. 1670 Clitherow gives money ‘towards rebuilding Syon Colledge and the Almes Houses adiogneing ... which were burnt downe in the late dreadfull fire in London.’ On 25 April, he dedicates another £50 to rebuilding another church ‘inhumble thankfulness to Allmighty God for spareing mee in the dreadfull in London, 1666.’ 1671 Clitherow spent £1,439, in just over a year, on house improvements, although he does not say what this large sum was spent on. One commentator suggests that it was for repairs after a recent fire. 18 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 1674 An account suggests that some of the existing red brick walls between Boston house and the main road may be contemporary with the house. 1682 Clitherow records a flood on the river Brent, of 26 April 1682, when he had to pay for ‘getting out of the water the materials and cleereing the river of the houses w[hi]ch Widow Leader held of mee by lease that were demolished by the vilence of the greate fflood.’ 1698 Start of Christopher Clitherow’s ‘long booke’ in which are ‘my Reall and personall Estates ... valued yearly.’ This volume includes his rentals, and after listing several tenanted farms, and their field names, Clitherow enumerates ‘In my own hands The wood called further wood at 6:3:0, The wood behind the house at 3:1:15, old orchard at 2:2:0, Orchard close formerly part of the wood behind the house at 4:0:0, in all 6:3:0. Valued att but 20/- an acre. Quitrents att about 1:15:-. Mem[oran]d[um]: I value not my house, gardens, fishponds, barnes, stables, granarys, etc nor the cash [?] all profits of my mannor; and so a very low valuation on the rest they are worth double but are not to be let so undervalued …’ 1718 Clitherow draws up a prospective bridegroom’s valuation of Boston estate for his eldest son, James. Boston is described thus: ‘The mannor or capitall house (called Boston) with gardens walls walks courts, 5 fishponds, a large yard, a water house supplying the house one paire of staires, offices cellars and brewhouse, large and convenient brewhouse from whence the drinke is conveyd to the cellar by pipes, three coachhouses, a pidgeon loft, a large barne, three stables good granarys, coals, wood and poltery houses and severall other convenient outhouses all brick buildings in good repaires standing on and being by computations 6 acres and a grove below the house with a stewpond walks plantations and nursery computed to be three acres. The whole being well wooded and watered worth as houses go in the neighbourhood 200 li [£] p[e]r ann[um] but may be valued att £150.’ After detailing his other children’s settlements, James was to expect an estate of around £1,878. 1722 Clitherow adds more details about the working of the estate. ‘The principall house ... and also convenient wash house and bakehouse and drying chambers next adjoining.’ ‘And also a large convenient brewhouse (with a hard stone mill to grinde malt) from whence by pipes the drinke is conveyed to the cellars.’ ‘A waterhouse w[i]th a cistern that holds 32 barrels of water, raised by a swing pump by one man, in an house, w[hi]ch water is conveyed by pipes and stopcocks into the house ... and stoole roome in the house, brew house and cellars. Large outhouses for wood coals poltrey woodes etc.’ ‘A large yard dovecoate, 3 coachhouses, a large barne (4 baies) 3 stables a straw loft and foure granarys and other conviniences walled in computed to stand on 6 acres. And also a back or kennell yard a cart house and a large yard and watering place for cattell in common with the ten[an]t who rents the farme called Boston Farme; and a lumber house for posts etc.’ ‘And also 2 courts on the front a small greene house or garden. Gardens orchards walls walks a stew pond and five fish ponds well stocked and paled in (5 acres).’ ‘And also plantations and nurserys and walks with a small orchard and kitchin gardens and a grove divided into four parts bounded first by Boston Manor Park 19 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 the River Brent and paled in on the west and north ... Two closes of pastures contiguous to the garden and grove; ... fenced wooded and wattered, very handy for the house, planted with fuittes and walnuts of 6½ acres and called the old orchard and new wood closes.’ 1722 William Butler’s detailed survey of Boston Manor is considered by Clitherow to be out of date that he copies it, with the addition of the costs of letting and mowing each pasture. Among area names are ‘closes’ and ‘meads’ including those deriving from their proximity to the caput, or manorial centre, including Ham or Home Mead, Old Orchard, Home Wood, as well as Boston House gardens, wilderness and walks, fishponds and ‘Gospel oak,’ (the parish boundary tree under which religious services were held). 1727 Christopher Clitherow dies. 1741-45 John Rocque, ‘Environs of London’ map shows a compact layout between Boston Lane and the river with the house and outbuildings forming a courtyard adjoining the road and open lawn and wood to the south divided by an axial clearing. Ponds to the north in two rectilinear parts and the whole area enclosed by boundary tree rows. Fields to the east and west with a roadside avenue to north-west; to the east most of the land between the lane and ‘Wind mill’ (road) is occupied by small divisions indicating intensive horticultural production. (Appendix 1.02) At ‘Sion’ to the south, an elaborate parterre, yards for produce, formal gardens and avenue approaches are shown, in the style of the times. 1752 James Clitherow II dies. 1754 As a footnote to his gardening accounts, Clitherow backdated an entry to 1754. ‘NB 31 May 1754 I sow[e]d the seeds that produc[e]d the Detail of John Rocque, cedar I now have & in 1782 I cut down two & saw[e]d them into boards ‘Environs of London’ map, & made several boxes, some of the center boards from 13 to 15 in 1741-45 wide.’ 1758 ‘A Plan of certain Lands in the Parish of Ealing in Middx formerly part of Windmill Field belonging to James Clitherow Esq and Others, 1758.’ This map shows the north-eastern side of Boston Lane, which is a tree-lined drive or ride. Boston House yard and stables only appear at the southern margin, but a fish pond on the north side of Boston Lane, and three more beside the stables are shown, along with a polygonal semi-walled court or office-yard entered from Boston Lane. One place name derivation is given, to a field near the house entrance: ‘called the Folly because as Mr Clark says, it was the first piece enclos[e]d and hedged and ditched all round.’ (Appendix 1.03) 1759 Arthur Devis paints Mr and Mrs Clitherow in their garden, on the south bank of the Brent, with a long-range vista to the house, which sits at the end of a ride cutting through the trees. James proudly holds a spade- like digging tool known as a ‘spud,’ a sign of his pride in agriculture, one source of his wealth. The success of his enterprise is manifested by the well-tended park in which he stands. Clitherow’s control over his land is signalled in part by the dammed river Brent directly behind him. It is described thus before its auction: ‘Mrs Clitherow in a blue dress is seated under a tree playing a lute, the Colonel in plum-coloured suit standing by her side …’ The picture, once attributed to Zoffany, realized £472/10/- when it was sold in 1922. It is now only known from the photograph in the sale catalogue (see page 20). 1759-63 Clitherow’s third and later year’s accounts for estate and farm improvement, labourers’ accounts include – ‘Repairing and widening the bank of the river £12/2/9d; Clipping hedges; opening drains ... sundry days work, 20 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018

Arthur Devis portrait of Mr and Mrs Clitherow and their park from south of the river, 1759

great park, lopping willows by Brentside, cleaning ash nursery by do [Brentside]; Pd for a punt usefull in cleaning the river, £3/9/-.’ He pays for ‘fewell’ (ie. wood and coal) and ‘faggoting,’ the hedger’s annual bill, and for ‘part of day lopping willows and grubbing ashes,’ which cost £18/10/8d. ‘Pd sundrys work viz: at the cascade and in the river £4/13/6d; men mudding ponds £4/13/-.’ In the general undated 1763 accounts, ‘cleaning ditches, dunging fields, moving rubbish in y[ar]d - £31/17/7.’ 1766 Garden bill for tools from Brice, Padmore for young fruit trees, and what is probably the first entry for a purchase from the long-lasting Ronalds nursery, ‘for seeds etc.’ There is also payment for ‘carriage for mold and turf.’ 1768 In his general and summarized account of improvements carried out on his estate and farms Clitherow says ‘Sundrys as repair cascade, clip hedges, make wood walk, clear ditches, etc, drains & dung cart, etc, £43/14/11d.’ 1770 or earlier A plan of Boston Manor on squared paper, probably by Joshua Rhodes. This plan shows the western fish ponds as utilitarian rectangles, no wooded or wilderness plantation to the south of the house, and no summerhouse beside the Brent. The connection of this plan (ACC1360/297, Appendix 1.06) to the related item, (ACC1360/296, Appendix 1.04, 1.05), would seem to be that first plan is an accurate record of the landscape the surveyor actually saw, and drew on a working plan covered in notes about acreages, crops and land tenures. The more highly finished plan ACC1360/296, which shows wooded walks and what might be regarded as an ‘idealized’ or ‘artistic’ landscape, designed to look natural, is probably Rhodes’s proposal for improving Clitherow’s grounds in the current taste. Joshua Rhodes ‘A Plan of On the Rhodes plan of Boston Manor (ACC1360/296, Appendix 1.04, the Manor of Boston’ (detail) 1.05) there seem to be fewer service buildings and courtyard screen (LMA, ACC1360/296) 1770 – walls than are shown in the drainage sketches of 1777-86, possibly Maps Appendix 1.06 dating their construction to c1771-77. The grounds surrounding the house look very bare, and plainly laid out, and the fields on the north Boston Manor Park 21 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 side of Boston Lane have been amalgamated into two large holdings since 1758. The factual status of this plan as either an actual record, or an ideal proposal is unclear – the two western fishponds are shown as one lake, but in a plan clearly marked ‘as in the year 1782’ in Clitherow III’s writing, the fishponds are still separate. It appears from other maps that the alteration was not carried out until two decades later, although an entry in the accounts suggests 1774. The plan of 1770 (ACC1360/296) has a separate index (ACC1360/241), written by Rhodes, and later annotated by J Clitherow III in 1790-94. His kitchen garden is over an acre in size, and he has increased the size of his gardens by 12 acres by enclosing more ‘closes’. There is also an ozier bed on the south bank of the river. Rhodes notes that the river had supposedly changed its original course, which he marks with a dotted line. There are also alternative schemes of planting and trees overlaid in pencil to the east of the house. Gospel Oak is shown in Boston Lane where the railway station now stands. 1770 ‘Brentford is situated in a delightful country. The has there a palace and gardens ... The Earl of Holdernesse, who joins to English solidity all the politeness of French behaviour; and some other noblemen have their country seats in this neighbourhood, where art can scarce make any addition to nature.’ By a ‘French Gentleman resident here in 1770.’ 1774 In his account for capital expenditure on groundworks and improvements on his estate, Clitherow enters for this year ‘whereof in new work in garden carr[ied] to repair acct £80/0/-.’ Later, in December this year he adds ‘Pd sundrys finishing pond, etc £74/2/7½d.’ And also ‘whereof compleating pond etc as above ab[ou]t £60/0/0’. Despite the obscurity of what waterworks were constructed and when, and the confusingly undated maps, this may be the construction of the present lake out of the two medieval fishponds left over from the grange or manor which belonged to the priory of St Helen. 1777 ‘An Actual Survey and Plan of the processional boundaries of the Parish of Ealing in the County of Middlesex and Diocese of London, Taken in 1777’, surveyed and drawn by A Bassett, Hammersmith (Appendix 1.07) – shows only an outline of the features of Boston house, with the house block, stables at right angle to the north, and a bacon-rasher shaped pond north of that, and another small pond near the road, with a few trees shown symbolically. As this is an official, printed map it is likely to show the water layout as it existed at the time. However, in a plan of 1782 (see below), the large pond is still shown as two separate fishponds. 1777 Drain built in service quarters of house – 11 feet of new pipe leading over the wall from the great main drain to the brew house. The pipe from the well to the engine in the water house, and a pipe running diagonally from the brewhouse copper were also installed. 1782 A preliminary sketch of the immediate policies of the house dated 1782, is used as the basis for a new, simplified garden layout on another sheet that proposed combining the two southern rectangular fishponds into one rounded, more ‘naturalistic’ looking lake – while keeping the other two ponds little altered. The formal lawns and planting would be replaced by larger open spaces, curving walks and seemingly, fewer trees. On a third sheet, Hangman’s Meadow and Park Field beside the river are shown with various possible meandering paths, and a summerhouse. (Appendix 1.08, 1.09) 1790 or thereabouts - Plan showing the house and gardens, tentatively dated ‘c1790?’ by LMA. The fishponds continue to be confusing – here, as in the map marked ‘1782,’ they are two separate rectangular 22 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018

Watercolour of Boston House, 1794

Anon. ‘Plan of house and gardens of Boston Manor’ (LMA, ACC1360/299), 1790? – Maps Appendix 1.10

tanks. There is no plantation between the house and the river, just a linear walk leading straight to the water – unless the plantation is not shown because the plan is unfinished, or it was newly planted. The details are all in pencil and there is no legend, so it may be just a draft. A suite of curvilinear wrought iron gates are shown at the eastern side of the garden. (Appendix 1.10, 1.11) 1793 James Clitherow III notes that the canal company began work on his estate on 29 July. 1794 May – Conveyance between James Clitherow and Company, whereby they purchase several parts of land from him, totalling 2 acres 3 roods, to make the canal and towing path. The plan shows that the canal will form what was later called ‘Botany Bay’ by cutting across a meander of the river. (Appendix 1.13) 1800 or thereabouts – Plan of Boston Manor, so dated by LMA, showing course of canalized river, and the ornamental lake as it survives today. However, it appears that the fishpond to the south of Boston Lane, previously always parallel with the road, has now divided into two, one large pond and a smaller one to the east. Some of the illustrative miniatures are fanciful – the round temple shown as a garden feature does not resemble the square summer house shown on the other plans that mention it. (Appendix 1.14, 1.15) 1810-19 (approx) Rough, crudely-drawn sketch of land round Boston House and Lane, dated by LMA to ‘181[?]’ probably further dateable if Canal company Plan (LMA, the overlaps in tenure of the various tenants mentioned are known. ACC1360/301),1794 – Maps Legend: ‘Col Clitherow’s land let to Mr John Hierons.’ Shows the Appendix 1.13 island in river as ‘Botany Bay,’ and also ‘Park Field’ and ‘Hangmans Meadow,’ later to become the cricket ground. (Appendix 1.16) 1811 ‘The manor house is pleasantly situated on a rising ground about three quarters of a mile to the north of the town ... Such has been the fluctuating state of property in the county of Middlesex, that this family is … one of a very few who have been resident upon the same estate for more than a century.’ 1816 A letter from the American ambassador, and future president, John Quincy Adams mentions Little Boston House, which his family is renting from the Clitherows: ‘We found so much inconvenience in residing so far distant from London, while we had such frequent and indispensable calls there, that we determined, perhaps inconsiderately, to remove to town ... Anon. ‘Rough sketch ...’ however ... it is scarcely possible that at double the cost we should find [a (LMA, ACC1360/308), 1810- house] in London, half so agreeable or comfortable ... as this.’ 19? – Maps Appendix 1.16 Boston Manor Park 23 Conservation Management Plan April 2018

‘New Brentford Tithe map’ 1838 – Maps Appendix 1.18

1818 The scandalous divorce proceedings of Lt Col John Clitherow and his wife Sarah Burton, the daughter of his commanding officer, are reported in the Times in salacious detail. 1824 ‘Brentford Bridge ... its awkward situation and unskilful construction have long been the reproach of ... Middlesex. At length these evils are likely to be remedied by the erection of a new bridge at the expense of the county. The first stone was laid on Friday last, with the usual ceremony, by Colonel James Clitherow... [of] Boston-house ... The bridge is to be of one arch ... of ... granite ... but the approach at the eastern extremity is much obstructed by three or four mean houses ... which, by intercepting the view ... materially injure the beauty and utility of the bridge. These houses ... will be speedily removed...’ 1828 ‘Ealing Parish’ revision of map of 1777 – shows essentially the same information at Boston Manor and its vicinity as in 1777. (Appendix 1.17) 1830 The Clitherow’s famous, and seemingly quite genuine, friendship with the Duke and Duchess of Clarence began before they became King ‘Plan of the Manor of William IV and Queen Adelaide. Brentford ...’ (central and east 1834 In June ‘Their Majesties honoured old Boston house with their company parts) (LMA, ACC1360/304), to dinner. They came by Gunnersbury through our farm ... much more 1800? – Maps Appendix gentlemanly than through old Brentford ... We then let the boys [from 1.14-15 the school] through the garden into the orchard by the flower garden ... it seemed as if 200 were collected. We had our haymaking the opposite side of the garden, and kept the people, hay carts etc for effect, and it was cheerful and pretty ... during that half hour the Queen walked about the garden, even down to the bottom of the wood. The haymakers cheered her ... she ... walked in the flower garden ... which gave the natives time to get her dress by heart. The king had a slight touch of hay asthma … and ... declined going out ...’ 1838 Tithe map of New Brentford – a detailed map showing the landscape now developed in a naturalistic style with a short curving drive to the north front of the house and paths continuing from there to the informal garden planted with broadleaved and coniferous trees, with serpentine paths. The layout on the north side of the house flows seamlessly around the east side of the building to the south lawn area, with a carriage turning area on the east, giving emphasis to the east end of 24 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018

‘Boston House, Brentford’, engraving c1799

the house. The lawn area is open giving way to denser tree cover with glades on the slope down to ‘The Old River Brent,’ with the new canal beyond. The old Cedar of Lebanon is not shown, suggesting that all the trees are shown symbolically rather than representing individual trees. The lake is drawn more or less in its modern shape, with dense tree planting around its north half and west side. Land to the east is annotated as ‘Park’ with a long rectangular enclosure to its north – the kitchen garden though not stated. A path leads southward from its east end and another runs close to the river. The park is shown with scattered tree to the sides; the field to the west is similarly planted. (Appendix 1.18) 1838 The report of a hurricane on 29 October appears in the Times. ‘Towards Brentford the destruction has been more extensive [than in Acton] ... [in] the distillery yard [of Sir Felix Booth] a building with walls 40 feet high ... had but just been roofed in ... the wind ... forced off the roof ... In Boston-lane ... two very large trees in front of the residence of Colonel Clitherow, of Boston-park, were blown down, and, falling across the road, forced down a portion of the wall, occasioning for some hours considerable obstruction ... at Sion-park ... several trees have been uprooted ...’ 1841 In January serious flooding of the river Brent causes great destruction and loss of life on the adjoining Union Canal; frozen-in barges waiting for the ice to melt were swept away be a large wave of water that overwhelmed the locks, smashed the ice and swamped all the moored boats at the wharfside. Gawking tourists came to view ‘the scene of the late awful inundation, and ... the wrecked craft.’ Emergency accommodation was opened in the infant school for bargees’ families, all of whom had lost everything they owned. Nine Midlands barges laden with valuable cargo had vanished completely, another 20 were wrecked. Salvage teams recovered only ‘sodden and swollen’ grain. 50 canal-side cottages were flooded, and many High Street businesses, including food and hardware shops. The parish gave the poor free coal to help dry out their houses. 1841 From his obituary in October, the late Colonel (James Clitherow IV, born 1766) seems to have been worthy, conscientious, aware of his social responsibilities and a paternalistic landlord. 1850 Boston is described in The Beauties of Middlesex ... Seats of the Nobility and Gentry ‘This beautiful estate ... is entered by a handsome lodge-gate, the piers are of brick faced with Caen stone ... The Boston Manor Park 25 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 approach-road sweeps round the green lawn that is ornamented with a clump of Portugal laurels, elms, and cedars of Lebanon to the entrance portico ... On the south-west front is a polished pavement of flag-stones adorned with China, and basket and bronze vases, filled ... with brilliant geraniums ... The lawn in front is bordered by a massive wood ... one of these [cedars] measured 19ft 10ins two feet from the ground. ... a yew tree ... very probably the finest specimen in the country. Then a rich parterre gay with scarlet geraniums ... standard roses, etc to the [kitchen garden] iron gate ... spanned by an ivy-clad archway ... after passing the lawn beside a sunk fence planted with hollyhocks [are] the ... wild wooded banks with steep and winding moss-covered pathways leading to ... the river Brent, or to rustic seats in secluded spots ... large trees, which spread but a chequered shade ... The path [leads to] a straight walk overarched with large elm trees ... deep imbowed shade.’ ‘An ornamental [lake], bordered by some beautiful evergreen trees ... the bridge of one arch [of trees] of a dusky colour, which gives a deeper cast of shade and an agreeable contrast to the river that sparkles through the trees ... an oak tree that we measured was 16ft 4ins in circumference, an elm tree 15ft 9ins, which is very little more than the average girth of all the old trees supposed to have been planted in the reign of Charles I.’ 1852 Death of Lieut-Gen John Clitherow, KC, Colonel of the 67th Foot in his 70th year … ‘On the death of his cousin James Clitherow … [in] 1841 he succeeded to the representation of that ancient family – the only family … of any antiquity in Middlesex …’ 1855 The rather contradictory selling policy of the suburban builders is evident in advertisements in The Times ‘ … convenient for travel to work in the city, but still close to the leafy policies of the upper classes. ‘Freehold Building Ground ... near to Boston-park ... and to the Brentford Railway Station, ... forty ... plots ... beautifully situate in Boston park-road ... possessing a gravelly soil, in a most salubrious locality, and a convenient distance from the market town of Brentford ... Ealing, Kew, Richmond.’ 1865 1st edition Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 – shows the same level of detail as the 1838 map, although with individual mature trees represented in their true positions. The significant changes are at the north front of the house, where the drive is now U-shaped, probably with two gates onto the road (although the administrative boundary, that defines the map coverage, cuts off a slither of land within the park wall), and the area to the east, which has been formalised with straight paths and shrubberies. The straight path along the east side of the lawn has appeared and the area of the old cedar is included within the woodland to the south. The long walled garden is now clearly evident, with an orchard area to the south and a cluster of small buildings at the west, inside (glass-houses) and outside the garden. More formality has been introduced to the park, with an avenue along the east boundary and tree rows following the canal/river to the south. The trees in the park are clearly remaining from earlier field boundaries, given their linear arrangement. (Appendix 1.19) 1874 Thomas Pestridge’s well-known nursery recently moved from Uxbridge to Boston Park Road Nurseries, where he was growing a ‘Select list of choice tricolour and other geraniums.’ Cultivation of variegated zonal pelargoniums was a specialism for which he became renowned. 1876 Brentford merits mixed commentary in the Handbook to the Environs of London. ‘The town, with its long narrow High Street, back slums, 26 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018

Boston House seen across the lake from The Garden, 1886

factories and rough riverside and labouring population, has always borne an unenviable reputation for dirt and ill-odours ... a town of mud, and Gay celebrates ‘Brentford, tedious town, For dirty streets and white-legged chickens known.’ ... Brentford has no buildings of interest. But it ... has ... a prodigious number of public houses ... In the neighbourhood ... are pleasant walks and fine buildings ... In Boston Lane is Boston House ... will easily be recognized, as it stands on a slight elevation ... the grounds slope down to the Brent ... there is a pleasant walk, for a good distance between apple orchards, from Brentford to Osterley Park.’ 1879 ‘The Hailstorm of August 3 – through the late storm ... Mr T Pestridge of the Boston Park Road Nursery, the well known grower of variegated pelargoniums is a very heavy loser, and is indeed well-nigh ruined ... Many persons ... awakened ... by the huge hailstones ... blinding lightning and awful thunder, imagined that the end of things on the planet earth had at last come to pass.’ 1883 The complete land holdings of the Stracey Clitherow family are listed in The Great Landowners of Great Britain ... of 3,000 acres and upwards, and this reveals they had extensive property in six different counties, totalling 5,751 acres, and worth £9,865 per annum in rent. Col E J Stracey Clitherow mainly lived at Hotham Hall in Yorkshire, where he owned 2,555 acres, but he also possessed 548 acres in Middlesex, worth £1,914, including Boston Manor. 1886 A detailed article about Boston House gardens appears in The Garden describing the previously very private Boston grounds. It is probably no coincidence that pelargoniums, for which the neighbouring Pestridge’s Boston Park Nursery was renowned, are singled out. ‘The [house] has been so weather stained that the colour harmonises beautifully with the surrounding foliage. In summer the walls are clothed with tall plants of scarlet pelargoniums ... [the house] stands high ... Where the Brent forms the boundary of the garden the ground falls so abruptly that from the house the water is quite hidden ... The grounds afford one of the best examples of pure English landscape gardening that could be seen anywhere about London ... Their beauty lies mainly in their simplicity ... the Clitherow family must have recognised the Boston Manor Park 27 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 importance of tree planting ... that gives the place so much grandeur, and particularly Lebanon Cedars ... unsurpassed ... in ... London .... Of elms there are some grand avenues ... On the main lawn ... there are specimens of modern conifers ... but it could be wished that ... young ... cedars had been planted, so that in future ... their grandeur would be represented by young trees ... The lake, oddly enough occupies the highest ground ... about the flower garden are ... old apple trees ... the remnants of an orchard ... It is a pity that [fruit trees] are not more often planted as lawn trees.’ 1894 2nd edition Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 – provides less detail than the 1865 edition, with the only significant change (in mapping only) being the depiction of the lodge at the north gate and the whole of the forecourt drive to make a full loop within the wall, which were previously omitted. (Appendix 1.20) 1894 An engraving of Boston house in 1799 appeared in by E Walford. 1900 Sept 25 - ‘Death of Colonel Edward John Stracey-Clitherow, of Hotham Hall, Yorkshire, and Boston House, New Brentford ... died on Thursday at his Yorkshire seat, in his 81st year. [He] served ... in the Scots Guards, and took part ... in the Crimea, including the battle of Alma and the siege of Sevastopol ...’ 1903 An article concentrates mostly on the interior of the house. ‘If [Charles I] could re-visit the mansion ... he would notice a new porch and entrance gates, and some modern stable buildings. In the gardens also the magnificent cedar trees would appear unfamiliar ... The mansion is visible from the road ... and stands in beautifully wooded grounds ... Although the surrounding district is fast being covered with bricks and mortar, the view from the gardens is effectually screened by the trees that encircle the house and give it an air of dignified seclusion .’ 1906 Local photographer and historian Fred Turner takes a series of photos of Boston Manor from the park, including the garden front and the rose walk. 1907 ‘London smoke, aided by that of Brentford ... have contributed to the death of one of the few fine cedars of Lebanon near the pagoda ... the sterile soil and the droughty summers of the last few years have ... hastened the destruction.’ 1915 3rd edition Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 – shows very little change from 1895 apart for the old cedar now standing clear of the woodland to the south, ie. the lawn has been extended, and young tree planting has appeared in this area, along the east edge of the lawn and east of the house. A boat house has appeared at the north end of the lake. (Appendix 1.21) 1915 London Sanitary Protection Association, consulting engineers, are commissioned by Col J B Stracey Clitherow, to produce a comprehensive survey of the plumbing and drainage of Boston House. The surveyor was ‘severely handicapped’ as no one in Stracey Clitherow’s employment ‘has the least knowledge as to the positions of the various drains, or what becomes of the sewage.’ He examined the drain with the mason’s trap in the shrubbery on the south side of the house. Various additions to the original pipes have rendered all the traps and vents ineffectual, and he believes they would ‘admit foul air to escape in proximity to windows.’ The second section of the drains deals with the north side of the house and kitchen yard, and the third with the stables, and rain and surface 28 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 water, which may run off in a southern direction. The ‘liquid drainage ... discharges into the river Brent ... there is a connection ... to the ... overflow from the pond.’ The drains from the WCs are probably obstructed by tree roots entering through joints. ‘The whole system is rotten, and indeed, I will go further and state that the house in its present condition is unsafe for human habitation.’ A simple system of irrigation of the sewage, to purify it, might be placed in the wood on the south side of the house.’ 1915 Durbin and Katesmark, Sanitary and Hot Water Engineers submit a long invoice for remedial work at Boston House, as directed by the London Sanitary Association. New pipes and cold water mains are installed, as well as new plumbing for baths and sinks, and services approved by the Water Board from the kitchen yard to the attic. As well as extensive work within the house, they record such ground disturbance as ‘excavating to the centre of gravel walk on garden front and abolishing entirely the old barrel drain to this point.’ Water was also pumped from the lake from gravel walk on garden front to near the cedar tree, test pits dug on the lawn, and a sump-hole excavated in the woods. Most of the courtyard surfaces around the house were disturbed, and slabs replaced with concrete. Drains were also fitted round the carriage drive to deal with surface water, and the tops of barrel drains were removed at four different places on the lawn, and built up with brickwork to receive concrete covers. Work was also carried out on the lake drains and overflows. 1918 First of a series of sale notices for the house and grounds between 1918 and 1922. 1921 Boston Road widening, LMA file concerning the sale of land by Col J B Stracey Clitherow to Brentford Urban District Council. ‘With regard to the avenue of elm trees ... All trees and timber which are to be removed for the ... intended road … shall be felled grubbed and removed by ... the Council.’ Clitherow’s lawyer, in April, tells Stracey Clitherow that the council will not be altering the road ‘from Boston House garden wall to the L & SW railway bridge.’ 1922 Boston House Sale plans – include a location plan based on contemporary OS mapping at 1:10,560 scale; a plan of the boundaries of the land sale covering the gardens and the park based on the 1915 Ordnance Survey 1:2,500; an a diagrammatic plan of ‘Roads from Hyde Park Corner and Marble Arch to Boston House,’ from Boston House Sale catalogue – basically a ‘how-to-get-there’ map, also showing its locational advantages. (Appendix 1.22, 1.23, 1.24) 1922 June 8 - ‘Sale Tuesday 4th July and 3 following days on the premises ... by direction of the trustees of the late Col Edward John Stracey Clitherow. The Clitherow Heirlooms, the contents of the ancient mansion, Boston House ... Note – The ancient mansion of moderate size, having lovely lawns etc about 36 acres, is for sale with early possession. Two of the ceilings have the rare coloured contemporary Jacobean plaster decoration...’ ‘two Romney portraits, a family group by Hogarth ... Van Dyck the artist’s own portrait ... Rubens, Lely, Kneller ... The library ... 3,000 volumes ... lead cisterns, sundial ... miscellanea ...’ 1922 Brentford Urban District Council inspected for the potential use as public walks, allotments and pleasure grounds, 19 acres of land in Boston Park and Boston Fields being offered for sale by Col Clitherow. The land will be bounded on the south and east, by roads and houses, Boston Manor Park 29 Conservation Management Plan April 2018

Boston House seen across the lake in a photograph from the sale catalogue, 1922

as yet unbuilt. A farmer is currently using the land for grazing; the only Council outlay would be fencing off the canal and River Brent, and laying out games pitches. Under the Town Planning Scheme, the land would otherwise be sold for factory sites and ancillary housing. Col Clitherow accepted Council’s offer to buy 20 acres of Boston Park, but the current agricultural tenant could not remove until autumn 1924. 1924 Council has to borrow money (£23,000) over 60 year period to purchase park. 1924 Brentford Urban District Council to ask Duke and Duchess of York [future King George VI and Queen Elizabeth] or other royalty to open park in early September, once the river and canal are fenced off. Council forms ‘Parks, Open Spaces and Street Trees Committee’ to oversee newly acquired Boston and Carville Hall sites. Later Lady Cooper is asked to open park, as previously invited royalty unable to be present. Lady Cooper is the charismatic, unconventional and very popular widow of Sir Edward Cooper, Lord Mayor of London in 1919-20. Boston House grounds reserved for walks, and park set apart for games, including four football pitches and ten grass tennis courts, with scale of charges. No Sunday games permitted, and one pitch reserved for local School Sports Association. Fishing on lake allowed with a permit. Council accepts tender for 700 yards of unclimbable wrought iron fencing along water courses, and for 20 yards of hoggin for paths. 1924 The opening ceremony on 13 September is reported: ‘In beautifully fine weather on Thursday ... Lady Cooper ... opened Boston Manor Park ... the Chairman of the Brentford Council ... handed a silver key to Lady Cooper who unlocked the main gates ... Inside awaited a Guard of Honour comprised the Brentford Fire Brigade ... the company proceeded through the residence to the lawn where the declaration of opening ... was made ... Brentford was converted to the idea of open spaces ... park 23½ acres, ground of Boston House, 9½ acres, lake, 1; kitchen gardens, 2. It was purchased ... on 24th June 1924 for £23,000 ... Middlesex County Council have agreed to 25 percent. The actual cost incurred to date of opening was £24,046 ... beautiful woodlands, places for the solace of the aged, the health of the invalid ... shady walks obviously ‘for whispering lovers made.’ 30 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 1924 ‘…serious depredations to the property occurred on Saturday and Sunday last, principally by youths. We recommend that notices be affixed in the ... parks threatening prosecution in the event of the detection of damage to shrubs, etc and that two police constables ... patrol ... on Saturdays and Sundays ... for the next four weeks.’ An unclimbable iron fence to be erected on north and south boundaries of Boston House grounds at cost of £300. 1924 Gardeners’ Chronicle reports, ‘It is doubtful whether any open space in the south-western part of Greater London can compare with Boston Manor Park for beauty.’ 1924 Brentford Urban District Council has interviewed and severely cautioned a boy caught stealing pears from a tree in park; also intend to prosecute for wilful damage the 3 boys who climbed and stole nuts from walnut tree. If Council provides three hard tennis courts, one net ball court, tennis sets, bowling green and pavilion and alterations to cowsheds for lavatories, it will cost £2,700. Three new cricket pitches to be provided. Boston house and entrance lodge are to be altered to provide living accommodation for three assistant park keepers. The state rooms, being the drawing room and two ante rooms on the first floor, to be let for meetings, of under 100 persons, ‘to terminate not later than 12 midnight, and not to include meetings of a political character.’ The dining room on the south side of main entrance to be let separately, and the northern library likewise. House to be opened for guided tours free of charge on certain days, and on other days on payment of admission fee of 6d. The Parks Committee and the Library and Museum Committee are to collaborate on exhibiting local prints in the house and its hallway. 1925 Brentford Urban District Council accepted tenders for the building of a netball and ten grass tennis courts and equipment. They also purchased a Shanks horse-drawn mower (in preference to a motor one), which had been lent on approval. 1929 ‘London Playing Fields Society ... has always been ... obtaining ... playing fields for the benefit of private clubs of the working class type ... a wonderful opportunity now occurs of acquiring another ... part of the Boston Manor estate ... 35 acres in extent, the turf is excellent, and it is most accessible to clubs in west and south-west London.’ 1930 Boston Park Bowling Club founded. 1930 London Playing Fields Association, AGM ‘The extent of the society’s playing fields is now 317 acres, on which there are ... 105 football grounds ... the chief matter of note is the acquisition of 34 acres at Boston Manor. The whole cost was £13,000, over half provided by the Carnegie Trustees, London Parochial Charities and others.’ 1932 London Playing Fields Society ‘An effort is being made to provide employment for 30 men for at least 20 weeks to enable the development of Boston Manor Playing Field ... The recent extension of the Piccadilly Tube ... provided the Society with a dump of some 200,000 yards of soil on approximately 6-7 acres of land beside the River Brent, hitherto useless [due to flooding] and this has to be levelled and laid out. The cost will be £1,000 ... Without this special effort the small permanent staff cannot possibly complete the work for three or four years.’ 1935 Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 – showing for the first time ‘Boston Manor Park,’ with a Bowling green, tennis courts in the former walled garden, another area of tennis courts, a cricket ground (in Hangmans meadow). (Appendix 1.25) Boston Manor Park 31 Conservation Management Plan April 2018

‘The Manor House, Clitherow Park’, postcard from 1920- 30s? 1936 E E Warneford photographs Boston Manor from the far side of the lake, the same viewpoint that F Turner used in 1911. The views are similar, but the ivy on the staff wing has been much reduced. 1936 Brentford and Chiswick Horticultural Society Summer Show held at Boston Manor park in July. 1938 An item in the Middlesex Chronicle describes old trees in the park, ‘The trees ... are deservedly famous for their luxuriance ... the finest [cedar], which stands on the lawn on the garden front ... when last measured had a girth of 25 ft. Another tree of special interest is a huge spreading yew on the south side ... When the writer first saw this ... tree forty years ago it had a shaped opening in the middle ... purposely cut and trained to provide a vista of the garden from the dining room windows, but subsequent growth has entirely filled up the space.’ 1940-61 Two rooms on the ground floor of the house are occupied as an infant school. 1940 ? Street map– shows little detail, although ‘London Playing Fields’ appear for the first time, including a row of tennis courts at the south (south of later M4). (Appendix 1.26) 1940 Housing advertisements have radically changed their stress on ‘desirable features’ or ‘selling points,’ and now prioritise safety during wartime bombing raids. Among facilities being promoted at new blocks of apartments are ‘shelters ... specially framed steel and concrete construction ... resident nurses and doctors,’ and ‘residential fortress, massive reinforced concrete frame ... municipal specially constructed shelter below.’ Boston Manor Road’s newly completed flats are now sold on the basis that ‘You can live out of the danger zone without extra rent. Unfortunately, the Boston Manor area does suffer damage during air raids. 1947 Boston Manor house declared an Ancient Monument – no alterations can be carried out by the council without the permission of the Ministry of Works. 1957 April 12 - ‘A Warning that unless the decision ... to close Boston Manor House Infants’ School is reversed, the parents ... will bring their children out on strike, extolling the benefits of a park location and the danger of crossing the ‘great west-road’ to go to other schools. 32 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 1958 The Times reports that, ‘Britain is to have its first double-decker road, on the pattern already adopted in Belgium, as a part of the projected London to South Wales motorway. The ... road will start near the Chiswick flyover ... and will follow the line of the Great West Road for one mile ... and then descend gradually to ground level ... near Boston Manor Road ... One of the major advantages of the new road is that it will not involve the demolition of property ...’ 1958 The Times publishes ‘an artist’s impression of the view from the western end of the proposed viaduct to carry the South Wales radial road. In the foreground are Boston Manor Park and the bridge carrying the Great West Road across the Grand Union Canal.’ 1959 Again in The Times, ‘A model of the proposed Great West Road viaduct ... will be available for inspection by objectors ... in Hogarth Hall ... The 20ft model brings out the impressive character of one of the more unusual [Government road] schemes ... reinforced concrete piers will be placed every 60ft down the centre of the existing [Great West] road ... Shortly before the junction ... with Boston Manor Road the elevated highway will curve away to the north across Boston Manor Park and the river Brent, which is also the Grand Union Canal. As it crosses the park, the viaduct will ascend to pass over a factory fronting on Boston Manor Road. Taller piers will be needed here, and to reduce their number there will be steel spans varying from 200ft to 370ft long. The highway will then gradually descend to ground level ... There will be substantial steel railings on the outside to prevent vehicles toppling off the viaduct. Although the height of the viaduct will be generally 25ft ... it rises to 65ft at the point where it crosses the factory.’ 1960s Francis Frith, the postcard manufacturers of Reigate, take a series of highly conventional ‘municipal park’ photographs, presumably for possible postcards of the park. The grounds are empty, every lawn manicured and each grass verge is ruler-straight. 1960 House restoration work initiated by the Borough of Brentford & Chiswick, with aid of grant of £10,000 from Historic Buildings Council, and £1,000 from Pilgrim Trust and £5,000 from Middlesex County Council. Architect Donald Insall’s account of the restoration published in 1972. 1960 Despite the activity to preserve the house, the gate lodge was demolished. A photograph appears in a newspaper article captioned ‘And this is Boston Lodge, which is shortly to be demolished, with the present residents, Mr Wilf Pollard (80) and his wife Ethel (77) who are leaving ... after many years to live in a pre-fab.’ 1961 Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 – most of the tennis courts have now gone, with the main part of the walled garden now occupied by 14 post-war prefab houses, with the square north part still showing glass-houses. A pavilion is shown in the south field but no pitch is indicated. (Appendix 1.27) 1961 Preliminary work on 1¼ mile overhead motorway running west from Chiswick flyover began in August, with traffic diverted for three years. 1962 In June, Ministry of Transport advertises for tenders for building motorway from Boston Manor Park to Harlington interchange, and thence to London Airport, 7.2 miles. 1962 Work to start immediately (June) on £5m elevated carriageway for M4 – two mile stretch from Chiswick flyover to Boston Manor park, the first viaduct of its type in Britain. Contract awarded to Marples, Ridgway and Partners in association with Christiani and Neilsen, Ltd. Boston Manor Park 33 Conservation Management Plan April 2018

Construction of the M4 in the west part of the site, 1963-64 (Holman)

1962 In December, contract for over £6 million awarded to Richard Costain (Civil Engineering) Ltd and Higgs and Hill, for the construction of seven miles of M4 from Boston Manor park up to London Airport spur. The three-lane carriageways will have 10ft hard shoulders, and a 13ft central reserve, and 17 bridges. Work due for completion by December 1964. 1963 Queen Mother reopens newly refurbished Boston Manor in June, ‘restored to something like its Jacobean graciousness and dedicated to sound domestic and educational purposes ... as a school for training students in domestic work.’ State rooms will be open to the public on certain days. ‘Much of the work, especially in respect of modernization, has been done since the tenancy of the Institute began.’ 1964 Aerial photograph published in October showing the progress of the laying of the decking on the elevated roadway above Boston Manor park and the Great West Road. There are also photographs taken of the viaduct legs being constructed across the park, from ground level in Chiswick Library Local History Collection. 1965 The Chiswick-Langley section of the M4 is opened on 24 March by the Minister of Transport, Tom Fraser. The designers and consulting Rose Walk in the 1960s engineers are Sir Alexander Gibb and Partners. (Francis Frith) 1965 Country Life carries article on Boston Manor house, ‘property of Brentford and Chiswick Borough Council.’ Described as a ‘pastoral paradise ... The river Brent, now a filthy brown stream, runs west ... where the steep slope is thickly planted ... into a little hanging wood ... and ... help to screen the industrial estate on the far side of the Brent ... The contrast between this Arcadian scene [in the 1759 landscape portrait by Arthur Devis] and the same view today must make the angels weep.’ This article suggests that the architect of the 19th century Jacobean-revival porch and hall screen is C J Richardson, working in the 1830s. 1970 The proposed site of an artificial ski slope in the park is shown in a local paper in an equally incongruous picture, with the ancient trees outlined against the concrete flyover. 1972 Architect Donald W Insall, whose firm restored the house in 1961-3, includes the Boston Manor project in his book The care of old buildings today: a practical guide, published by the Architectural Press. He uses Boston as the exemplar of ‘Taking advantage of architectural, archaeological and decorative discoveries.’ 1992 Housing for Women, with Hounslow Council and English Heritage, finished converting the Grade II listed stable-block at Boston into seven self-contained flats, funded by the Housing Corporation. Dating of roof timbers suggested the building was older than thought, and built around 1700. The original clock face was preserved, and the new mechanism was installed in 1996. 34 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 2000 Malcolm Lister, landscape architect with Hounslow Council’s Community Initiative Partnership requests that Boston Manor park be put on English Heritage’s Parks and Gardens Register, stating ‘the … structure of the grounds have remained basically unaltered since at least 1838 ... since the 1935 map we have lost the riverside path ... and the park has suffered the worst blow ever dealt to it – the building of the M4 ... two opportunities have arisen to fund improvements ... £150,000 ... with Glaxo Smith Kline ... [used] as match funding ... to the London Waterway Partnership ... [for] restoration of the riverside walk ... paths with a fine gravel finish ... opening up present gloomy and overgrown tree and shrub growth ... to lake margins.’ The council would like to pursue Heritage Lottery Funding at a later stage. 2001 ‘Boston Manor Park is to get a £500,000 facelift ... a new play area, riverside nature trail and refurbished pathways ... against a background of lack of manpower (one workman) and play provision only for children aged 7 or 8. The first stage to be funded by £150,000 ... from GSK as part of planning permission for its new headquarters. 2002 Friends of Boston Manor (FOBM) held its first meeting ... inviting regular park users ... to make suggestions for improvements ... But residents believe the friends group was set up because there is no money available for improvements. ‘The £150,000 budget from GlaxoSmithKline has already been exhausted,’... ‘Picnic benches are being vandalised ... the lake is full of rubbish ... the banks are quite hideous,’ ... another resident said ‘The park is left open at night and that’s when a lot of the damage is caused.’ 2003 FOBM produce the first issue of their newsletter, ‘Park News.’ CIP then managing parks and other cultural facilities on behalf of Hounslow Council. 2003 Hounslow Council announces that the house will be closed for the 2003 season to allow essential repair work on structural problems in the south-west corner. A full structural survey has recommended the complete rebuilding of 2.8m of wall, underpinning and the systematic treatment of other repairs. 2003 At a meeting of the Friends in May, local plant grower Amanda Savage suggested possible suitable plants for the herbaceous border. She would also design a planting plan of the beds. At the same meeting, the young offenders’ group supposed to work around the pond had not turned up over a 3-week period, the railings had been painted, and the pond drainage noted as blocked. 2004 The Friends newsletter in May lists various projects: laying wood chippings along the nature trail, with local school pupils; removing brambles; painting shutters of the bowls clubhouse with murals to discourage graffiti; and goal-posts installed in the upper field. The main project was to replant the herbaceous borders beside the bowling club, which had been saved from being grassed over. FOBM had purchased a storage container for tools and as a base for work parties. A tennis club established, clearing fly-tipping and an Art in the Park project with Boston Study Centre also during the year. 2004 Boston Tea Party replants two borders in April with 774 plants in the walled garden organised by the Friends, aided by a £2,000 grant from GSK. 2005 Around this time ‘Boston Manor Nature Trail’ leaflet is produced, the work of the Ealing and Chiswick Group of the London Wildlife Trust, Boston Manor Park 35 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 and the Brent River and Canal Society. The trail leads through the woods to Clitherow Island (or Botany Bay), where 22 kinds of trees and over 100 other flowering plants have been recorded. 2005 In September, the first of the new series of the Brentford Festival held by the Friends, to raise funds towards park improvements and a community café. ‘3,000 people enjoy the ... town’s revived festival’ which was considered a huge success, planned in just three month. The event had raised about £1,500. 2008 In July John Laing Integrated Services (JLIS) were appointed by the London Borough of Hounslow to manage the borough’s parks, open spaces, libraries, arts and heritage portfolio. The maintenance of the parks and open spaces is subcontracted to Continental Landscapes Ltd (CLL). 2009 FOBM opens the Pavilion café at weekends, run by volunteers, transformed from the old Bowling Club pavilion; it is also available for private hire. The bowling green is now out of use. In addition, the water fountain has been restored and moved from the car park, to the centre of the walled garden, and plans are underway to produce a fitness trail in the upper meadow. Future plans also include developing the potting sheds, and installing a mosaic on the graffiti- covered shelter. 2009 Hounslow Chronicle reports that GSK wants a car park on Boston Manor park in exchange for helping with the house and grounds’ regeneration ... with 600 parking spaces. Although the Friends group was not informed, shortage of restoration funds may force the council to accept the offer. The council wishes to create a ‘combined sporting hub’ in the park. The Friends and other councillors called for alternative funding suggestions. 2005-17 First year that Boston Manor park won a Green Flag Award, the benchmark national standard for publicly accessible parks and green spaces in the … for attaining high standards within the park. The park has received an award each year since. 2005-12 Brentford Festival held in the park on the first Sunday of September each year. In 2009 described as ‘The best ever local family festival.’ and the event had over 10,000 visitors. The Festival moved to Blodin park from 2013.

Brentford Festival in the park with GSK in background, September 2010 36 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 2.6 Survey of designed landscape features

2.6.1 General This section gives summary accounts of all the extant features of the landscape – archaeological features, watercourses, drives and paths, buildings and other built structures, enclosure boundaries, woods and planted features, and notable views, including both existing and known former features. Each individual feature in the survey has a reference number with a prefix letter describing its type and is referenced to a location plan (figures 5–8) as follows: A = archaeological feature B = built features (other than bridges) including park buildings, walls etc C = circulation feature (drives, paths, bridges and car parks) E = enclosure (estate walls, fences) T = veteran, specimen or other notable tree separately recorded V = view or vista W = water feature Survey photographs of the major features are included together with some historical representations where they exist. Survey photographs are mostly from 2010-11, with some updated views from August 2015 and December 2017 (as noted).

2.6.2 Archaeology There are no scheduled monuments or national monuments records within the site area, apart from records relating to Boston Manor and other listed built features, which are dealt with under Built features below. However, the long occupation of the site shown by the chronology (section 2.5 or Appendix 2) and the previous features known to have existed from historic maps and other sources, gives the site high interest archaeologically, particularly in respect of garden archaeology. At least four former garden buildings and two gateways (shown on Figure 5) and the former ponds (Figure 4) are just two aspects of known value, to which may be added other garden and circulation features evident from the historic maps. Stonework from an unknown structure (see B19) – perhaps a gateway or bridge – near the canal weir under the M4 viaduct, has also been noted on site.

2.6.3 Water features (Figure 4)

W01, W02 Lake and former fish ponds The lake of 0.461ha lies close to the house on its west side and is the first feature encountered after the entering the park from the north. Its position at the high point of the site and constricted between the stables block and the park boundary is strange and only partly explained by its evolution from former fish ponds present in this area until the later 18th century. Features of its layout include a concrete / masonry edge on the south side (in effect the face of a dam), rubble stone edging elsewhere, hooped low iron railings round the outer perimeter, a small island and a dense canopy of trees on each side except the south and south-east. Although one of the main attractions of the park, its present condition means it does not meet its W02 Fish ponds as they potential being heavily silted, with insufficient water flow, poor water quality and appear on ‘Plan of the too shaded for water health. Rats are also a problem. The condition of some Manor of Boston’ (LMA, trees around the margins is also poor (leaning, fallen into water, lopped etc) and ACC1360/297), 1770? Maps the railings are damaged and need painting. Appendix 1.06 Boston Manor Park 37 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 W01 Lake general view

W01 North end of lake (2017) The historic plans from the later 18th century show up to four four-sided ponds of different shapes and sizes in this area, including one long thin one parallel with the stables and two large ones that were joined and reshaped to form the lake. The exact sequence of these plans is uncertain and they do not make sense with their ascribed dates, although the end result is clear. Ponds that began life as fish ponds, to grow fish for food, and may have existed since medieval period, survivals from the grange or manor which belonged to the priory of St Helen, were remodelled in the prevailing naturalistic style. The historical research also show significant works to the lake when radical and long-overdue drainage works to the house and grounds were undertaken in 1915.

W01 Lake eroded banks and W02, W03 River Brent, Grand Union Canal silted water Historically the river has formed the south-west boundary of Boston Manor and contributed to its setting. The sequence of historic maps shows the garden grounds running down to the river before the canal and include ‘Plan of Lands in ... New Brentford ... belonging to Jas Clitherow Esq through which the Grand Junction Canal passes,’ a conveyancing plan prepared by the Grand Junction Canal company in 1794. The canal joined the Thames at Brentford to the Midland canal system at Braunston, 92 miles away, and enabled the efficient mass movement of goods and coal to London. The canal follows the course of the old river for some of its length, and at Boston Manor a meander of the river remains functioning as a bypass for water to overflow a weir above Clitherow’s lock, forming an island between the two channels. The lock and the cast-iron Gallows bridge (dated 1820) are points of interest along the canal route adjoining the site, while the towpath forms part of the Capital Ring strategic Metropolitan walking route, developed by the London Walking Forum in partnership with local authorities. The island area is crossed by the M4 viaduct, greatly reducing its value as a landscape feature and wildlife area.

W02 River wildlife

W02 River Brent, typical view 38 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018

W04 Grand Union Canal near Clitherow lock

While the canal is generally attractive, with well treed margins, and functions well both as a waterway and as a footpath/cycleway, the river, although wooded either side, is for most its length overgrown, silted, affected by algae and with a mass of floating rubbish and sunken obstructions, contributing to the general unsavoury character of the under-viaduct island.

W04 Drinking fountain Red marble basin with central water spout, not connected to a water supply, inscribed ‘Presented by the Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association.’ Formerly located outside the shelter that is now the Spartans changing rooms; moved to the centre of the walled garden in 2009.

2.6.4 Built features (Figure 5)

B01 Boston Manor house (incl. North wing) Listed Grade 1 Boston Manor is a fascinating combination of moderate scale and high decorative quality, which reflects the means and ambitions of its originator Lady Mary Reade, who had the house built in 1623. The house has been enlarged and modified by successive generations of the Clitherow family, who first acquired the property in 1671, and it remains an amalgam of the shifts in taste, means and needs of its owners. The parkland setting of the house is now limited by the elevated section W04 Drinking fountain in of the M4 and the headquarters of GlaxoSmithKline but the immediate setting of walled garden the house retains a surprisingly arcadian atmosphere despite its urban context. Boston Manor is organised as a double pile plan, which means two rooms thick. Although small, the organisation of Boston Manor’s original plan follows a pattern evident in the great houses of the day, with the principal room, or great chamber, on the first floor approached via a formal stair. The great chamber has an extraordinarily fine plasterwork ceiling that is perhaps the most noteworthy part of the entire structure, singled out for mention in all statutory descriptions and published accounts of the house. Externally, this modest multi-gabled house must have had the appearance of a hunting lodge rather than a grand manor. In this transitional period, English architecture was moving from organic, fortified manor houses to Renaissance influenced, symmetrical compositions in brick, with vestiges of the English perpendicular in their stone mullioned windows. The house was extended in the 1670s, with a gable topped bay to the north, following its purchase by James Clitherow, a city merchant. It remained home to seven generations of the Clitherow family, until it was sold to the local Council in 1924. The house was renovated in the early 1960s, with further restoration to the ground floor in the late 1990s. Until recently, the State Rooms on the first Boston Manor Park 39 Conservation Management Plan April 2018

B01 Boston Manor House from the east

floor, together with the Dining Room and Library on the ground floor, were open to the public for free. For more detail on the house, see Boston Manor house Conservation Management Plan (LDN Architects 2011) The house was included in Heritage at Risk, London in 2008. The building was partly propped with scaffolding for a number of years then consolidated and reinstated in 2010-11. Further restoration and adaptation to new uses are dependent on the outcome of the Boston Manor Park and House Options Appraisal (Jura Consultants 2011) and Boston Manor House Conservation Management Plan (LDN Architects 2011) and the ensuing HLF-funded project for the house.

B02 Stables Listed Grade II Coach stable block to north and at right angle to the house and its north wing, built in red brick; included in listing for group value. Three gables face on to the front drive space, with an original clock face (with new mechanism) on the central one and a cupola and weather-vane above. Housing for Women, with Hounslow Council and English Heritage converted the block into seven self-contained flats, funded by the Housing Corporation, in 1992. Dating of roof timbers suggested the building was built around 1700.

B03 Lodge and former lodge Despite the activity to preserve the house in the early 1960s, the gate lodge was demolished. The lodge was small, single storey, and of the same style and

B02 Stables block 40 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018

B03 Former lodge with Walter Quennell, gardener, in 1904 integral to the gateway which it abutted. It is seen in two photographs from c1904, one with Walter Quennell, the gardener, outside the door, the other with his wife and two children (photographs owned by Peter Quennell, Walter Quennell was his great grandfather). The lodge was replaced by a single-storey flat-roofed caretaker’s house positioned discordantly between the ornate Victorian main gates and the stables block. B04 Air-raid shelter B03 Lodge house 1960s Concrete structure in tree belt to the south of the front lawn, measuring 13 x 3m; used for storage. Present on post-war OS maps.

B05 Service yard buildings Lean-to brick built sheds, open fronted or walled with corrugated asbestos cement roofs along outside wall of the walled garden and the main boundary wall, with container /garage and soil heaps on north side; all derelict or with low level use for park maintenance and storage. Partial clearance and upgrading to a more productive use or other new park uses may be options for the future.

B06 Walled garden corner building Modern, small flat-roofed building in north corner of walled garden, used by FOBM for catering for events in the restored garden. See E05 for garden walls. B05 Service yard buildings B07 Former walled garden buildings The 1st edition OS maps and subsequent editions until 1961 all show lean-to glasshouses along the north wall of the walled garden and a second glasshouse parallel with it. Evidence of the lean-to glasshouse can be seen on the north wall, including the green-painted profile of the interior extending onto the sides walls.

B08 Former walled garden area and uses The larger walled garden area, from the present walled garden to the South gateway, appears on maps from c1800 (Apdx 1.14) onwards, and is shown with subdivisions and internal layout from the 1865 1st edition OS until 1918. In 1935 tennis courts are shown within the larger space, and after the war prefab housing had been built here, as seen on the 1961 map (Apdx 1.27). The terrace of 28-66 Boston Manor Road was built in the 1970s. B08 Walled gardens from 1st edition OS map, 1865 Boston Manor Park 41 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 B09 Pavilion café Single-storey hipped-roofed former bowls and tennis pavilion, painted dark green, now used as a community café run by FOBM, converted in 2009. Roller shutter protects central sales window; shutters on other windows; central door. Seen on OS maps from 1935 onwards, when existing bowling green and many tennis courts, including in walled area to north, were present.

B10 Spartans changing rooms / former shelter B09 Pavilion café (2015) Single-storey hipped-roofed former public shelter and toilets, painted dark green. Converted to changing pavilion for Spartans Football Club c2009, with public toilets accessible at either end when in use by the club. Roller shutters protect two doors and a large window with mesh grilles over other windows. Seen on OS maps from 1935 onwards.

B11 Former bowls shelter Concrete platform on north side of bowling green shows position of former shelter, now crossed by new railings filling gap.

B10 Spartans changing B12 Former sports pavilion rooms Concrete platform on north side meadow / former cricket pitch in position of former cricket pavilion, latterly used for barbecue pits.

B13 LPFF changing rooms Large flat-roofed c1960s sports facility / changing rooms serving LPFF pitches in the north of the site, positioned adjacent to the M4 boundary. Mainly single- storey with first floor central ‘pavilion’ and viewing platform accessed by external steps, all in dark brick.

B14 02 Cellphone mast The mast stands in woodland or undergrowth between the park and LPFF playing fields, near the north-west edge.

B11 Former bowls shelter B15 Little Boston house Little Boston house was the dower house and stood within the wider estate on Windmill Road to the north of Boston Manor house. It is occasionally confused with the principal house. It has some claim to fame as the home, for a period, of John Quincy Adams, the American ambassador and future US president. In a letter of 1816 he mentions Little Boston house, which his family was renting from the Clitherows: ‘We found so much inconvenience in residing so far distant from London ... that we determined, perhaps inconsiderately, to remove to town ... however ... it is scarcely possible that at double the cost we should find [a house] in London, half so agreeable or comfortable ... as this.’ (Ford, C (ed) 1913 B13 LPFF changing rooms Writings of John Quincy Adams, Vol 6, pp89-93) Little Boston house was demolished c1930. It was then purchased by local builder Charles Jackman, who redeveloped the site as nos 236-260 Windmill Road. A garden plan of Little Boston c1790 survives (Apdx. 1.12).

B16 Former garden building 1782 Small building shown on plan of 1782 (Apdx 1.08) and 1790? (Apdx 1.10) at the west end of the northern pond.

B17 Former garden building 1770 Small building shown on plans of 1770 (Apdx 1.05, annotated ‘23’), 1782 (Apdx 1.08, in pencil; also Apdx 1.09) and 1800? (Apdx 1.15) overlooking the lake from the north. 42 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 B18 Former building c1770 Small building shown on plans of 1770 (Apdx 1.05) and 1790? (Apdx 1.10) at the south-west corner of the lake.

B19 Former gateway c1790 Gateway shown on plans of 1790? (Apdx 1.10) at the south edge of the then smaller south lawn and adjacent to a tree that matches the position of the surviving large cedar. B18 Former building c1770 B20 Former gates c1790 from plan of 1790? (Apdx 1.10) Ornamental iron gate or similar shown on plan of 1790? (Apdx 1.10) to the south of the south lawn giving access to Park field on the east.

B21 Former summer-house c1770 Small building shown on plans of 1770 (Apdx 1.05, annotated ‘26’) and 1782 (Apdx 1.09) overlooking the river Brent. It is shown also on ‘Plan of Lands in ... New Brentford ... belonging to Jas Clitherow Esq through which the Grand Junction Canal passes’ produced by the canal company (Apdx 1.13) and is annotated ‘Summer House belonging to James Clitherow Esq.’ B22 Stonework from former structure Several pieces of masonary and carved stonework lie at the edge of the river under the M4 viaduct close to the overflow weir from the canal. It has been suggested that the stone is from a bridge, although no bridge is shown in this B20 Former gates c1790 location on any of the historic maps and plans. The location is outside the main from plan of 1790? (Apdx garden area of the 18th-19th centuries. 1.10)

2.6.5 Enclosures (walls, fences etc)

E01, E02, E03 Park wall, Main gateway and Secondary gateway All listed Grade II The park wall built almost entirely in red brick runs for approximately 300m along Boston Manor Road from near the junction with Boston Gardens to the walled garden where it forms its north wall. It is likely to have continued a further 130m along Boston Manor Road to the location of the modern South gates where it formed the north wall of the rest of the long garden area that existed here until tennis courts were built in the larger southern part of the gardens in the late 1920s. The south-west wall of the former gardens now forms the boundary wall of the park, with terrace of 28-66 Boston Manor Road to its north-east, and is similar in character to the rest of the roadside wall but is included here under garden walls, E04 below. This part of the site is understood to have been affected by bombing during the WWII blitz and the roadside wall may have been lost at that time.

B22 Stonework from former structure at the river edge under the M4

E02 Boston Manor House main gateway Boston Manor Park 43 Conservation Management Plan April 2018

E01 Boston Manor park wall The park wall shows considerable variation is almost all respects – its age, the bricks used in its construction, its height, the form of coping (mainly brick on edge but some stone flag), its profile or cross-section, parts with added courses, and in the use of buttresses (walled garden section). In addition to the two grand gateways, there are two other doors and at least two former openings that have been bricked-up. An initial assessment of the variations in the wall discerned thirteen distinct sections and about ten types of brick (including some modern repairs), although the features within each section are so complex that the exercise has not been written up. A full investigation with a buildings archaeologist is recommended which should enable both better understanding of the evolution of the wall itself and its relationship to the phases of the house and landscape. Some older sections of the wall have very eroded bricks and may be affected by road salt and spray. The detailed survey is also recommended to determine the E01 Park wall, phases of repair programme necessary and assess any structural issues. brickwork The Main gateway (E02) comprises tall gatepiers in red brick and with sandstone pilasters, banding and double cappings, with pedestrian gateways either side formed by semi-circular arches with plain brick piers to the outer side. Convex quadrant walls in bright red brick feature diamond patterning in black brick and heavy pitched brick coping. The cast-iron gates are in an ornate foliage-derived pattern, with the pedestrian gates asymmetrically designed. Assumed to be of Victorian date but may be earlier. The gateway functions as a pedestrian entrance to the park, house and stables flats and as a vehicular entrance to the house and flats, with two control barriers positioned obtrusively inside the open gateway. Overall the feature is in fair E01 Park wall eroded condition, although the stonework is spalling. brickwork The secondary gateway (E03), positioned at the south end of the drive loop, is simple compared to the main gateway, with tall piers built entirely in red brick, including capping, with the wall swept up on either side. The cast-iron gates use geometric patterns with spear-top uprights and a concave segmental top line. The gates are kept permanently closed. E04 Garden walls The outer walls on the west (park) side and next to the South gates are all approximately 3.0m high with battered face and buttresses at regular intervals, E03 Secondary gateway built in red brick and coped with the same brick, all of the same period, and match the section of roadside wall at the walled garden. The wall adjoining the service yard is approx. 1.0m higher and painted green on the inside face with evidence of former glasshouses against this wall. The inner wall on the east side of the walled garden is lower at c2.0m without buttresses, of similar brick to the other walls but possibly less old. A new gate in the east corner with adjoining modern brickwork. A segmental-arched pedestrian gateway in the west wall with an iron gate gives access from the park.

E04 Walled garden, wall to park 44 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 E05 South gates Tall piers (matching height of adjoining garden wall, E04) in yellow / multicolour brick with attached pilaster to front and back in cement and similar capping, with blue engineering brick base. Cast-iron gates match those in the secondary gateway (E03). A small steel pedestrian side gate on the north side is out of scale and character with the central gates. One pier totally demolished and the other reduced to half height at time of 2017-18 re-survey, and scheduled for replacement.

The gateway is said to have been built during the 1960s refurbishment of the E05 South gates, July 2010 house, in which case the E03 gates are of the same date.

E06 Park railings Blunt-top iron railings run the length of the north and west boundary. Beside Boston Gardens the railings are in fair condition and may have been replaced. The rest of the boundary is through woods or undergrowth close to the river and canal and is mostly unmaintained, rusted and broken or missing. The railings date from the creation of the park in 1924 when the Council accepted a tender for 700 yards of ‘unclimbable’ wrought iron fencing along the water courses at a cost of £300. This security and safety measure raises the question of its replacement in today’s even more safety-conscious times. A narrow entrance gate at the corner at Boston Gardens / Boston Manor Road, close to the termination of the railings where they join the park wall, is one of the principal entrances to the park; simple matching gate with cast-iron posts. At the canal footbridge entrance are hoop-topped galvanised steel railings; good condition.

E07 Miscellaneous park fences (lake, tennis, bowling green, play area, car park, MUGA) Various fence types for safety or security around the different park facilities, including older fence types: E06 Park railings, Boston • bowling green – iron railings, 1.25m high as E06, fair-poor condition Park and near river • lake – hoop-top railings, 0.75m high, variable condition, some damaged and all requiring painting; put up after BM House Infants’ School left the house. Other fences are all modern and include: • tennis courts – ball fence in green plastic-coated chain-link, 2.75m high, good condition (recently replaced by FOBM) • play area – timber paling fence, c0.8m high, with Pittosporum hedge in some sections, good condition • Spartan’s pavilion – galvanised steel pedestrian safety barrier, 1.1m high, good condition but intrusive • car park – new timber knee rail, 0.5m high, new and in good condition • South entrance area – timber bollards approx. 0.6m high, new and in good E07 Lake, hoop-top railings condition, positioned to prevent parking on grass verge. Older mixed iron and removable galvanised steel bollards to the south at the end of path C17 are unsightly and would best be replaced with matching timber bollards • MUGA – proprietary powder-coated steel mesh fence in blue and yellow, 1.2m and 3.6m high, good condition.

E08 Boundary security fence (GSK) Black powder-coated steel mesh fence c3.6m high runs the length of the south boundary beside GSK site, mostly behind a screen of trees and shrubs. Two gates allow access to and from the park for GSK employees; good condition.

E09 Boundary to housing fence Miscellaneous garden fences along the north-east boundary of LPFF area, E08 Boundary security fence mostly behind tree screen. (GSK) Boston Manor Park 45 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 E10 Boundary to transport fence Chain-link and other security fences along easement for M4 motorway and Piccadilly line on boundaries of the two parts of LPFF playing fields; not all seen.

2.6.6 Access and circulation (Figure 6)

C01 Pedestrian entrance, Boston Manor Road / Boston Park C02 Main gateway vehicular & pedestrian entrance, Boston Manor Rd C03 Secondary gateway vehicular & pedestrian entrance (unused), Boston Manor Road C04 Maintenance access, walled garden C05 South gateway vehicular & pedestrian entrance, Boston Manor Rd All as described under 2.6.5 Enclosures above.

C01 Pedestrian entrance, C06 Car park Boston Manor Road / Boston Tarmac surfaced car park for approximately 35 cars, improved in Spring 2010 Park with new perimeter planting and upgraded access from South gateway, including bollards to prevent verge parking; time-limited stay to prevent day-long use and keep space for park visitors. Along the north side ia a bed planted with box hedging forming the words ‘BOSTON MANOR PARK’, created c2014.

C07 Pedestrian entrance and canal footbridge Entrance facilitating access from canal towpath on south bank of canal via C06 Car park laminated timber footbridge and steps; entrance area fenced with galvanised steel railings. The footbridge is the responsibility of The Highways Agency.

C08 Pedestrian entrance, GSK south C09 Pedestrian entrance, GSK north As described under 2.6.5 Enclosures above.

C10 Vehicular & pedestrian entrance to LPFF pitches, south Gated and usually locked entrance at the south end of Boston park, serving track leading to LPFF sports pavilion.

C11 Vehicular & pedestrian entrance to LPFF pitches, north C07 Pedestrian entrance and Open ungated entrance onto pitches from the north end of Boston park. canal footbridge Drives and paths

C12 Boston Manor drives and courtyard More or less oval-shape drive that encircles the space on the north-east side of the house, linking the Main gateway and Secondary gateway, and providing the main access to the house and stables (although limited by barriers inside the Main gates) as well as pedestrian use; tarmac surface with gravel finish; fair condition. The present general arrangement appears on plans from c1800 (Apdx 1.14), although a U-shape rather than a full oval is shown on the earlier ones, with the present shape clearly established by 1894 (Apdx 1.20). The confusingly dated late 18th century maps and plans show that a series of geometrical forecourts or yards preceded the oval drive that was contemporary with the transition to the informal natural style of landscape. The main formal forecourt was the width of the house and little longer in depth, with a second outer space before the public C12 Boston Manor drives road, and is best seen on the c1790 plan (Apdx 1.11). A garden space with and courtyard cruciform planting is shown to the south, with a yard on the north formed by the north wing, the stables block and other buildings on the east (no longer present). 46 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 The front drive was called ‘the sweep’ in a letter written by the fourth James’ sister telling about the visit of William IV and Queen Adelaide (pers. comm. Janet McNamara, Dec 2010). The record of the 1915 Drainage works etc notes that ‘Most of the courtyard surfaces around the house were disturbed, and slabs replaced with concrete’ (see full Chronology).

C13 Spine path The main footpath route that runs the length of the park, from South gateway/ car park area to join the Lake paths at the north, providing a good through route; 5.0m wide at its widest beside the South lawn, 3-4m wide to the south and widening to 15m in front of the house. Tarmac with gravel finish, generally in fair condition, but poor in some section and breaking up (caused by maintenance vehicles?) showing signs of inadequate construction. The route seems to have been established in this form in the mid-19th century, (as 1864 OS map, Apdx 1.19) superseding the curvilinear paths of the more naturalistic layout of the early 19th century. Historically, gravel and sand for walks is recorded in the accounts in 1774 and 1775 and at other times. In 1915 Durbin C13 Spine path and surface and Katesmark, Sanitary and Hot Water Engineers recorded ground disturbance (2017) such as ‘excavating to the centre of gravel walk on garden front and abolishing entirely the old barrel drain to this point.’

C14 Lake path Paths encircling the lake and linking with the Boston Gardens gate; 2-3m wide, tarmac construction. In variable but often very poor condition, particularly on the north side which is breaking up with cracks, potholes and missing surface; similar but with patched sections on west, added since 2010; good on east and south. A path route around the lake is shown on plans from when the lake was made this shape, ie. from c1800 (Apdx 1.14), joining with sinuous paths around the lawn without a path on the south side of the lake. A path is shown on the south side by 1918 and may have been present earlier.

C15 Lawn path Path on the west side of the lawn that allows a circuit of the lawn with sections of the previous two paths and C16; tarmac construction, without gravel finish; C14 Lake path and surface, good or fair condition, mostly relaid since 2010. north (2017) The path was present by 1918, although appears to have reinstated an early 19th century route.

C16 Lawn avenue path The broad path of the south-east side of the lawn along an avenue of mixed trees; tarmac construction, very poor condition with broken and missing surface and cracking due to inadequate construction, showing original gravel / hoggin underneath; further deterioration since 2010. The route has been present from at least the mid-late 18th century when a C16 Lawn avenue path walk is shown on the south-east side of the lawn or rectangular enclosure on surface (2017) the south of the house on plans including those of 1770 (Apdx 1.05), 1782 (Apdx 1.08) and 1790? (Apdx 1.10). Plans then show a more sinuous line before becoming a straight path again by 1865 (Apdx 1.19).

C17 Border paths Narrow path along the border beside the garden wall, on either side of the Pavilion cafe. Tarmac construction with gravel finish, edged with brick on an angle; good condition. Probably present from early 19th century, serving a narrow enclosed cultivated area outside the walled garden proper, as used for growing soft fruit. C17 Border paths, east Boston Manor Park 47 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 C18 South boundary path Broad straight path running close to the boundary with GSK from the South gateway to the canal bridge gate. Tarmac construction with gravel finish, 4.0m wide, with flat granite channels laid as edging; good condition. Wider at South gateway area, with no gravel finish, fair-poor condition, with severe deterioration at east end. A path is shown along the south side of Park field and Hangman’s meadow from at least 1800, with later maps (1st edition OS 1865, Apdx 1.19, and later) showing an avenue along the route. C18 South boundary path C19 M4 corridor and bailey bridge The no-grow zone for plants beneath the motorway is accessible for the entire length through the site from the South boundary path to the river Brent near the canal weir, crossing the meander of the river onto the island by a bailey bridge, assumed to be left from the motorway construction. This space is used as a walking route being surfaced in crushed stone or earth and, although not the most attractive part of the park, is impressive, always dry and surprisingly quiet. The section north of the river can be accessed from the LPFF area, but the road deck is lower here and the line has no use as a path link. Graffiti on the viaduct columns and the seclusion of the area leading to anti-social activities are deterrents to general use of the island area. C19 M4 corridor and bailey bridge C20 Meadow paths Mown grass or worn paths along the east and west sides and diagonally across the space, created since the former cricket pitch was transformed to a meadow habitat in 2005. These routes link with the C20 paths and are used to complete an outer circuit of the park.

C21 Woodland / nature trail paths Bark chip or mown paths through woodland, forming part of the nature trail signed from the lake at the north end. Secluded paths through woods without clear sightlines can deter some potential users. Good-fair condition, with bark and gravel surfaces replaced two years ago; wash-off of the loose surfaces is a problem.

C22 Other woodland paths On the island – named Clitherow island or Botany Bay – a timber sleeper path leads to the south canal overflow which can be crossed to reach the canal lock C21 Woodland / nature trail adjacent to the privately-owned south part of the island. Other worn paths lead paths through the island woodland on either side of the M4 corridor but seclusion deters use and the area is oten used by homeless campers.

C23 LPFF track Drybound access track serving the LPFF sports pavilion from gate on Boston Gardens; fair condition for type of use. Dates from building of the pavilion.

C24 Grand Union Canal and towpath, including Clitherow’s lock and Gallows bridge The canal is a historic feature, green corridor, natural resource and valuable walking and cycling route that forms the long south boundary of the wider site. It is an outstanding local asset and complements the facilities of the park, providing alternative ways of reaching the park. The canal was built as the Grand Junction Canal between the Thames (one mile to the south) and Braunston on the Oxford Canal and the rest of the Midlands canal system, 92 miles away (as noted on an original mile marker). Features of C23 LPFF track interest in this length include Clitherow’s lock and the cast-iron Gallows bridge, 48 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018

built in 1820 to allow towing horses to cross the canal (the tow path changes from one bank of the canal to the other here, avoiding a direct link to the park). James Clitherow III recorded that the canal company began work on his estate on 29 July 1793 and a printed plan records the land affected, ie. ‘lands in ... New Brentford ... belonging to Jas Clitherow Esq through which the Grand Junction Canal passes’ (Apdx 1.13). The canal improved the course of the river Brent but cut through a meander on the land of Clitherow’s neighbour, the Duke of Northumberland (owner of Syon).

C25 Boston Manor Road A3002 Boston Manor Road forms the main public boundary to the park on the north- east side, with the long park wall, the two gateways and the house itself notable features in the otherwise suburban residential character of the street. Maps from the mid-18th century onwards show the road line similar to that of today.

C26 Boston Park Residential street between LPFF pitches and Boston Manor Road, mainly parallel with latter and linked to it at both ends, the south-east link forming part of the C24 Grand Union Canal and north boundary of the park. The street includes detached, semi-detached and towpath, view north-west short terrace houses from the inter-war period, first shown on OS maps in 1935. towards Clitherow’s lock; Clitherow’s lock; distance C27 Great West Road A4 marker; and Gallows bridge The A4 is a short distance from the park, screened by GSK HQ, although linked by views and the canal green corridor and towpath. As a major arterial route and link to the M4 the road has high traffic volumes and noise effect on the south part of the park, as well as being the distributor to the other roads neighbouring the site. The road crosses the river Brent / canal at the Brent bridge (see historical references in chronology). The A4/Great West Road was built as a bypass to Brentford High Street across part of the Boston estate. It was opened in 1925 and was known as the Golden Mile because of the value of the business carried on there through the 1930s and 40s (pers. comm. Janet McNamara, Dec 2010).

C28 Transport Avenue Road on the south side of the canal serving the industrial area including the waste transfer facility; first seen on maps in 1935 although no development in the area apart from goods depot adjoining the railway.

C29 M4 motorway Three-lane dual-carriageway motorway constructed 1962-65 with first 1.11km section after the junction with A4 on structure, the first elevated motorway in Britain. The south-east end is supported on steel structure to span over a former factory and avoid its demolition, since cleared and replaced by GSK HQ car park Boston Manor Park 49 Conservation Management Plan April 2018

C29 M4 motorway through park travelling west etc. The rest of the elevated section is supported on concrete columns through the park (more on M4 construction in full chronology, Appendix 2).

C30 Piccadilly Line train line from central London to Heathrow built in this section in 1932, on the line of the Hounslow and Metropolitan Railway; forms the north-west boundary of the LPFF pitches areas.

2.6.7 Park facilities

Formal facilities provision

F01 Tennis courts Three hard-surfaced tennis courts with ball-netting located north of the bowling green; painted porous tarmac in good condition (resurfaced in 2008 by FOBM); 2.75m high green plastic-coated chainlink ball fencing and gates, good condition (by FOBM after 2015); with floodlighting by FOBM c2014. Boston Manor Tennis Club, was established in 2004 through the Friends of Boston Manor, who also organise tennis coaching for young people. When first laid out as a public park, Boston Manor had ten grass tennis courts. These were grouped to the south of the bowling green and within the south part of the walled garden (now 28-66 Boston Manor Road); all of these had been removed by 1961.

F02 Old bowling green play area Fitness equipment and outdoor games (table tennis, boules etc) area within former bowling green, retaining mainly grass surface, converted and upgraded by FOBM in 2014-15 with the support of the London Marathon Charitable Trust. Grass bowling green in original location as built in 1924; latterly used as putting green from 2008. Surrounding paths are crazy-paved, 2.0m and 1.2m wide, generally uneven and in poor conditon. Enclosed by Lonicera, box and hornbeam hedges, with some herbaceous planting, and 1.25m high iron railings, mostly original iron railings that are rusting and need painting and repair; new railings on north side where former pavilion / shelter was located. F02 Bowling green play area (2015)

F01 Tennis courts (2017) 50 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 F03 Childrens’ play area New childrens’ play area for under-8s adjacent to the Pavilion café and car park at the south end of the park, provided with quality manufactured play equipment. Includes toddlers area with porous rubberised safety surface and bark surfaced space for older children. Enclosed by timber paling fence, c0.8m high, with Pittosporum hedge in some sections. Well maintained and in good condition.

F04 Multi-use games area (MUGA) New facility located under the elevated M4 at the south end of its route through F03 Childrens’ play area the park. Porous tarmac surface with proprietary powder-coated steel mesh fence in blue and yellow, 1.2m and 3.6m high. All in good or fair condition

F05 BMP playing field Grass pitch area lying south of the M4 viaduct, enclosed by tree belts on three sides and C17 Boundary path on the south-east; ‘overshadowed’ by GSK HQ building. Dedicated for use by Spartans Football Club although casual use by others, including GSK staff, occurs. F03 Toddlers play area (2017) F06 LPFF playing fields Large area of grass sports pitches in two spaces lying either side of the M4 to the west of the park, the larger space to the north with a changing room / pavilion its south side next to the motorway. London Playing Fields Association acquired 34 acres of land that was formerly part of the Boston Manor estate for £13,000 in 1930. Most of the ground was excellent turf, but in 1932 employment was found for 30 men and 200,000 yards of surplus soil from the extension of the Piccadilly Underground line (to the F04 Multi-use games area west) to level and lay out approximately 6-7 acres of land beside the river Brent, (MUGA) hitherto useless due to flooding. The area was bisected by the M4 motorway on embankment in the 1960s. The narrow belts of planting alongside the motorway appear to be of a later date.

F07 Adult fitness area New timber adult fitness equipment located between the bowling green and childrens’ play area, installed by FOBM c2014.

F08 Orienteering courses In 2016 permanent orienteering courses with control markers were opened in the wider site by FOBM, including four dfferent grades of route: star, short, medium and long, each getting progressively harder; map available.

Informal recreation provision F07 Adult fitness area (2015) F07 Lake area The lake and its development is described under W01. The lake area is the main naturalistic feature of the park and potentially one of its most attractive

F06 LPFF playing fields from changing pavilion Boston Manor Park 51 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 features, although its present silted and generally unkempt character detracts from its appeal. Nonetheless its well-treed margins and paths provide pleasant recreational walks and the setting for the main spine path through the park as well as good views of the water body and the house seen across it. Overall it is in urgent need of restoration and upgrading to meet its potential as a landscape and natural resource of the park which provides fine walks and contact with nature and wildlife.

F08 Front lawn garden area Informally laid out space around the oval drive with mature trees and mature and younger shrubbery. Its prime function is as the setting for the house and it is used mainly for access and as a through route without any provision of seating.

F09 South lawn Broad open grass space providing the setting for the house on the south and dominated by the large cedar. Seats around the perimeter and a few picnic tables complement the use of the grass for sitting out and occasional events. Paths on each side give opportunity to appreciate the space, with significant views.

F10 East lawn Informal grass spaces on the north side of the spine path planted with young trees and annual and herbaceous beds, serving mainly an ornamental function to be seen from the path.

F11 Central borders and beds Grass areas on the south side of the spine path with geometrically-shaped annual and herbaceous beds, serving mainly an ornamental function to be seen from the Spine path and Borders path.

F12 Walled garden One of the main horticultural exhibits of the park laid out with perimeter and cross paths with well planted borders, restored in this form from 2004 by FOBM. Provides pleasant sheltered walks and a location for FOBM events, historically including refreshments and music during the Brentford Festival.

F13 Pavilion borders and beds Another notable horticultural exhibit of the park in long borders outside the long walls of the original walled garden, either side of the Pavilion café, with parallel path and hedge and adjacent rectangular island beds beside the spine path. Planted in this form in 2004. F14 South meadow Open herb-rich grassland developed in the mid-2000s on the site of the former cricket pitch which was laid out here in 1924, with perimeter and cross paths in grass. Adds to biodiversity of park as well as providing attractive walks linking with woodland nature trails.

F15 Nature trails Developed through the mature woods of the park in Zone 9 and on Clitherow island in the early 2000s and upgraded at times since. In about 2005 the ‘Boston Manor Nature Trail’ leaflet was produced. The trail leads through the woods to Clitherow island, where 22 kinds of trees and over 100 other flowering plants have been recorded. It also shows the traces of older landscapes, such as piped spring lines shown by wetland plants, willows grown for basket-making and soft fruit plants left from the old lock keeper’s garden. Upgrading of surfaces F14 South meadow with P13 and signs was undertaken in 2016. Lombardy poplars 52 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018

P02 South lawn

2.6.8 Woodland, trees and gardens (Figure 7) Veteran, specimen or other notable trees separately recorded with a T01 etc reference are listed and described in section 2.5.9.

Ornamental planting and garden spaces

P01 Front drive garden / former gardens Garden space centred on north lawn and its encircling drive and central flagpole, with shrubs beds and trees on north-west and east sides of lawn, including a notable old sweet chestnut (T10) in the latter. Other planting in the beds is recent, with rhododendrons the main component of the north-west bed. Other notable trees include two mature cedars (Cedrus libani) on the east side of the house and a group of yews adjoining (T09). On the west side of the drive, a bank in front of the north wing has a row of old close-planted yews – evidently a former hedge, but now crown-lifted with tall bare stems – fronted by a hedge of golden privet, with some plain privet and holly. A more formal arrangement is shown in the earliest large scale plans, such as that of c1790 (Apdx 1.10, 1.11) showing a series of courts and gardens spaces, before the development of the naturalistic style that survives today. See Section 2.5 for more detail. The present general arrangement appears on plans from c1800 (Apdx 1.14).

P02 South lawn / former lawns etc P01 Front drive gardens – planting on west and yews on A large grass open space providing the setting for the south front of the house bank and bounded by the lake on the north-west, with woodland to the south, featuring various individual trees, including a mixed tree row on the south-east, but dominated by the massive cedar of Lebanon (T01) to the south. The cedar may have been one of a pair from its positioning on the west side of the gate shown on the 1790s plan (Apdx 1.10) and James Clitherow’s note that in 1782 he cut down two of the cedars that he had planted in 1754 (see Chronology). Close to the cedar on the south are a Wellingtonia (T02) and a younger cedar of Lebanon (T03). Along the south-east path the tree row includes a large Turkey oak at the south, five more cedars of different types – Cedrus atlantica, C. atlantica ‘Glauca’ and C. deodara – and, at the east corner, two large mature oaks (T07, T08). Close to the end of the path is probably the largest oak in the park (T04). On the north-west side of the lawn are a few smaller younger trees. The space has been a lawn from at least the mid-late 18th century and is shown on plans including those of 1770 (Apdx 1.05), 1782 (Apdx 1.08) and 1790? Boston Manor Park 53 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 (Apdx 1.10), although more formally arranged with a central path at that time. Plans from c1800 (Apdx 1.14) onward show a layout similar to today. In 1865 the trees about the house were noted to be “chiefly elms, of a large size; many of which may be considered to have been planted in the time of Charles I” (Dr E F Rimbault). An article in The Garden in 1886 observed that “the Clitherow family must have recognised the importance of tree planting ... that gives the place so much grandeur, and particularly Lebanon Cedars ... unsurpassed ... in ... London .... Of elms there are some grand avenues ... On the main lawn ... there are specimens of modern conifers”.

P03 Lakeside woodland and shrubbery Planting around the lake is generally of broadleaved trees of no great age, with the exception of an area of yews near the Stables boundary, probably of 19th century origin and a large oak (T12) near the north end of the north range. Otherwise species are ash (dominant), beech, oak and holly, and one tall cedar, with weeping willows in the west corner and yew, horse chestnut and cedar on the edge of the wood to the south. Shrubs include berberis and other evergreens and an area of new shrub planting near the Boston Park gate. Overall the shrub layer within the lake railing is poor and overgrown, trampled or shaded out. P03 Yews and south-east lakeside P04 East boundary tree belt / shrubbery The belt between the front drive and service yard, and containing the air-raid shelter, comprises established trees and shrubs including privets, bamboo, elder, ivy, holly, Robinia and yew, with younger planting of Choisya, Elaeagnus and Mahonia. Within the adjoining grass lawn are young trees including two oaks, a Turkey oak and a Ginkgo – all with memorial plaques – and a walnut, ash and two small magnolias.

P05 Walled garden The small square walled garden in its present form is a modern construction based on a typical cruciform layout of a traditional walled garden with perimeter and cross paths, and with the relocated drinking fountain (W05) at the centre. The garden was laid out and borders replanted from 2004 onward, organised by the FOBM. The mixed planting for the new beds was designed by Amanda Savage and includes shrubs Ceanothus, Choisya, Elaeagnus, Escallonia, Hypericum Hidcote, Pittosporum and Yucca, also bamboo and herbaceous plants including Crocosmia, irises, Sedum etc. P05 Walled garden borders The original layout of this area, seen on maps from 1838 (Apdx 1.18) onward, related to the long walled garden that stretched as far as the South entrance, with this part of the space dominated by lean-to and free-standing glasshouses on the north side.

P06 Central borders and beds, including Rose Walk The main area of ornamental annual bedding or mixed beds in the park, mostly located to the north of the tennis courts but also extending along the Lawn avenue path and on the north side of the spine path. Most of the beds are rectangular, parallel with the paths, and are planted with herbaceous plants such as Agapanthus, day lillies, Sedum and Yucca, with annuals such as Petunias and Geraniums. A sparsely planted mixed shrub/herbaceous bed runs along the north side of a hedge, with circular rose beds to the south adjoining the tennis courts.

P06 Central borders and A photograph from 1904, when still privately owned, shows a rose walk with beds hopped trellises in the grass on the south side of the spine path. Photographs from the 1960s show well-planted rectangular and circular beds, similar to today. Part of the Spine path known as Rose Walk in the early 20th century and up until at least the 1960s. 54 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018

P07 Pavilion borders and beds P07 Pavilion borders and beds Mixed borders along the outside wall of the walled garden, either side of the Pavilion café, with a narrow path and a 1.2m high hawthorn hedge on its south side, planted with Acanthus, Crocosmia, Crambe cordifolia, Eryngium, Fuchsia, lamb’s ears, Solanum and grasses. To south, similar oval beds with good annual bedding beside the Spine path as in P06, interspersed between trees in a dark row of purple Myrobalan plums (Prunus cerasifera ‘Nigra’). Border beds planted by FOBM with planting design by Amanda Savage in 2003-04.

P08 South gate trees Verge with tree planting of various ages and species on the south side of entrance P06 Beds along Lawn road adjoining GSK boundary, including purple Myrobalan plum, Cotoneaster avenue path and horse chestnut. A coordinated scheme of avenue planting would be more appropriate and the whole area was in need of upgrading at time of survey (mis- matched bollards, poor surfacing etc). Formerly an enclosed space at the south end of the walled garden. South gates understood to have been built at the time of the 1960s restoration of the house.

P09 GSK boundary belt A c15m wide belt of mixed-age but generally immature trees and shrubs between the boundary path C17 and the GSK security fence, comprising older oak, horse chestnut, lime, a few hawthorn and some Lombardy poplars at the south end, and younger (approx. 20 years old) beech, birch, lime, with elder, P08 South gate trees goat willow, guelder rose, hawthorn, hazel and privet. Assumed to have been replanted when GSK HQ was built. An avenue of trees is shown along the boundary path C17 on the 1st edition OS of 1865 (Apdx 1.19) and later maps, but had become depleted by 1961 (Apdx 1.27). Lombardy poplars are visible along the boundary in photographs from the 1960s.

P09 GSK boundary belt Boston Manor Park 55 Conservation Management Plan April 2018

P10 Motorway treebelts

P10 Motorway treebelts Belts of predominantly broadleaves trees and shrubs planted c1989 either side of the M4 viaduct. To the north planting includes ash, birch, lime, goat willow, hazel, Norway maple and cypresses, with Berberis thunbergii ‘Atropurpurea’. To the south, field maple, hawthorn, lime, oak and Robinia. Planted as a screen of the viaduct, although long after its completion, the tallest trees are now reaching the height of the road deck.

P11 Meadow / playing fields treebelt Belt of similar age and composition to the previous, extending south-east from P13 Central woodland, including birch, dogwood, field maple, goat willow, hazel and rose species,

P12 River / canal belt Belt of naturally regenerated woody vegetation beside the river meander and canal, partly on land that was allotments in the post-war period.

P13, P14 Central wood, Old wood Scrubby woodland on both sides of the M4 viaduct including mature trees of various ages and younger natural regeneration, with a grass paths near the river (part bark surfaced) and winding through the central part. Species include ash, beech, birch, elm, field maple, hazel, hornbeam, horse chestnut, oak and white willow, with notable veteran trees of oak (several) and one or more sweet chestnut and ash. A row of five Lombardy poplars near the south edge, part of a line between the wood and meadow. Much of south-east perimeter and paths leading from it has been supplemented with new planting including birch, dogwood and rose species. P13 Central wood The Old wood area has been woodland from at least the mid-18th century and probably earlier, as seen on the historic maps, although with a formal ride from the lawn to the river in the later 18th century (as seen in the 1754 A Devis painting noted next), together with other meandering paths. The Central wood area was formerly parkland with scattered parkland trees that account for the veteran oaks, ash and sweet chestnut now found within the mixed age wood. More detailed survey of the two areas should be able to discern differences between the two and even evidence for the ride edges in the north area.

P15 Botany Bay island woods Mixed-age scrubby woodland on the island formed between the river Brent meander and the canal, in two parts bisected by the M4 viaduct and its no- grow zone underneath. To the north, dense undergrowth with ivy and Himalayan balsam, giant hogweed, nettles and elder; low lying and subject to flooding; ash, field maple, hawthorn, oak and white willow; plus dead elm and willow. To the south, drier with more open understorey with much ivy and some Mahonia; ash, 56 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 elm suckers, field maple, holly, oak, sycamore and yew; a few large oaks and beech in excess of 150 years on west by canal. Historically the area has not been wooded, with only a small block of trees in the north beside the canal shown on maps from 1894 onward. The area features in the A Devis painting (see p20) of 1754 of James Clitherow III and his wife with the background of the river and weir and an axial view to the house. The island is called Botany Bay on an anonymous sketch plan of c1810-19 (Apdx 1.16) although it has been called Clitherow island more recently. The James Clitherow III was a friend and a joint trustee (of his brother-in-law) with Sir who lived in Isleworth and may be why the bend in the river became known as Botany Bay (pers. comm. Janet McNamara, Dec 2010).

P16 External woodland An area of woodland that lies outside the park proper on the LPFF side of the park railing, between the lake and the river meander, which can be accessed from the nature trail path and from the LPFF end under the M4, although dense P15 Botany Bay island undergrowth and general unpleasantness deter use. The undergrowth has the woods seen from canal and in full complement of alien invasive species – Japanese knotweed, Himalayan north part balsam and giant hogweed – any of which may have been originally planted here as horticultural specimens. The woody, mainly naturally regenerated trees and shrubs include ash, blackthorn, hawthorn, field maple (in a thicket), horse chestnut (from tree by lake), Robinia and sycamore. Historically the area has not been wooded and is not shown as such on any historic maps.

P17 LPFF treebelts north A narrow belt 5-8m wide along back of gardens planted to screen the view of motorway (but hides distant view also) from the houses of Boston Park; dominated P16 External woodland by crack willow (Salix fragilis), but includes field maple, hazel, oak and Scots pine. A single mature oak (T15) stands just outside the belt near the centre. A similar belt lies beside the M4 embankment on the south of the playing fields, though wider and less dominated by willow. To the east, beside the access track and north of the elevated part of the M4, a young row of red oak. An area of scrub and open ground lies between the track and park / P16 with ash, hawthorn, sycamore regeneration, and brambles, elder, Japanese knotweed etc. A grassy area to north is edged with ash, birch and hazel near the park boundary.

P18 LPFF treebelts south Similar tree belt to P17 along the motorway boundary; a deeper naturally regenerated belt on Tube line embankment; older naturally-established tree belt along the canal boundary.

P17 LPFF treebelts north Boston Manor Park 57 Conservation Management Plan April 2018

T01 Cedar of Lebanon

2.6.9 Veteran and specimen trees (Figure 7a) The existing Laing / Continental Landscapes Tree Survey (2008?) is a comprehensive record of the larger trees in the park. In the current study significant veteran and specimen trees have been noted as below. For further detail refer to the full existing tree survey. T01 Cedar of Lebanon Cedrus libani, known to have been planted in 1754 and now an outstanding tree with 4-5 low limbs and 6 rising limbs and 16m spread from north to south, difficult to measure but girth of 7.70m recorded above the four low limbs. In 1850 it measured 19ft 10ins two feet from the ground. By 1938 when last measured it had a girth of 25ft. In The Tree Register of the British Isles it is recorded as measuring 8.83m around the multi-stemmed base, making it the largest of its species in Greater London. T02 Wellingtonia Sequoiadendron giganteum, 3.44m girth. An article in The T02 Wellingtonia Garden in 1886 noted that ‘On the main lawn ... there are specimens of modern conifers’. This tree may date from then or planting in 1924. T03 Cedar of Lebanon Cedrus libani, 2.97m girth. On the lawn next to the last. A row of younger cedars of other types runs along the path close by. T04 Oak Quercus robur, 4.60m girth, in line with the south end of the Lawn avenue path close to the M4 viaduct, the largest oak in the park T05 White mulberry Morus alba, 1.65m girth at 1.0m below calluses, leaning gnarled tree of a good age. Four other younger mulberries in the row to the south. T06 Oak Quercus robur, 4.60m girth. Corner of Spine path and Lawn avenue path. T07 Oak Quercus robur. Next to last, smaller, not measured T05 White mulberry T08 Manna ash Fraxinus ornus. Young tree of good shape near gate to walled garden. T09 Cedars (2) and yews Cedrus libani and Taxus baccata, 4.64 and 3.51m girth; yews not measured and of no great size, probably from late 19th century planting. In 1828 J C Loudon in his Encyclopaedia of Gardening said the grounds were ‘noted for large cedars’ so evidently more had been planted by then to complement the 1754 tree, probably including these two on the east side of the house. T10 Sweet chestnut Castanea sativa, coppice form from low to ground with four stout spreading stems, not measurable T10 Sweet chestnut 58 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018

T11 Yews (5) T11 Yews (5) Taxus baccata, largest middle tree 2.32m girth. Row on the south-west side of the house north range, all crown lifted, probably older than size would suggest due to proximity to building. T12 Oak Quercus robur, 4.30m girth. North-west corner of north range, close to path and pond. T13 Oak Quercus robur, not girthed. North side of meadow. T14 Oaks, ash and sweet chestnut Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior and Castanea sativa. Several veteran trees in central woodland that appear to have originated from parkland planting. T13 Oak T15 Oak Quercus robur, 3.47m girth, hollow on east. North side of LPFF playing field.

2.6.10 Planned or notable views (Figure 2) The following narrow or broad views within the park or to it from outside its boundary are noted as significant due to an element of deliberate planning in their configuration, due to coincidental framing of scenic views or a conjunction of features. North of house views – best from east with house framed by cedar’s branches. South of house views – from house over lawn with cedar, from various points T15 Oak on lawn path to house. Lake views – most notably from the south-west side of the lake across the water to the house (as chosen by many photographers historically); selective tree removal now needed. Also views over lake from north or south.

View across lake to house – the most frequently depicted view Boston Manor Park 59 Conservation Management Plan April 2018

Lawn avenue path view north

Spine path views (incl. of M4) – southward view from near junction with Lawn avenue path, impressive now for the impact of the M4 with its steel girder substructure in this part, but chosen by photographers in past also; axial view along path in either direction, set off by formal flower beds. Lawn avenue path views (incl. of M4) – axial views both ways along Lawn avenue path, terminated by large oak (T04) and M4 viaduct, looking south; framed views beneath viaduct. GSK boundary path view – view along its length, framed by M4 viaduct in north, opening out in south. Views along and from the corridor beneath the M4 – while intrusive and ugly with graffiti, roughly painted over, the M4 viaduct structure is monumental and impressive particularly seen along its curving length between pairs of wide spaced pilotis. Views to open greenspace beneath the structure, further framed by trees, are also good. Accepting that the motorway is a permanent feature, the space under the M4 viaduct and the views it allows is a valued feature. In full foliage the canopy of mature trees can reduce the visual impact of the structure in some views and View beneath the M4 allow important visual links between parts of the park to be retained. Loss of this free space could be as great an impact on the views and functioning of the park as the original construction. LPFF views – the wide open space of the pitches creates the opportunity for broad and long views, including the skyline of the main park with the large cedars rising above the general treeline. Views from Boston Manor Road – view of the house over the park wall or though either of its gateways is most notable, set off by trees including cedars, seen from opposite side of road, and will have changed only in detail over the centuries; the park wall is an impressive feature looking along the road. Views from Grand Union Canal and pedestrian bridge – the footbridge over the canal allows an elevated broad view over the south part of the park. The View of house over wall from Boston Manor Road

View over LPFF pitches to park 60 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 canal is a very attractive corridor, well contained by trees in summer, although the boundary trees of the park prevent views in. Views at the lock and at the north weir, with the backcloth of the park trees, are of most interest. Views from elevated M4 – views of the park over the canopy of trees, with the old cedar most prominent. The park’s greenery creates a stark contrast with the high urban scene of GSK, UWL and other towers a short distance to the east travelling into London. Views from A4 canal bridge Views from A4 at canal bridge – narrow richly-featured view between GSK and BSkyB buildings along canal and to the park.

2.7 Planning designations and nature conservation As detailed in the London Borough of Hounslow’s Unitary Development Plan (UDP) adopted in December 2003, Boston Manor Park is subject to a number of designations. As Metropolitan Open Land the park is protected from development under section ENV.N.1.5. It is also a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) – Site of Borough Importance, Grade 2 (HoBII10) as identified by the London Ecology Unit and supported within the UDP under Policy ENV.N.2.2. The adjoining canal including the woodland areas P15 and P16 (Botany Bay island and External woods) are a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation (M006) – see Figure 1a. In A Biodiversity Action Plan for Hounslow (draft for public consultation, 1 November 2010 to 23 January 2011), the Habitat Statement for Woodlands identifies 5.7ha of deciduous woodland at Boston Manor Park as a protected resource. The Habitat Action Plan for parkland and veteran trees is also likely to be applicable to the park. The Borough’s parks portfolio includes a number of very diverse nature conservation areas and country parks and the park’s management contractor has experienced ecologists working on local and regional biodiversity, including developing Boston Manor Park’s nature conservation assets. In 2008 an area of the meadow was further developed for wildlife, an initiative that brought a poorly drained and redundant area of the park back into productive use and involved local schools, the Friends Group and members of the public. This project involved the rotivation of unused allotments, which were reseeded with cornfield annuals to produce nectar and seed rich swards suitable for overwintering finches and other seed-eating birds.

2.8 Park use and Friends The park principally serves the local communities of Brentford, Hanwell and South Ealing. The different sections of the park facilitate a wide range of uses for visitors for all ages and abilities, but is also used by people working in the vicinity. Picnicking is a very popular, particularly during the summer months, and is heavily used by staff from nearby offices, who take their breaks in the park. The park is popular for sports, walking, jogging, dog walking, social interaction, children’s parties, community events, relaxation and appreciation of nature and is a highly valued as a green space by the local community. There is a wide variety of sporting activities available in the park. Boston Manor Tennis Club, formed through the Friends of Boston Manor, was established in 2004. The Friends also established a putting green that operated in the old bowling green before the present fitness and outdoor games play area was developed on the site by FOBM. Informal sporting activities include casual football, rugby training, walking, jogging, a multi-use games area for young people, a nature trail and children’s play area. The house also draws visitors into the park and is normally open from April to October; it attracted 1588 people in 2009. Boston Manor Park 61 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 The Spartans Youth Football Club is a significant development for the park. The club are proactive in the maintenance of the sports pitches within the main park area, including marking their own lines each week. The club also facilitated the improvement of an old shelter, previously a focus for anti-social behaviour. It is now a secure changing room and equipment store, also providing public toilets when open. It is regularly painted by the club to remove graffiti. The park hosts community events and between 2005 and 2012 the Brentford Festival was held there, organised by FOBM and supported by the management contractor. This is held annually on the first Sunday in September and attracted approximately 10,000 people in 2009, and is now held in . Boston Manor house opens its doors every September as part of London Open House weekend and attracted 188 visitors over the weekend in 2009. The Friends of Boston Manor acts as a voice for local users and hold regular meetings to discuss park issues and development. They run the Pavilion café (open during school holidays and other times) and organise tennis tuition. They are a frequent, recognised presence in the park and regularly communicate with the grounds maintenance team, the local police Safer Neighbourhood Team and the Parks and Community Development Officer in relation to park matters.

2.9 Park management Boston Manor park is managed and maintained on behalf of the London Borough of Hounslow by Lampton Greenspace 360 who oversee both management and maintenance of all LBH parks and open spaces. This partnership arrangement covers the strategic direction, management and day-to-day maintenance of this site and all other public parks within Hounslow Borough. Boston Manor house is now directly managed by the London Borough of Hounslow. Conservation of the river Brent/Grand Union Canal is fundamental in ensuring the park retains its current high profile and ecological value and considerations as to how it can be incorporated into the overall park experience have been explored in previous management plans for the park. An annual capital budget of £100,000 is allocated currently to parks and open spaces for infrastructural improvements. This budget is held in a centrally and bids have to be submitted for funding rather than being allocated to any one park. The process is competitive and each submission is considered on its merits and in the context of other local needs and rival bids. The vast majority of capital investment in parks and open spaces is secured through Section 106 (S106) planning agreements and is largely driven by local development projects, rather than strategy or open space priorities. All future capital investments will be channelled through Lampton Greenspace 360 whose remit includes project management, design, community liaison/consultation and the funding aspects of the management of Boston Manor park. Boston Manor park benefited from a considerable S106 capital investment in 2007, totalling £85,000. In 2008 £33,000 was identified for improvements to the car park but not carried out. A further £23,000 was allocated and the project implemented in the first half 2010. The Friends of Boston Manor also have also implemented significant improvement projects and new facilities using funds raised through the café, children’s parties and events, and from grants from various charitable trusts and from sponsorship. 62 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 2.10 Strategic context (not revised in 2018 apart from addition of Great Wester Corridor Plan) The principal policy documents that influence Boston Manor park are the Community Plan 2007, Local Area Agreement NI197, Cultural Strategy 2001 and Sport and Active Recreation Strategy 2005. A Parks and Open Spaces Strategies will be delivered, by the London Borough of Hounslow, in 2010 and will guide subsequent Management Plans for Boston Manor.

Council and Community Plans The aims, objectives and targets outlined within this management plan directly link to the Hounslow Community Plan 2007-10 prepared by the Local Strategic Partnership. The enhancement and protection of ‘the Borough’s parks, open spaces, waterways and biodiversity’ is one of the key objectives of the Community Plan. The Plan also recognises the importance of parks and open spaces to the local community and its contribution towards healthy lifestyles, learning, enjoyment and wellbeing. The improvement of the borough’s parks and open spaces is also a central priority within the Hounslow Plan 2008. The Plan, ‘Building Pride Borough Wide’, outlines the Council’s top 10 promises, one of which is to ‘improve the Borough’s parks, libraries and leisure centres’. The Council is hoping that the achievement of its top ten promises will enable it to improve wellbeing and build civic pride in the borough. Local Area Agreement (LAA) – National Indicator 197: “Improved local biodiversity – proportion of Local Sites where active conservation management is being achieved” NI197 was adopted as part of the Borough’s priorities under Local Area Agreement 2008 – 2011. As a result of adopting this priority, the Hounslow Biodiversity Action Plan Partnership aims to have approximately 60% or more of its local sites in positive conservation management by 2011. Hounslow has over 581 hectares of public open space and 1246 hectares of urban green space which makes up roughly 30% of the borough’s surface land area. Although, the wildlife value of different open spaces varies greatly, it is estimated that 954ha of green space is managed either wholly or partly for nature conservation but many other areas have incidental nature conservation value. The Hounslow Biodiversity Action Plan (HBAP) is used to support the delivery of National Indicator 197 and prioritises actions for protecting, conserving and enhancing wildlife and habitats in the borough. The first edition of the Hounslow Biodiversity Action Plan was published in 2003 and the new HBAP is currently being revised to bring it up to date and in line with national and local priorities, with the aim of adopting the 5-year plan by the end of 2010, following public consultation. The Draft Great West Corridor Local Plan review (October 2017) sets out the vision, objectives and options to help guide future development in the area over the next 15 years. Great West Corridor area covers the eastern part of the Borough comprising parts of the wards of Osterley, Syon, Brentford and . The area extends along the A4 / Great West Road (GWR) that runs from the Power Road in the east, to Gillette Corner in the west. The plan covers Boston Manor park within the Brentford area. Specific features of the plan are Boston Manor Cycle Route improvement and a panoramic view of Boston Manor house from the lakeside. Environmental Quality and Open Space policies include ... Delivering a series of enhancements to parks in the area including Boston Manor by improving entrances, landscaping, upgrading of paths and walkway, nature Boston Manor Park 63 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 trails, sensitive repairs to listed buildings and structures and providing activities and facilities that better serve the local community. And ... Supporting proposals that will successfully integrate existing green infrastructure network with the wider London green infrastructure networks, including River Brent/Grand Union Canal, Boston Manor Park, , Thames River, All London Green Grid and Blue Ribbon Network. Cultural Strategy 2001-2005 The Council’s Cultural Strategy outlines the need to improve public open spaces and sustainable river corridors and highlights the need to enhance the Borough’s waterways. Sport and Active Recreation Strategy 2005-2010 The Council’s Sport and Active Recreation Strategy aims to improve the health and well-being of local residents and utilises sport as a vehicle to achieve this.

Parks and Green Spaces Strategic Framework As part of Hounslow’s Parks and Green Spaces Strategic Framework (‘A Proposal for the Allocation of Resources and Management for Parks and Public Green Space’), compiled in 2005, a hierarchy of green spaces was defined, to reflect the needs of the community, set within the context of available budgets. Fifteen parks were identified as being of significant importance to local people and classified as Key Parks. Resources for these parks were increased with the aim of demonstrating a marked improvement in their maintenance and thereby establishing a series of open space exemplars that would serve to demonstrate both to the local community and local politicians the value of investing in local parks. Due to its intrinsic recreational value, historical significance and the volume and diversity of its users, Boston Manor park was rightly identified as a Key Park in Hounslow, being the principal public park serving a large residential population in the Hounslow East area and beyond.

Parks and Open Spaces Strategy The Environment Department, including the Strategic Planning and Leisure Teams at the London Borough of Hounslow are currently carrying out consultation on green space and sports provision in the borough as part of the PPG17 study and Parks and Open Spaces Strategy research. The Parks and Open Spaces Strategy will be developed over the course of 2010 and the Open Space and Sports Facility Study, based on PPG17 is due for completion in spring 2010. These strategies will provide a framework for management and improvement of public open spaces across the Borough and guide future Management Plans for the Borough’s parks and open spaces, including future Green Flag Management Plans. 64 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 3 Analysis and Statement of Significance

3.1 Analysis, park in its cultural context Boston Manor lies in a district rich with historic houses, parks and gardens, foremost of which are Chiswick and Syon (plus Kew Gardens over the river) that are of outstanding national significance. Chiswick park is among the most important historic houses and gardens in Britain on account of its Palladian mansion and early landscape garden, designed by and . Laid out in a way that is ‘neither formal or informal’ (or a bit of both), its owner, Lord Burlington, was said by to be the first garden owner of importance to ‘consult the genius of the place’ and to respect its natural setting. The compact and compartmented layout is rich in classical allusion, statuary and garden buildings, with a river-shaped lake, cascade and bridge major components. The bridge and a greenhouse by Paxton were later additions. It has for long been a public park, latterly managed by a Trust, and recently had a major restoration project completed. Syon park, owned for centuries and to this day by the Dukes of Northumberland, is another landmark place in garden history on account of the ‘Capability’ Brown landscape and, like Chiswick, is registered a Grade I landscape in the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Historic Importance in . Despite Brown’s input it retains a formal avenue to the north centred on the house as well as pleasure grounds around an naturalistic lake. Architecturally, its crowning feature is the grand conservatory, built to the design of Charles Fowler in 1826 Both Chiswick and Syon are classed as Metropolitan Parks (larger parks with unrestricted public access, with a minimum size of 60ha) in LBH’s Green Space Strategy, although they do not satisfy the basic criteria in every way. Boston Manor park is a District Park and similarly is smaller than recommended. However, Chiswick and Syon are of interest here as they demonstrate the evolution of the English landscape park in its early to mid period in the 18th century, and include both natural or informal components and formal or geometric features. The excellent series of historic maps and plans that are available for Boston Manor, show how the park here went through the same sort of change in design development. We can surmise that the house originally in the 17th and earlier 18th century was accompanied by enclosed and formally laid out garden spaces. Some of this detail remains on each side of the house in the later 18th century plans, eg. Apdx. 1.08, 1.10, although the dates ascribed to the plans may not be accurate and in sequence. The 1770 plan (Apdx 1.05) shows the landscape evolving is the style of the early Chiswick landscape with a formal axis towards the river and wooded ‘wilderness’ areas with serpentine rides on either side. Through the 19th century the landscape evolves further, seen at its most naturalistic in the 1838 tithe map (Apdx 1.18), with flowing paths and drive, organically-shaped lake, garden boundaries disguised by trees and shrubbery, and a well-defined parkland area. By 1865 and the first detailed OS map, the requirement for more productive growing areas and garden for displays and plant collections results in new enclosed spaces east of the house, as well as a clear distinction between lawns and woods. The detail in later OS maps is not so informative, and it is supposed that the later 19th century landscape was much as when sold to Brentford Urban District Council in 1924, with the garden and parkland becoming the public park and the estate fields to the north-west becoming playing fields by 1930. Park railings, four football pitches, ten grass tennis courts and a bowling green where the first additions to the site within the former parkland area, establishing a clear division between the historic house and gardens and the new public park facilities that has remained. Public parks generally in London and elsewhere have resulted either from former private estates adapted to public use or from Boston Manor Park 65 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 open fields deliberately designed as public parks, eg. Victoria park, Hackney, one of the earliest from 1842, or , Southwark, created by the Metropolitan Board of Works from former farmland in 1890. Boston Manor never had this design input, is significantly smaller and has few direct comparisons either with public parks from former estates, eg. Broomfield park (16th century house ruinous) and ( landscape with house separately owned as a nursing home), both Enfield. A local museum or picture gallery is a common use of the house in these situations, although this has been difficult to sustain in recent decades. The dilemma of whether to think of Boston Manor as the garden of an historic house or as a public park has been further complicated by the major intrusion and division of the M4 viaduct, which turns on its head any ideas of historic restoration and limits opportunities to improve the park. Ironically the elevated motorway itself has some significance in the history of transportation in Britain as the first motorway structure of its type in the early 1960s. None the less the park retains considerable historic assets as the setting for the house, particularly in the immediate front lawn garden, south lawn, lake and old wood areas, and its relationship with the Grand Union Canal is also important. But more than anything its value lies in its current use as a public park and as a focus for the local community.

3.2 Statement of significance, levels of significance The purpose of this statement is to describe what aspects of Boston Manor park are of cultural significance to ensure that they can be revealed, retained or enhanced and to establish a context within which informed policy decisions about conservation and change can be made and substantiated with rigour and consistency. The similar approach to the statement of significance for the house (LDN 2010) was adopted in 2010-11 so the two can be considered on a comparable basis. The fact that a physical aspect of a place has cultural significance does not mean that it cannot be altered or changed. Understanding the significance of Boston Manor park should not be thought of as placing constraints on future action. As well as identifying areas of importance that must be carefully protected, it introduces flexibility by identifying areas of lesser importance that may be adapted or developed with greater freedom. The concept of cultural significance, defined in the internationally accepted Burra Charter, refers to the qualities of a place that: – help us understand the past, – enrich our present lives, – will be of value to future generations. Assessments of significance can be based on many different criteria including aesthetic, architectural, archaeological, historic, scientific, religious and social value. Significance can vary in importance and, however apparently objective the analysis, any such assessment is influenced by the current values and perspective of its time: undoubtedly the cultural significance of any aspect will vary over time. The purpose of identifying different levels of cultural significance is, however, to establish a rational hierarchy within which the relative importance of each aspect of significance can be related to that of the whole place and to other aspects. For the purposes of this Conservation Statement five levels of significance are used to assess each aspect of significance and compare it to the others consistently, and to be comparable with the Boston Manor house assessment. However, since many of the park’s values are very high at a local level, this evaluation has been used flexibly with the significance of aspects expressed on a more local basis where this gives a more precise indication of its value. The levels, their importance, and their implications for conservation policy are as follows: 66 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018

Level of Importance Conservation Policy Significance A Exceptional International Reveal, maintain and enhance significance through meticulous preservation, conservation, restoration or reconstruction B Considerable National Reveal, maintain, and enhance significance but some adaptation and supplementary construction may be considered to accommodate future compatible uses C Some Local Reveal, maintain, and enhance significance but acceptable options may, subject to consensual agreement based on expert analysis, include alteration or removal in whole or part D Little Site Interventions, alterations or demolition may be appropriate E Intrusive Detrimental Improve, alter, remove or demolish

The various aspects of the cultural significance of Boston Manor park are set out in the following section. The absence of any item from the section should not be construed as meaning that it may not be of significance.

3.3 Statutory designations as a basis for significance Statutory designations provide an important reference point because a site can only be granted protection if it meets certain criteria, ie. it achieves a set level of significance. Although a site may have several different designations, eg. covering both the cultural landscape and natural landscape, the management requirements of each designation may not be compatible. The assessment of significance undertaken within the context of a Conservation Management Plan has the advantage of using all relevant criteria across many disciplines, so that types and levels of significance can be compared and balanced management priorities subsequently developed. Existing statutory designations include the following. • Grade I listed building – Boston Manor house. • Grade II listed buildings – Coach stable block, Garden wall, two sets of iron gates and gateposts. • Grand Union Canal and Boston Manor Conservation Area – covers the core area of the park and all the adjoining canal within the borough, including the P15 and P16 woodland areas, giving protection to all the trees as well as other policies. • Boston Manor park is not included in the English Heritage’s Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest (although a proposal to add it was put forward in 2000). It has the following local designations. • Key Park within London Borough of Hounslow. • Metropolitan Open Land – protecting the park from development under section ENV.N.1.5. Boston Manor Park 67 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 • Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) – Site of Borough Importance, Grade 2 (HoBII10) as identified by the London Ecology Unit and supported within the UDP under Policy ENV.N.2.2. The adjoining canal including the woodland areas P15 and P16 are a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation (M006) (both shown in Figure 1a).

3.4 Statement of Significance Overall Boston Manor park has considerable significance as the setting for Boston house, some significance as a designed landscape in its own right and has outstanding local value as a public park. In addition the significance of the zones of the site have been assessed in Figure 9. These reflect some of the subject headings below.

Architectural value As a Grade I listed building, Boston Manor house has considerable national value. The architectural value of the park is further added to by the stables block, park wall and gates (all Grade II) and part of the main building group. The park provides the setting or curtilage for the house, with many of the historic features preserved in the core area (zones 1 to 3) together creating the park’s cultural value.

Historical value The long history of the Boston Manor house and estate and the good surviving documentary evidence, most significantly in the ownership of the Reade and Clitherow families over a period of 300 years, gives the house and park outstanding local historical value (or some value at a national level). Association with two eminent people give significance to Boston Manor at a national level. • The residence of the American ambassador, and future president, John Quincy Adams, at Little Boston house, which his family rented from the Clitherows, as recorded in Adams letter of 1816. • In the 1830s, the Clitherow’s friendship with the Duke and Duchess of Clarence, later King William IV and Queen Adelaide, included entertaining them at Boston Manor house and walking with the Queen in the gardens.

Local recreational and open space The park and wider site has outstanding local value for recreational uses, both in formal sports and informal or casual activities, on account of it range of facilities and path routes in a pleasant and interesting setting, with provision for most age groups, including good children’s play facilities, all locally accessible.

Contribution to sense of community The park has outstanding value to the local sense of community. The park and its facilities are a focus for the community, particularly facilities such as the play areas and tennis courts, that is added to immeasurably by the activities of the Friends of Boston Manor through provision of the Pavilion café, events in the walled garden and tennis tuition. Other groups such as the Spartans Football Club add further to this value.

Horticultural, arboricultural and sylvicultural value The park has high regional value on account of the large veteran cedar, considered to be the largest in Greater London, with some further local value for other trees of interest and a fair standard of amenity planting. 68 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 Aesthetic or design value The park does not have a strong sense of design and the period character it may once have had has been eroded by the addition of public park facilities and the division by the M4 motorway.

Nature conservation value As large parts of the site are either a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation or a Site of Borough Importance, Grade 2, the site overall has high value within the London metropolitan region on account of its woodlands and parkland. This value could be enhanced by more targeted management for nature conservation. At the same time, the park’s position within the green corridor of the Grand Union Canal / river Brent adds to its value for wildlife.

Archaeological value The park has no scheduled monuments or national monuments records. However, as the long-occupied site of a significant house and its grounds, the site is likely to retain significant archaeological interest, and have high regional value, in particular on account of: • The long occupied site and the buried evidence of former buildings and layout of the grounds • Physical evidence of the sequence of garden layouts and planting, as seen on period maps and plans • Building archaeology of the standing buildings of Boston house and the park walls • Evidence of former fish ponds in the locality of the present lake, as seen in accounts and on period maps and plans from 1698 onwards, and possibly originating from ponds in the medieval priory • Potential industrial archaeology related to the building of the canal.

Transport The site has significance in the development of transport in two respects. • Some regional significance due to bounding the Grand Union Canal, one mile from its southern junction with the Thames and 92 miles from Braunston, with the original river course providing an overflow via weirs around Clitherow’s lock. In combination with the later Regent’s canal, the Grand Union Canal had a immense effect in facilitating the supply of goods and materials to London during the early 19th century. • High national significance as the site of the first elevated section of motorway on viaduct in the UK, completed in 1965.

Intrusions or negative significance The whole site is affected by a range of intrusive features at different scales that act to reduce the levels of significance listed above. An aim of management should be to reduce these impacts and increase levels of significance through mitigation measures. Intrusions include the following. • M4 motorway in its sections on viaduct and embankment divides the park and playing fields, is a physical and visual barrier and a visual intrusion, and creates noise and air pollution to the detriment of park users. • The tall block and curving wing of GSK HQ buildings are a massive visual intrusion at the south-east side of the park, impossible to screen due to their size and position. Other local high buildings also have an effect but have less direct impact due to their greater distance from the park boundary. Boston Manor Park 69 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 • Noise from various sources affects park users to a high level and has an impact on the park as a place of tranquillity. Sources include: the M4 motorway, the A4 Great West Road, aeroplanes taking off from Heathrow, Piccadilly Line trains, and the waste transfer works. • The waste transfer facility on Transport Avenue to the west of the canal has some visual impact, particularly from the playing fields in winter, although largely screened by trees from the park itself. • Small features within the park also detract from its character and affect the setting of listed buildings: tall lighting column in the middle of the south front of the house; similar column at main entrance gate by the Stables; two vehicle barriers in same location; miscellaneous bollards and barriers at South entrance. 70 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 4 Management issues and threats to significance

This section covers issues that may threaten or otherwise affect the significance of Boston Manor park together with other management issues, all of which have arisen in the process of preparing the conservation management plan. Additional issues have arisen from the Boston Manor House and Park Options Appraisal consultation by Jura Consultants in 2010. These items have been included under ‘4.4 Management generally’ below. This report is concerned primarily about conservation management of the heritage interest of the park. Although it includes current use as a public park, it does not deal with day-to-day management of users and maintenance, although the above consultation raised further issues in this area, including the reduction of the number of ‘non-park users’ cars in the car park, the most prominent issue. 4.1 Core conservation issues • Park layout, facilities and management in relation to the proposed future use of the house and preferred option from the Options Appraisal; compatible uses for adjoining spaces; circulation, servicing and car parking requirements. Options for the house and park use from the Options Appraisal are: – Option 1, do minimum – Option 2, Venue and residential accommodation – Option 3, Arthouse – Option 4, Venue and holiday accommodation – Option 5, Hotel • Appropriate garden style(s) for a multi-period park and garden that has been a public park for over 90 years and is also the setting for a Grade I 17th century house; appropriate planting design within this context. • Lack of cohesive structure – the ad hoc layout away from the core as a result of an accumulation of independent developments (original public park facilities, LPFF playing field development, motorway construction, screen planting). • Park boundary wall: the historical record provided by its different phases and past and present gates; requirement for conservation and repairs. • Development for non-recreational use – the BMP site has suffered excessively from the development of the M4 viaduct and embanked motorway across its centre and the building of GSK that dominates its south-east aspect. It is surprising that it has survived these momentous changes and continues to be an attractive and vibrant community park. Its improvement over the last 10 years has been achieved without the ‘planning gain’ from new commercial development (although financial assistance from GSK is acknowledged) and the additional investment that is needed in the future must be achieved without further loss of park space and amenity. • Lack of connection between the two parts of the site – BMP and LPFF pitches – with unused no-man’s land between. 4.2 Condition of the fabric • Poor condition of many path surfaces, particularly parts of the lake and South lawn paths; also ‘crazy paving’ round bowling green. Paths are cracked due to lack of proper sub-base and use by maintenance traffic; and uneven due to tree roots and break-up of thin surfaces. Paths appear to have never been properly constructed, just successive overlays of wearing course materials. • Silted and unhealthy lake, with insufficient water supply, overgrown trees with dense canopy, fallen and poor quality trees, lack of light to water, shaded and poorly constructed or eroded margins, and rats. Boston Manor Park 71 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 • No-go areas: secluded areas of woodland away from the main through routes that are remote and little visited by the general public, although attracting drinkers, graffiti, homeless campers and other unwelcome activity – Meander wood and Botany Bay island. While all of these areas do not form part of the park proper they are contiguous with it and boundareis are . • State of river Brent meander with algae, floating and sunken rubbish and invading vegetation. 4.3 Mitigation of intrusive features • Physical and visual impact of tall buildings (particularly GSK slab) on park spaces, eg. Hangman’s Meadow, walled garden. • Visual impact of motorway viaduct on park spaces, particularly at the south end of the park; impact as a visual barrier through the whole park; impact as a physical barrier in the LPFF pitches areas; physical barrier of its associated screen planting within the park. • Lesser intrusive features: lighting column centred on south façade of Boston house; same at main gates; vehicle barriers at main gateway and south gates; 02 mast. • Excessive noise from roads, motorway, planes and Piccadilly line trains. 4.4 Management and maintenance (including some issues (*) resulting from public consultation in September 2010 that have not arisen in the Conservation Plan process) • Best methods of integrating management and maintenance of the park by LBH and Lampton Greenspace 360 and the activities, events and park improvements by the Friends of BMP. • Lack of path lighting, particularly on the main through routes, that restrict use due to concern over safety and prevents winter evening use of facilities. * • Provision of changing rooms for tennis courts. * • Floodlighting of Spartans pitches and poor drainage; a floodlit 3G all-weather pitch would help the Club to expand its youth football programme; best locations (from the Club’s perspective) would be on the bowling green or in the potting shed area. * • Additional seating and picnic benches; replacement of the former barbecue area, possibly near to the café. * • No toilets available to the public when café and Spartans changing room are closed. * • Safety – particularly in the secluded wooded areas near the river including Botany Bay. • Use of space under the motorway and treatment of its ground surface; increased functional use within park; improved appearance. • Dealing with vandalism and graffiti; anti-social behaviour. • Control of invasive non-native plants (giant hogweed, Himalayan balsam, Japanese knotweed). • Very poor maintenance yard with ruinous buildings and lacking basic facilities for park management and personnel; potential for additional uses to be accommodated within the yard. 72 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 5 Park conservation and management, objectives and policies

The following sections of the Conservation Plan deal with management of the wider site, the park and the land owned by LPFF. It is arranged in the sequence of goals – objectives – policies, with more detailed proposals following in Section 6.

5.1 Conservation goal The following is proposed as the overall goal or vision for the park ... To conserve and develop the wider Boston Manor park site to enhance its core values as the setting for Boston Manor house, relating to its future uses, and as a historic estate and local public park, and to bring underused assets into positive management for the benefit of the local community. This fits with the widfer aims for the house and park as set out for the Heritage Lottery Fund to ... • safeguard, conserve and interpret Boston Manor house and park together as a historic estate. • unify the interpretation and programme offered in the house and park for the better enjoyment and engagement of users; and • maximise opportunities for understanding and creative learning and activities in the house and park.

5.2 Conservation and management objectives for the park Objectives are simple statements of what it is intended to achieve in the planning and design of the project, covering all relevant areas of interest, as the basis for the proposals of the plan, that is, the policies and any actions derived from them. The aim should be to balance objectives where there may be a degree of conflict through the adopted policies. No priority in the objectives is intended by the order in which they appear. – To conserve and improve the historic character and features of Boston Manor park in ways compatible with its public park functions and the future use of the house. – To encourage integrated management of the whole of the Boston Manor park site and its landscape. – To conserve the core designed landscape of the park in its 19th century form as a picturesque park, with consideration to earlier period features that would improve the setting of the 17th century house and relate to its future use. – To conserve and develop the public park facilities and enhance its design and fitness for purpose. – To encourage the value of the park as a focus for the local community through the organisation of management, provision of facilities and planning of events. – To protect and investigate the archaeology from all periods to increase our understanding of the development of the site. – To follow best conservation practice for the built and natural environment in management and in building and landscape works. Boston Manor Park 73 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 – To enhance species diversity in the habitats of the site, encourage protected species and maximise the benefits of wildlife corridors. – To optimise physical and intellectual access for people of all abilities and backgrounds. – To develop and share knowledge and understanding of the park and its history. – To reduce the effects of intrusive features where ever possible. – To manage the park using environmentally sustainable methods. – To establish a broad base of funding to help achieve these objectives and avoid reliance on limited sources.

5.3 Conservation and management policies 5.3.1 Conservation of whole site and its character • Manage the site according to the four areas shown in Figure 10 with the following priorities: – Management Area 1, Historic Core – conserve existing features, enhance period character and relate to the layout and use of the house – Management Area 2, Park Facilities – maintain and extend the range of facilities; maximise use of existing facilities; design improvements to setting and circulation. – Management Area 3, Woodland / Nature – encourage biodiversity; improve degraded woodland as habitats and for amenity. – Management Area 4, Playing Fields – maintain and improve existing facilities. • Keep the whole park and playing fields area, including under viaduct spaces, in active or passive recreational use and exclude non-recreational use in perpetuity. • Integrate the parts of the site and reduce barriers between areas of the landscape where not required for security, public safety or other aspects of management, in order to improve access to and understanding of the whole landscape. • Conserve the designed landscape of the park as a 19th century picturesque park by restoration, repair and maintenance of the built and planted features. 5.3.2 Boston Manor house • Conserve Boston Manor house and stables; develop sustainable new use(s) for the house compatible with conservation of the structure and fabric; maintain present use of stables block; complement the use of the house and stables in the adjoining areas of the park – all as determined by the Options Appraisal and Boston Manor House Conservation Management Plan. 5.3.3 Othe built features and lake • Maintain and restore the park wall using original or matching materials in a prioritised programme. • Maintain and restore the boundary and internal fences in a prioritised programme. • Restore the lake, dam and water supply, with its entire, setting in a comprehensive programme of work. 5.3.4 Accessibility and circulation • Upgrade path surfaces generally to improve appearance, make safe, allow use by people of all abilities and reduce long-term maintenance costs. • Provide new link paths to integrate parts of the site 74 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 • Develop circular routes to encourage greater use of little-used areas. • Accommodate the circulation and parking requirements resulting from the adopted option for the house. 5.3.5 Biodiversity: woodland and trees • Manage all planted features to insure the long term health and survival of the 19th and 20th century planted landscape with a continued programme of tree work, restocking and replanting of features. • Manage degraded woodlands to develop their amenity and biodiversity values, with improved access (see below). • Veteran and specimen trees – identify all trees of notable value for special attention in tree management programme. 5.3.6 Archaeology • Protect the whole site as an area of outstanding regional archaeological value particularly Area 1 Historic Core. • Arrange for an archaeologist with watching brief to oversee any work in the park involving disturbance of ground surface. • Investigate the site generally by targeted research and site investigations to inform detailed proposals and increase understanding. 5.3.7 General improvement and intrusive features • Maintain enclosure of house area by woodland, trees and park walls to preserve its setting and exclude undesirable views. • Retain open space and views under M4 viaduct to maintain visual and circulation linkages between the parts of the park. • Maintain the existing tree planting adjacent to the motorway viaduct to encourage growth and achieve complete screening. • Add or restore planted features to reduce the visual impact of intrusions (M4, GSK) close to viewpoint (screening close to features is ineffective due to scale). • Improve quality and appearance, and extend the use of the under-viaduct areas. • Improve quality and appearance of the main entrance and route to the car park. 5.3.8 Visitor access and experience • Improve access for less able visitors, which is generally good and at grade, by upgrading path surfaces and removing barriers where they occur. • Develop the Interpretation Strategy to share knowledge and increase understanding of the park, its historical development and natural values, both on site and remotely. • Provide essential facilities including public toilets that are accessible during normal hours of park use. 5.3.9 Sports and play facilities • Maintain and extend use of tennis courts, with provision of changing faciltities. • Maintain and extend the age range of children’s’ play provision and add adult fitness equipment, in bowling green and under-viaduct areas. • Encourage football club in its use of the park pitches and changing rooms. • Support the provision of a new sports facilities and fitness suite in a new building, replacing the existing pavilion on the LPFF site, including an indoor sports hall and ancillary accommodation. Boston Manor Park 75 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 5.3.10 Increasing understanding • Add to understanding of the historical development of the whole park and its archaeology, by targeted new primary research. • Add to understanding of the park’s ecology by additional surveys of the woodland habitats of the site. 5.3.11 Sustainability and climate change • Use locally sourced products, minimise use of energy and materials, avoid environmentally hazardous materials, recycle or compost waste from site and generally aim for a low carbon operation. • Encourage walking, cycling and public transport to site by park users. • Develop policies to deal with the effects of climate change based on expert opinion and adapt management proposals accordingly 76 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 6 Conservation and management proposals

This section of the Conservation Management Plan presents the proposals for management and development of the wider site, the park and the land owned by LPFF. It is arranged under the same policy headings as used in Section 5. Proposals are summarised in Figure 11. Plans for the future of Manor house have progressed from the 2011 Feasibbility Study and CMP through to Stage 1 approval and Stage 2 Heritage Lottery Fund grant applications. The proposals for the house have also received planning permission. The following summary of the main features of the project for the house is included here to relate to the proposals for the park itself.

6.1 Boston Manor house • Restore the fabric and integrity of Boston Manor house by – Undertaking restoration and repair informed by the Conservation Management Plan and safeguard the fabric of the house including; works to the roof, walls, windows and floors. • Establish new cohesive interpretation of the house and context by – Aligning and connecting house and park interpretation in style and storyline, maximising opportunities for creative learning and activities. The new interpretation will offer a varied programme of historical story-telling (including characters and events associated with the house), artistic interventions and community displays, allowing visitors to fully engage with the history of the house. • Create a public engagement and learning programme using the house – Boston Manor is a valuable heritage asset in terms of significance, architecture and history but for many years it has not been able to engage the community as such an asset should. With the restoration enabling the opening up of new rooms and spaces and establishing dedicated on-site staff, the aim will be to work proactively to bring the community into Boston Manor house, to encourage them to engage with the architecture, the stunning interiors, the history and enable them to become apart of its developing story breathing new life into the building and its legacy. • Restore the service wing and utilise the space to develop a community business space – Establish a flexible space to support and promote the growth of the local arts and creative sector, as well as enabling community use or hire; link with local SME development programmes, as well as Hounslow’s Creative People and Places Programme to develop appropriate artist or craftsperson studios / workshops / maker spaces / education spaces. These new uses will add value through integration with the house and park‘s public programme, and using appropriate spaces for display, events and activities. • Maximise opportunities for development of heritage skills – Create new opportunities for training in heritage skills, including apprenticeship places, internships and a volunteer development plan covering interpretation and engagement in the site and archiving and sustaining the site through more robust governance structures and support. Undertake this through onsite courses, specialist speakers, offsite courses and shared training with other heritage venues in SW London. • Establish a sustainable business model to protect the house – Key to the project will be taking this opportunity to protect the house for the future through building in sustainability. To do this we will seek to maintain existing income sources, eg. filming, through flexible development of spaces and resolution of floor loading issues and establish new income generating activities such as the new flexible creative industries space. Boston Manor Park 77 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 6.2 Design improvements to other built features and lake • Improve spatial link between north front of house and main park areas by adjusting path layout at south-east side of house and crown lifting cedars. • Undertake detailed survey and archaeological assessment of the park wall; prepare generic specification for repairs using original or matching materials; plan and commence a prioritised repair programme. • Undertake detailed survey of the boundary railings; repair or replace where necessary for safety and security in a prioritised programme. • Undertake detailed survey and archaeological assessment of the lake and former ponds area, including water supply and discharge; plan and implement a comprehensive upgrading programme including tree thinning, dredging, opening up lost views, works to inflow and outflow as necessary, new edging, repair or replacement of fence, access for nature studies / pond dipping, footpath reconstruction and replacement planting of trees and limited shrubs, and interpretation, including provision for wildfowl and dealing with pigeon and rat problems.

6.3 Accessibility and circulation • Upgrade path surfaces generally (by resurfacing or complete reconstruction including new edges) to improve appearance, to make safe, to allow use by people of all abilities and to reduce long-term maintenance cost; comprehensive programme commencing with priority routes in worst repair (lakeside and south lawn, as Figure 11) but including all paths in longer term. • Assess the requirements of the house proposals for the use of external spaces for circulation, parking and other ancilliary uses, including design proposals. • Provide new links to integrate parts of the site, in particular a new west path to link with canal towpath. • Develop circular paths or trails in Meander wood and Botany Bay to encourage greater use of little-used areas.

6.4 Biodiversity: woodland, trees and garden spaces • Plant new tree features to strengthen design of park and to mitigate effect of intrusive features – avenue planting along Spine path, Borders path and GSK boundary path, spaced to avoid excess shade and retain beds etc. • Plan and implement management programme to upgrade the two degraded woodlands, including rubbish clearance, control of non-native invasive plants, opening up paths (see below) and selected restocking. • Veteran and specimen trees – works as necessary in tree management programme, based on regular survey. • Create a formal setting for Boston house on the South lawn in 17th or 18th century character, with enclosing hedges, topiary, small trees and reinstated south gateway – while retaining as open space for general park use, functions, events etc. Continue theme to immediate house frontage to reduce extent of tarmac here, including possible parterre beds. All subject to the requirements of the proposals for the use of the house. • Continue the development of the walled garden along existing lines; reduce intrusion of tall buildings by external tree planting. 78 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 6.5 Archaeology • Project related investigations and watching brief during park works as noted elsewhere. • Investigate sites of former 18th and 19th century park buildings.

6.6 General improvements and intrusive features • Plant new tree features, as above. • Under the viaduct space – – Main path with contrasting hard surfaces to sides (possible artwork) – Fitness trail with high grade equipment – Lighting – Artist’s proposals for treatment of viaduct piers – permanent graffiti or similar – or even grander idea for whole space. • Complement 2010 car park improvements with new tree row at entrance (planes or similar) and design coordination of bollards and barriers. Rebuilding of gate-piers after collison also outstanding in December 21017. • Implement a clean-up of the river Brent meander with relevant stakeholders and maintain water quality thereafter.

6.7 Visitor access and experience • Footpath upgrading, as above. • Provide public toilets. • Commission and implement an Interpretation Strategy.

6.8 Sports and play facilities • Bowling green fitness area and gamnes area for older children – repair or replace fences, restore paving, replant hedge and planting bed as necessary. • Investigate feasibility of rowing facility (canoes or sculls) on the canal, based in the park.

6.9 Increasing understanding • Add to understanding of the historical development of the whole park and its archaeology, by targeted new primary research and site investigations. • Add to understanding of the park’s ecology by survey and monitoring change in the woodland and meadow habitats of the site. • Provide interpretation of cultural and natural aspects based on Interpretation Strategy.

6.10 Management and maintenance • Prepare proposals and implement rationalisation and upgrade of maintenance yard, including restoration and reuse of existing buildings (or demolition), new staff facilities; permanent machinery and equipment store; new materials, composting and recycling bins; replacement fencing; resurfacing etc. Boston Manor Park 79 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 6.11 Cost and funding

6.11.1 Outline costing The indicative costs for the range of conservation and re-use options for Boston house in the context of the park was prepared by Morham and Brotchie, quantity surveyors and cost consultants in 2011. The cost of the five options considered ranges from just under £1 million to £7.2 million covering both the works to the house and the park. For further detail see Boston Manor House and Park Options Appraisal (Jura Consultants 2011).

6.11.2 Sources of funding Boston Manor park has received significant investment over the past 10-20 years and there will be limited additional funding available in the next period with the continued restrictions on central and local government finances. However, funding applications for Heritage Lottery Fund Stage 1 for both the house and the park have been achieved. The park has a strong case to proceed to a successful Stage 2 submission and implementation, particularly given its high level of use and the strong community interest in the park and its future. The achievements of the Friends of Boston Manor in raising funding and sponsorship for implementation of significant improvement projects over many years may provide other sources of partnership funding. Further consideration of funding sources is given in Section 8.5 of the Boston Manor House and Park Options Appraisal in the context of the wider house and park project. 80 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 7 Conclusion

The value of Boston Manor park lies in both its cultural value on account of its long history and providing the setting for the Grade 1 listed house, and equally, as a popular and attractive public park. Its history as a country estate on the edge of London, until the 1920s, is in stark contrast to the reality of today, with the park area divided by the M4 motorway and its context provided by good suburban housing, some basic industry and a high rise urban cluster that acts as a gateway to the inner London area. Located at a convergence of transport modes, neighbouring or local routes include the M4 motorway, A4 Great West Road, Piccadilly Line, railway and overhead flights from Heathrow, with the Grand Union Canal – both waterway and foot/cycle path – forming the southern boundary. The canal illustrates the extent to which the natural features of the area have been urbanised and industrialised, with one meander of the natural river course surviving beneath the motorway viaduct in an unwelcoming environment and contaminated state. At the same time the whole canal/river course is a fine green corridor, of great recreational, historic and natural heritage value. Surprisingly the park survives as a busy, interesting and well-loved local open space, maintained to a good standard and with a very active Friends group. But like many parks whose origins have been in private estates, insufficient investment was made when first converted to public park use and facilities were added in a rather ad-hoc manner without a proper masterplan and with a lack of consideration of the overall design. Poor path surfaces that have never been properly constructed for public use and a problematic lake area are the most obvious results of the former and an unstructured arrangement of features is a result of the latter. The site is surprisingly well wooded. Tree cover includes a wide range of types: long-established areas of estate planting, natural regeneration, park amenity planting, veteran and specimen trees, and later 20th century planting to extend the woods and mitigate the effect of the motorway. The tree cover goes some way to counteract the highly intrusive effects of the motorway and adjoining tall buildings, and it is unfortunate that some area of woodland are neglected and underused, albeit in physically difficult situations. The Conservation Management Plan assesses the resulting management issues associated with this fascinating piece of urban landscape in the context of the Options Appraisal for the house and park and the separate CMP for the house. It presents policies and proposals aimed at five main areas: • conservation and repair of historic features and the park’s fabric, related to the preferred option for the use of the house • increasing the accessibility of the park’s facilities • improving safety • increasing the use of underused areas • reducing the impact of intrusive features. The total package of works for the park alone adds up to a significant cost, but include urgent and short to mediumn terms actions and longer term recommendations. The main proposals are envisaged to form a major component of the Heritage Lottery Fund Stage 2 programme of works, linked to comprehensive activities, learning, training and volunteering programmes. We commend these proposals to London Borough of Hounslow so that Boston Manor park can be enhance as public park at the heart of its community and its core areas of historic character and setting for Boston Manor House can be conserved. Boston Manor Park 81 Conservation Management Plan April 2018

Appendix 1

Historical maps and plans

83

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Maps Appendix 1.01 Moses Glover Map of the Isleworth Hundred made for the – detail of Brentford and Boston House 1635 84

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Maps Appendix 1.02 John Rocque Environs of London 1741-45 85

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Maps Appendix 1.03 Anon. A Plan of certain Lands in the Parish of Eling in Middx formerly part of Windmill Field belonging to James Clitherow Esq and Others, 1758 (LMA, ACC1360/292/1) 1758 86

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Maps Appendix 1.04 Joshua Rhodes A Plan of the Manor of Boston (LMA, ACC1360/296) 1770 87

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Maps Appendix 1.05 Joshua Rhodes A Plan of the Manor of Boston (detail) (LMA, ACC1360/296) 1770 88

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Maps Appendix 1.06 Joshua Rhodes (?) Plan of the Manor of Boston (LMA, ACC1360/297) 1770? 89

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Maps Appendix 1.07 Surveyed and drawn by A Bassett, Hammersmith An Actual Survey and Plan of the processional boundaries of the Parish of Ealing in the County of Middlesex and Diocese of London, Taken in 1777 (LMA, ACC1360/298) 1777 90

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Maps Appendix 1.08 Joshua Rhodes (?) Sketch plan of Boston Manor and ponds (LMA, ACC1360/292/3a) 1782 91

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Maps Appendix 1.09 Joshua Rhodes (?) Sketch plan of Boston Manor and proposed ponds; proposals plan for Hangman’s Meadow (LMA, ACC1360/292/3b and 3c) 1782 92

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Maps Appendix 1.10 Anon. Plan of house and gardens of Boston Manor (LMA, ACC1360/299) 1790? 93

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Maps Appendix 1.11 Anon. Plan of house and gardens of Boston Manor (detail) (LMA, ACC1360/299) 1790? 94

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Maps Appendix 1.12 A Bassett Gardens plan of Little Boston (LMA, ACC1360/293/12) 1790? 95

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Maps Appendix 1.13 Canal company Plan of Lands in ... New Brentford ... belonging to Jas Clitherow Esq through which the Grand Junction Canal passes (LMA, ACC1360/301) 1794 96

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Maps Appendix 1.14 Plan of the Manor of Brentford in th County of Middlesex belonging to Js Clitherow Esq (central and east parts) (LMA, ACC1360/304) 1800? 97

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Maps Appendix 1.15 Anon. Plan of the Manor of Brentford in th County of Middlesex belonging to Js Clitherow Esq (central area) (LMA, ACC1360/304) 1800? 98

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Maps Appendix 1.16 Anon. Rough sketch of land round Boston House and Lane (LMA, ACC1360/308) 1810-19? 99

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Maps Appendix 1.17 A Bassett, Hammersmith, and W Nichols, Brentford ‘Ealing Parish’ revision of map of 1777 1838 100

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Maps Appendix 1.18 Anon. New Brentford Tithe map 1838 101

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Maps Appendix 1.19 Ordnance Survey 1st edition, 1:2,500 1865 102

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Maps Appendix 1.20 Ordnance Survey 2nd edition, 1:2,500 1894 103

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Maps Appendix 1.21 Ordnance Survey 3rd edition, 1:2,500 1915 104

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Maps Appendix 1.22 based on Ordnance Survey Sale catalogue, location map 1918 105

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Maps Appendix 1.23 based on Ordnance Survey Sale catalogue, A Plan fo Boston House near Brentford, Middlesex 1918 106

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Maps Appendix 1.24 Sale Catalogue plan Roads from Hyde Park Corner and Marble Arch to Boston House 1918 107

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Maps Appendix 1.25 Ordnance Survey 1935 edition, 1:2,500 1935 108

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Maps Appendix 1.26 Bartholomew’s? Street map 1940? 109

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Maps Appendix 1.27 Ordnance Survey 1961 edition, 1:2,500 1961 110 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 Boston Manor Park 111 Conservation Management Plan April 2018

Appendix 2

Full development chronology from research 112 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 Boston Manor Park 113 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 Appendix 2 Full developement chronology from research Researched and written by Morag Cross, August–September 2010; edited by Peter McGowan

Including items from Boston Manor Brentford: History and Guide by Janet McNamara (1998) The prehistoric and early historic periods have been well summarized by Roy Canham and Dr G Glanville, in the publication ‘2000 Years of Brentford,’ (HMSO, 1978). They discuss the difficulty of increasing the number of known sites by air photography and overflying, due to the restricting presence of in the middle of the area of study. Another problem around Brentford is that the Thames- side gravel terraces attractive to prehistoric settlement are equally suitable for modern development, and are now heavily built-up. New sites are mainly being discovered by the deliberate examination of areas of future ground disturbance, such as in advance of building construction and new roads. Dr Glanville traces the origin of the name ‘Brent’ to ‘the old British brigantia, meaning holy or high water,’ and first recorded in AD 705. ‘As Bregentforda the settlement was host to a meeting of Offa’s Council in AD780 ... loss [of documentary archives] deprives us of any evidence as to the importance of the ford over the Thames at Brentford. Not until 1016 at the Battle of Brentford ... is there any specific indication that Brentford was one of the fording places.’ Certain features of placename survival suggest that the ford over the Brent itself, rather than the ford over the Thames, became important in the continuation of settlement here. (Glanville, 1978 2000 Years of Brentford, p3) Items in blue cross refer to the historic maps and plans in Appendix 1.

1086 The present site of Boston manor was probably part of the parish of Hanwell, in the Hundred of Elthorne, and owned by the Abbot of Westminster; the manor was probably created by abbot Gervais de Blois in the 12th century. The boundaries are thought to have been delineated to include a range of economically productive resources such as fisheries and water meadow, such as is also seen in contemporary Middlesex parishes. (McNamara 1998, 11; Howard, A J 1969 Boston Manor and the Clitherow family, pp2-3, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 1157 Boston, although not in the Domesday Book, belonged to Westminster Abbey in this year under the alias of ‘Bordwattestun.’ It was probably included in Hanwell when that was given to the abbey before 1086. By the 12th century, ‘a separate estate had appeared in the town, which later became known as the Manor of Boston.’ (Howard, A J 1969 Boston Manor and the Clitherow family, p4, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 1163 Ralf de Brito, a wealthy Londoner, built Hanwell parish church, dedicated to St Lawrence, which status conferred the right to be the parochial burial place. The name ‘Bordwatestre’ is thought to mean ‘house by the cross by the ford,’ the latter being across the Brent. (Howard, A J 1969 Boston Manor and the Clitherow family, pp2-3, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 1189-99 Robert de Brito sells Brentford to Geoffrey Blunt. The latter then uses the quitrent generated by the vill as part of his daughter’s portion on her marriage after 1216. (Howard, A J 1969 Boston Manor and the Clitherow family, p4, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) Late 12th century Edward I granted the manor to the Priory of St Helen, Bishopsgate. It was probably used as a grange (farm run by and for the benefit of the religious order). (McNamara 1998, 11) 1280 The manor and parish of Hanwell were co-terminous until Boston was subinfeudated from it [legally separated as a unique entity in its own right], about 1280 ... the manorial area of Boston was ... adopted as convenient for poor law purposes.’ (Sharpe, M 1902 ‘Hobbayne’s Charity: Whether the vill by the New Brent Ford ...’ Home Counties Mag Vol IV, p33) 1281 The was authorized to gather funds for building a bridge at the ‘Brayn ford.’ The respective sheriffs of 1322, 1375 and 1380 were likewise so empowered. (Sharpe, M 1902, ‘Hobbayne’s Charity: Whether the vill by the New Brent Ford...,’ Home Counties Mag Vol IV, p36) 114 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 1294 [according to Sharpe, 1902] or 1296 [Howard, 1969] - The earliest definite evidence for the ownership of the manor is found in court proceedings into the proprietorship of various lands in Middlesex, and their accompanying rights. The jury found in favour of the prioress of St Helens, London. Records of the early possessions of the priory do not survive, and therefore it is not possible to be certain for how long they had owned the manor of Boston. (Sharpe, M 1902 ‘Hobbayne’s Charity,’ Home Counties Mag Vol IV, pp36-7, 105; Howard, A J 1969 Boston Manor and the Clitherow family, pp5-6, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 1306 Dec 23 – The king granted the priory the right to hold a weekly market at their manor of Brentford. (Howard, A J 1969 Boston Manor and the Clitherow family, p7, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 1538 Nov 25 - Prioress Dame Mary Rollesley surrendered the priory and its possessions to Henry VIII. He had already leased it to John Rollesley [possibly a relation of the prioress], under a deed dated to 1534. (Howard, A J 1969 Boston Manor and the Clitherow family, p7, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 1542 Nov 8 – The Court of Augmentations allowed the lease of Boston Manor to John Rollesley, the lease or value of the farm apparently being £9, according to the Ministers’ Accounts of the 31st year of Henry’s reign. (Howard, A J 1969 Boston Manor and the Clitherow family, pp7-8, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 1547 July 22 - Edward VI granted the manor to the Duke of Somerset (his uncle), but on Somerset’s forfeiture and execution in 1552 it would have reverted to the Crown. (Howard, A J 1969 Boston Manor and the Clitherow family, p8-9, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 1567 April 18 - Manor of Boston leased to Jerome Hawley, a clerk of the petty bag, for 48 years, at £9 per annum, the same rent as John Rollesley had paid. (Sharpe, M 1902 ‘Hobbayne’s Charity: Whether the vill by the New Brent Ford ...,’ Home Counties Mag Vol IV, p37; Howard, A J 1969 Boston Manor and the Clitherow family, p8, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 1572 Elizabeth I granted the Manor of Boston to her favourite Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, who reportedly sold it the same year, according to local historian D Lysons, author of Environs of London. James Clitherow III (1766-1841) was Lyson’s informant, but it is not recorded whence Clitherow obtained his own information. The purchaser was Sir Thomas Gresham, founder of the Royal Exchange. This has been frequently quoted as fact, but if it is unsubstantiated, perhaps further research could locate Clitherow’s sources, and verify the accuracy of his assertions to Lysons. . (Howard, A J 1969 Boston Manor and the Clitherow family, p9, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 1584 The Exchequer Court decided whether ‘The Hame’ (Boston Manor) was in parish of Isleworth or Hanwell. (Sharpe, M 1902 ‘Hobbayne’s Charity: Whether the vill by the New Brent Ford...,’ Home Counties Mag Vol IV, p37) 1598 Death of Lady Gresham, widow of the owner of Boston Manor. The manor was inherited by Sir William Reade, her son by her first marriage, and he obtained new Letters Patent in 1610. (Howard, A J 1969 Boston Manor and the Clitherow family, p9 Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 1603 William Reade was knighted by James I and VI (McNamara 1998, 12) 1609 First wife of Sir William Reade died; at some point after this he married Lady Mary, his much younger second wife. (McNamara 1998, 17) 1618 June 29 - James Clitherow I born, son of Sir Christopher, Lord Mayor of London (LMA, ACC1360/440, flyleaf) 1621 Sir William Reade died, and his widow, Lady Mary, inherited the life use of the property. It was then to go to Reade’s three granddaughters by his first wife. Mary built the core of the present house, as recorded by the dates of 1623 on the drawing room ceiling and 1622 on the rainwater heads of the lead downpipes. (McNamara 1998, 12) 1623 First portion (left and central parts) of present building completed by this date. The building was possibly put up in a hurry before Lady Mary’s second marriage, to Sir Edward Spencer of Althorp, in this year at Hanwell. (McNamara 1998, 12) 1635 Moses Glover map covering Brentford, showing ‘Oulde Brayneford,’ ‘New Braynforde,’ ‘The Brent’ river and lands to the west (map is oriented with east at bottom). While most of the map is an accurate survey of the locality with field acreages and ‘Sion’ shown in some detail, on the east bank along the bottom Boston Manor Park 115 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 the land of ‘Sr Ed. Spencer K’ is shown by a drawing of ancient trees and a representation of Boston Manor house. (Appendix 1.01) Little is known about Moses Glover. He is recorded as baptised at Dunstable, Bedfordshire on 26 October 1601, the son of John Glover. He was the creator of the enormous survey map of the Isleworth Hundred made for the Earl of Northumberland in 1635, from which this extract is taken. The map is kept at Sion House. Glover described himself as paynter And Architectur on his map. 1642 Start of James Clitherow’s financial journal, in which he recorded legacies left to him by his father and father-in-law, loans to ‘gentlemen’ and investments in general voyages by the East India Company (multiple investors with shares in a ship’s cargo spread the risk). He lent money to ‘Sir Thomas Trolope of Casewick’ his brother in law, Thomas Adams Lord Mayor, and to the less elevated ‘Richard Edlin of London tallow chaundler’ in 1643-5. (LMA, ACC1360/440) 1642 Nov - Battle of Brentford during the English Civil War, when Prince Rupert attacked the Parliamentary garrison defending the town, which he then captured and sacked. The Parliamentarians won at Turham Green, the following day. As a Royalist, Sir Edward Spencer was taxed £400 on the value of his estate, to help defray the cost of the Parliamentary Army. (McNamara 1998, 13) 1658 Death of Lady Mary Reade or Spencer, who bequeathed Boston Manor to her relative John Goldsmith. She made provision for her gardener’s pension (see entries for 1670 and later concerning Nicolas Hilton). (Hill, R H E 1903 ‘Boston Manor House, Brentford,’ Home Counties Mag Vol 5, p31) 1658 Mar 2 – Death of Jane Hawtrey, first wife of James Clitherow. Her two sons predeceased her. (LMA, ACC1360/440, flyleaf) 1661 Feb 1 – The risks of a voyage meant that sometimes money was lost: ‘Voyage to East India in ship John Thomas ... the sum of one hundred thirty seaven [sic] pounds ten shillings and is for so much paid Mr Thomas Potter owner of the said ship of my part of 155 li [livres=pounds] which ... for fraight of the said ship though shee never returned fro[m] East India.’ On the same page he records a voyage of the ‘Dove’ to Guinea and India, where he has to pay the deceased seamen’s wages to their widows, ‘said shipe being lost in her voyage homewards.’ On a more positive note, he spent £931/16/- on ‘the land in Keiston in ... Huntingdon.’ He also lent Charles II the sum of £100 in April 1662. (LMA, ACC1360/440) 1662 Sept – Death of Mary Gregory, second wife of James Clitherow. (LMA, ACC1360/440, flyleaf) 1664 The Butts, or waste or common land of the manor of Boston were conveyed by J Goldsmith, the owner, to William Parish. (Sharpe, M 1902 ‘Hobbayne’s Charity: Whether the vill by the New Brent Ford...,’ Home Counties Mag Vol IV, p37) 1664 James Clitherow married Elizabeth Barker, his third wife. (LMA, ACC1360/440, flyleaf) 1666 Christopher Clitherow (1666-1727) born. (McNamara 1998, 15) 1669 Jan – Feb - James Clitherow’s account book for the period around the purchase of Boston House shows his other financial adventures – and his wife’s. He has lent the King money towards fortifying the fort at Sheerness; she has sent £20 in gold via a ship called ‘Experiment,’ (possibly a sign of the scientific times –1666 was Isaac Newton’s ‘annus mirabilis’ when he made major discoveries in optics, motion and gravitation) to a merchant in India, to invest in ‘Dyamond boort,’ [rough diamonds]. Clitherow has also spent £60 importing further diamonds from Bombay, some of which he has commissioned to be made into a pair of pendants or lockets for his wife, and others for a diamond bought from ‘a Jew’ for a ring for ‘my owne weareing.’ (LMA, ACC1360/440) 1670 One of James Clitherow I’s (1618-82) account books shows his trading through the East India Company, as well as his other usurious activity. In 1669-70, he invested in a voyage to Zurat (Surat, in Gujarat, India), as well as paying for repairs to St Pauls church, and returning captives ‘in Argier,’ (hostages of the Barbary pirates in Algiers). Clitherow paid an annuity to Nicolas Hilton of ‘West Braintford ... Gardiner ... according to Lady Spencers Will,’ from 1671-76, by when he had died. As Lady Spencer herself (Mary Reade, who built Boston House) died in 1658, Hilton must have been her own gardener at Boston House from at least the 1650s to be awarded a pension, so long after her death. His pension was continued by the will of John Goldsmith, from whom Clitherow 116 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 bought Boston House, and then Clitherow himself took up this due, referring to ‘till I began to pay old Hilton.’ (LMA, ACC1360/435, fol 85r, 87r, 88r, 91r) 1670 April 1 - Clitherow gives money ‘towards rebuilding Syon Colledge and the Almes Houses adiogneing ... which were burnt downe in the late dreadfull fire in London.’ On 25 April, he dedicates another £50 to rebuilding another church ‘inhumble thankfulness to Allmighty God for spareing mee in the dreadfull in London, 1666,’ [sic]. (LMA, ACC1360/440) 1670 June 18 - There are two entries this day concerning the purchase of Boston Manor. In one, Clitherow calls in his debts from a London goldsmith, John Colville, because he needs £700 ‘to paie for the copihold land I have boughte at Boston when I am instated therein,’ and also ‘I desired up all his (Colville’s) old Bills for moneys received by him for my Acco[unt] towards paieing for my Purchase at Boston.’ The next entry, dated the same day, and marked in the margin with a large cross in pencil (probably by one of the 19th century Clitherow historians), reads ‘Land Purchased is Debitor to Sundry Acco[unt]s the Sum of ffive thousand three hundred thirty six pounds seaventeene shillings foure pence and is for so much I contracted to pay for the mannor of Boston alias Burston & the Appertenu[nc]is together with foure Tenements in West Brainford and 50 Acres of Capihold Land held of the mannor of Hanwell viz: To Money 5136 li [livres = £] 17s 4d and is for so much paid viz 4136 li 17s 4d to John Chruston and George Day Trustees of John Goldsmith Esqr deceased Owner of the said Mannor & Premisses, and 1000 li paid to John Colvile Esquire Goldsmith w[hi]ch by Articles hee is to pay to the said Trustees with 6 p[er] Cent interest when the said Copihold Land is invested in mee James Clitherow at the next Court to bee holden for the Mannor of Hanwell – 5136:17:4’ ‘To John Chruston and George Day the said Trustees of John Goldsmith Esqr deceased aforementioned 200 li [= £] w[hi]ch I am to paie unto them at the death of old Nicolas Hilton of Brainford, And in the meane tyme pay to the said Hilton 10 li p[er] ann[um] dureing his life for so much w[hi]ch by the Lady Spencers Will ought to bee paid him till his death out of the Land I bought as aforesaid. Summe is 5336:17:4 [livres=pounds].’ What this all seems to imply is that the full sum was not paid, but £200 of the principal was retained by Clitherow, so that he could use the interest on it to pay a pension to Lady Mary Reade’s former retired gardener, Hilton! After Hilton’s death, the total sale price fell due. (LMA, ACC1360/440) 1670 July 20 - ‘John Colvile ... Goldsmith is Debitor to money the summe of seaven hundred pounds and is for so much he had remaining in his hands ... of the moneys I called in and collected together to paie for my purchase at Branford for which hee gave mee A Bill under his hand ... with 5 p[er] Cent [on] Acc[ou]nt.’ This month, Clitherow and his brother John also received compensation from the ‘chamber of London for my ground cut off from my houses to inlarge the Streetes of Cornhill & Lombard Streete ... according to the Act of Parliament.’ (LMA, ACC1360/440) 1670 Sept 29 - In his detailed account book, Clitherow says that he has formal possession of, and financial responsibility for, the manor of Boston from 1 Aug 1670. (LMA, ACC1360/440) 1670 Oct 12 - Clitherow spent £14/18/2d for legal and other expenses concomitant on his purchase of Boston, drawing up the title and the deeds. (LMA, ACC1360/440) 1671 April - Clitherow records more transactions arising from his purchase of Boston – on the 19th, the estate of John Colville owed money to the former owner of Boston, and required proof of Clitherow’s purchase; and on the 22nd, he paid the Bishop of London 45/- ‘portfine of the purchase of my mannor of Burston.’ (LMA, ACC1360/440) 1671 June 9 - Fees paid to the Bishop of London, and to lawyers for his admittance as copyholder of the land; fees paid for the license to set leases of 21 years, and for 5 pieces of gold which he gives to Goldsmith’s widow ‘at the conclusion of all.’ Following this are further notes on his use of the £200 capital to pay ‘old Nicolas Hilton ... Gardiner’ his pension, ‘charged on her [Lady Spencer/ Reade’s] mannor of Boston w[hi]ch I purchased ... I am obliged by Bond to paie the said Nicolas.’ (LMA, ACC1360/440) 1671 Sept 31 - ‘Oweth to money the sum of fourteine hundred thirty nine pounds twelve shillings tenn pence for soe much disbursed to this day on my house ... Boston Manor Park 117 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 called the Mannor of Boston.’ Although he has spent such a large sum, in just over a year, on house improvements, Clitherow does not say specifically what this total sum was spent on. One recent commentator suggests that it was expended on repairs after a recent fire. (LMA, ACC1360/440; Shavreen, D 2002 ‘James Clitherow of Boston Manor,’ Brentford and Chiswick Loc Hist Journal No 2, p19) 1674 Nov 14 - The following account suggests that some of the existing redbrick walls between Boston House and the main road may be contemporary with the house. ‘The sum of ffoure hundred three score and sixteen pounds eleaven shillings three pence for so much I have disbursed in building on my mannor of Boston … viz: In building the house and outhouseing from the ground in w[hi]ch Edward Slater my tennannt now lives - £239/10/8d. In remooveing & setting up the house in which Thomas Dugdale now lives, and building the walls about my outward yards - £231/0/7d; ffor a clock sett up on the top of my house for the benefit of my tennannts - £6/0/0; Summe is £476/11/3d. (LMA, ACC1360/440) 1676 Mar 25 - ‘Old’ Nicolas Hilton, Lady Mary Reade’s gardener at Boston House before 1658, has died by this date. (LMA, ACC1360/435, fol 88r, 91r). 1681 Clitherow spends a large sum, £106/12/8d on updating and improving another property at Clarkesfield in Pinner. Although he does not list his improvements at Boston in such detail, the work at Pinner, which is better recorded, gives an idea of the kind work he may have considered for Boston as well. He builds a new barn, enclosing a yard and making a pond in it, which involves paying carpenters, sawyers, bricklayers, and purchasing the raw materials – flints, tiles, lime and iron locks, levelling the yard with 40 loads of gravel and 40 of chalk. He also makes a new pond, and fills up and levels off the old pond, and pays for 17 loads of oak timbers, and 3 loads of elm wood. (LMA, ACC1360/440) 1681 Aug 20 - More modern amenities at Boston: £118/3/9d spent in ‘severall repaires, altering my Ovens and building a Carthouse at my house Boston in New Brentford.’ (LMA, ACC1360/440) 1682 James Clitherow I died. (McNamara 1998, 15) 1682 April 26 - ‘The greate fflood w[hi]ch hapend in the River Brent the 26th Aprill 1682.’ See entry for 1 July 1682. (LMA, ACC1360/440) 1682 July 1 - Clitherow records a flood on the river Brent, of 26 April 1682, when he had to pay for ‘getting out of the water the materials and cleereing the river of the houses w[hi]ch Widow Leader held of mee by lease that were demolished by the vilence of the greate fflood.’ He also had to pay for ‘setting up the ponnd [writing ambiguous - or pound which can be a type of fish or animal trap or enclosure] againe w[hi]ch was throwne downe and the fence Railes in the River.’ His flood damage amounted to £10/16/6d. (LMA, ACC1360/440) 1694 James Clitherow II (b1752) born. (McNamara 1998, 15) 1698 Start of Christopher Clitherow’s ‘long booke’ in which are ‘my Reall and personall Estates ... valued yearly.’ He had previously used ‘papers w[hi]ch I found subject to be lost.’ This volume includes his rentals, and after listing several tenanted farms, and their field names, Clitherow enumerates ‘In my own hands The wood called further wood at 6:3:0, The wood behind the house at 3:1:15, old orchard at 2:2:0, Orchard close formerly part of the wood behind the house at 4:0:0, in all 6:3:0. Valued att but 20/- an acre. Quitrents att about 1:15:-. Mem[oran] d[um]: I value not my house, gardens, fishponds, barnes, stables, granarys, etc nor the cash [?] all profits of my mannor; and so a very low valuation on the rest they are worth double but are not to be let so undervalued. [£] 59:8:-.’ (LMA, ACC1360/444, p3) Rather disconcertingly, he adds a footnote, listing his tenants ‘executed for murdhere ... executed for felony,’ whose vacant properties he is able to re-let. His estates, after deductions are worth £1341:9:1, per annum in rent. Relatives, tenants and others owe him, in ‘good debts,’ £11, 209:12:8d, whereas he owes £7960:11:0d to other people. (LMA, ACC1360/444, pp7, 9, 11) Clitherow concludes ‘that I have besides the Furniture of my house, plate etc, 33708/2/8d in money.’ And his major caveat, and last word of 1698, ‘Lett none thinke I do this to pride myself in my estate: but th[a]t I may be able by this method to give God the glory and all persons, (especially my deare wife and children) an account how my affaires stand in case of my death.’ (LMA, ACC1360/444, p11) 118 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 1702 Dec 25 - ‘Part of the land late bought of Mr Bradley is in my own hands and now called the Pond Pightle alias Manigrove Moory land for w[hi]ch I pay him 30/- p[e] r ann[um] worth 3 li [£] p[e]r ann[um].’ This land was on the north side of Boston Lane almost opposite the house gates. A ‘pightle’ was a small field, paddock or enclosure. (LMA, ACC1360/444, p25; C Hammond, Chiswick Lib, pers comm) 1703 Dec 25 - During his annual self-valuation, Christopher Clitherow writes of his Boston rents, ‘woods about 15 acres a peice [sic] called pond Pightle late Parrys moory ground, 2 small closes called the old orchard and wood close below garden in my own hands & valued att in all £15:0:0.’ (LMA, ACC1360/444, p28) 1704 Dec 25 - Clitherow rents a cherry orchard to John Saunders at the Three Pigeons Inn in New Brentford for £30 per year. (LMA, ACC1360/444, p29) 1706 Dec 25 - Clitherow’s annual valuation includes ‘quitrents: 11 acres or there abouts of wood land the old orchard called the new stocked wood close my house gardens etc note I pay all taxes for this £325:14:6.’ As this is unpunctuated, is not entirely clear which descriptions belong together! (LMA, ACC1360/444, p36) 1712 William Butler makes survey of Boston Manor, listing areas and field names; see 1722. (LMA, ACC1360/240) 1714 Alterations start to be made to the original landscape as depicted only two years previously in Butler’s survey. (LMA, ACC1360/240) 1715 Mar 25 - ‘For the ease and benefit of my Executors’ Christopher Clitherow values his estates, as from Lady Day (25 March). In preparation, he has left an abstract of his affairs in his special ‘executors drawer.’ Individual pieces of land valued at Boston include Richard Longland’s farm, Minigrove, Moses Bodicott’s farm, and his own ‘Dwelling house, gardens, wilderness, old orchard new wood close and fishponds charged in the rates to Brentford at 30 li,’ (£). Among his innovations for the next round of granting leases is that each tenant will ‘pay his own taxes,’ which he had previously shouldered. His Middlesex rents total £685/2/3d, and his personal worth would seem to be £1734/5/-, though this is not specifically noted, unlike in previous years when it is clearly shown. (LMA, ACC1360/444, pp67-9) 1718 Clitherow draws up a prospective bridegroom’s valuation of Boston estate for his eldest son, James. ‘On Mr Wards proposing a match for son James; I made the following essay towards a particular to be showed on a good match offered.’ This is marriage as a hardheaded business alliance, with land as the basis of the couple’s united wealth. Boston is described thus: ‘The mannor or capitall house (called Boston) with gardens walls walks courts, 5 fishponds, a large yard, a water house supplying the house one paire of staires, offices cellars and brewhouse, large and convenient brewhouse from whence the drinke is conveyd to the cellar by pipes, three coachhouses, a pidgeon loft, a large barne, three stables good granarys, coals, wood and poltery houses and severall other convenient outhouses all brick buildings in good repaires standing on and being by computations 6 acres and a grove below the house with a stewpond walks plantations and nursery computed to be three acres. The whole being well wooded and watered worth as houses go in the neighbourhood 200 li [£] p[e]r ann[um] but may be valued att £150.’ ‘Two acres called the old orchard and little or new wood closes paled in lying convenient for the house well wooded and watered and planted computed 6½ acres valued att £20.’ He then lists the two farms with their yards and gardens, one of which has ‘a large watering place.’ After detailing his other children’s settlements, James was to expect an estate of around £1878/18/-. (LMA, ACC1360/444, p90) 1722 Jan 1 - ‘An essay for a particular if a good match is proposed for son: made in 1723 after my yearely accts ... to 1 Jan 1722.’ In updating his appraisal of his son’s prospects for his as-yet unknown future wife’s family, Clitherow adds more details about the working of the estate. ‘The principall house ... and also convenient wash house and bakehouse and drying chambers next adjoining.’ ‘And also a large convenient brewhouse (with a hard stone mill to grinde malt) from whence by pipes the drinke is conveyed to the cellars.’ ‘A waterhouse w[i]th a cistern that holds 32 barrels of water, raised by a swing pump by one man, in an house, w[hi]ch water is conveyed by pipes and stopcocks into the house ... and stoole roome in the house [inside toilet?] brew house and cellars. Large outhouses for wood coals poltrey woodes etc.’ Boston Manor Park 119 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 ‘A large yard dovecoate, 3 coachhouses, a large barne (4 baies) 3 stables a straw loft and foure granarys and other conviniences walled in computed to stand on 6 acres. And also a back or kennell yard a cart house and a large yard and watering place for cattell in common with the ten[an]t who rents the farme called Boston Farme; and a lumber house for posts etc.’ ‘And also 2 courts on the front a small greene house or garden. Gardens orchards walls walks a stew pond and five fish ponds well stocked and paled in (5 acres).’ ‘And also plantations and nurserys and walks with a small orchard and kitchin gardens and a grove divided into four parts bounded first by the River Brent and paled in on the west and north ... Two closes of pastures contiguous to the garden and grove; ... fenced wooded and wattered, very handy for the house, planted with fuittes and walnuts of 6½ acres and called the old orchard and new wood closes.’ (LMA, ACC1360/444, pp104-5) 1722 William Butler’s detailed survey of Boston Manor is considered by Christopher Clitherow to be out of date that he copies it, with the addition of the costs of letting and mowing each pasture. Among area names are ‘closes’ and ‘meads’ including those deriving from their proximity to the caput, or manorial centre, including Ham or Home Mead, Old Orchard, Home Wood, as well as Boston House gardens, wilderness and walks, fishponds and ‘Gospel oak,’ (the parish boundary tree under which religious services were held - see entry for 1920). There is also a record of the removal of fences and amalgamation of fields. ‘Broomsfeild [sic] to w[hi]ch is added now a lane ... the fence w[hi]ch went where old trees are left being stackt up.’; a piece of ground is taken out of Paine’s Farm and made a nursery; ‘minigrove Pightle [field name] planted 1719 with apple trees;’ ‘Pightle next the house planted fruit trees 1716.’ This house last referred to may not be Boston House, but Broomfield. A ‘pightle’ is a small field, paddock or enclosure, a dialect word found elsewhere in Middlesex. (LMA, ACC1360/240; C Hammond, Chiswick Lib, pers comm) 1727 Christopher Clitherow dies. (McNamara 1998, 15) 1730 Jan 30 – James Clitherow II’s father-in-law, Leonard Gale, a Sussex MP and ironmaster, wrote: ‘My daughter Philippa, ‘an ornament to her sex, her parents and the family she is grafted in,’ was married January 21, 1730, to James Clitherow, Esq, she being in the 21st year of her age, and he about 37. I gave her £8,000 to her portion, and she has £1200 per annum settled upon her and her heirs, of which £600 per annum is for her jointure. All our relatives … were at the wedding … she went home to Brentford … and Tim Nightingale, who has lived with us near twelve years, went with her for her maid.’ (Anon, ‘Sussex Ironmasters,’ May 27 Issue, All the Year Round Vol XI (1864), p354) 1731 James Clitherow III born. (McNamara 1998, 15) 1741-45 John Rocque, ‘Environs of London’ map shows a compact layout between Boston Lane and the river with the house and outbuildings forming a courtyard adjoining the road and open lawn and wood to the south divided by an axial clearing. Ponds to the north in two rectilinear parts and whole area enclosed by boundary tree rows. Fields to the east and west with a roadside avenue to north-west; to the east most of the land between the lane and ‘Wind mill’ (road) is occupied by small divisions indicating intensive horticultural production. (Appendix 1.02) At ‘Sion’ to the south, an elaborate parterre, yards for produce, formal gardens and avenue approaches are shown, in the style of the times. John Rocque was a surveyor and mapmaker, who also worked as an engraver and map-seller. He was involved in some way with gardening as a young man, together with his brother Bartholomew, and produced plans for parterres and engraved plans of the gardens at several prominent sites. Rocque is now mainly remembered for his map of London, begun in 1737 and published in 24 printed sheets in 1747, by far the most detailed map of London published up to that time, and remains an important historical resource. 1752 James Clitherow II dies. (McNamara 1998, 15) 1754 May 31 - As a footnote to his gardening accounts, Clitherow backdated an entry to 1754. The rest of the expenses date from after his marriage, so the sowing of the trees, when he had not yet got children, must have had some strong significance for him – planning for his descendants. ‘NB 31 May 1754 I sow[e] d the seeds that produc[e]d the cedar I now have & in 1782 I cut down two & 120 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 saw[e]d them into boards & made several boxes, some of the center boards from 13 to 15 in wide.’ (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 127) 1757 Jan - ‘A Book in which every article of my own private or family & house expenses are posted ... beginning January 1757 when I married & began housekeeping.’ James Clitherow III’s account book starts with these words, and he keeps it for the rest of his life, until 1805. ‘I divide my expenses into ... in all twelve [heads] the 9th Expenses of my stables, deducting the profits of the land in hand ... 10th expence of my garden ... 11th article workmen in improvements, farming etc.’ (LMA, ACC1360/483, flyleaf, fols 2-3) 1758 ‘A Plan of certain Lands in the Parish of Eling [sic] in Middx formerly part of Windmill Field belonging to James Clitherow Esq and Others, 1758.’ This map shows the north-eastern side of Boston Lane, which itself is a tree-lined drive or ride. Boston House yard and stables only appear at the southern margin, but the fish pond on the north side of Boston Lane, and three more beside the stables are shown, along with a polygonal semi-walled court or office-yard entered from Boston Lane. One placename derivation is given, to a field near the house entrance: ‘called the Folly because as Mr Clark says, it was the first piece enclos[e]d and hedged and ditched all round.’ (LMA, ACC1360/292/1, Appendix 1.03) 1758 Jan 31 - James Clitherow III summarizes, and posts an abstract of, each area of expenditure for each year. There are entries in this chronology for every 10th year’s totals. For the first year of his married household, from 31 Jan 1757-8, his ‘outdoor’ expenses are: stables, £144/19/5½d; garden, £90/-/-; workmen and improvements, £10/19/7d. (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 4) 1758 Jan 31 - ‘Pd Cheney, as by agreement a years [sic] salary for keeping it and finding all tools seeds etc to Xms 1757 - £90.’ Thus Clitherow’s first year of detailed gardening expenses begins, with what appears to be the gardener’s salary. (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 120) 1758 June 2 - James Clitherow III paid a mole catcher ‘in grounds,’ this being a regular appearance in his household account book, under the ‘meat’ section – ‘Bills for hog meat, cows etc,’ where he also enters the costs of livestock he buys at Brentford fair, animal feed, taxes on his pigeons, etc. (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 20) 1759 Arthur Devis paints Mr and Mrs Clitherow in their garden, on the south bank of the Brent, with a long-range vista to the house, which sits at the end of a ride cutting through the trees. It is described thus before its auction: ‘Mrs Clitherow in a blue dress is seated under a tree playing a lute, the Colonel in plum-coloured suit standing by her side … 36 in by 43 in.’ This picture, once attributed to Zoffany, realized £472/10/- when it was sold in 1922. It is now only known from the photograph in the Knight, Frank, Rutley sales catalogue, but a 1987 reference lists it as being in a ‘Private Collection, London.’ (Scotsman, 5/7/1922, p10; Knight, Frank, Rutley, Contents of the Mansion Boston House, 4 July 1922, Auction Catalogue, p7, Item 25, and illus facing p7, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln; Leppert, R and McClary, S 1987 Music and Society: the Politics of Composition ... (repr 1996), Fig 6, p81, Colonel and Mrs Clitherow) 1759 Jan 6 - Estate and farm improvement, labourers’ accounts – ‘Pd as by day book workmen this year cutting willows, felling trees, pulling down walls.’ (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 130) 1759 Jan 6 - Estate and farm improvement, labourers’ accounts – for his third year’s accounts, Clitherow has not broken these down by date. ‘Repairing and widening the bank of the river £12/2/9d; Clipping hedges; opening drains ... sundry days work, great park, lopping willows by Brentside, cleaning ash nursery by do [Brentside]; Pd for a punt usefull in cleaning the river, £3/9/-.’ (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 130) 1759 Jan 15 - Clitherow III has a separate hedging account, from which he also pays ‘fewell’ (ie wood and coal) and ‘faggoting.’ This day he pays the hedger’s annual bill, and for ‘part of day lopping willows and grubbing ashes,’ which cost £18/10/8d. (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 20) 1759 June 2 - The glazier is paid for the garden account, for ‘mend’[ing] something unspecified, £1/2/. A few months later he also pays the ironmonger’s bill for garden tools, £3/1/4. (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 120) 1760 April 21 - 140 yards of rope fencing is purchased, and then tarred to preserve it. (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 120) Boston Manor Park 121 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 1760 Aug 21 - The plumber is paid for mending glasses in the garden, and the painter for painting new frames in December, although the carpenter’s bills for the same frames arrives later. (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 120) 1761 From his gardening accounts this year, Clitherow pays for more tarred rope fencing, for mending melon frames, and for buying trees and plants although the varieties are not specified, from ‘Padmore,’ [a local nursery]. (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 121) 1762 June 5 - Clitherow pays for ‘a tarpaulin for a hay rick,’ as well as for mowing and haymaking, all part of his stable expenses, making hurdles, buying oats, and coach and chaise costs. (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 99) 1762 Nov 9 - Clitherow pays for ‘hire of horses at plough and mud cart,’ as well as for a recurring entry, ‘standing for coach on Sundays at the Pigeons,’ on 28 Dec, which may be the inn at Brentford, or something actually to do with pigeons. (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 100) 1763 In the 7th year of his upkeep of Boston gardens, Clitherow pays the glazier (though some years it is the plumber) for ‘the frames,’ as well as Padmore, presumably the nurseryman, for ‘fruit trees and shrubs,’ which only cost £2/10/1d. (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 121) 1763 Jan 5 - Estate and farm improvement, labourers’ accounts – ‘Pd sundrys work viz: at the cascade and in the river £4/13/6d; men mudding ponds £4/13/-.’ In the general undated 1763 accounts, ‘cleaning ditches, dunging fields, moving rubbish in y[ar]d - £31/17/7.’ (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 131) 1763 Sept 24 - An account book entry about the uses of the ponds: ‘Pd labourers mudding middle pond us’d for manure of the meadows ... £10/10/-.’ This is entered from the stable account, where he also put the costs of growing, buying or transporting feed for all the horses, and hiring mules. (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 100) 1764 In his general estate and farm improvement and labour costs account, Clitherow records ‘Pd making new hedge and ditch by the kitchen garden where enlarge[e] d - £3/2/6d.’ (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 131) 1764 Jan 28 - Clitherow pays for the ‘hire of teams to bring home [fire] wood,’ and most Januarys he pays for men to ‘cleave wood.’ In Jan 1763, he notes ‘a large stock of wood now laid in.’ (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 20) 1765 In his general estate and farm improvement and labour costs account, Clitherow records ‘Work in & ab[ou]t the lawn in front levelling etc at cascades besides 12:8:2 charged to repairs - £4/2/10d. Common work, as dung cart, clip hedges, etc - £18/7/2.’ (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 131) 1766 James Clitherow IV (1766-1841) born. (McNamara, 1998) 1766 In his general, and undifferentiated account for improvements and ‘works’ carried out on his estate and farms, Clitherow writes: ‘Pd sundrys this year: clipping hedges, levelling the ground in the wood where grub[be]d, levelling the yard where old buildings were pull[e]d down, etc etc - £27/14/9.’ (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 132) 1766 Jan 2 - Garden bill this day for tools from Brice, Padmore for young fruit trees, and what is probably the first entry for a purchase from the long-lasting Ronalds nursery, ‘for seeds etc.’ There is also payment for ‘carriage for mold and turf.’ (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 122) 1766 Jan 31 - James Clitherow III summarizes, and posts an abstract of each area of expenditure for each year. There are entries in this chronology for every 10th year’s totals. For the 10th year, from 31 Jan 1766-7, his ‘outdoor’ expenses are: stables, £295/17/3; garden, £84/14/0½d; workmen and improvements, £27/14/9d. (LMA, ACC360/483, fol 61) 1767 In his general and summarized account of improvements carried out on his estate and farms, kept separate from his garden accounts, Clitherow says ‘Sundrys this year, clipping hedges, dunging, and other work in fields, levelling little mount, levelling the wood and slopes by River side, etc etc £51/17/3.’ (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 132) 1767 Jan 6 - The garden accounts as usual include the annual bill for the glazier and carpenter fixing frames, but also Ronalds for seeds, mats and Padmore for plants and trees. (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 122) 1768 June 27 - ‘For 4 painted plates with my name to fix on carts according to Act of Parliament,’ in Clitherow’s stable accounts. The same day he ‘paid mowing 122 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 20½ acres this year at 2:6:9 and haymaking and thatching rick ... labourers binding hay.’ Despite this being for equine consumption, he still has to pay the Hanwell hay tithe on the hay, which also comes from his stable expenses. (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 104) 1768 Aug 12 - ‘Paid for some cucumber frames and glasses from New Grove,’ is noted by Clitherow among the gardening expenses. (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 123) 1768 Dec 31 - In his general and summarized account of improvements carried out on his estate and farms, kept separate from his garden accounts, Clitherow says ‘Sundrys as repair cascade, clip hedges, make wood walk, clear ditches, etc, drains & dung cart, etc, £43/14/11d.’ (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 132) 1769 Dec 9 - ‘Paid Hunt’s bill for fruit trees for new garden.’ On the 14 Dec, ‘6 doz hurdles’ are purchased for the new garden. From the start of 1769 onwards, all seeds seem to be purchased from the Ronalds nursery, and Padmore ceases to appear after early 1768. (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 123) 1770 or earlier A plan of Boston Manor on squared paper, probably by Joshua Rhodes. This plan shows the western fish ponds as utilitarian rectangles, no wooded or wilderness plantation to the south of the house, and no summerhouse beside the Brent. The connection of this plan (ACC1360/297, Appendix 1.06) to the related item, (ACC1360/296, Appendix 1.04, 1.05), would seem to be that first plan is an accurate record of the landscape the surveyor actually saw, and drew on a working plan covered in notes about acreages, crops and land tenures. The more highly finished plan ACC1360/296, which shows wooded walks and what might be regarded as an ‘idealized’ or ‘artistic’ landscape, designed to look natural, is probably Rhodes’s proposal for improving Clitherow’s grounds in the current taste. On the Rhodes plan of Boston Manor (ACC1360/296, Appendix 1.04, 1.05) there seem to be fewer service buildings and courtyard screen walls than are shown in the drainage sketches of 1777-86, possibly dating their construction to c1771-77. The grounds surrounding the house look very bare, and plainly laid out, and the fields on the north side of Boston Lane have been amalgamated into two large holdings since 1758. The factual status of this plan as either an actual record, or an ideal proposal is unclear – the two western fishponds are shown as one lake, but in a plan clearly marked ‘as in the year 1782’ in Clitherow III’s writing, the fishponds are still separate. It appears from other maps that the alteration was not carried out until two decades later, although an entry in the accounts suggests 1774 The plan of 1770 (ACC1360/296) has a separate index (ACC1360/241), written by Rhodes, and later annotated by J Clitherow III in 1790-94. On the north side of Boston Lane in 1770, he owns a farm and ‘The Strawberry Ground, digging for brick earth.’ Between the Lane and Brent, he has a gravel pit, Walnut Tree Field, the ‘Great Meadow,’ formerly four separate fields (23 acres), the greenhouse, Boston House with its courtyard, the pleasure garden (8 acres), a summer house and cascade, and ‘The Lawn’ at 17 acres. His kitchen garden is over an acre in size, and he has increased the size of his gardens by 12 acres by enclosing more ‘closes’. There is also an ozier bed on the south bank of the river. Rhodes notes that the river had supposedly changed its original course, which he marks with a dotted line. There are also alternative schemes of planting and trees overlaid in pencil to the east of the house. Gospel Oak is shown in Boston Lane, between fields ‘20’ and ‘29’ where the railway station now stands. 1770 ‘Brentford is situated in a delightful country. The duke of Northumberland has there a palace and gardens... The Earl of Holdernesse, who joins to English solidity all the politeness of French behaviour; and some other noblemen have their country seats in this neighbourhood, where art can scarce make any addition to nature.’ By a ‘French Gentleman resident here in 1770.’ (Journal of Horticulture Vol 6, New Ser (1864), p17) 1770 Jan 7 - Garden bills - ‘Tunstall cooper new tub by pump ... painter paint orange tubs.’ (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 123) 1771 In his annual brief summary of expenditure on improvements, labourers and earth moving (general groundworks), Clitherow writes, ‘Pd sundrys as by weekly work acc[ou]t book, clip hedges, weed quicks, clear river & sundry odd works particularly new work in the garden & make fence & clearing brush near 50 L [=livres =£] of it - £68/19/5.’ These accounts are separate from the general running expenses for the garden. (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 133) Boston Manor Park 123 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 1772 In his capital expenditure accounts, which include farm and estate improvements, but not the day to day running of the garden, Clitherow writes ‘Pd sundrys in the year 1772, chiefly going on w[i]th alterations in Boston Gardens, which I therefore add to the article of repairs or 100 L [£] & only charged for clipping hedges and some little odd jobs £100.’ (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 133) 1772 Jan 8 - Garden accounts ‘Wharfage for a freight of sea sand, 4/-.’ Four days later, the freight of the sand [to Boston House] is £2/2/-. (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 124) 1773 Jan 5 - Garden accounts. ‘Hunt [seedsman] of Putney a bill for fruit trees £1/8/6d.’ (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 124) 1773 July 16 - Garden accounts - ‘Horse boots to rowl [ie roll ground] with £1.’ (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 124) 1774 In his account for capital expenditure on groundworks and improvements on his estate, Clitherow enters for this year ‘whereof in new work in garden carr[ied] to repair acct £80/0/-.’ Later, in December this year he adds ‘Pd sundrys finishing pond, etc £74/2/7½d.’ And also ‘whereof compleating pond etc as above ab[ou]t £60/0/0,’ (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 133). Despite the obscurity of what waterworks were constructed and when, and the confusingly undated maps, this may be the construction of the present ornamental pond out of the two medieval fishponds left over from the grange or manor which belonged to the priory of St Helen. 1774 Jan 11 - Garden accounts: ‘Team [of horses] work gravel for walks £3.’ (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 124) 1775 Dec 30 - Garden accounts: ‘Team [of horses] bring sand for walks etc £1/5/-.’ (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 125) 1777 ‘An Actual Survey and Plan of the processional boundaries of the Parish of Ealing in the County of Middlesex and Diocese of London, Taken in 1777’, surveyed and drawn by A Bassett, Hammersmith (Appendix 1.07) – shows only an outline of the the features of Boston House, with the house block, stables at right angle to the north, and a pond north of that, and another small pond near the road, with a few trees shown symbolically. The former ponds are shown as remodelled into one organic lake. As this is an official, printed map and intended as a record, it is unlikely to show a putative or potential future plan, but the water layout as it existed at the time. However, in a plan of 1782 (see entry for 1782, about the sketches LMA, ACC1360/292/2 and /3), with a legend or label implying that the plan shows the state of affairs in 1782, the large pond is still shown as two separate fishponds. The exact sequence of development of the ponds obviously needs to be resolved. (LMA, ACC1360/298) 1777 Drain built in service quarters of house – 11 feet of new pipe leading over the wall from the great main drain to the brew house, with 8 feet of new pipe from the wall [or well? – illegible] to the layer first from top of water in well to near the wall. Noted on plan (LMA, ACC1360/292B). The pipe from the well to the engine in the water house, and a pipe running diagonally from the brewhouse copper were also installed. (LMA, ACC1360/294/2A). 1777 Jan 31 - James Clitherow III summarizes, and posts an abstract of each area of expenditure for each year. There are entries in this chronology for every 10th year’s totals. For the 20th year, from 31 Jan 1777-8, his ‘outdoor’ expenses are: stables, £281/12/4d; garden, £94/6/2d; workmen and improvements, £29/5/1½d. (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 8) 1779 Jan 4 - Garden accounts – ‘Pd day labour as pr book including a bill for nails, shreds etc ... Pd to farm teamwork bring in sand.’ (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 126) 1779 Apr 24 - Garden accounts – this year has an uncharacteristically high labour bill. ‘Pd 16 w[ee]ks day labour to this day - £25/9/2d.’ Although the layout of the page is not quite as clear as it usually is in his accounts, Clitherow seems to be employing quantities of temporary labour over the next few months, including 12 weeks to July 17, and further periods of 12 and 6 weeks until the end of the year. The wage bills only stop in Jan 1780, when the last one is for 6 weeks day labourers’ wages. He doesn’t say if they were digging the lake out of the two old fishponds, although that must be a possibility, as the sequence of development of the water features is unclear (see entries for 1777, 1782 and 1790s). (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 126) 1779 Sept - The map (LMA, ACC1360/294/2BA), a continuation of (ACC1360/294/2B) shows that extensive pipework was installed in and around the brewhouse, leading to coppers and tuns with stopcocks, in this month. Parts were renewed 124 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 in 1786, including the pipe that took the beer to the cellar of the house. The ancillary buildings include an ash hole cum coach-house, with a pigeon loft over, two dairies, a barn or workhouse, and wood and chicken stores. Running south (downhill) from the house is one pipe labelled ‘main drain that vents itself in the woods.’ This plumbing was apparently not updated until the 20th century. See also entry for 1915, about modern plumbing, and 1786 and 1788 about further repairs to this old system. 1780 Jan 1- Clitherow, in household running costs, lists a rather endearing entry: ‘Pictureframes for my girls drawings £1/18/6d.’ He had six daughters, as well as one son, James IV. (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 172) 1782 General John Clitherow born. (McNamara 1998) 1782 Clitherow makes boxes out of two cedars that he sowed before he married, and is obviously proud of the size the trees have attained in a relatively short time. ‘NB 31 May 1754 I sow[e]d the seeds that produc[e]d the cedar I now have & in 1782 I cut down two & saw[e]d them into boards & made several boxes, some of the center boards from 13 to 15 in wide.’ (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 127) 1782 A preliminary sketch of the immediate policies of the house dated 1782 (ACC1360/292/3A), is used as the basis for a new, simplified garden layout that proposed combining the two southern rectangular fishponds into one rounded, more ‘naturalistic’ looking lake – while keeping the other two ponds little altered (ACC1360/292/3B). The formal lawns and planting would be replaced by larger open spaces, curving walks and seemingly, fewer trees. On a third sheet, Hangman’s Meadow and Park Field beside the river are shown with various possible meandering paths, and a summerhouse (ACC1360/292/3B). See also 1777 printed plan of lake (LMA, ACC1360/298) which directly contradicts the 1782 plans. (Appendix 1.08, 1.09) 1783 July 25 - In his general summary of estate and farm improvements and new building for the year, Clitherow’s accounts read ‘Pd sundries cascade mend & various other matters, £35/16/3½; Pd mend & new paint the boat & the punt - £5/4/6d.’ (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 135) 1785 Jan 3 - In his annual summary of estate capital expenditure, rather than garden running costs, Clitherow writes ‘Day labour sundries, mud ponds & alteration by mount etc drains £41/18/7½d.’ (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 136) 1785 June 4 - Gardening accounts: ‘Pd repairing water pipes - £1/12/0.’ There are sketch maps of various external and subterranean pipes from around this period – see entries for 1779, 1786 and 1788. (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 128) 1786 Between this date and c1790s, there seems to have been a large reorganisation of the drainage pipes and water sources available to the household staff. A heavily-annotated sketch is made of various drains, wells and pipes conveying water to and from Boston House office court. Although the distinction between ‘walls’ and ‘wells’ is not easy to read, the bake, wash and coal houses are shown, with an internal water closet in the scullery, and a new pump well in an exterior wall. Various drains are dated to 1786, including one laid on tiles, NE of the wash house. Two unusual aspects are what appears to be a pipe ‘leading from the engine water for to supply the leather pipes in case of fire,’ and a series of stone-capped inspection hatches, at ‘equal distances of 10ft between each for cleansing it.’ This had obviously been planned with much forethought, and there was some sort of pumping engine and water supply available for emergencies – it was possibly to serve this purpose that the old medieval fishponds might have been retained so close to the house, despite being rectilinear and not obviously decorative on the contemporary plans (ACC1360/294/2B). The related map, (ACC1360/294/2A), showing the ancillary and outbuildings further west and north, labels the ‘water house’ with a pipe leading from the well to the engine, and the ‘water pipe of the engine.’ On 13 Sept 1770, James Clitherow III paid for repairing ‘leather pipes of fire engine,’ in his account book (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 17). See also entries for 1915, for modern system installation, and 1779, 1788 for further repairs to this old system. 1786 Jan 6 - In his general household running costs, Clitherow III includes a curious item which suggests that he has been burgled, and is offering a reward for information leading to a conviction, or recovery of his goods. ‘Norbury print & dispense hand bills on house being broken open -£15/-/-.’ The next entry may, or may not, confirm this hypothesis … ‘Jan 10 – Pd for a blunder buss £1/5/-.’ (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 177) Boston Manor Park 125 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 1786 Jan 11 - Gardening accounts – ‘Pd Wilkins painter new melon frames 9/-, Batt glazier, do, £3/13/-, Winkworth carpenter do, £4/1/-.’ (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 128) 1786 Feb 5 - In his household accounts, Clitherow says: ‘Pd Morris for 2 hives of bees - £1/11/6d.’ (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 178) 1786 Sept 23 - Garden accounts: ‘Pd mending boats £2/14/-.’ (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 128) 1787 Jan 31 - James Clitherow III summarizes, and posts an abstract of each area of expenditure for each year. There are entries in this chronology for every 10th year’s totals. For the 30th year, from 31 Jan 1786-7, his ‘outdoor’ expenses are: stables, £216/6/0d; garden, £110/5/4d; workmen and improvements, £20/10/4½d. (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 301) 1787 July 20 - ‘Married, Wednesday, William Salkeld, Esq of Fifehead, in Dorsetshire, to Miss Clitherow, eldest daughter of James Clitherow, Esq, of Boston-house, in Middlesex.’ (Times, 20/7/1787, p3) 1788 Jan 7 - Garden accounts: ‘P[ai]d Greenwood mend waterpipes ... p[ai]d for a p[ai]r oars.’ See also 1786, 1785 and 1779 for waterpipe entries. In 1789, he pays for ‘painting boat.’ (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 129) 1790 or thereabouts - Plan tentatively dated to ‘c1790?’ by LMA, showing the house and gardens. The fishponds continue to be confusing – here, as in the map marked ‘1782,’ they are two separate rectangular tanks. There is no plantation between the house and the river, just a linear walk leading straight to the water – unless the plantation is not shown because the plan is unfinished, or it was newly planted. The details are all in pencil and there is no legend, so it may be just a rough draft for later working up. A suite of curvilinear wrought iron gates are shown at the eastern side of the garden. (LMA, ACC1360/299, Appendix 1.10, 1.11) 1790 Surveys made by A Bassett of the nearby estate of Little Boston, with a lake and rectilinear fields replaced with sketched-in curved hedgerows and shrubs, and irregular clumps of trees; and the nearby estate of Little Ealing, which bordered on Clitherow land. (LMA, ACC1360/293) 1790-94 James Clitherow III annotates a fair copy of a list of the constituent parts of his estate, adding notes on the canal, c1790-4. The original list was an index to a map (the map is ACC1360/296, dated 1770). The writing differs, so the original list of 1770 will be in the surveyor, Joshua Rhodes’s hand. Clitherow notes that of Boston’s 245 acres, he occupies 34 for his own use. See also entry for 1770 April for discussion of the map. (LMA, ACC1360/241) 1790 Jan 31 - In his abstract of accounts for 31 Jan, 1789 to 31 Jan, 1790, under ‘real estate’ account, Clitherow records ‘Extra Profits by timber etc ... £43/19/8d.’ (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 482) 1792 July 5 - In his accounts for the 36th year of running and stocking of the gardens, Clitherow writes ‘Shoes for horse to roll walks £1/10/0.’ (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 240) 1793 Jan 7 - For the running of the gardens Clitherow puts down in his accounts, ‘P[ai] d Ronalds seeds £5/2/3 ... P[ai]d Burgess p[ai]d for mend[in]g boats £1/0/9d.’ (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 240) 1793 July 29 - James Clitherow III notes that the canal company began work on his estate on this day. (LMA, ACC1360/241) 1794 ‘Print dated 1794 no door where main entrance is today.’ (McNamara 1998, 9) 1794 Printed plan of ‘lands in ... New Brentford ... belonging to Jas Clitherow Esq through which the Grand Junction Canal passes.’ Although this is dated c1793 by LMA, as the canal digging did not start until July 1793, by Clitherow’s own account, it would seem more likely that a survey and preparation of a plan would be done slightly later. Clitherow’s summer house is shown, but again, not the plantation of trees that Rhodes had suggested ought to surround it (see entries for 1770). 1794 Jan 31 - The dates of the combination of the two large fishponds into the ornamental lake are unclear; if it was dug by the workmen who were on site employed by the Canal Co, then there is an item of expenditure in the account books that might cover this. Rather than contracting his own workmen, it may have been easier for Clitherow to organise a deal to subcontract the resident workforce and their equipment for his own purposes. The advantage of using 126 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 the canal company’s navvies, expert in creating artificial watercourses and hydraulic engineering, to create the lake are clearly evident and could be a possible scenario for its formation. In his ‘improvements’ accounts, which include paying workmen working on the farm and estate, the expenses are generally low. In 1791-2, he spends £13/13/4; in 1792-3, he spends £34/18/0. However, the costs spike sharply in 1793-4, when he suddenly expends £54/17/6½d. The following year, the costs drop again to £32/15/4 in 1795-5. Indeed, his costs from Jan 1793-4 are the most he spends on his estate in over 20 years. This may be the time when the pond was created, but further work on the accounts would possibly clarify this. (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 302) 1794 May 22 - Conveyance between James Clitherow and Grand Junction Canal Company, whereby they purchase several parts of land from him, totalling 2 acres 3 roods, to make the canal and towing path. A plan shows that the canal will form what was later called ‘Botany Bay’ by cutting across a meander of the river. (Plan no 1, British Waterways Archives copies, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln; ACC1360/301; Appendix 1.13) 1794 Dec - James Clitherow III receives compensation of £7/7/6d for damage inflicted on Home Mead by the Canal Company, and lists ‘all land cut off from my estate’ by them. He differs from the company in how much land they have damaged – they say 2 acres, 3 roods, 24 poles; he says 3:1:24, including ‘Tumbling Bay,’ in the Great Meadow. Clitherow lists an envious-sounding comparison with how much more money his neighbour has received. (LMA, ACC1360/241) 1795 Nov 27 - James Clitherow and others being the Trustees of the Poor of the Chapelry of West Brentford, and others entitled to pasture animals on the waste or commons of the Manor of Brentford, sold to the Canal Company for £60, ground of 2 roods 32 perches, part of the waste called Ham Common, as authorized by the Act of Parliament for making the canal. Another sharp meander of the river was to be cut off by the canal, and either made into an island or transferred to become part of the southern bank. (Plan no 2, British Waterways Archives copies, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 1796 Boston Manor House coloured engraving on cover of McNamara 1998; ‘picture dated two years later [ie 1796] ... top of doorway is visible over the wall.’ (McNamara 1998, 9) 1796 May 6 Conveyance, or sale, of land by James Clitherow to Grand Junction Canal Company, comprising 5 parcels of land along the line of the new canal and the banks of the river Brent. The area is 1 rood and 35 perches, some of which Clitherow had only lately exchanged with the Duke of Northumberland, his neighbour on the south bank of the Brent, by a process of ‘excambion’ or swapping land to rationalize boundaries. (Plan no 4, British Waterways Archives copies, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 1797 Jan 31 - James Clitherow III summarizes, and posts an abstract of each area of expenditure for each year. There are entries in this chronology for every 10th year’s totals. For the 40th year, from 31 Jan 1796-7, his ‘outdoor’ expenses are: stables, £269/3/0½d; garden, £118/1/8½d; workmen and improvements, £30/1/8½d. (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 303) 1798 June - In Clitherow’s summary accounts for the general running costs of his gardens, his outlay for this year is: June 29 Hierons [tenant farmer] dung ... June 30 P[ai]d p[ar]t of Lane [black]smith bill ... Sept 19 P[ai]d Piper of Hope Wharf Ham[mersmi]th a punt ... Dec 29 P[ai]d Ronalds seeds man.’ (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 242) 1799 In his garden’s ongoing running expenses, separate from his other accounts, Clitherow says: ‘P[ai]d Hierons hot bed dung ... Pd fitting up a drag net ... Pd Bat mend glass in frames ...’ He would seem to be fishing somewhere, unless he is clearing water of debris. (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 242) 1799 July 1 - In his annual summary of capital expenditure on estate and grounds improvements, distinct from garden running costs, Clitherow writes ‘Pd Hierons [tenant farmer] team work at pond £3/16/6d.’ On 3 Jan 1800, referring to work done the previous calendar year, he adds ‘Pd Heiron’s [tenant farmer’s] team work at pond £1/19/2d.’ This is the first reference to ‘the pond’ rather than the river, or fishpond. (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 139) 1800 or thereabouts – Plan of Boston Manor, so dated by LMA, showing course of canalized river, and the ornamental lake as it survives today. However, it appears Boston Manor Park 127 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 that the fishpond to the south of Boston Lane, previously always parallel with the road, has now divided into two, one large pond and a smaller one to the east. Some of the illustrative miniatures are fanciful – the round temple shown as a garden feature does not resemble the square summer house shown on the other plans that mention it. The surveyors have been wrongly catalogued as ‘J and J Brown,’ when it actually reads ‘T and J Brown.’ (LMA, ACC1360/304, Appendix 1.14, 1.15) 1800 Aug 11 - In his ongoing garden expenses, which he separated from his capital improvements account, Clitherow records: ‘Pd Newell Potatoes planted in old pond, 4 baskets, but planted 3½ produced £1/4/0.’ (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 242) 1801 Jan 5 - In his running garden accounts, Clitherow mentions for the first time a gardener by name and occupation. ‘Pd Wm Bigby Gardener a pt wages to Xmas [?] £6/5/- ... Pd Bowden ozier plants £1/10/-.’ (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 242) 1802 Jan 12 - Clitherow reveals how much he pays his gardener each year. In his garden accounts, ‘Bigby a years wates to Christm[a]s - £25.’ (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 243) 1805 Jan 31 - James Clitherow III summarizes, and posts an abstract of each area of expenditure for each year. There are entries in this chronology for every 10th year’s totals. For the 48th and last year, from 31 Jan 1804-5, his ‘outdoor’ expenses are: stables, £332/4/1d; garden, £82/15/4¾d; workmen and improvements, £36/1/5d. (LMA, ACC1360/483, fol 305) 1810-19 (approx) Rough, crudely-drawn sketch of land round Boston House and Lane, dated by LMA to ‘181[?]’ probably further dateable if the overlaps in tenure of the various tenants mentioned are known. Legend: ‘Col Clitherow’s land let to Mr John Hierons.’ Shows the island in river as ‘Botany Bay,’ and also ‘Park Field’ and ‘Hangmans Meadow,’ later to become the cricket ground. No scale, shows acreages of larger fields, and pencil annotations (such as ‘orchard’ east of Boston Farm, and ‘The Asps’ in a field). (LMA, ACC1360/308, Appendix 1.16) 1811 ‘The manor house is pleasantly situated on a rising ground about three quarters of a mile to the north of the town ... Such has been the fluctuating state of property in the county of Middlesex, that this family is to be mentioned as one of a very few who have been resident upon the same estate for more than a century.’ (Lyson, D 1811 The Environs of London, Vol II, Pt I, County of Middlesex, p30 1816 ‘Boston-house, the manorial residence of Colonel Clitherow, is distant about one mile from the town of Brentford, towards the north, and is a substantial family seat ... The grounds are ornamental, and well shaded with wood. In the plantations are some cedars of considerable beauty. On the same side of Brentford are several respectable , of less consideration than the above, but more agreeably situated than would be supposed probable by the person who forms an opinion of this neighbourhood from a cursory notice of the dirty and tumultuous main street of the town ... The bank on which the town is placed inclines, in a pleasing slope, towards the , and might have been rendered picturesque and attractive with only few touches of art, under more favourable circumstances of building and population.’ (Brewer, J N 1816 ‘London and Middlesex,’ in Brayley, E W and Britton, J ((eds), 1801-18) The Beauties of England and Wales, Vol 10, Part IV, p606) 1816 Sept 20 - A letter from the American ambassador, and future president, John Quincy Adams mentions Little Boston House, which his family is renting from the Clitherows: ‘We have had lately [September] ... but not one evening and scarcely a day in 1816, when a fire would have been superfluous ... There were several sharp frosts in July and August ... We found so much inconvenience in residing so far distant from London, while we had such frequent and indispensable calls there, that we determined, perhaps inconsiderately, to remove to town ... however ... it is scarcely possible that at double the cost we should find [a house] in London, half so agreeable or comfortable ... as this.’ (Ford, C (ed) 1913 Writings of John Quincy Adams, Vol 6, pp89-93) 1818 Dec 9 - The scandalous divorce proceedings of Lt Col John Clitherow and his wife Sarah Burton, the daughter of his commanding officer, are reported in the Times in salacious detail – but such humiliating trial transcripts were, at the time, notorious sources of entertainment at another’s expense. John, who had married in 1809 and had one son, charged his wife’s lover with ‘criminal 128 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 conversation,’ or adultery, for alientating his wife’s affections. The case opens, describing Clitherow as ‘a man robbed of the society and solace of a wife tenderly beloved … betrayed by one of his friends … the cruel destruction of his domestic happiness … under the mask … of friendship.’ The third party, Peters, was alleged to have planned to elope with Sarah while her husband was on duty, and the pair ran off to France, where she went by the name Mrs Peters. The court was told ‘Every military man absent in the service of his country, was entitled to protection from the wanton ... attacks of an adulterer.’ Among the witnesses were the Clitherows’ maids, who gave testimony about the arrangements of the sheets on the bed, gentleman callers in the morning, and being allowed to leave work unusually early. ‘Witness did not see the bed and had no means of knowing whether one or two had slept in it.’ Peters’s lawyer pointed out that Sarah had seduced Peters, and painted her as the older, more experienced woman, ‘[he] had fallen a victim to artifices ... Against his better knowledge, not convinced, but fondly overcome with female charms.’ The jury found for Lt Col Clitherow, and awarded him £3,000 in damages against Peters. ‘The court was very crowded, and the case seemed to excite great interest.’ (Times, 9/12/1818, p3) 1819 Feb 26 - The judge felt that the case against Mrs Clitherow’s seducer was ‘fully proved’ and ‘felt himself bound to pronounce for the sentence of separation.’ (Times, 26/2/1819, p4) 1819 April 27 - The private divorce bill for the Clitherows cannot be passed by Parliament, at first reading, as Mr Clitherow wanted to insert a clause preventing his wife from selling an estate inherited from her father, as it would deprive her only son of his rights in the property. This would be an unprecedented imposition on a divorce bill, as it would deprive the wife of a privilege which she held in her own right, and which was not part of her marriage contract, or under her husband’s control. The extraneous clause was eventually withdrawn. (Times, 7/4/1819, p2) 1819 Aug 4 - ‘Married, on the 3rd inst at Marylebone-church, John Stracey, Esq of Sprowston-lodge, fourth son of Sir Edward Stracey, Bart of Rackheath-hall, Norfolk, to Emma, youngest daughter of Christopher Clitherow, Esq, late of Bird’s Place, Herts.’ [By this marriage the Stracey Clitherow family eventually inherited Boston House]. (Times, 4/8/1819, p3) 1821 Rev William James Stracey Clitherow born (d1912). (McNamara 1998, 15) 1823 Sept 4 - Sale of farming stock, ‘Boston Farm, near Brentford ,’ young milk cows and calves, ‘a rick of excellent meadow hay, about 36 loads, a ditto of oats, about 80 loads of spit dung, five 6-inch wheel carts, ploughs, harrows, and various farming utensils of Mr Gladwin quitting his farm.’ (Times, 24/9/1823, p3) 1824 May 4 - Col Clitherow subscribes £5/5/- to the ‘Royal Humane Society for the Recovery of Persons Apparently Drowned or Dead ... since the establishment of this society upwards of 5,400 person have been ... rescued from apparent danger ... during the bathing and skaiting seasons.’ (Times, 4/5/1824, p2) 1824 Sept 7 - ‘Brentford Bridge ... its awkward situation and unskilful construction have long been the reproach of ... Middlesex. At length these evils are likely to be remedied by the erection of a new bridge at the expense of the county. The first stone was laid on Friday last, with the usual ceremony, by Colonel James Clitherow... [of] Boston-house. The band of ... the 7th Hussars preceded the procession ... After depositing a few coins, the first stone was laid in the usual manner ... The bridge is to be of one arch ... of ... granite ... but the approach at the eastern extremity is much obstructed by three or four mean houses ... which, by intercepting the view ... materially injure the beauty and utility of the bridge. These houses ... will be speedily removed...’ (Times, 7/9/1824, p2) 1827 Mar 6 - William Stothart, under-gardener at Chiswick, reads a paper to the London Horticultural Society, later the Royal Horticultural Society, on the forcing of rhubarb, as practised at Chiswick. This was the original site of the RHS model and experimental garden now at Wisley. Stothart ended his career as the gardener to Stracey Clitherow at Boston Manor in the 1860s. (Gardener’s Magazine, Vol II (1830), p356) 1827 Sept 10 - Before the coming of the railway, proximity to the canal and the new bridge were major selling points for Brentford properties: ‘Three plots of extremely valuable freehold ... ground adjoining the new bridge, at the western entrance of the town of Brentford ... with extensive frontages both to the street and to Boston Manor Park 129 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 the Grand Junction Canal ... superior to any [other site] for businesses requiring situations of great publicity and water carriage.’ (Times, 10/9/1827, p4) 1828 ‘Ealing Parish’ revision of map of 1777 – shows essentially the same information at Boston Manor and its vicinity as in 1777. (Appendix 1.17) 1828 J C Loudon, the famous gardening writer, notes William Stothart’s [Boston House’s future gardener] paper on ‘Observations on forcing Garden Rhubarb,’ describing him as ‘under gardener in the experimental fruit and kitchen garden department at the gardens of the Horticultural Society.’ (The Gardener, Vol 3(1828), p184) 1828 ‘Middlesex ... Villas with demesne lands and mansion residences are not very numerous ... Boston House, near Brentford; Colonel Clitherow. The grounds, umbrageous and ornamental, and noted for large cedars.’ (Loudon, J C 1828 Encyclopaedia of Gardening, 5th edn, p1065) 1830 Dec 31 - The Clitherow’s famous, and seemingly quite genuine, friendship with the Duke and Duchess of Clarence began before they became King William IV and Queen Adelaide. ‘Brighton - Their Majesties took an airing yesterday in an open carriage ... The following distinguished persons left their names at the Palace, viz ...Colonel and Mrs Clitherow...’ (Times, 31/12/1830, p2) 1831 In an article on ‘London Nurseries and Suburban Gardens,’ the author comments on Brentford, ‘The father of Mason, the author of the Essay on Design in Gardening, was a distiller in Brentford. George Mason died 15 or 20 years ago. What has become of his books? Did he leave any manuscripts? ... some person living at Brentford [must know] ... A number of modern ... cottage [gardens] ... beyond Ronald’s nursery, on the Isleworth Road ... [being] lately planted, they afford a fair specimen of ... cottage ornamental gardening ... the most showy plants ... are the almond, the Cydonia japonica ... China roses trained between the doors and windows, and vines on the upper part of the house are common ... violets, Arabis albida, daffodils, crocuses, polyanthuses ... In the hedges further on, Ficaria ... the barren strawberry ... large furze in flower. Various species of poplar ... ash and elm ... some very large old oaks, which have evidently been pollarded ... are of no value as timber.’ (Anon, Gardener’s Magazine, Vol 7 (1831), p358) 1831 Jan 3 - ‘Brighton: Their Majesties ... attended divine service this morning ... The dinner party on Friday included Lord and Lady Clinton, Count and Countess Munster, and Colonel and Mrs Clitherow.’ (Times, 3/1/1831, p2) 1833 In ‘Notes on Gardens and Country Seats,’ the author notes ‘A villa between Gunnersbury and Brentford has a kitchen garden which faces the road. The coping to the walls ... is formed by a vine trained along the upper edge of the wall [as is] recommend[ed] ... with the Ayrshire rose. Mr Ronald’s Nursery, Brentford ... Besides fruit trees, Mr Ronalds has always been celebrated for raising ... flowers ... There is here the best stock which we have ever seen of Ribes speciosum ... and abundant crops of cedars, Pinus Laricio, Pinus Cembra, and other rare and valuable pines, rising from seed ... [and] American trees and shrubs.’ The Clitherows bought plants from this nursery in both the 18th and 19th centuries. (Anon, Gardener’s Magazine, Vol 9 (1833), pp530-1) 1833 Nov 8 - At a meeting of Middlesex magistrates, Col Clitherow spoke about the County Pauper Lunatic Asylum, which was having to accommodate 260 more patients than it had been designed for. Changes were required to the rules under which people were admitted, to ease the overcrowding. (Times, 8/11/1833, p1) 1833 Nov 22- Obituary ‘Died at Brentford ... , nurseryman and seedsman, aged 74 ... well skilled in fruits, especially apples ... from the ardent admiration which we have heard Mr Ronalds express for Pain’s Hill, Esher and other fine old specimens of modern landscape gardening, we are convinced that, had he turned his attention that way, he would have displayed superior taste in laying out grounds.’ (Gardener’s Magazine Vol 10 (1834), p96) 1834 June 23 - ‘Their Majesties honoured old Boston house with their company to dinner. They came by Gunnersbury through our farm ... much more gentlemanly than through old Brentford ... We then let the boys [from the school] through the garden into the orchard by the flower garden.... it seemed as if 200 were collected. We had our haymaking the opposite side of the garden, and kept the people, hay carts etc for effect, and it was cheerful and pretty ... during that half hour the Queen walked about the garden, even down to the bottom of the wood. The haymakers cheered her ... she ... walked in the flower garden ... which gave the 130 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 natives time to get her dress by heart. The king had a slight touch of hay asthma … and ... declined going out ... When we went the sweep was full of people ... they were cheered out of the grounds.’ (Mary Clitherow, letter to Dr Nares, from ‘Royalty in the Parish,’ Home Counties Mag Vol 4 (1902), pp114-5 1835 Feb 16 - ‘Yesterday their majesties had a dinner party to which the following personages were invited: Lord and Lady Gage, Earl and Countess of Sheffield ... Colonel Clitherow ... Mr and Lady Jane Peel ... Colonel Clitherow and Sir James Whitshed had audiences of the King yesterday forenoon, at the Palace.’ (Times, 16/2/1835, p3) 1835 Nov 17 - ‘Queen Adelaide’s Fund, for the support of discharged female lunatics ... is daily receiving additions from the benevolent through the hands of Colonel Clitherow... The idea of the institution entirely originated with Her Majesty.’ (Times, 17/11/1835, p2) 1836 Mar 25 - ‘Queen Adelaide’s Fund ... for destitute ... female pauper lunatics from the Hanwell Asylum ... Her Majesty at the outset subscribed 100 guineas, and few were privy to the munificent gift, when Colonel Clitherow had an interview with the Queen ...’ (Times, 25/3/1836, p4) 1837 May 2 - Letter to the Times, from ‘A Master Mason’ in Twickenham, ‘The board of Guardians of the Brentford Union gave their chairman, Colonel Clitherow, a public dinner at the Hotel, Old Brentford ... he stated that during a long, and he trusted not useless, existence, a more sincere token of respect .. never had been paid to him ... Let me alone point out the Hanwell County Asylum ... where order and decorum (taking the place of manacles and chains) ... is surprisingly preserved, and where all are alike treated ... humane[ly]. [Clitherow] has so indefatigably worked to promote so benevolent an object ... a more useful ... refuge for diseases ... never was created than the Lunatic Asylum for ... Middlesex.’ (Times, 2/5/1837) 1837 July 7 - Col Clitherow is elected to present Queen Adelaide with an official letter of condolence from the magistrates of Middlesex, ‘in consequence of ... her affliction for the loss of her beloved consort.’ Clitherow also presented the report on the tenders for building two new wings for Hanwell Lunatic Asylum. (Times, 7/7/1837, p6) 1838 Tithe map of New Brentford – a detailed map showing all important features in the style of 1st edition OS maps, with the landscape now developed in a naturalistic style with a short curving drive to the north front of the house and paths continuing from there to the informal garden planted with broadleaved and coniferous trees, with serpentine paths. The layout on the north side of the house flows seamlessly around the east side of the building to the south lawn area, with a carriage turning area on the east, giving emphasis to the east end of the house. The lawn area is open giving way to denser tree cover with glades on the slope down to ‘The Old River Brent,’ with the new canal beyond. The old Cedar of Lebanon is not shown, suggesting that all the trees are shown symbolically rather than representing individual trees. The lake is drawn more or less in its modern shape, with dense tree planting around its north half and west side. Land to the east is annotated as ‘Park’ with a long rectangular enclosure to its north – the kitchen garden though not stated. A path leads southward from its east end and another runs close to the river. The park is shown with scattered tree to the sides; the field to the west is similarly planted. (Appendix 1.18) 1838 Oct 30 - The report of a hurricane of 29 Oct appears in the Times. ‘Towards Brentford the destruction has been more extensive [than in Acton] ... [in] the distillery yard [of Sir Felix Booth] a building with walls 40 feet high ... had but just been roofed in ... the wind ... forced off the roof ... In Boston-lane ... two very large trees in front of the residence of Colonel Clitherow, of Boston-park, were blown down, and, falling across the road, forced down a portion of the wall, occasioning for some hours considerable obstruction ... at Sion-park ... several trees have been uprooted ...’ (Times, 30/10/1838, p6) 1839 Feb 19 - At Brentford Petty Sessions, Col Clitherow, sitting as magistrate, heard a case against a fisherman from Chiswick, accused of infringing the City Aldermen’s rules for the River Thames, under an Act of George II. The court was ‘crowded to excess by fishermen and others.’ The man had been spear-fishing for eels, an offence for which he was fined 50/-. The water bailiffs produced illegal nets which had been used for catching smelt out of season, and accused the plaintiff of assaulting them with a boat hook. (Times, 19/2/1839, p7) Boston Manor Park 131 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 1841 Jan 8 - Serious flooding of the River Brent causes great destruction and loss of life on the adjoining Union Canal; frozen-in barges waiting for the ice to melt were swept away be a large wave of water that overwhelmed the locks, smashed the ice and swamped all the moored boats at the wharfside. Gawking tourists came to view ‘the scene of the late awful inundation, and ... the wrecked craft.’ Emergency accommodation was opened in the infant school for bargees’ families, all of whom had lost everything they owned. Nine Midlands barges laden with valuable cargo had vanished completely, another 20 were wrecked. Salvage teams recovered only ‘sodden and swollen’ grain. 50 canal-side cottages were flooded, and many High Street businesses, including food and hardware shops. The parish gave the poor free coal to help dry out their houses. ‘An artist has also been taking sketches of it, which ... are to be lithographed for sale.’ The number of deaths was unknown because the waters had not yet subsided. ‘Mr Charles Morris, a market gardener at Old Brentford ... was ... discover[ed] ... near his own residence in a stream communicating with the Brent ... At Hanwell, an island laid out for a garden ... has been entirely washed away by the water ...’ (Times, 9/1/1841, p3) 1841 Jan 22 - The influx of voyeurs to view the disaster scene continued: ‘Carriages filled principally with elegantly dressed ladies have been rolling into town from all parts, and numbers of the fair occupants, not satisfied with viewing ... from ... Boar’s Head-yard, have trusted ... the watermen (whose fragile barks have throughout the day been most dangerously crowded) for the sake of having a nearer view.’ The Canal Company sent relief workers, along with their clerk of works, ‘with cranes, crabs, monkeys ... for ... raising and removal of the wrecks.’ The barrier of wrecked boats would be removed in a week, to enable navigation to resume. ‘Dredgermen from Lambeth have ... been reaping ... a fee of 1s for every sack [of sunken grain] they have got up,’ but the bargemen put a stop to that by eventually fishing for their own cargo themselves. 70 canal ‘refugees’ were put up in the school, where ‘their rude manners and provincial dialect afforded much amusement to their visitors.’ A large fund has been set up for the relief of those ruined by the flood. (Times, 22/1/1841, p6) 1841 Jan 26 - Col Clitherow chaired a meeting to raise a public subscription ‘with a view to remunerating the owners of the crafts and property’ destroyed by the water. This was in addition to the local vicar’s emergency fund for the poorest survivors. (Times, 26/1/1841, p3; 29/1/1841, p2, public appeal notice) 1841 Aug 18 - Col Clitherow retired as a magistrate of Brentford Petty Sessions court, ‘the health of the venerable and gallant Colonel’ being in decline. (Times, 18/8/1841) 1841 Oct 13 - From his obituary, the late Colonel (James Clitherow IV, born 1766) seems to have been worthy, conscientious, aware of his social responsibilities and a paternalistic landlord. ‘Death - Colonel James Clitherow, for 45 years Colonel of the Westminster Militia ... expired ... yesterday ... Boston-house, in his 75th year ... He was ... vice-president of the Lay Union for the Defence of the Established Church ... [active in] the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. In politics ... a staunch Conservative ... Deputy-Lieutenant of ... Middlesex ... a magistrate at Middlesex ... and at Brentford ... [and on numerous committees such as] the National Society for the Education of the Poor ... governor of Bethlehem Hospital ... founder of the Queen Adelaide Fund for ... convalescent patients ... treasurer of Brentford ... Savings Bank, the National School of New Brentford, New Brentford Dispensary ... In private life colonel Clitherow was of most unassuming and unostentatious manners ... in New Brentford the shutters of the principal shops were closed as a mark of esteem to ... the gallant Colonel.’ (Times, 13/10/1841, p5) 1845 Oct 15 - A Public Meeting is held on 11 Oct in support of a petition by the Great Western, Brentford and Central Terminus Junction Railway Company, to establish ‘railway communication ... between Hounslow and London ... as direct as the nature of the country will permit, and follow ... the course of the old coach thoroughfare ... [such a route would be] of far greater advantage than any line crossing the river.’ It ‘is most highly calculated to promote the interests of this town.’ (Times, 15/10/1845, p11) 132 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 1846 April 4 - Urban sprawl and the beginnings of commuter-friendly dormitory suburbs are encouraged along the outward-spreading railway lines. Advertisements such as these start to appear, although proximity to the mansions of the gentry is still seen as worth noting: ‘Freehold villa residences, near Boston and Ealing Parks ... Trimmer Villas, desirably situate in Windmill-lane, the best part of Brentford, and in the immediate vicinity of Boston-park ... Lady Clitherow’s and other distinguished seats: are conveniently fitted up for small respectable families .... of the value of £120 per annum, offering an eligible opportunity to capitalists for safe investments or immediate occupation.’ (Times, 4/4/1846, p6) 1847 A series of bills left unpaid by the late Mrs Jane Clitherow (née Snow) are submitted to her executors. They include glazing to the hall door, fixing the house pump and the gutter over the laundry and repairing the tiling at the farm, along with two invoices from Ronalds’s seed merchants. The first lists purchases up until Christmas 1846 (dated retrospectively on the succeeding invoice), which include a bundle of brooms and large pots in July, a pruning knife and snowball turnip in August, and dwarf peaches and cherries in November. The gardener also buys large quantities of young trees, all 3ft high, including 40 oaks, 20 ash, 20 elms and 10 green hollies and one standard ‘cardilliac’ [catillac?] pear, again in November 1846. (LMA, ACC1360/401/32). In February 1847, the second invoice includes short top radishes, blue imperial peas, flack marrows and round spinach. Most of the entries are for kitchen garden vegetables, including kale, broccoli, endive, tomatoes and mustard (LMA, ACC1360/401/34). These are probably both pages of the same invoice, though catalogued individually. 1847 Feb 2 - Deaths, ‘On the 1st inst, at Boston-house, Mary Clitherow, sister of the late Colonel Clitherow.’ (Times, 2/2/1847, p7) 1850 ‘This beautiful estate ... is entered by a handsome lodge-gate, the piers are of brick faced with Caen stone ... The approach-road sweeps round the green lawn that is ornamented with a clump of Portugal laurels, elms, and cedars of Lebanon to the entrance portico ... On the south-west front is a polished pavement of flag-stones adorned with China, and basket and bronze vases, filled ... with brilliant geraniums ... The lawn in front is bordered by a massive wood ... one of these [cedars] measured 19ft 10ins two feet from the ground. ... a yew tree ... with its ruddy-chalice rosy-cupped seeds ... very probably the finest specimen in the country. Then a rich parterre gay with scarlet geraniums ... standard roses, etc to the [kitchen garden] iron gate ... spanned by an ivy-clad archway ... after passing the lawn beside a sunk fence planted with hollyhocks [are] the ... wild wooded banks with steep and winding moss-covered pathways leading to ... the river Brent, or to rustic seats in secluded spots ... large trees, which spread but a chequered shade ... a sunbeam to play upon the water. The path [leads to] a straight walk overarched with large elm trees ... deep imbowed shade.’ ‘An ornamental [lake], bordered by some beautiful evergreen trees ... the bridge of one arch [of trees] of a dusky colour, which gives a deeper cast of shade and an agreeable contrast to the river that sparkles through the trees ... an oak tree that we measured was 16ft 4ins in circumference, an elm tree 15ft 9ins, which is very little more than the average girth of all the old trees supposed to have been planted in the reign of Charles I.’ (Keane, W 1850 The Beauties of Middlesex ... Seats of the Nobility and Gentry, pp245-8) 1852 Obituary ‘Lieut-Gen Clitherow, K C, Oct 14, At Boston House … in his 70th year, John Clitherow, KC, Colonel of the 67th Foot … eldest son of Christopher Clitherow Esq, of Bird’s Place, in Essenden … He was appointed Ensign in the 3rd Foot Guards Dec 19, 1799 … Capt and Lt Col Oct 8, 1812 … In Dec 1809 he proceeded to the Peninsula … severely wounded in … Fuentes d’Onor … wounded at the siege of Bourgos … Lt-Gen in 1841 … command[er] of the 67th regiment … 1844.’ ‘On the death of his cousin James Clitherow, Col of the West Middlesex Militia [in] 1841 he succeeded to the representation of that ancient family – the only family … of any antiquity in Middlesex … married first, in Jan 1809, Sarah … Burton, of North Cave, Co York …had issue John Christie Clitherow … Lt Col in the Coldstream Guards, and secondly in 1825, Millicent, eldest daughter of Charles Pole of Wyck Hill House, Co Gloucester.’ (Obituary Lt Gen Clitherow KC,’ Gentlemen’s Mag Vol 39 New Ser (Feb 1853), p200) 1853 Birth of John Bourchier Stracey Clitherow (d1931). (McNamara 1998, 15) Boston Manor Park 133 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 1855 May 15 - The rather contradictory selling policy of the suburban villa builders continues – convenient for travel to work in the city, but still close to the leafy policies of the upper classes. ‘Freehold Building Ground ... near to Boston-park ... and to the Brentford Railway Station, ... forty ... plots ... beautifully situate in Boston park-road ... possessing a gravelly soil, in a most salubrious locality, and a convenient distance from the market town of Brentford ... Ealing, Kew, Richmond.’ (Times, 15/5/1855, p15) 1856 Development opportunities abound as London spreads out along the railways and other transport routes; but the canal is no longer mentioned as a nearby facility for wharfage. ‘Capital Building Land, close to Boston-park ... possessing great depth and good frontages in Boston-park and Windmill roads. Also the substantial residence ... Mercury House, with long garden and walled front.’ (Times, 17/6/1856, p15) 1859 April 15 - ‘Fire at Ealing – At an early hour yesterday morning a fire took place at Little Ealing upon the estate belonging to Colonel Clitherow, who is also the owner of Boston-house, New Brentford. The buildings ... were about 160 or 180 feet long, one belonging to Mr William Turton, market gardener, and the other occupied by the Colonel as a private residence ... the only water ... was from pumps, which yielded a miserable supply ... they were unable to [put out the fire] until a serious amount of damage was done ... cause of fire unknown. Dwelling- house, 80 feet long, burnt down, stabling destroyed, and storehouse consumed ... Colonel Clitherow[‘s] private house and the dairy all but consumed and ... the fowlhouses.’ (Times, 15/4/1856, p9) 1864 Dec 31 - ‘The walk along the canal side from Hanwell to Brentford is as pretty and pastoral an one as I know in the county; it is particularly pretty where Boston Grounds are washed by the canal.’ (W R ‘Camberwell,’ in Notes and Queries, Vol 6, 3rd Ser (1864), p644) 1865 1st edition Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 – shows the same level of detail as the 1838 map, although with individual mature trees represented in their true positions. The significant changes are at the north front of the house, where the drive is now U-shaped, probably with two gates onto the road (although the administrative boundary, that defines the map coverage, cuts off a slither of land within the park wall), and the area to the east, which has been formalised with straight paths and shrubberies. The straight path along the east side of the lawn has appeared and the area of the old cedar is included within the woodland to the south. The long walled garden is now clearly evident, with an orchard area to the south and a cluster of small buildings at the west, inside (glass-houses) and outside the garden. More formality has been introduced to the park, with an avenue along the east boundary and tree rows following the canal/river to the south. The trees in the park are clearly remaining from earlier field boundaries, given their linear arrangement. (Appendix 1.19) 1865 Jan 28 - ‘Boston House - The trees about the old mansion are chiefly elms, of a large size; many of which may be considered to have been planted in the time of Charles I.’ (Dr E F Rimbault, in Notes and Queries, Vol 7, 3rd Ser (1865), p82) 1866 Feb 20 - Advertisement ‘Cellar of wines of the late Colonel Clitherow ... by auction ... lying in the cellars of his late residence, in Brook Street; comprising 240 dozen of fine old sherry, Madeira, port, claret, barsac, heritage, burgundy, hock, champagne, brandy, rum and liqueurs.’ (Times, 20/2/1866, p16) 1866 Aug 29 Public notice inserted into the Times that Edward John Stracey Clitherow, of Boston House, was petitioning the courts to sell parts of his hereditary freehold and copyhold lands in Sussex and Surrey, as allowed under the wills of James and John Christie Clitherow. This may be an early example of the Clitherows starting to sell off, and consolidate their scattered holdings, realizing assets rather than continually buying more land. (Times, 29/8/1866, p4) 1868 Apr 9 Advertisement for James Colllier’s ‘Plain and Ornamental Garden Pottery,’ Depot South Western Station, Boston Road, Brentford; among the testimonials to the excellence of the flower pots, William Stothart appears, 40 years after his promising start as a scientific gardener; presumably nearing the end of his career, at Boston House. ‘During five years’ experience I have had in the use of your Garden Pots, I am pleased to say I have always found them to be well worthy of the high repute in which they had been held here for 6 or 7 years before I came to the place. I have used them ... both indoors and out.’ The recommendations are all from large houses in the immediate vicinity 134 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 of Collier’s pottery at Boston Manor Road, including Gunnersbury Park, The Priory at Kew and Woodlake at Hanwell. (Journal of Horticulture, Vol 14, New Ser, (1868; Vol 39, Old Ser) p568) 1869 The plant life of Boston demesne merits two passing mentions in a natural history book covering Middlesex: ‘T[rifolium] procumbens [hop trefoil clover] ... Dry waste places and roadsides; rather common ... [found in] Boston Road, Brentford ... Veronica Anagallis [Water speedwell] ... sides of streams and ditches, common ... [found in] Boston Fields, Brentford.’ (Trimen, H and Dyer, W T T 1862 Flora of Middlesex, pp82, 205-6) 1870 Aug 26 - A meeting, chaired by Colonel Stracey Clitherow, JP, is called for ‘obtaining the freedom from toll of Kew-bridge,’ as allowed by the act of 1869. ‘Unless a pressure were put on [the authorities] by the inhabitants ... their interests would be made subservient to that of the greater works ... such as the Thames Embankment and the Holborn Valley improvements.’ (Times, 26/8/1870, p7) 1874 May 9 - Thomas Pestridge’s well-known nursery had recently moved from Uxbridge to Boston Park Road Nurseries, where he was growing a ‘Select list of choice tricolour and other geraniums.’ (Gardeners’ Chronicle, Vol 1, New Ser (1874), p589) 1874 June 18 - Royal Horticultural Society – Pestridge of Boston Park Nursery ‘contributed a collection of bronze and tricolor pelargoniums in fine condition’ to the latest flower show. (Journal of Horticulture, Vol 26, New Ser (1874), p484) 1876 Brentford merits mixed commentary in the Handbook to the Environs of London. ‘The town, with its long narrow High Street, back slums, factories and rough riverside and labouring population, has always borne an unenviable reputation for dirt and ill-odours ... a town of mud, and Gay celebrates ‘Brentford, tedious town, For dirty streets and white-legged chickens known.’ ... Brentford has no buildings of interest. But it ... has ... a prodigious number of public houses ... In the neighbourhood ... are pleasant walks and fine buildings ... In Boston Lane is Boston House ... take the last broad turning on the right at the west end of the town. The house ... will easily be recognized, as it stands on a slight elevation ... the grounds slope down to the Brent ... there is a pleasant walk, for a good distance between apple orchards, from Brentford to Osterley Park.’ (Thorne, J 1876 Handbook to the Environs of London, Part I, pp56-9) 1878 July 6 - Pelargoniums are mentioned specifically in an article on Boston House Gardens in 1886, and it seems probable that they would have been supplied by the local Pestridge’s nursery. ‘The culture of variegated zonal pelargoniums for market is a ... recent development ... One of the largest growers ... is ... Boston Park Nursery ... with gold and silver tricolours and bronzes or bicolors, he markets some 20,000 plants ... the cultivator is a rare ... artist ... at the recent show of the Pelargonium Society ... [by contrast, other people’s] pelargoniums without colour ... are about the dullest examples of plant life found at exhibitions.’ (Gardeners’ Chronicle, Vol 10, New Ser (1878), issue of July 6, pp10-11) 1879 Aug 16 - ‘The Hailstorm of August 3 – I hope something will be done in ... raising a public subscription to aid some of the sufferers in Ealing, Brentford ... through the late storm ... Mr T Pestridge of the Boston Park Road Nursery, the well known grower of variegated pelargoniums is a very heavy loser, and is indeed well-nigh ruined ... Many persons ... awakened ... by the huge hailstones ... blinding lightning and awful thunder, imagined that the end of things on the planet earth had at last come to pass.’ (R Dean, Ealing, Gardeners’ Chronicle, Vol 12, New Ser (1879), p214) 1880 May 29 - Advertisement of auction, at what would appear to be Pestridge’s Boston Manor Park Nursery, driven out of business by losses incurred during the freak hailstorm of 1879: ‘Brentford, close to station, To florists and market gardeners, To be let, well-planted Garden ground, of about 2½ acres, with stabling, packing sheds, greenhouses, pits, water tanks, etc. Immediate possession can be had.’ (Gardeners’ Chronicle, Vol 13, New Ser (1880), p674) 1881 May 13 - One of Stracey Clitherow’s great interests was the increasingly antiquated pastime of keeping and driving a passenger coach and four horses. A huge painting commemorating the meeting of the ‘Four-in-Hand Driving Club at the Magazine, Hyde Park, in 1880,’ centred on the Duke of Beaufort and Prince of Wales, went on display at a New Bond St art dealer’s. In a long list of the 150 portraits of distinguished drivers and onlookers, appears Colonel Stracey Clitherow, as well as 20 coaches and 80 horses. The name of the artist is not given. (Times, 13/5/1881, p10) Boston Manor Park 135 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 1883 The complete land holdings of the Stracey Clitherow family are listed in The Great Landowners of Great Britain ... of 3,000 acres and upwards, and this reveals they had extensive property in six different counties, totalling 5,751 acres, and worth £9,865 per annum in rent. Col E J Stracey Clitherow mainly lived at Hotham Hall in Yorkshire, where he owned 2,555 acres, but he also possessed 548 acres in Middlesex, worth £1,914, which included Boston Manor. (Bateman, J 1883 The Great Landowners of Great Britain, 4th edn, p96) 1883 Sept 20 - A coroner’s inquest was held at Brentford ‘on the body of a newly- born male child, which was discovered at Boston-house ... on Saturday last ... in consequence of an offensive smell issuing from a closet where [the under- housemaid] kept her pails ... on removing some boards she caught sight of a child’s foot ... the child was that of Hannah Longman, late fellow-servant ... the child had lived some time ... death was the result either of suffocation or of bruises on the head ... Longman has since been charged.’ (Times, 20/9/1883) Hannah Longdon [her name is given thus], aged 20, is charged with murdering her illegitimate child at Boston House. Longdon was in service from until 4 September, ‘eleven days afterwards ... the dead body of a male child’ was found ... [she was] at once suspected ... and [arrested] near Derby ... [where] her father is gamekeeper.’ [There is no further record of Longman/ Longdon’s trial]. (Times, 1/10/1883, p4) 1885 Oct 17 - ‘Garden Competition – We have ... the photographs for our competition, in which attention is called particularly to garden lawns. The best are from ... Miss Jekyll, photographs of Cedar-planted lawns at Peper Harrow; Mr Charles Jeffries, The Gardens, Boston House, near Brentford, very beautiful photographs of Boston House.’ To be ranked alongside Gertrude Jekyll as a garden photographer is a significant achievement. (The Garden, Vol 28 (1885), p395) 1886 Jan 2 - A detailed article about Boston House gardens appears, illustrated by a photograph, and it is hard not to conclude that this was one of Jeffries’s prize- winning pictures of three months previous, and that it prompted the focus on the previously very private Boston grounds. It is probably no coincidence that pelargoniums, which the neighbouring Pestridge’s Boston Park Nursery was renowned for cultivating, are singled out. ‘The [house] has been so weather stained that the colour harmonises beautifully with the surrounding foliage. In summer the walls are clothed with tall plants of scarlet pelargoniums ... [the house] stands high ... Where the Brent forms the boundary of the garden the ground falls so abruptly that from the house the water is quite hidden ... The grounds afford one of the best examples of pure English landscape gardening that could be seen anywhere about London ... Their beauty lies mainly in their simplicity ... the Clitherow family must have recognised the importance of tree planting ... that gives the place so much grandeur, and particularly Lebanon Cedars ... unsurpassed ... in ... London .... Of elms there are some grand avenues ... On the main lawn ... there are specimens of modern conifers ... but it could be wished that ... young ... cedars had been planted, so that in future ... their grandeur would be represented by young trees ... The lake, oddly enough occupies the highest ground ... about the flower garden are ... old apple trees ... the remnants of an orchard ... It is a pity that [fruit trees] are not more often planted as lawn trees.’ (Anon, ‘Boston House, Brentford,’ The Garden, Vol 29 (1886), pp6-7) 1886 Dec 4 - Charles Jeffries, Boston’s gardener, continues to appear in the trade press – he writes a letter about the ‘genetics’ of white peas. ‘I obtained a few seeds of white sweet pea some years ago and sowed them in pots, and every one came quite white. In 1883 I saved some seeds some of which were sent to Norfolk [where the Clitherows had a third estate at Sprowston], where they flowered last year and everyone came red.’ (The Garden, Vol 30 (1886), p517) 1887 Mar 12 - ‘Growing arum lilies ... I saw several hundreds [of callas] in a house ... in 5 inch pots; they were only grown for Covent Garden. Many had two blooms which would be expanded by Christmas.’ Charles Jeffries again comments on articles in the specialist press – the attention attracted by various Brentford gardens seems to depend upon the personalities of their head gardeners. George Wythes, who became the head gardener in 1888, wrote monthly advice columns and diaries about the latest plants he was growing, and consequently Syon was never out of the horticultural journals. (The Garden, Vol 31 (1887), p237; J Horticulture, Vol 16, 3rd Ser (1888), p405) 136 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 1887 June 25 - ‘London, Chiswick W - Boston House ... School for Gentlemen’s Daughters,’ advertises itself as having been established for over 50 years. In 1889 the school moved to Carlisle Rd, Eastbourne. This was another building with the same name, and not the Clitherow’s seat, to which it had no connection. (Scotsman, 25/6/1887, p11; C Hammond, Chiswick Lib, pers comm) 1889 Aug 5 - The first-ever meeting of stage coaches , which run between London and the home counties, and are owned by private enthusiasts, was held in St James’s Park. Fourteen coaches appeared, including the London-Brighton one with chestnut horses, which Stewart Freeman and his passenger, Colonel Stracey Clitherow, had been running for 19 years. (Times, 5/8/1889, p3) 1891 April 4 - A young gardener from Boston House seeking promotion searches for a new post in the columns of the ‘Gardeners’ Chronicle.’ ‘Journeyman in the houses; age 23. Charles Jeffries, gardener to Colonel Stracey Clitherow, Boston House ... can thoroughly recommend Herbert Gladden as above, who has been with him seven years, four years in the houses.’ (Gardeners’ Chronicle, Vol 9, 3rd Ser (1891), p447) 1891 Aug 20 - Charles Jeffries becomes a fixture at Royal Horticultural Society shows for nearly 20 years, always sitting on the Floral Committee, rather than entering himself. He makes an early appearance judging at their Westminster show this year. (Gardeners’ Chronicle, Vol 10, 3rd Ser (1891), p254) 1891 Nov 28 - In contrast to Jeffries, the Clitherows’ gardener at their Yorkshire estate of Hotham Hall, R Walker, does enter competitive shows, winning for anemone blooms in Hull’s flower show (Gardeners’ Chronicle, Vol 10, 3rd Ser (1891), p652). Walker went on to win a series of prizes in the 1890s for chrysanthenums. (Gardeners’ Chronicle, Nov 1896, p636; Nov 1898, p394; Nov 1899, p404, etc) 1892 Jan 23 - It is not clear what causes Jeffries to advertise himself as available for a new position, but he appears in the small ads in this issue of the Chronicle. As Clitherow sold his matched coach horses the following year, the family may have been making financial economies, or Jeffries may have been newly-married, but this is unclear. ‘Gardener, (Head Working), where one or more are kept, Age 28, married, ten years’ experience; six years’ good character, total abstainer [ie teetotal]. C J, Boston House Gardens.’ (Gardeners’ Chronicle, Vol 11, 3rd Ser (1892), p126) 1892 May 14 - ‘Auricula seed, if not sown soon, does not come up well. On visiting recently ... Boston House, I saw some plants which ... supplied the opposite ... Mr Jeffries had put by ... a packet of seed for a year or two ... he sowed it ... every seed germinated, and he has at present time [a] pretty a lot of bloom ... in all shades of colour.’ (Anon, Gardeners’ Chronicle, Vol 11, 3rd Ser, (1892), p629) 1892 Oct 16 - Brentford’s reputation for pelargonium growing continues: ‘Chrysanthemum and pelargonium grafting – .... a curious and successful experiment ... at Boston House ... where the gardener, Mr C Jeffries has grafted eight sorts of pompons on the ... variety Mrs George Randle, arranging the grafts ... as to proper balance of colour. By grafting the tricolour varieties on the green- leaved ... he gets a much quicker and sturdier growth ... The plants ... were ... for vases and decorati[on] ... the foliage being more brightly coloured than [usual] under glass.’ (Gardeners’ Chronicle, Vol 12, 3rd Ser (1892), p472) 1893 Oct 19 - ‘Brighton and London Coach Horses – The ‘Comet’ horses, the property of Colonel Clitherow, Mr Stewart Freeman ... were sold by auction yesterday ... prices realized were – Cockatoo, 215 guineas, Conquest 175 guineas, Cavalier, 150 guineas, Conjuror, 150 guineas, Conqueror, 125 guineas, all chestnut geldings.’ (Times, 19/10/1893, p7) 1894 2nd edition Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 – provides less detail than the 1865 edition, with the only significant change (in mapping only) being the depiction of the lodge at the north gate and the whole of the forecourt drive to make a full loop within the wall, which were previously omitted because outside the mapping boundary. The former shrubbery south-east of the house is shown bare, but this may be just the drafting convention at that time. (Appendix 1.20) 1894 An engraving of Boston House in 1799 appeared in Greater London by E Walford (Vol I (1894), p36), along with a description of the town copied from previous authors. 1894 Col Stracey Clitherow sent his coach (but did not go himself – he was now in his late 70s) to the double meeting of the Four in Hand and Road Coaches held in London, as it was to begin a fresh season plying from London to Brighton – a Boston Manor Park 137 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 minority pastime in the age of the train, and a novelty which was viewed by large crowds of spectators unused to seeing numbers of such old-fashioned vehicles. (Times, 31/5/1894, p8) 1900 Sept 25 - ‘Death of Colonel Edward John Stracey-Clitherow, of Hotham Hall, Yorkshire, and Boston House, New Brentford ... died on Thursday at his Yorkshire seat, in his 81st year. [He] served ... in the Scots Guards, and took part ... in the Crimea, including the battle of Alma and the siege of Sevastopol ... well known in the hunting field, as a four-in-hand whip, and as having started ... the original Brighton Coach ... high sheriff of Middlesex in 1889 ... He married in 1846 a ... sister of the first Lord Tweedmouth.’ (Times, 25/9/1900, p5) 1902 ‘Brentford ... has been a favoured residence of the well-to-do ... walking along the towing path beside the river ... are many picturesque beds of osiers and rushes in the river, and beautiful groups of trees are reflected in the clear water ... the tuft-fringed gravel towing path skirting one shore forming many pleasant curves... The lane running beside [Boston house]... leads to Hanwell Heath ... [with] the lunatic asylum, which has made the name of Hanwell a by-word. The Brent here flows through a little dell ... once a very pretty spot, but modern building has destroyed its charm.’ (Emslie, J P 1902 ‘A Walk on the Banks of the Brent,’ Home Counties Mag, Vol 3, pp116-118) 1902 A photograph of Boston House from the north-east, showing the front lawn and flowerbeds in the foreground, is printed in a lengthy and legalistic article about an obscure court judgement as to whether New Brentford was entitled to benefit from Hobbayne’s Charity. (Home Counties Mag, Vol 4 (1902), facing pp105-6) 1902 Feb 10 - Deaths – ‘Stracey Clitherow, On the 9th February, at 50 Portland Place, after a short illness, Maria Diana the beloved wife of the Revd W J Stracey Clitherow, of Boston House, Middlesex, aged 78. Funeral at Buxton, Norfolk.’ (Times, 10/2/1902, p1) 1902 June 12 - Publication of the memoir by G C White on William IV, which includes ‘extracts from the letters of a Miss Clitherow ... on terms of unusual intimacy with the King and Queen ... though no more than commoners, had their majesties to dine with them at Boston House. The letters show the royal personages as they looked in private.’ (Scotsman, 12/6/1902, p2) 1903 An article on ‘Boston Manor House, Brentford,’ written by an architect, unsurprisingly concentrates more on the interior of the house than on the grounds. ‘If [Charles I] could re-visit the mansion ... he would notice a new porch and entrance gates, and some modern stable buildings. In the gardens also the magnificent cedar trees would appear unfamiliar ... The mansion is visible from the road ... and stands in beautifully wooded grounds ... Although the surrounding district is fast being covered with bricks and mortar, the view from the gardens is effectually screened by the trees that encircle the house and give it an air of dignified seclusion .’ (Hill, R H E 1903 ‘Boston Manor House, Brentford,’ Home Counties Mag, Vol 5, pp30-1. Hill included further brief notes on the house copied from Clitherow account books in a later article on Christopher Clitherow. See Home Counties Mag, Vol 5 (1903), pp213-220) 1904 or thereabouts - In 2006 Peter Quennell, of Egham, Surrey, the great-grandson of the Boston House gardener Walter Quennell, donated pictures of Walter’s family outside their home, the gate lodge in Boston Manor Road c1904, to Chiswick Library’s Local History Collection. 1904 Feb 20 - Boston Manor, as part of its early 20th century flurry of publicity, appears in Country Life. The brief article concentrates on the ceiling and overmantel plasterwork, with photographs. (Anon, ‘Boston House, Middlesex,’ Country Life, F e b 2 0 1 9 0 4 , p p 2 7 2 - 3 , C h i s w i c k L i b L o c H i s t C o l l n ) 1905 Aug 30 - ‘Births – On the 28th Aug at Boston House, Brentford, the wife of Eustace Stracey-Clitherow, of a daughter.’ (Times, 30/8/1905, p1) 1905 Nov 25 - Several large trees are transplanted at Kew Gardens, near the palace, ‘to block out a view of the unsightly gas-works at Brentford.’ The process is illustrated by an incongruous picture of a horse-drawn tree ‘on wheels.’ (Gardeners’ Chronicle, Vol 38, 3rd Ser (1905), p373) 1905 Dec 23 - On the retirement of the Director of Kew Gardens, his achievements were listed – which included dealing with the ongoing problem of the differently- developed shore of the Thames directly opposite. The writer had ‘to mention the successful efforts he made to restrain the smoke nuisance in Brentford, which seriously impaired the health and appearance of the trees and shrubs in 138 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 the Royal Gardens. A very considerable amendment is now perceptible.’ No mention is made of the health of the people in Brentford. (Gardeners’ Chronicle, Vol 38, 3rd Ser (1905), p440) 1906 Local photographer and historian Fred Turner takes a series of photos of Boston Manor from the park, including the garden front and the rose walk. (Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 1906 July 25 Deaths - ‘On the 22nd July, at Madehurst Lodge, Arundel, Harriot [sic] Stracey Clitherow, widow of Colonel Stracey Clitherow, Scots Guards and daughter of the late Edward Marjoribanks.’ (Times, 25/7/1906, p1) 1907 A privately-printed publication, available for subscribers, called London Leaders; Historic Families, Ancestral Estates, contains a fulsome article on Rev W J Stracey Clitherow, as well as some especially taken pictures of the house and gardens. The house, which stands on a slight elevation a little way back from the main road (from which it is screened by handsome iron gates), is of brick ... Its ornamental grounds ... are shaded with wood.’ (London Leaders, pp 512-26) 1907 Jan 12 - ‘London smoke, aided by that of Brentford ... have contributed to the death of one of the few fine cedars of Lebanon near the pagoda ... the sterile soil and the droughty summers of the last few years have ... hastened the destruction.’ Yet the cedars at Boston House survive still. (Gardeners’ Chronicle, Vol 41, 3rd Ser (1907), p25) 1907 Jan 12 - Charles Jeffries makes one of his final appearances in the lists of the judges on the Floral Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society’s shows. (Gardeners’ Chronicle, Vol 41, 3rd Ser (1907), p30) 1908 Dec 22 - ‘The Value of Land in West London – ... a jury heard the case of ‘Clitherow v The Metropolitan District Railway Company,’ .... a claim for compensation [for] part of the Clitherow estate ... the valuation given .... frontage on Clacton, Cawdor and Cross roads ... £20, 083/10/-; 80ft frontage on Boston Road (for shops) at £10 per foot, £800 ... [with deductions] ... £15,290/12/6d.’ The Railway contended that by voluntarily forcing the court action, the Clitherows were not entitled to the additional bonus of 10% awarded due to compulsory sale. (Times, 22/12/1908, p11) 1909 Two authors contribute articles mentioning Boston House to Memorials of Old Middlesex. J C Cox writes on the parks and historic houses, ‘For the purpose of enumerating the parks of Middlesex proper - ... refer to the ... map ... by Crutchley in 1824 ... 25 parks are outlined, namely ... Beech Hill, Bentley, Boston, Bushey, Bush Hill...’ Cox adds another 5 parks to this list. J Tavenor Perry writes ‘The Pilgrimage of the Brent,’ illustrated by an engraving of Boston Manor’s south front, lined by conifers in tubs and creepers ... ‘The river and canal, flowing in one bed ... come now in sight of the trees ... surroundin[g] Boston House ... The house was very much damaged by fire some years ago, and some of the beautiful woodwork was destroyed ... At the lock above Boston House [is] a curious half-ruined belvedere ... among ... market gardens ... a banqueting room.’ (Tavenor-Perry, J (ed) 1909 Memorials of Old Middlesex, pp190, 274-6) 1909 Oct 9 - ‘Gardening Appointments – Mr H Gazell, for the past 3 years in the pleasure grounds, Boston House [has been appointed] as Gardener to Capt Middleton, Frogs Hall, near Dunmow, Essex.’ (Gardeners’ Chronicle, Vol 46, 3rd Ser (1909), p254) 1911 Local photographer and historian Fred Turner takes a second series of pictures of Boston Manor to complement those of 1906; this time he takes pictures of the furnished state rooms and plasterwork, as well as the ivy-covered staff wing from across the lake. (Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 1901-1912 or thereabouts – Plan of the Middlesex County Council’s proposed widening of Boston Road from station to Hanwell. Dated by the LMA to ‘190[?]’ but mention of Rev Stracey Clitherow confines date to his ownership. Many modern roads not yet built, shown as proposals. Sections of roadway and pavements shown. Only the area between Elthorne Ave and Elthorne Park Ave seems to be fully built-up. This is probably not relevant to Boston Manor Park as it lies further north-west outside the park curtilege. (LMA, ACC1360/314) Another document seems to cross-date this plan to 1912, as a letter of 22 Mar 1921, from Brentford Council’s lawyer to Clitherow’s lawyer, about a later road widening scheme, refers to ‘the plan of 1912 showed a proposal to take two narrow strips of land from Boston Fields ... opposite Boston Park Road,’ (LMA, ACC1360/527). The ‘plan of 1912’ referred to would probably be (LMA, ACC1360/314). Boston Manor Park 139 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 1912 July 1 Deaths – ‘After a short illness of the Rev William James Stracey Clitherow, of 50 Portland place and Boston House, Brentford ... formerly vicar of Buxton with Oxnead, Norfolk in his 91st year.’ (Times, 1/7/1912, p11) 1913 Mar 29 ‘In order to safeguard the vistas from Kew Gardens across the River, Richmond [planning authorities] included in their application ... some land in ... Brentford’s river front [which] is purely industrial ... it is only a tree-planted island which belongs to Richmond that hides some gasworks from [Kew]. Richmond now seeks to prevent the adjoining island from being developed ... the aesthetic value of Kew depended largely upon ... the open spaces ... on the Middlesex side, and ... if these ... were ... converted into a continuation of ... Brentford ... the necessity would [be] for the transfer to some other site of [Kew] gardens.’ (Gardeners’ Chronicle, Vol 53, 3rd Ser (1913), p205) 1913 June 14 ‘High Prices for Old Masters – Mr Asher Wertheimer ... purchased the portrait of Colonel James Clitherow, of Boston House ... in brown coat and white vest, for 2,700 guineas; this, a head and shoulders portrait, which was painted in 1784 for 20 guineas, was painted in 1784 for 20 guineas, was sent to Christie’s by Dr Clarence Cooper, of South Norwood Park.’ (Times, 14/6/1913, p5) 1915 3rd edition Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 – shows very little change from 1895 apart for the old cedar now standing clear of the woodland to the south, ie. the lawn has been extended, and young tree planting has appeared in this area, along the east edge of the lawn and east of the house. A boat house has appeared at the north end of the lake. (Appendix 1.21) 1915 Feb 13 London Sanitary Protection Association, consulting engineers, are commissioned by Col J B Stracey Clitherow, to produce a comprehensive survey of the plumbing and drainage of Boston House. Their report of this date, and other surveys and estimates, now form a large file at the LMA. The surveyor was ‘severely handicapped’ as ‘no one in your [Stracey Clitherow’s] employment has the least knowledge as to the positions of the various drains, or what becomes of the sewage.’ He examined the drain with the mason’s trap in the shrubbery on the south side of the house. Various additions to the original pipes have rendered all the traps and vents ineffectual, and he believes they would ‘admit foul air to escape in proximity to windows.’ The second section of the drains deals with the north side of the house and kitchen yard, and the third with the stables, and rain and surface water, which may run off in a southern direction. The ‘liquid drainage ... discharges into the river Brent ... there is a connection ... to the ... overflow from the pond.’ The Thames Conservancy, and the Clitherows, were both unaware of the sewage outlet into the Brent. The drains from the WCs are probably obstructed by tree roots entering through joints. ‘The whole system is rotten, and indeed, I will go further and state that the house in its present condition is unsafe for human habitation.’ A simple system of irrigation of the sewage, to purify it, might be placed in the wood on the south side of the house.’ The engineer also reports on the sinks, cisterns and pumps, of which one survives outside. (LMA, ACC1360/524) 1915 July 26 ‘Durbin and Katesmark, Sanitary and Hot Water Engineers’ submit a long invoice for remedial work at Boston House, as directed by the London Sanitary Association. New pipes and cold water mains are installed, as well as new plumbing for baths and sinks, and services approved by the Water Board from the kitchen yard to the attic. Floors were lifted, and beams replaced, and the whole seems to have constituted major structural work, including opening up tiles on the roof, and fitting girders in the attic. Ancillary buildings like the old wash house were also altered, flues built up, old coppers and plate-racks ripped out. A great deal of plasterwork seems to have been removed and redone, and partitions taken down. If the house ever undergoes a standing building recording by an architectural historian, or buildings archaeologist, this bill should be consulted – the cellar paving, for instance, was taken up and the waterlogged subsoil removed. They record such ground disturbance as ‘excavating to the centre of gravel walk on garden front and abolishing entirely the old barrel drain to this point.’ Water was also pumped from the lake from gravel walk on garden front to near the cedar tree, test pits dug on the lawn, and a sump-hole excavated in the woods. Most of the courtyard surfaces around the house were disturbed, and slabs replaced with concrete. 140 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 Drains were also fitted round the carriage drive to deal with surface water, and the tops of barrel drains were removed at four different places on the lawn, and built up with brickwork to receive concrete covers. Work was also carried out on the lake drains and overflows. (LMA, ACC1360/524) 1918 Aug 27 Sale notice – ‘By direction of Col Stacey-Clitherow [sic] ... Within ten minutes’ walk of Brentford and Boston Road Stations respectively ... the historical residential property Boston House including a striking example of an early Tudor mansion house granted by Queen Elizabeth to the Earl of Leicester containing three reception rooms, and 13 bed rooms, with a beautifully timbered miniature park and matured gardens and pleasure grounds. The whole comprising an area of about 36 acres ... The property throughout is in excellent order. Possession on completion of purchase.’ (Times 27/8/1927, p12) 1919 Nov 24 ‘The death of Mrs J B Stracey-Clitherow ... at Boston House ... after a long illness ... formerly the wife of the late Mr Charles Gurney. Her two daughters ... are the Countess of Dudley and Lady Troubridge, and her two sons Major H Gurney, 1st Dragoon Guards, and Colonel Tom Gurney, DSO, 2nd Life Guards.’ (Scotsman, 24/11/1919, p5) 1920 ‘In Middlesex were five boundary trees – three ‘Gospel’ and two ‘Burnt’ Oaks. Of the former, one descendant exists at Hanwell by the Boston Road Station.’ (Webster, A D 1920 London Trees, p11) 1920 Aug 12 - Sale Notices – ‘For sale with very early possession Boston House, Brentford. An Ancient Middlesex Manor House, with old lawns, park and lake, in all 36 acres. The house, which has been in the present owners’ family for over 250 years, contains a drawing room with one of the finest Jacobean panelled ceilings ... 25 bed rooms, three bath rooms, ground floor offices, stabling, glass, farmer, main drainage, gas, and water. Distance from Hyde park 7½ miles on the Great Western Road ...’ (Times, 12/8/1912, p20). The house was still being advertised for sale in these terms on 30 December 1920. (Times, 30/12/1930, p20) 1921 Boston Road widening – file concerning the sale of land by Col J B Stracey Clitherow to Brentford Urban District Council. ‘With regard to the avenue of elm trees ... All trees and timber which are to be removed for the ... intended road … shall be felled grubbed and removed by ... the Council.’ Clitherow’s lawyer, in April, tells Stracey Clitherow that the council will not be altering the road ‘from Boston House garden wall to the L & SW railway bridge.’ The Colonel wished to replace the hedge at Boston Farm entrance with an unclimbable fence, and fill in the ditch. (LMA, ACC1360/527) 1922 April 11 - Contractor for the construction of Great West Road given permission to rent vacant estate land and build temporary office and store near gate in Boston Park Road. (Brentford Urban District Council, hereafter BUDC Mins, 11/4/1922) 1922 May 30 - Council protest against Ministry of Transport building on land south of Colonel’s Drive, to rehouse tenants displaced by building of Great West Road. (BUDC Mins, p166) 1922 Boston House Sale key plan – a location plan based on contemporary OS mapping at 1:10,560 scale. (Appendix 1.22) 1922 Boston House Sale map – showing the boundaries of the land sale covering the gardens and the park based on the 1915 Ordnance Survey 1:2,500. (Appendix 1.23) 1922 ‘Roads from Hyde Park Corner and Marble Arch to Boston House,’ from Boston House Sale catalogue – basically a ‘how-to-get-there’ map, also showing its locational advantages. (Appendix 1.24) 1922 June 8 - ‘Sale Tuesday 4th July and 3 following days on the premises ... by direction of the trustees of the late Col Edward John Stracey Clitherow. The Clitherow Heirlooms, the contents of the ancient mansion, Boston House ... Note – the family silver, miniatures, snuff boxes etc will be sold by Messrs Knight, Frank and Rutley ... Note – The ancient mansion of moderate size, having lovely lawns etc about 36 acres, is for sale with early possession. Two of the ceilings have the rare coloured contemporary Jacobean plaster decoration...’ (Times, 8/6/1922, p24) 1922 June 19 - ‘The antique plate (Heirlooms) removed from the ancient mansion, Boston House ... comprising a James II nest of 6 beakers and cover (1688), a presentation gold cup and cover (1777), a pair of Chippendale waiters ... etc [to be sold] on Friday 23 June.’ (Scotsman, 19/6/1922, p11) Boston Manor Park 141 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 1922 June 26 - ‘Brentford ... contents of the mansion comprising unusually choice works of art, two Romney portraits, a family group by Hogarth ... Van Dyck the artist’s own portrait ... Rubens, Lely, Kneller ... The library ... 3,000 volumes ... lead cisterns, sundial ... miscellanea ... will sell by auction on the premises ... on July 4th and 3 following days.’ (Scotsman, 26/6/1922, p11) 1922 June 26 - ‘Clitherow Heirlooms – At Messrs Knight, Frank and Rutley’s rooms ... the silver from Boston House attracted a large company. A pair of 12 inch waiters ... sold for £426. A James II nest of 6 small tumbler cups ... £173 ... a gold cup ... 1777, weighting 37 oz, £540.’ (Scotsman, 26/6/1922, p2) 1922 July 5 - ‘Boston House Collection ... a four days sale ... ‘Evening’ by F Boucher ... realised £1916/5/- ... ‘Portrait of Colonel and Mrs Clitherow in the grounds of Boston House,’ formerly ascribed to Zoffany, but now given to Arthur Devis, £472/10/-.’ (Scotsman, 5/7/1922, p10) 1922 Oct 14 – Brentford Urban District Council has inspected for the potential use as public walks, allotments and pleasure grounds, 19 acres of land in Boston Park and Boston Fields being offered for sale by Col Clitherow. The land will be bounded on the south and east, by roads and houses, as yet unbuilt. A farmer is currently using the land for grazing; the only Council outlay would be fencing off the canal and River Brent, and laying out games pitches. Under the Town Planning Scheme, the land would otherwise be sold for factory sites and ancillary housing. If Clitherow accepted the council offer of £11,000 he had to keep land bounded by Boston Manor Road, the railway and the canal, as open space in perpetuity. (BUDC Mins, pp405-7) 1922 Dec 19 - Col Clitherow accepted Council’s offer to buy 20 acres of Boston Park, but the current agricultural tenant could not remove until autumn 1924. Council also wished to buy land in Boston Road for playing fields and allotments. Negotiations continued. (BUDC Mins, pp538-9) 1923 Jan 2 - Tenants of the allotments destroyed by Middlesex County Council’s rehousing scheme south of Colonel’s Drive are to receive compensation. (BUDC Mins, p589) 1924 Feb 19 - Boston Estate sale contracts exchanged today with Col Clitherow, who would sell off the kitchen garden produce and gardening tools. Middlesex Co Council’s contribution to purchase price of park is limited only to the site value of the open space, and excludes any part of Boston House itself. (BUDC Mins, pp626-7) 1924 Mar 18 - Brentford Ratepayers’ Association suggest that Boston House should be used as a museum, with admission charges. Council is undecided on future use of house. (BUDC Mins, 640-1) 1924 May 6 - The date for the completion of the sale of Boston Park to the Urban District Council is to be 4 June 1924. (BUDC Mins, p75) 1924 May 20 - The vacant possession of the house, currently occupied by a Mr Viccars, is to revert to the council at Michaelmas 1924. (BUDC Mins, pp82-3) 1924 June 17 - Council has to borrow money over 60 year period to purchase park. The resident farmer claims compensation for vacating the land after fruit and hay crop is ingathered. (BUDC Mins, pp190-3) 1924 June 23 – Brentford Urban District Council to ask Duke and Duchess of York [future King George VI and Queen Elizabeth] or other royalty to open park in early September, once the river and canal are fenced off. County Councillors, Rothschild and Clitherow families to be invited. Council forms ‘Parks, Open Spaces and Street Trees Committee’ to oversee newly acquired Boston and Carville Hall sites. (BUDC Mins, pp198-9) 1924 July 1 - Lady Cooper asked to open park, as previously invited royalty and aristocracy unable to be present. Mr Digby, Col Clitherow’s gardener, is retained temporarily, his wife being Boston House caretaker. Digby to sell surplus produce from kitchen garden until crop is exhausted. Three extra men to be employed preparing gardens for opening ceremony. Fallen trees from woods at Boston House obstructing flow of River Brent to be removed. [Lady Cooper (nee Charlotte Leonora Crampton of , Chiswick) is the charismatic, unconventional and very popular widow of Sir Edward Cooper, Lord Mayor of London in 1919-20. She is a renowned public speaker and supporter of charitable causes in her own right.] (BUDC Mins, pp254-5) 142 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 July 24 - Brentford Ratepayers Association hold sports day in park. (BUDC Mins, 23 June 1924, p199) July 26 - Brentford Cottage Hospital Building Fund Carnival and Flag Day Committee are to hold street collection and be given free use of Boston Park on this day for a fete, with permission to charge for entrance to grounds. (BUDC Mins, May-June 1924, p140) July 31 - Lady C L Cooper, to perform opening ceremony on Sept 11 at 4pm. Boy Scouts Girl Guides and Fire Brigade to form guard of honour, and a regimental band to be present. Council purchase equipment from house including rowing boat, house coal and pony. Boston House grounds reserved for walks, and Park set apart for games, housing four football pitches and ten grass tennis courts, with scale of charges. No Sunday games permitted, and one pitch reserved for local School Sports Association. Fishing on lake allowed with a permit. Council accepts tender for 700 yards of ‘unclimbable’ wrought iron fencing along water courses, and for 20 yards of hoggin for paths. (BUDC Mins, pp264-7) 1924 Aug 2 - ‘Brentford Allotment Association held its first summer show ... at Clifden Park ... The show was opened by King Manuel ... of Portugal ... several years ago his mother, Queen Amelie had opened a summer show in Boston Park.’ (Gardeners’ Chronicle, 2/8/1924, p87) 1924 Sept 4 - Band from 8th Middlesex Regiment to play at park opening for ‘£14/14/0, plus tea, for 20 performers and conductor from 4 to 10pm.’ Dancing from 7 to 9pm outside, under artificial lighting, and catering by local firms. TST Works Sports Club has hired football pitch on Saturdays. Former cowshed to be converted into public lavatories and a shelter, for £290. County Surveyor says Boston House state room floor can bear weight of 100 persons. Sports equipment available for hire from gardener. Cottage Hospital Fete held in house in aid of hospital building fund. Council ‘recommend that the whole of the property be named ‘Boston Manor Park.’ (BUDC Mins, pp274-6) 1924 Sept 11 - Park formally opened by Lady L C Cooper ‘in the presence of a large and representative attendance,’ amusements, games and refreshments being provided by local firms. (BUDC Mins, pp351-2) 1924 Sept 13 - The opening ceremony is reported: ‘In beautifully fine weather on Thursday ... Lady Cooper ... opened Boston Manor Park ... received by Mr C H Curtis, JP, the Chairman of the Brentford Council ... [he] handed a silver key to Lady Cooper who unlocked the main gates ... Inside awaited a Guard of Honour comprised the Brentford Fire Brigade ... the company proceeded through the residence to the lawn where the declaration of opening ... was made. ... Lady Cooper was Brentford born, and it was therefore most fitting ... Brentford was converted to the idea of open spaces ... park 23½ acres, ground of Boston House, 9½ acres, lake, 1; kitchen gardens, 2. It was purchased ... on 24th June 1924 for £23,000 ... Middlesex County Council have agreed to 25 percent. The actual cost incurred to date of opening was £24,046 ... beautiful woodlands, places for the solace of the aged, the health of the invalid ... shady walks obviously ‘for whispering lovers made.’ ... The chairman then presented the key to Lady Cooper.’ (Middlesex Independent, 13/9/1924, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 1924 Sept 23 - ‘We regret to report that serious depredations to the property occurred on Saturday and Sunday last, principally by youths. We recommend that notices be affixed in the ... parks threatening prosecution in the event of the detection of damage to shrubs, etc and that two police constables ... patrol ... on Saturdays and Sundays ... for the next four weeks.’ An unclimbable iron fence to be erected on north and south boundaries of Boston House grounds at cost of £300. (BUDC Mins, pp351-3) 1924 Sept 24 - ‘Brentford’s New Park – The old county town of Middlesex is waking up to the need for more open spaces. Not long since, the District Council purchased the little estate of Carville Hall, but the new Great West Road has divided this into two parts ... On the western side of the town the Boston Park estate ... is thirty-six acres in extent, finely wooded, and contains an ornamental lake as well as wide open spaces for playing fields. It contains a particularly fine specimen of the cedar of Lebanon ... The total cost of securing the park, including certain compensation for disturbance, will be about £25,000. It is doubtful whether any open space in the south-western part of Greater London can compare with Boston Manor Park for beauty.’ (Gardeners’ Chronicle, 20/9/1924, p191) Boston Manor Park 143 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 1924 Oct 15 – Brentford Urban District Council has interviewed and severely cautioned a boy caught stealing pears from a tree in park; also intend to prosecute for wilful damage the 3 boys who climbed and stole nuts from walnut tree. (BUDC Mins, p283) 1924 Nov 18 - Scoutmaster G Walters, 3rd Brentford Troop, offered ‘his Senior Section to carry out the marking of the more prominent trees with their names on small slate labels.’ Mr C H Curtis [member of Parks Committee] is to be ‘asked to define the trees which should be labelled.’ New byelaws prevent ball games on Sundays as ‘the general public who perambulate the park in large numbers on that day would be greatly inconvenienced, and possibly endangered.’ If Council provides three hard tennis courts, one net ball court, tennis sets, bowling green and pavilion and alterations to cowsheds for lavatories, it will cost £2,700. Three new cricket pitches to be provided, charges from 1 May to 31 Aug to be £25 for Saturday matches. (BUDC Mins, pp492-5) 1924 Dec 16 - Boston House and entrance lodge are to be altered to provide living accommodation for three assistant park keepers. The state rooms, being the drawing room and two ante rooms on the first floor, to be let for meetings, of under 100 persons, ‘to terminate not later than 12 midnight, and not to include meetings of a political character,’ for fee of £2/2/0d. The dining room on the south side of main entrance to be let separately, and the northern library likewise, or together for £1/11/6d. House to be opened for guided tours free of charge on certain days, and on other days on payment of admission fee of 6d. The Parks Committee and the Library and Museum Committee are to collaborate on exhibiting local prints in the house and its hallway. Permission for local football club to erect team’s own notice board refused, ‘having regard to the undesirable precedent which would be created.’ Forty applications for assistant park keeper received, C T Peppiatt, W Davis and C Spurgeon all appointed, with accommodation to follow. Their ‘respective wives having also attended before us,’ Peppiatt was to get the entrance lodge, and the others rooms in the house, with a concomitant reduction in wages. Two swans or cygnets and a peacock and peahen to be acquired for the park. (BUDC Mins, pp548-551) 1925 Jan 14 - Ten grass tennis courts should be provided; a fee of 18 guineas per season should be fixed for the exclusive use of the nets etc on the court, with lower fees for hourly play on casual courts. Club and season ticket holders to have dressing and storage rooms in the house outbuildings. Complaints received that the Council’s ‘charges prescribed for the hire of apparatus’ for cricket were ‘exorbitant and out of proportion’ to those elsewhere, so Council has revised scale of charges. One pitch for casual match - £1. Fifty-six residents have come forward wishing to use a six rink bowling green of Cumberland turf, to be built. The hayrick of the former tenant farmer has still not been removed, due to ‘recent incessant rains’ so fine imposed upon him for each day it remains. Metropolitan Public Gardens’ Association has provided 12 seats for park at half cost. ‘Mr Clements [offered] to supply a small oak tree raised from an acorn brought from one of the battle fields in France or Flanders ... [the Council] accepted with thanks.’ (BUDC Mins, pp616-620) 1925 Jan 19 - Brentford Urban District Council considered the income from lettings of hard courts and bowling green, and existing commitments, and deferred their provision for a year. They accepted tenders for the building of a net ball and ten grass tennis courts and equipment. They also purchased a Shanks horse- drawn mower (in preference to a motor one), which had been lent on approval. The Council accepted tenders for the installation of electric light at Boston House, and connection to the mains. A commemorative tablet, with letters cut and gilded on granite, was ordered from a company in Aberdeen. (BUDC Mins, pp621-3) 1925 Feb 17 - Head teachers of local schools must ‘impress upon their scholars the need for decorous behaviour in Boston Manor Park, and the penalties for infractions of the byelaws.’ (BUDC Mins, p681) 1925 Mar 17 - Three cricket pitches in lower field to be built, and one on higher ground to be held in reserve. Six different cricket clubs reserve pitches on 144 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 Saturdays, including the United Water Softeners Club. Five local head teachers have requested use of the netball courts. The Swan Warden of the Vinters Company has presented a pair of swans for the lake. (BUDC Mins of this date) 1925 June 11 - The park is to be closed to the public for the children’s sports day held by the Schools’ Athletic Association, who will also use the dining room and library. (BUDC Mins, pp754-5) 1929 May 14 – ‘London Playing Fields Society ... has always been ... obtaining ... playing fields for the benefit of private clubs of the working class type ... a wonderful opportunity now occurs of acquiring another ... which has hitherto been managed as a business proposition but is now in danger of being developed for building purposes ... part of the Boston Manor estate ... 35 acres in extent, the turf is excellent, and it is most accessible to clubs in west and south-west London. It will be necessary to raise a large fund for the purchase, and the option expires on June 30. Such an opportunity is never likely to recur.’ (Times, 14/5/1929, p13) 1929 June 14 - London Playing Fields Society AGM; ‘At Boston Manor ... a playing field of about 34 acres well situated in West London for easy access, had been offered to the ... Society at a [reasonable] price. An appeal was ... to be launched for funds to complete the purchase. and ground had also been saved ... London Football Association ... raised £1,128/18/8d ... to purchase some such playing field as Boston Manor.’ (Times, 14/6/1929, p11) 1930 Boston Park Bowling Club founded, as noted in a photograph of the notice board listing past presidents and captains, which belongs in Chiswick Library Local History Collection. 1930 Mar 19 - London Playing Fields Association, AGM ‘The extent of the society’s playing fields is now 317 acres, on which there are ... 105 football grounds ... the chief matter of note is the acquisition of 34 acres at Boston Manor. The purchase of the freehold was ... possible ... Towards the whole cost of £13,000,’ over half was provided by the Carnegie Trustees, London Parochial Charities and several others ... A local committee has been formed for the efficient management of the field.’ (Times, 19/3/1930, p11) 1931 Death of John Bourchier Stracey Clitherow (b1853). (McNamara 1998, 15) 1932 Dec 22 - London Playing Fields Society ‘An effort is being made to provide employment for 30 men for at least 20 weeks to enable the development of Boston Manor Playing Field ... The recent extension of the Piccadilly Tube ... provided the Society with a dump of some 200,000 yards of soil on approximately 6-7 acres of land beside the River Brent, hitherto useless [due to flooding] and this has to be levelled and laid out. The cost will be £1,000 ... Without this special effort the small permanent staff cannot possibly complete the work for three or four years, and a great opportunity for helping men in need will be lost.’ (Times, 22/12/1932, p8) 1935 Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 – showing for the first time ‘Boston Manor Park,’ with a Bowling green, tennis courts in the former walled garden, another area of tennis courts, a cricket ground (in Hangmans meadow). (Appendix 1.25) 1935 Sept 12 - West London Hospital Fete held in Boston Manor Park, 2.30pm. (Times, 12/9/1935, p15) 1936 E E Warneford photographs Boston Manor from the far side of the lake, the same viewpoint that F Turner used in 1911. The views are similar, but the ivy on the staff wing has been much reduced. (Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 1936 April 18 – ‘Brentford and Chiswick Horticultural Society ... [Their] Summer Show [will be held] at Boston Manor Park, Brentford on July 9 ... Eighty-one [classes are provided] for the summer show. The Parks Committee of the Borough invariably arranges an attractive display at each show, as also does ... the Gunnersbury Park Joint Committee, while several nurserymen and seedsmen put up beautiful exhibits ... The Society ... members give hearty support to the two Allotments Associations within the borough, and to the Front Gardens Competition in connection with the Council’s housing schemes.’ (Gardeners’ Chronicle, 18/4/1936, p242) 1938 Jan 28 - Housing Advertisement – ‘Manor Vale’ in Boston Manor Road, ‘this magnificent block of fine residential flats just completed. All luxurious amenities, private gardens, resident porter ... rents £78 per annum inclusive. The best value ever offered.’ (Times, 28/1/1938, p27) Boston Manor Park 145 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 1938 Dec 17 - ‘The trees ... are deservedly famous for their luxuriance ... the finest [cedar], which stands on the lawn on the garden front ... when last measured had a girth of 25 ft. Another tree of special interest is a huge spreading yew on the south side ... When the writer first saw this ... tree forty years ago it had a shaped opening in the middle ... purposely cut and trained to provide a vista of the garden from the dining room windows, but subsequent growth has entirely filled up the space.’ (Turner, F 1938 ‘Brentford’s Historic Houses, No 2, Boston Manor House,’ Middx Chron, Sat Dec 17, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 1940-61 Two rooms on the ground floor of the house are occupied as an infant school. (Anonymous typescript history of Boston Manor House, no date, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 1940 Mar 8 - Housing advertisements have radically changed their stress on ‘desirable features’ or ‘selling points,’ and now prioritise safety during wartime bombing raids. Among facilities being promoted at new blocks of apartments are ‘shelters ... specially framed steel and concrete construction ... resident nurses and doctors,’ and ‘residential fortress, massive reinforced concrete frame ... municipal specially constructed shelter below.’ Boston Manor Road’s newly completed flats, previously advertised as having ‘completely equipped kitchen and bath room’ are now sold on the basis that ‘You can live out of the danger zone without extra rent, ‘Manor Vale’, facing park, rents 30/- - 35/- per week...’ Unfortunately, the Boston Manor area does suffer damage during air raids. (Times, 8 and 11/3/1940, p16) 1940 ? Street map– shows little detail, although ‘London Playing Fields’ appear for the first time, including a row of tennis courts at the south (south of later M4). (Appendix 1.26) 1941 The Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) held their Christmas dinner in Boston House in this year. (Photograph in Chiswick Library Local History Collection). 1947 May 30 - Boston Manor House declared an Ancient Monument – no alterations can be carried out by the council without the permission of the Ministry of Works. (Brentford and Chiswick Times, 30/5/1947, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 1947 Aug 16 - Letter to the Times, from W E Simnett, Kew, on unused and wasted local assets, like Chiswick House and Gunnersbury. ‘Boston Manor in its fine park ... the only gracious thing in a wilderness of mean bricks and mortar, again unused and neglected ... Should not the London Society concern itself with these matters?’ (Times, 16/8/1947, p5) 1948 Aug 30 - Letter to the Times, from H N Harding, Chiswick. ‘You [the Editor] refer to Chiswick as ‘one of London’s dreariest suburbs,’ condemnation in my view undeserved ... Are you aware that Gunnersbury Park ... is now a public open space and that the same remark applies to Boston House, the Elizabethan manor with extensive grounds ...? A conducted tour would, I feel sure, cause you to withdraw this unjust criticism.’ (Times, 30/8/1948, p5) 1957 April 12 - ‘A Warning that unless the decision ... to close Boston Manor House Infants’ School is reversed, the parents ... will bring their children out on strike. ... Where other schools can only offer ... a stony expanse as a playground, children at Boston Manor ... can use the whole of the spacious and well-kept ... park with its lush, green lawns, to play on. And ... a small pond where the children have their nature studies.’ Another, undated article reads: ‘Middlesex Education Committee approved ... that [Boston Manor House Infants’ School] should be closed at the end of the summer term ... ‘The great west-road is not a local road,’ Councillor Gundry pointed out. ‘It is a main arterial road ... one of the death traps of this country. The school was opened in 1940 to save children from having to cross this road. What has happened since 1940 to make this road any safer to cross?’ he asked.’ Further articles refer to the pupils’ parents’ dismay at closing the school, with headlines like ‘Readers protest at school closure,’ ‘More children will be killed,’ and ‘Stabbed in Back ... Say Parents.’ The parents of 21 children were willing to transfer them to Ealing schools, which left only 33 pupils at the end of the [undated] summer term. The road safety issue was the parents’ main concern, as all the alternative schools would necessitate the children crossing the Great West Road. (Undated, unsourced newspaper cuttings, one from Brentford and Chiswick Times, April 1957, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 146 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 1958 Mar 19 - ‘Britain is to have its first double-decker road, on the pattern already adopted in Belgium, as a part of the projected London to South Wales motorway. The ... road will start near the Chiswick flyover ... and will follow the line of the Great West Road for one mile ... and then descend gradually to ground level ... near Boston Manor Road ... Single supporting piers with splayed heads will be erected along the central strip of the Great West Road ... One of the major advantages of the new road is that it will not involve the demolition of property which would have been necessary under the original proposal.’ (Times, 19/3/1958, p10) 1958 Mar 19 - Times newspaper publishes ‘an artist’s impression of the view from the western end of the proposed viaduct to carry the South Wales radial road. In the foreground are Boston Manor Park and the bridge carrying the Great West Road across the Grand Union Canal.’ Considering the actual appearance of the completed road, this panorama appears to be quite accurate. (Times, 19/3/1958, p20) 1958 Oct 10 - An unofficial academic exercise by a group of independent town planners is featured in the press: ‘Architectural Notes: Replanning a London Suburb ... In order to focus attention on [comprehensive redevelopment of ... large areas at a time] ... a firm of young London architects, Messrs Chamberlain, Powell and Bon ... have worked out a design for ... Boston Manor, a typical dormitory suburb ... It has a population of 15,000 spread over about 400 acres, which under their scheme would be increased to 30,000 ... The authors ... stress the need for ... shopping facilities ... [residents live on] dull monotonous roads, typical of estate agents’ piecemeal planning, and the small advantage taken of the park-like landscape to the west, which is ringed with garden fences and prefabs ... and a railway siding at its heart.’ ‘In the new scheme a central shopping and entertainment centre is built above these empty railway lines ... on two levels with large-scale car parking below ... seven storey office buildings ... all traffic is ... segregated ... 30-storey tower blocks ... two storey terraces of houses ... On the west the suburb is opened up towards the park-like landscape ... [this] project ... provides the greenery and generous open space that modern standards ... demand; yet it doubles the population ... without lateral expansion ... revitaliz[ing] ... areas that at present lack character or proper social coherence.’ (Times, 10/10/1958, p17) 1958 Nov 25 - The above, purely theoretical, study caused unnecessary local panic. ‘Boston Manor ... which was chosen as the fictional scene for a hypothetical redevelopment ... has had cause to regret ... its supposed future. Middlesex [Council] reports ‘An unfortunate result of ... this study is that residents in Boston Manor ... now find themselves subject to the anxieties so often associated with a ‘redevelopment scheme’ – a decline in the value of their properties and difficulty ... [in selling], particularly as the southern part ... has already been involved in ... the South Wales motorway.’ (Times, 25/11/1958, p6) 1959 Mar 3 - ‘A model of the proposed Great West Road viaduct ... will be available for inspection by objectors ... in Hogarth Hall ... The 20ft model brings out the impressive character of one of the more unusual [Government road] schemes ... reinforced concrete piers will be placed every 60ft down the centre of the existing [Great West] road ... Shortly before the junction ... with Boston Manor Road the elevated highway will curve away to the north across Boston Manor Park and the river Brent, which is also the Grand Union Canal. As it crosses the park, the viaduct will ascend to pass over a factory fronting on Boston Manor Road. Taller piers will be needed here, and to reduce their number there will be steel spans varying from 200ft to 370ft long. The highway will then gradually descend to ground level ... There will be substantial steel railings on the outside to prevent vehicles toppling off the viaduct. Although the height of the viaduct will be generally 25ft ... it rises to 65ft at the point where it crosses the factory.’ (Times, 3/3/1959, p5) 1959 Nov 27 - Boston Manor House to let. ‘During the last war the house suffered some damage, and the council ... propose to spend about £10,000 with the aid of the Historic Buildings Council, and Middlesex County Council on restoring and modernizing the interior. In recent years two rooms on the ground floor have been used by a primary school. The house contains about 30 rooms with a floor area of 7,000 sq ft and is set in parkland ...’ (Times, 27/11/1959, p26) 1959 Nov 27 - Advertisement : ‘John D Wood & Co, By order of the Borough of Brentford and Chiswick, Historic Boston Manor House.. is set in beautiful Boston Manor Park 147 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 parkland in a most convenient position close to the Great West Road .. and will be of special interest to schools, Institutions, or those seeking Prestige Office Accommodation; To be let unfurnished on long lease ...’ (Times, 27/11/1959, p26) 1960s Francis Frith, the postcard manufacturers of Reigate, take a series of highly conventional ‘municipal park’ photographs, presumably as trials for possible postcards of the park. The grounds are empty, every lawn manicured and each grass verge is ruler-straight. The gardens look as if they have been suddenly deserted, with the incongruously empty benches and bright sunshine. (Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 1960 Jan - House restoration work initiated by the Borough of Brentford & Chiswick, with aid of grant of £10,000 from Historic Buildings Council, and £1,000 from Pilgrim Trust and £5,000 from Middlesex County Council. (Gladys Mitchell, Boston Manor House guidebook, no date, p1; anon typescript temporary free leaflet, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln). Architect Donald Insall’s own account of the restoration appears in this chronology under 1972, the date he published it. 1960 Oct 20 - Route of 12 mile section of London-South Wales motorway announced by Ministry of Transport – from existing Chiswick flyover, carried over Great West Road on viaduct for first mile, over Boston Manor Park before passing round north side of Osterley Park at ground level. (Times, 20/10/1960, p3) 1961 Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 – most of the tennis courts have now gone, with the main part of the walled garden now occupied by 14 post-war prefab houses, with the square north part still showing glass-houses. A pavilion is shown in the south field but no pitch is indicated. (Appendix 1.27) 1961 April 28 - ‘Restoration work started this week on Boston Manor ... Less than a year ago ... It was threatened with demolition because money for repairs could not be found. The news led to a storm of protest ... Because of this prodding, Brentford and Chiswick Council got in touch with the Minister of Works ... the one-teacher [Boston Manor] infants school occupying the ground floor ... closed at Easter. ... ‘We were surprised ... several councillors were indifferent about it being restored.’ Despite the flurry of activity to preserve the house, the gate lodge attracted no such attention, and ironically, its demolition is recorded in the same article: Beneath a photograph of the inhabitants, is written ‘And this is Boston Lodge, which is shortly to be demolished, with the present residents, Mr Wilf Pollard (80) and his wife Ethel (77) who are leaving ... after many years to live in a pre-fab,’ (Brentford and Chiswick Times, 28/4/1961, p3, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln). 1961 July 31 - During restoration, Francis Ballard takes a series of pictures of the interior of the manor, including ceilings which have been taken down and walls stripped to bare brickwork. One large barrel reads ‘dry rot fluid,’ which is self explanatory. Elsewhere, ceilings and floors are supported by scaffolding and props. (Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 1961 Aug 16 - Preliminary work on 1¼ mile overhead road running west from Chiswick flyover began yesterday, and traffic will have to be diverted for three years. Great West Road’s width will be reduced, with only two lanes replacing three in each direction. The motorway will have a spur to London airport, and six pedestrian subways will be built at intervals from Chiswick to Boston Manor Road. (Times, 16/8/1961, p4) 1962 Feb 19 - A campaign to find temporary foster parents for children while their mothers are in hospital, and the failure of the NHS home help service to provide sufficient support at such times, attracts comment by ‘the important-sounding National Institute of Houseworkers.’ The Institute ‘does not appear to contribute much to the mitigation of these serious shortages [of trained domestic help] and suggests, in any case, that there never will be a general return to housework, career-wise ... The Middlesex County Council contributed £5,000 towards the purchase of Boston Manor ... (the administrative headquarters), to which the trainees [of the Institute] will shortly be moving, and still makes a contribution towards the administration, though the chief officer of the institute appears reluctant to admit the amount.’ ‘The Middlesex Council report also that they have no jurisdiction over the running of the institute, neither can they say what amount, if any, is available as an official contribution...’ The Institute was established in 1947 to accredit courses and professionally train domestic workers of both sexes. (Times, 19/2/1962, p13) 148 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 1962 Mar 8 - Correction to above article – ‘It should have been made clear that this [£5,000 contribution] was the amount of a grant to Brentford ... Council to assist in the restoration of the manor house ... The Institute is entirely responsible for adaptation of these premises for its own purposes ... the Council ... do not make any contribution towards the institute’s administrative funds ...’ (Times, 8/3/1962) 1962 June 26 - Ministry of Transport advertises for tenders for building motorway from Boston Manor Park to Harlington interchange, and thence to London Airport, 7.2 miles. To include site clearance, dual 36ft-wide concrete carriageways, 18 bridges and two viaducts. (Times, 26/6/1962, p1) 1962 June 30 - Work to start immediately on £5m elevated carriageway for M4 – two mile stretch from Chiswick flyover to Boston Manor Park, the first viaduct of its type in Britain. Contract awarded to Marples, Ridgway and Partners in association with Christiani and Neilsen, Ltd. (Times, 30/6/1962, p4) 1962 Dec 4 - Contract for over £6 million awarded to Richard Costain (Civil Engineering) Ltd and Higgs and Hill, for the construction of seven miles of M4 from Boston Manor Park up to London Airport spur. The three-lane carriageways will have 10ft hard shoulders, and a 13ft central reserve, and 17 bridges. Work due for completion by Dec 1964. These companies are already building the Slough bypass. (Times, 4/12/1962, p7) 1963 June 22 - Photograph of the newly restored state room at Boston Manor, ‘restored under the direction of the architect, Mr Donald W Insall,’ although the paper gives the wrong day for the Queen Mother’s visit. (Times, 22/6/1963, p16) 1963 July 9 - Queen Mother reopens newly refurbished Boston Manor ‘restored to something like its Jacobean graciousness and dedicated to sound domestic and educational purposes ... as a school for training students in domestic work.’ State rooms will be open to the public on certain days. ‘Much of the work, especially in respect of modernization, has been done since the tenancy of the Institute began.’ (Times 9/7/1963, p14) 1963 Aug 27 - Report on progress towards the Government’s target of 1,000 miles of motorway built by the early 1970s. London Airport spur due for completion by December 1964, ‘by which time the two mile long viaduct section now being built over the Great West Road from Chiswick flyover to Boston Manor Park, will also be completed.’ (Times, 27/8/1963, p4) 1964 Oct 14 - Aerial photograph published showing the progress of the laying of the decking on the elevated roadway above Boston Manor Park and the Great West Road. There are also contemporary photos taken of the viaduct legs being constructed across the park, from ground level (from Chiswick Library Local History Collection). (Times, 14/10/1964, p22) 1965 Mar 18 - The Chiswick-Langley section of the M4, with 7 miles of reinforced concrete dual carriageways, is to be opened on 24 March by the Minister of Transport, Tom Fraser. The designers and consulting engineers are Sir Alexander Gibb and Partners, and the contractors for the Boston Manor-London Airport concrete works are Richard Costain (Engineering) Ltd, Higgs and Hill Ltd Joint Venture. (Times, 18/3/1964, p19) 1965 Mar 18 - Country Life carries article on Boston Manor House, ‘property of Brentford and Chiswick Borough Council.’ Described as a ‘pastoral paradise ... less known and less often illustrated. The river Brent, now a filthy brown stream, runs west ... where the steep slope is thickly planted ... into a little hanging wood ... and ... help to screen the industrial estate on the far side of the Brent ... The contrast between this Arcadian scene [in the 1759 landscape portrait by Arthur Devis] and the same view today must make the angels weep.’ This article suggests that the architect of the 19th century Jacobean-revival porch and hall screen is C J Richardson, working in the 1830s, and names the architect of the 1963 restoration as Ailwyn Best, of Donald Insall’s practice. (Oswald, A 1965 ‘Boston Manor House,’ Country Life 18 Mar, pp603-7) 1965 June 30 - Life in the Shadow of an Overhead Motorway – or Noise without End; Research into effects of M4 Extension. Study of urban traffic noise by Government’s Building Research station, and effects of sunlight being shut off from homes and gardens under the flyovers. ‘A woman said ... ‘I put it on my letters now: ‘Underneath the Arches’!’ ‘Hers is one of a row of small council houses in Boston Park Road, where the motorway passes on great girders overhead. At the back ... is a desert of small, Boston Manor Park 149 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 brown gardens, where the occasional well-tended flower seems to glow with unnatural brightness ... [A woman] in the row has five children ... their back garden is full of muddy water that drains into it from the motorway overhead, turning it into a shallow brown lake ...The house ... has been much colder since the motorway blocked out the sun. ‘The kids went to the park and came back with hardly anything on, all sunburnt ... We were sitting here ... with the fire on ... All seemed prepared to endure it for the sake of the rent, which has always been low there and is now down to 23/- a week ... An Irish war widow with wistful memories of the days you could hear the dawn bird chorus here told me ‘I feel very bitter about it, because it has been a struggle paying for the house and I could never afford to move.’ (Times, 30/6/1965, p6) 1967 Feb 7 - Breakaway lamp posts experiment – 250 jointed steel columns ‘designed to minimize the effect of collisions by snapping off at their base’ are installed along 3½ mile section of Great North Road. ‘Simultaneously, the Ministry of Transport ... are erecting an impressive stretch of old-style lamp standards down the 13ft wide centre reservation of the M4 ... where it returns to ground level from the 2 mile viaduct over A4, west of Boston Manor Park. At this point there is a 70 mph speed limit, and over the past two years traffic volume has increased by 48 per cent ...’ Different traffic experts have conflicting opinions about the safety of the different types of lighting, but the siting of the trials comes down to cost. (Times, 7/2/1967, p13) 1967 Dec 6 - ‘Wanted: New image for an old profession [domestic service].’ ‘At a conference in 1964 the [National] Institute [of Housecraft] considered whether ‘it could assist in easing the path of the professional woman with domestic responsibilities to enable her to return to her career.’ ... perhaps it could co-opt on to its board a few professional women who are not particularly domesticated and therefore need help to cope with their double lives? ... National Institute of Housecraft, Boston Manor House, Diploma courses are held at three residential centres, last 8 months (plus one year in employment) for under-17s; 6 months for over-17s. No O level requirement ... housecraft – sorry, domestic science – sorry, home economics...’ (Times, 6/12/1967, p9) 1970 Feb 19 - A wintery picture of the grounds of Boston Manor, covered in snow and a solitary pedestrian hunched against the cold, appears in the Brentford and Chiswick Times. (Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 1970 Mar 9 - A local company, Trico-Folkerth Ltd, of Great Western Road, donates 6 benches for use in the park. (Brentford and Chiswick Times, 9/4/1970, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 1970 Mar 30 - The proposed site of an artificial ski slope in the park is shown in an equally incongruous picture, with the ancient trees outlined against the concrete flyover. (Brentford and Chiswick Times, 30/4/1970, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 1971 Mar 29 - Picture showing sad state of the clock face at Boston Manor, and the belfry which looks equally precarious. The hands are missing from the clock, and the face is crumpled within its frame, while the weatherboarding of the bell- cote is split. (Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 1972 Architect Donald W Insall, whose firm restored the house in 1961-3, includes the Boston Manor project in his book The care of old buildings today: a practical guide, published by the Architectural Press. He uses Boston as the exemplar of ‘Taking advantage of architectural, archaeological and decorative discoveries.’ He notes that the contract included the repair of roofs and chimneys, sash windows and the porch. They treated dry rot and death watch beetle, and installed central heating, and restored and repainted the state room plaster ceilings. While removing 19th century panelling, a strapwork plaster frieze was discovered in the state bedroom. It was at this time that the mirror-painted balustrade was found on the staircase walls, along with the 18th century handblocked pictorial wallpaper. (Insall, D W 1972 The care of old buildings today (repr 1975), pp159-62) 1975 Nov 13 - Brentford and Chiswick Times carries a photograph of two gardeners raking up leaves at Boston Manor. (Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 1995 ‘In a portrait [1759] by Arthur Devis of Colonel James Clitherow and his wife on the grounds of their estate ... James proudly holds a spade-like digging tool known as a ‘spud,’ a sign of his pride in agriculture, one source of his wealth. The success of his enterprise is manifested by the well-tended park in which he stands. Clitherow’s control over his land is signalled in part by the dammed 150 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 river Brent directly behind him. One might argue that wealth achieved through agriculture was culturally acceptable in eighteenth century England ...’ This book gives the present location of this painting, usually considered lost, as ‘Private collection, London,’ (Fig 6, p81). (Leppert, R and McClary, S 1987 Music and Society: the Politics of Composition ... (repr 1996), pp79-80) 1992 Housing for Women, with Hounslow Council and English Heritage, finished converting the Grade II listed stable-block at Boston into seven self-contained flats, funded by the Housing Corporation. Dating of roof timbers suggested the building was older than thought, and built around 1700. The original clock face was preserved, and the new mechanism was installed in 1996. Gatton Construction and A Pitman were involved in the restoration. (Press release by M Hills, Housing for Women, Mar 1996, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 1998 May 24 and 25 - ‘The Battle of Boston Manor’ re-enacted by the Sealed Knot Society and Histrionix, supported by Hounslow’s Leisure Trust. ‘Wander round the army camp ... meet the soldiers ... with drums beating and flags flying!’ (Boston Park events file in Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 1999 May 30 and 31 - ‘It’s Civil War’ - American Civil War re-enactment with over 200 participants, over the Spring Bank Holiday, ‘in spectacular style amid spectacular scenery.’ Put on by Brentford Regeneration Partnership and the Community Initiative Partnership. (Boston Park events file in Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 2000 May 28-29 – ‘North vs South at Boston Manor House’ – American Civil War re-enactment group put on a display with cannons. (Boston Park events file in Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 2000 Dec 20 - Malcolm Lister, landscape architect with Hounslow Council’s Community Initiative Partnership requests that Boston Manor Park be put on English Heritage’s Parks and Gardens Register, stating ‘the basic structure of the grounds have [sic] remained basically unaltered since at least 1838 ... since the 1935 map we have lost the riverside path ... and the park has suffered the worst blow ever dealt to it – the building of the M4 ... two opportunities have arisen to fund improvements ... £150,000 ... with Glaxo Smith Kline ... [used] as match funding ... to the London Waterway Partnership ... [for] restoration of the riverside walk ... paths with a fine gravel finish ... opening up present gloomy and overgrown tree and shrub growth ... to lake margins.’ The council would like to pursue Heritage Lottery Funding at a later stage. (Letter from CIP to Mike Rowan, Head of Parks and Gardens Register, copy at Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 2001 Aug 9 - ‘Boston Manor Park is to get a £500,000 facelift ... a new play area, riverside nature trail and refurbished pathways ... plans are put on display ... as far as groundsman and gardener John Murphy is concerned, the biggest problem is a lack of manpower. As the sole workman ... [his] efforts are appreciated by many ... who use the park as a quiet spot for a lunch break ... A [grandmother] said ‘The play equipment is excellent but ... most of what’s here is really for children aged 7 or 8 and there’s just one bucket swing for the very young ... A kiosk ... would be good because there ... are no shops nearby.’ The first stage will be funded by £150,000 ... from [GSK] as part of planning permission for its new headquarters.’ (Hounslow Chronicle 9/8/2001, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 2002 Sept 9 - ‘Vandalism is spoiling the enjoyment of people using a park in Hounslow ... Friends of Boston Manor Park held its first meeting ... inviting regular park users ... to make suggestions for improvements ... But residents believe the friends group was set up because there is no money available for improvements. ‘The £150,000 budget from GlaxoSmithKline has already been exhausted,’... ‘Picnic benches are being vandalised ... the lake is full of rubbish ... the banks are quite hideous,’ ... another resident said ‘The park is left open at night and that’s when a lot of the damage is caused. If we had a park keeper ... that would really help.’ (Hounslow Informer, 6/9/2002, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 2003 Jan - Friends of Boston Manor Park produce the first issue of their newsletter, ‘Park News.’ The various areas of the park are divided between committee members. They are ‘formed to work with the local authority, CIP and local businesses to improve the house and gardens for the benefit of all people who use the park ... A committee was voted in ... on 28 Oct 2002 ... Chair Janis Dodd.’ ‘CIP manages parks on behalf ... Hounslow who give CIP a grant each year,’ while also managing other cultural facilities. At CIP’s preliminary meeting about forming a Friends group, 30 residents attended, ‘with a passion and belief Boston Manor Park 151 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 in both the park and the house ... a formidable group.’ (Friends file in Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 2003 Jan 3 - Hounslow Council issues press release that the house will be closed for the 2003 season to allow essential repair work on structural problems in the SW corner. A full structural survey has recommended the complete rebuilding of 2.8 m of wall, underpinning and the systematic treatment of other repairs. (Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 2003 Jan 20 - Friends of Boston Manor Park hold their first meeting at the manor house. ‘We will be discussing important issues about the house and park.’ J Dodd, C Williams, and J Jones organise the meeting. (Friends File in Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 2003 Mar 3 - ‘Friends of Boston Manor Park have been busy clearing weeds and tidying up ... over the past few months [with] Gunnersbury Catholic School [pupils] doing community work ... we are working on saving the old garden area, an original feature ... which CIP [Hounslow Council’s leisure arm] wanted to grass over ... we want to get football posts put up so children stop playing football on the bowling green and ruining it. ... We [the Friends group] had to take action because when the council make cutbacks the first things to suffer are always the parks.’ (Tim Street, Hounslow Chronicle 27/3/03, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 2003 May 15 ‘Boston Manor Park has been spruced up, thanks to ... helpers from Brentford Free Church Hall ... [who] cleaned up graffiti and ... paint[ed] railings and fences ... about 40 people between 12 and 80 came along.’ (Hounslow Chronicle, 15/5/2003, p11; Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 2003 May 19 - At a meeting of the Friends of Boston Manor Park, local plant grower Amanda Savage suggested possible suitable purchases for the herbaceous border. ‘Traditionally ... one should see ... drifts of colour, and close to, groupings of plants ... height ordered ... from March to October.’ She suggested a holding bed, planting rowans ... “we had to be strong and say no to incorrect plants.”’ She would also design a planting diagram of the beds. At the same meeting, the young offenders’ group supposed to work around the pond had not turned up over a 3-week period, the railings had been painted, and the pond drainage was blocked. A cage should be placed over the drain to stop wood blocking it. (Minutes of meeting at Boston Bowling Club, Friends File in Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 2003 July 23 - Minutes of meeting of Friends of Boston Manor Park held on a picnic bench by the pond. Plastic tubing, caged and concealed, had been installed to deal with pond overflow. Don Bowie had registered the cedar tree with The Registry of Great Britain. Bollards were to be relocked around the cricket pitch, but landscapers were having difficulty accessing sites as the carpark was full of GSK vehicles. Bollards would not be unlocked until after most GSK staff had arrived. Park gates have been removed for refurbishment. Pyracantha and bindweed was being removed, and Brentford Football Club was willing to assist in funding bids for a small-sided football development centre and skate park, which could act as the club’s outreach centre. The security of any such buildings was a major concern. (Friends File in Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 2004 ‘Work on the [local] M4 began in the winter of 1962 ... [it] bisected the district and all the north-south roads had to be diverted ... The road engineers seemed [to try] ... to maximise its environmental impact. It cut through Boston Manor Park, Osterley Park, ... To make matters worse it was ... built at ground level ... [instead of being] in a cutting.’ (Sherwood, P 2004 Hayes and West Drayton: Transport and Industry, p29) 2004 Mar - Park News, the Friends of Boston Manor Park newsletter, lists various projects: laying wood chippings along the nature trail, with local school pupils, and removing brambles. The shutters of the bowls clubhouse were painted with murals to discourage graffiti. Football goal posts are installed in the upper field. Gunnersbury School pupils were thinning hedges which had become a security problem, and the main project was to replant herbaceous borders beside the bowling club, which had been saved from being grassed over. GSK had given a grant for the plants. FOBM had purchased a storage container for tools and as a base for work parties. (Friends of Boston Manor Park File, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 2004 April - Paul Fitzmaurice writes a press release on Little Boston House, which was demolished c1930, after some photographs are identified by former 152 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 residents. It was formerly the dower house, and latterly occupied by a film actor, Ellie Norwood from 1916-25. It was then purchased by local builder Charles Jackman, who redeveloped the site as nos 236-260 Windmill Road, Brentford. (Press release, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 2004 April 5 - Friends of Boston Manor Park hold their AGM. Among their achievements for the year were working with Redlees Youth Offenders, establishing a tennis club and clearing fly-tipping, and an Art in the Park project with Boston Study Centre. (Friends File in Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 2004 April 15 - ‘Need for Helpers at the Boston Tea Party - Guests will be asked to turn up with a trowel ... to help replant two borders in the walled garden ... organised by the Friends of Boston Manor Park ... concerned about the decline of the parkland which is managed by ... CIP. Thanks to a £2,000 grant from [GSK] ... 774 plants are to be planted ... The new beds ... designed by Amanda Savage, a student at Capel Manor College ... CIP has ... offer[ed] expert help.’ (Hounslow Chronicle, 15/4/2004, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 2004 April 16 - Painting of James Clitherow IV donated to Hounslow Council by Ealing Hospital ‘to honour the role Clitherow played in the creation of their mental health unit.’ It was painted by H W Pickersgill in 1835, for the committee room of Middlesex County Lunatic Asylum, where he was chairman. (Cutting, no source, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 2005 Around this time ‘Boston Manor Nature Trail’ leaflet is produced, but it is undated, although it refers to recent conservation developments, but does not say when ‘recent’ might have been! It is the work of the Ealing and Chiswick Group of the London Wildlife Trust, and the Brent River and Canal Society, in celebration of the ‘first time there has been a direct link between the [Brent River] park, South Brentford and ... Hanwell, Southall and Ealing.’ The trail leads through the woods to Clitheroe’s Island, where 22 kinds of trees and over 100 other flowering plants have been recorded. It also shows the traces of older landscapes, such as piped spring lines shown by wetland plants, willows grown for basketmaking, and soft fruit plants left from the old lock keeper’s garden. (Boston Park events file in Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 2005 ‘Brentford depot [was] a freight terminal at which barges from ... the Thames ... too wide for the canals ... transferred their loads ... [onto] 20,000 narrowboats each year. Suddenly, the canal-river is green with healthy brambles and unrestrained vegetation, until it becomes a stretch bordered by office blocks ... [on] the far side ... the old river in its near-natural state ... usefully channels overflow water ... at Osterley Lock ... there is a nature reserve and picnic site... Playing fields inland were created over an infill site from river-straightening excavations.’ (Cooper, G C 2005 Walking London’s Docks, Rivers and Canals, pp22-23) 2005 Sept 4 - First of the new series of the Brentford Festival held by the Friends of Boston Manor, to raise funds towards park improvements and a community cafe. A dog show was a major part of the event, along with bands ‘featuring pedal powered sound system,’ cream teas and tennis and cricket club competitions. Brentford Football Club offered coaching. (Boston Park events file in Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 2006 Sept 6 - Connaught Opera performed a recital in Boston House as part of the Brentford festival, in aid of various carers’ and dementia organizations. (Boston Park events file in Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 2005 Sept 8 - ‘3,000 people enjoy the ... town’s revived festival ... ‘put Brentford on the map’ ... graffiti sessions, where youngsters got to show off ... Event manager Linda Massey said it had been a huge success ... just three months after it was first dreamt up ... ‘People have been ... asking if there’s going to be another one next year’ ... the event had raised about £1,500 for the Friends of Boston Manor Park.’ (Boston Park events file in Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 2005 Oct 31 - The Evening Standard carried a story about a 31 year-old ex-prisoner helped by a special landscape gardening and horticultural company, specifically aimed at providing vocational training to assist unemployed ex-offenders. The regeneration charity Blue Sky Developments was set up in 2004-5. ‘They’re working on the restoration of Boston Manor Park ... to return the 17th century gardens, now long neglected and overrun with weeds, to their former glory. ‘We’re all used to starting from scratch ... This is a real job and we’re offering real skills.’ Working with the Prison Service ... jobs include site clearance, landscaping, graffiti removal, hedge trimming and lawn maintenance.’ (Calman, B 2005 ‘Out of Jail, into Work,’ London Evening Standard, 31/10/2005, p43) Boston Manor Park 153 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 2007 ‘The Society for the Promotion of Urban Renewal might [exhibit] ... Their scheme for the regeneration of Boston Manor [in 1959] ... a throwback to the type of city design associated with ... the late 1930s ... [It was] a real-world site that embraced ... employment, leisure and communications ... [to absorb London overspill] ... a New Town within the existing urban area ... discard[ing] two touchstones of belief – a prejudice against suburbia and against higher density – to ... house 29,500 ... as against the existing 14,800 ... [This] involved ... 30-storey blocks ... six-storey terraced housing, two storey[s] around squares ... [reminiscent] of the work of Hilberseimer in Germany on courtyard housing ... it was saying that there was a need for an amalgam of different forms and heights ...The town centre proceeded on somewhat grander lines ... partly [inspired by] Vallingby in Sweden.’ (Gold, J R 2007 The Practice of Modernism: Modern Architects and Urban Transformations, 1954-72, pp97-8) 2007 Nov – A large collection of copies of plans and deeds concerning the Grand Junction Canal’s construction, is lent on long-term loan to Chiswick Library Local History Collection, by Nigel Moore of Brentford Yacht Co. The documents were requested under the Freedom of Information Act by Mr Moore from British Waterways in Watford. The original plans date from the 1790s and later, and are inserted in this chronology from 1794-6 onwards. (Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 2008 ‘Much of this part of the [Grand Union] Canal uses the River Brent, but in places they are separate ... go ... onto a rather bouncy footbridge. With the ultra-modern GSK House rising ahead, [at] Brentford Canal Basin. ... canopies provide[d] shelter while loading ... goods ... There is a rather haunted atmosphere here ... [At] GlaxoSmithKline [headquarters] ... the dramatic reflection of the skyscape [is visible] in the sheer glass walls beyond ... a wooden footbridge leads to Boston Manor Park ... The immediate surroundings ... are predominantly green [with] a roosting heron or two ... A plaque ... records ... the Ealing Canal Celebration in 1993, when scores of narrow boats moored up here.’ (Saunders, C 2008 The Capital Ring, pp88-91) 2008 Brentford Festival held in park. As well as the usual emergency services demonstrations and stalls, there was an ‘official busking area (pre-booked),’ which possibly went against the spontaneity of such impromptu performers! Appearing were the winners of the West London Song Contest, jazz, ‘indie pop, folk and rock.’ (Boston Park events file in Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 2008 Mar 27 - Two letters to the Hounslow Chronicle about the large cedar trees in the park. M Huxley writes ‘I am 85 years old, was born in Brentford ... As a child I spent many happy hours playing in its [the cedar’s] shade and had many picnics with my children ... We also had a fete when I was a child in aid of Brentford Hospital, and after the parade it always finished up in the park ... So this tree is very special to me.’ Janet McNamara writes ‘I remember my children in the 1970s going to shows that were put on during the school holidays that took place under the tree and recently the Friends of Boston Manor established that it has the biggest girth of any tree in the Greater London area.’ (Hounslow Chron, 27/3/08, p12, and 3/4/2008, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 2008 June 5 - ‘Mary’s Choice ... Chronicle Tree Idol contestant Mary Huxley is rooting for a certain cedar tree ...’ The Boston Manor cedar makes a second appearance as Mary Huxley’s choice, with the paper asking for more memories of ‘favourite trees’ in order to win garden centre vouchers. (Webb, C, Hounslow Chronicle, 5/6/2008, p15) 2008 July 8 – Continental Landscapes take over the park management contract from CIP, who had worked with the Friends group since their foundation. (Friends of Boston Manor website transcript, courtesy of J McNamara) 2009 Friends of Boston Manor Park Website lists some of the major events of this year: Pavilion Café opens at weekends, run by volunteers. The Friends, with CIP, transformed the old Bowling Club pavilion into the community café, which is also available for private hire. In addition, the water fountain has been restored and moved from the car park, to the centre of the walled garden, and plans are underway to produce a fitness trail in the upper meadow. Future plans also include developing the potting sheds, and installing a mosaic on the graffiti-covered shelter. (Friends of Boston Manor Park website transcript, courtesy of J McNamara) 2009 ‘In 1712 the estate ... was 230 acres ... 3 acres were gardens and ... 4½ acres ... grounds ... a plan of 1752 shows the walled forecourt and a formal enclosed 154 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 garden ... One [modernizing idea] was to turn the three fishponds ... into one [lake] ... [or] remove the old-fashioned axial approach to the east front, and to make a longer drive ... The painting of 1759 ... of Mr and Mrs Clitherow ... with a stretch of water and ... the house through the trees, is probably an approximate record of their updated grounds.’ (Knight, C 2009 London’s Country Houses, pp83-4) 2009 ‘Boston Manor survives ... cowering as it does barely 400 yards from the elevated section of the M4. Traffic thunders past exquisite ceilings and radiant overmantels, protected only by thin walls and a grove of cedars ... Behind an ugly Victorian porch ... Boston’s punch is ... the state dining room ... one of the most remarkable chambers in London.’ (Jenkins, S 2009 England’s Thousand Best Houses, p487) 2009 ‘[At] Evershed at Boston Manor [in 1966] ... even a dark cloud on the morning of a [cricket] game meant rained-off ... Our games ... started at 2.30 and finished at 7.30 ... Tea could last anything from 30 to 50 minutes. Proceedings were unrushed and civil. Since Evershed were [not] in leagues, the annual fixture list had to be earned. This was done by being up to scratch on and off the field. Evershed had no problem. Boston Manor was a beautiful ground. It had a superb playing area, relatively decent beer (for London), hot showers, two big sight screens, enough capable cricketers to field three XIs and sufficient funds to provide a new ball for every game.‘ (Carnegie, J 2009 In a Different League: Cricket’s North-South Divide, pp11-12) 2009 Spring - ‘Cash for Car Parking? The proposals to build ... on the Green Flag- accredited park have ... support in principle by Hounslow Council ... Parking at GSK ... already comfortably exceeds the maximum standards ... in both Hounslow’s unitary development plan and the London plan. Friends [group members] ... said ‘Local residents are particularly upset about losing the view and we often run festivals in that section.’ (London Landscapes No 21 Spring 2009, p10, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 2009 Feb 19 - ‘GSK wants a car park on Boston Manor Park in exchange for helping with the house and grounds’ regeneration ... with 600 parking spaces.’ Although the Friends group was not informed, shortage of restoration funds may force the council to accept the offer. The council wishes to create a ‘combined sporting hub’ in the park. The Friends and other councillors called for alternative funding suggestions. (Hounslow Chronicle 19/2/2009, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 2009 May 5 - ‘Parkland sale goes to public consultation ... councillors backed plans for a car park ... council leader Peter Thompson said ‘Ideally we would not have to sell ... people do not give you ... millions of pounds without asking for something in return.’ ... the council would only [sell] land currently under the M4 flyover and would not ... giv[e] up green spaces.’ Despite the Friends group’s concerns, the proposals will not go to the public. (Hounslow Chronicle, 5/5/2009, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 2009 Sept 6 - Green Flag Day, Boston Manor Park. ‘Boston Manor … has, yet again, won the Green Flag Award … for an amazing fifth consecutive year … for attaining high standards within the park.’ (Photos, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln; Friends of Boston Manor Park website, courtesy J McNamara) 2010 ‘Boston ... the garden front with its stately old cedars ... [in] 1924 ... the new Great West Road induced [the Clitherows] to sell up ... Today, the view ... is of the M4 flyover, but originally the house looked over parkland to the River Brent, and beyond, to Osterley Park ... [Once] Brentford was surrounded by ... country mansions: Syon House ... Gunnersbury House ... . Remarkably, all survive today and all are open to the public.’ (Duncan, A 2010 Andrew Duncan’s Favourite London Walks, p187) 2010 Aug 1 - Summer Discovery Trail, covering local and natural history, is aimed at raising funds for the festival and park. ‘Why travel anywhere else?’ The event produced quizzes for children on the animals and trees in the park. (Boston Park events file in Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) 2010 Sept 5 - Brentford Festival, Boston Manor Park, ‘The best ever local family festival.’ This event, which has over 10,000 visitors, included an Urban Farm, pony rides, dog show, a fun fair, crafts stalls, and children’s lunch-box making in the walled garden. As well as an army assault course, there was a ‘champagne and oyster bar,’ real ale and live music from two stages, local radio and kayaking on the canal. (Boston Park events file in Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln) Boston Manor Park 155 Conservation Management Plan April 2018

Appendix 3

Sources and references 156 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 Boston Manor Park 157 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 Appendix 3 Sources and references

All the Year 1864 ‘Sussex Ironmasters,’ All the year Round, A Weekly (Dickens, C ed), Vol XI (1864), 21 May, pp351-356 Anon History of Boston Manor House, typescript, nd, Chiswick Library Local History Collection Anon 1907 London Leaders, Historic Families, Ancestral Estate, Allan North, London (subscription publication) Bateman, J 188 The Great Landowners of Great Britain ... of 3,000 acres and upwards, 4th edn, London Brentford and Chiswick Times 1947 Boston Manor designated Ancient Monument report, 30 May 1947 Brentford and Chiswick Times 1957 Series of articles about proposed closure of Boston Manor Infants School and eviction from Manor House, April 1957, Chiswick Library Local History Collection Brentford and Chiswick Times 1961Report on start of restoration work on house; gate lodge demolished, 28 April1961, p3 Brentford and Chiswick Times 1970 Photograph of Boston House grounds in winter, 19 Feb 1970 Brentford and Chiswick Times 1970 Photograph of proposed site of ski slope in park, 30 April 1970 Brewer, J N 1816 ‘London and Middlesex,’ in Brayley, E W and Britton, J (eds), 1801-18 The Beauties of England and Wales, Vol 10, Part IV Calman, B 2005 ‘Out of Jail, into Work,’ London Evening Standard, 31 Oct 2005, p43 Canham, R and Dr G Glanville, 1978 2000 Years of Brentford, HMSO Carnegie, J 2009 In a Different League: Cricket’s North-South Divide, Leicester Clitherow, M 1902 Letter to Dr Nares, in ‘Royalty in the Parish,’ Home Counties Maganzine Vol 4, pp114-5 Cooper, G C 2005 Walking London’s Docks, Rivers and Canals, London Country Life 1904, ‘Boston House, Middlesex,’ 20 Feb, pp272-3 Cox, J C 1909 ‘The parks and Historic Houses,’ in Tavenor Perry, J (ed) Memorials of Old Middlesex, London, pp189-211 Dean, R 1879 ‘Hailstorm of August 3,’ Letter re nurseryman’s aid fund, Aug 16, Gardener’s Chronicle Vol 12 (New Ser), p214 Duncan, A 2010 Andrew Duncan’s Favourite London Walks, London Ealing and Chiswick Group, London Wildlife Trust et al, c2005 [nd] Boston Manor Nature Trail, leaflet Emslie, J P 1902 ‘A Walk on the Banks of the Brent,’ Home Counties Magazine Vol 3, pp116-125 Fitzmaurice, P 2004 Little Boston House, press release after photos are identified, Chiswick Library Local History Collection Ford, C (ed) 1913 Writings of John Quincy Adams, New York, Vol 6 Friends of Boston Manor Park 2003 and later Park News, newsletter, Chiswick Library Local History Collection 158 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 Garden 1885 Garden photographic competition, Miss Jekyll and Charles Jeffries finalists, The Garden Vol 28, p395 Garden 1886 ‘Boston House, Brentford,’ The Garden Jan 2, with photo, Vol 29, pp6-7 Gard Chron 1892 Letter re chrysanthemum and pelargonium grafting, Gardeners’ Chronicle, Vol 12, (3rd Ser), p472 Gard Chron 1924 Report on opening of Boston Manor Park, Gardeners’ Chronicle, 20 Sept1924, p191 Gard Chron 1936 Report on Brentford and Chiswick Horticultural Society Summer Show, Gardeners’ Chronicle, 18 April 1936, p242 Gard Mag 1831‘London Nurseries and Suburban Gardens,’ Gardener’s Magazine Vol 7, p358 Gard Mag 1833 ‘Notes on Gardens and Country Seats,’ Gardener’s Magazine Vol 9, pp530-1 Gard Mag 1834 ‘Obituary, Hugh Ronalds, nurseryman,’ Gardener’s Magazine Vol 10, p96 Gentl Mag 1853 ‘Obituary Lt Gen Clitherow KC,’ Gentlemen’s Magazine Vol 39 (New Ser), p200 Glanville, G H 1978 ‘Brentford: the historical background,’ in Canham, R (ed) 1978 2000 Years of Brentford, London HMSO Gold, J R 2007 The Practice of Modernism: Modern Architects and Urban Transformations, 1954-72, Abingdon Harding, H N 1948 Aug 30 Letter re parks in Chiswick, The Times 30Aug 1948, p5 Hill, R H E 1903 ‘Boston Manor House, Brentford,’ Home Counties Magazine Vol 5, pp30-38 Hill, R H E 1903 ‘Sir Christopher Clitherow, Knight, and Lord Mayor of London, with some additional notes on Boston House,’ Home Counties Magazine Vol 5, pp213-220 Hills, M 1996 Housing for Women stables conversion, press release, Mar 1996, Chiswick Library Local History Collection Hounslow Chron 2001 Report on park improvements, Hounslow Chronicle 9 Aug 2001 Hounslow Chron 2004 Report on planting new flowerbeds, Hounslow Chronicle 15 April; see also 27 Mar 2003, and 15 May 2003, p11for similar Hounslow Chron 2008 Letters reminiscing about cedar trees, Hounslow Chronicle 27 Mar, p12; see also 5 June 2008, p15 Hounslow Chron 2009 Report on possible sale of parkland for car park, Hounslow Chronicle 5 May Howard, A J 1969 Boston Manor and the Clitherow Family, Thesis, Chiswick Lib Loc Hist Colln Insall, D W 1972 The care of old buildings today, London (repr 1975) Jeffries, C 1886 Letter on breeding sweet peas, The Garden Vol 30, Dec 4, p517 Jeffries, C 1887 Letter on growing lilies, The Garden Vol 31, March 12, p237 Jenkins, S 2009 England’s Thousand Best Houses, London J Horicult 1864 ‘By a ‘French Gentleman resident here in 1770,’ Description of Brentford, Journal of Horticulture Vol 6 (New Ser), p17 Boston Manor Park 159 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 J Horicult 1868 Colllier’s Garden Pottery advertisement with gardener Stothart’s testimonial, Journal of Horticulture Vol 14 (New Ser; Vol 39, Old Ser), p568 Keane, W G 1850 The Beauties of Middlesex ... Seats of the Nobility and Gentry, Chelsea Knight, Frank, Rutley 1922 Contents of the Mansion Boston House, 4 July 1922, Auction Catalogue, Chiswick Library Local History Collection Knight, C 2009 London’s Country Houses, Chichester Leppert, R and McClary, S (eds) 1987Music and Society: the Politics of Composition, Performance and Reception, Cambridge ( repr 1996) Loudon, J C 1828 ‘Gardens of Middlesex,’ in An Encyclopaedia of Gardening (5th edn), London, pp1061-5 Lysons, D 1811 The Environs of London, Vol II, Pt I, County of Middlesex, London McNamara, J 1998 Boston Manor Brentford History and Guide, London Middlesex Ind 1924 Report of opening of Boston Manor Park, Middlesex Independent 13 Sept Mitchell, G nd Boston Manor House guidebook, Chiswick Library Local History Collection Oswald, A 1965 ‘Boston Manor House,’ Country Life 18 Mar, pp603-7 Rimbault,Dr E F 1865 Boston House in Notes and Queries, Vol 7, 3rd Ser, p82 Saunders, C 2008 The Capital Ring, London Scotsman 1922 Sale of family portraits and library, 26 June, p2; also The Scotsman 5 July1922, p10 Sharpe, M 1902 ‘Hobbayne’s Charity: Whether the vill by the New Brent Ford..,’ Home Counties Magazine Vol IV Shavreen, D 2002 ‘James Citherow of Boston Manor,’ Brentford and Chiswick Loc Hist J, No 2, pp17-20 Sherwood, P 2004 Around Hayes and West Drayton: Transport and Industry, Stroud Simnett, W E 1947 Letter on unused local heritage sites The Times, 16 Aug, p5 Stothart, W 1828 ‘Observations on forcing garden rhubarb,’ Gardener’sMagazine Vol 2 (pub 1830), p356 (also reported in The Gardener, Vol 3 (1828), p184) Street, T 2003 Report on volunteers’ work in park, Hounslow Chronicle 27 Mar; see also Hounslow Chronicle, 15 May 2003, p11 Tate, W R 1864 ‘Camberwell,’ Notes and Queries, Vol 6 (3rd Ser), p644 Tavenor-Perry, J 1909 ‘The pilgrimage of the Brent,’ in Tavenor Perry, J (ed) 1909 Memorials of Old Middlesex, London, pp268-284 Times 1818 Report on Clitherow divorce case, The Times 9 Dec, p3; see also 26 Feb 1819, p4; 7 April 1819, p2 Times 1837Letter re Clitherow’s work with Middlesex Lunatic Asylum, The Times 2 May Times 1838 Report of hurricane of 29 Oct, The Times, 30 Oct, p6 Times 1841 Account of River Brent floods, The Times 9 Jan, p3; also 22 Jan, p6 Times 1841 Obituary - Col Clitherow, The Times 13 Oct, p5 Times 1856 Fire at Clitherow estate, The Times 15April, p9 Times 1883 Hannah Longman accused of murdering infant at Boston House, The Times 20 Sept; see also 1 Oct 1883, p4 160 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 Times 1900 Death of Colonel Edward John Stracey-Clitherow, The Times 25 Sept, p5 Times 1913 ‘High Prices for Old Masters,’ (Portrait sale) The Times 14 June, p5 Times 1918 Boston Estate Sale notice, The Times 27 Aug, p12 Times 1922 Boston Estate and Contents, Sale by Knight, Frank and Rutley, The Times 8 June, p24 Times 1929 London Playing Fields Society on Boston Manor Park, The Times 14 May, p13; see also 14 June, p1; 19 Mar 1930, p11; 22 Dec 1932, p8 Times 1958 Chiswick flyover, artist’s impression across park, The Times 19 Mar, p20; bridge model 3 Mar 1959, p5; also 20 Oct1960, p3; work commences 16 Aug 1961, p4 Times 1958 ‘Architectural Notes: Re-planning a London Suburb,’ The Times 10 Oct, p17; see also 25 Nov, p6 Times 1959 Boston Manor House To Let, The Times 27 Nov, p26 Times 1962 M4 Tenders from Boston Manor to London Airport, The Times 26 June, p1; see also 30 June, p4; The Times 4 Dec, p7 Times 1963 Photo of restored state rooms, The Times 22 June, p16; House re-opens, 9 July, p14 Times 1964 Opening M4 Chiswick-Langley, The Times 18 Mar, p19; see also aerial photo of flyover across park, 14 Oct Times 1965 ‘Life in the Shadow of an Overhead Motorway – or Noise without End,’ The Times 30 June, p6 Trimen, H and Dyer, W T T 1869 Flora of Middlesex, London Thorne, J 1876 Handbook to the Environs of London, Part I, London Turner, F 1938 ‘Brentford’s Historic Houses, No 2, Boston Manor House,’ Middlesex Chronicle, Sat, Dec 17 Walford, E 1894 Greater London, A Narrative of Its History, Its People and Its Places, Vol 1, London Webster, A D 1920 London Trees, London

Series of periodicals searched Garden = The Garden: An Illustrated Weekly Journal of Horticulture in All its Branches, founded by W Robinson Gard Chron = The Gardeners’ Chronicle: A Weekly Illustrated Journal of Horticulture and Allied Subjects Gard Mag = TheGardener’s Magazine and Register of Rural and Domestic Improvement J Horticult = Journal of Horticulture, Cottage Gardener and Country Gentleman Scotsman = The Scotsman 1817-1950 Time = The Times 1785-1985 BUDC = Brentford Urban District Council Minutes (Chiswick Library)

London Metropolitan Archives (LMA) ACC1360/240 Details of quantity of acres in ‘new map or survey of Boston Lands’ 1722 Boston Manor Park 161 Conservation Management Plan April 2018 ACC1360/241Index to plan of Boston estate with details of each field, 1790-4 ACC1360/292/1& 2 Map Jew’s Farm, Isleworth 1730-58 ACC1360/293 Little Ealing map 1756-90 ACC1360/294/2A & B Exact plan of piece of land belonging to Sir Thomas Edwards & James Clitherow in parish of Ealing 1768-1812 ACC1360/296 Draft plan of Manor of Boston with West Brentford, 1770 ACC1360/297 Draft plan of Boston Manor Estate, 1770? ACC1360/298 Printed plan of processional boundaries in Parish of Ealing including Old and New Brentford, 1777 ACC1360/299 Plan of Boston Manor Grounds, 1790? ACC1360/304 Brentford (ie Boston) Manor including Grand Junction Canal, field boundaries and houses, 1800? ACC1360/308 Plan showing Col Clitherow’s land in vicinity of Boston House and Boston Farm, 181[?] ACC1360/314 Middlesex County Council proposed widening of Boston Road from Boston Manor Station to Hanwell (before 1912) cross dated by acc1360/527 letter, of 22 Mar 1921, to 1912 ACC1360/401/32 & 34 Bills of Jane Clitherow, nee Snow, Ronalds’s Nursery 1846-7 ACC1360/435 James Clitherow I, Ledger Vol A, 1642-1682 ACC1360/440 Journal Vol A, records purchase of Boston Manor in 1670, 1642- 1682 ACC1360/444 Christopher Clitherow, ‘long booke,’ 1698-1726 ACC1360/483 Expense ledger of James Clitherow III, 1757-1805 ACC1360/524 Boston House, financial records of J B Stracey Clitherow, 1915 Feb and later; important file which contains much structural information about walls, floors, drainage, roofs, panelling ACC1360/527 Correspondence of J B Stracey Clitherow with lawyers, 1921, including widening of Boston Road, sale of land at Brentford

Chiswick Library local history collection British Waterways Archives copies of plans Friends of Boston Manor Park file Chiswick Local History Photographic Collection, Boston Manor pictures Events at Boston Manor Park file Boston Manor Park newspaper cuttings file Boston House histories and guidebooks collection 162 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 Boston Manor Park 163 Conservation Management Plan April 2018

Figures, survey and management plans

Figure 1 Site boundaries

Figure 1a Designated area boundaries and features

Figure 2 Urban form analysis

Figure 3 Landscape character zones

Figure 4 Water features

Figure 5 Built features and enclosures

Figure 6 Access and circulation features

Figure 7 Woods and planted features

Figure 7a Veteran trees

Figure 8 Park facilities

Figure 9 Significance by area or feature

Figure 10 Management zones

Figure 11 Management proposals 164 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan April 2018 Peter McGowan Associates Landscape Architects and Heritage Management Consultants 86 Constitution Street Edinburgh EH6 6RP 0131 261 6265 • [email protected]

April 2018 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan