Hounslow | Context & Character 1 3 Osterley and Spring Grove Osterley and Osterley and Spring Grove present-day context to the south-east. Both Osterley Park and the two Transect railway corridors are Sites of Importance for Nature (see below) Conservation (SINC). X Aside from Osterley Park, the study area is predominantly residential in land use and may be classified as mostly interwar outer suburban. The area can be subdivided into the largely homogeneous Osterley to the north of and along the southern edge of the Great West Road, and the more diverse Spring Y Grove, with its 19th century core, which shares its fringe character with neighbouring Hounslow and Isleworth. To the east the area feels poorly connected to Brentford and the east of the borough due mainly to the impermeability of the large trading estates and the hostile pedestrian environment of the Great West Road. Bookshop in former station building, Thornbury Road, Osterley The urban environment is generally of good quality with often wide, tree-lined streets and an even distribution of local centres and open spaces. Hounslow town centre to the immediate south-west offers a comparatively greater choice of entertainment and retail. London Road functions sporadically as a high street (shared with Isleworth). The area is well- The Osterley and Spring Grove study area is located in developments of the Great West Road’s Golden Mile served by bus, tube and train. The greatest barrier to the north-centre of the borough. It is crossed east-west lie to the immediate north-east. The ancient London movement is the Great West Road with its infrequent by the Piccadilly and Hounslow Loop railway lines from Road forms the southern boundary and Syon Lane the crossing opportunities. Central London, the A4 Great West Road and the M4 eastern one. The area is dominated by the large open The acoustic environment is dominated by aircraft Motorway (though the latter is not locally accessible). space of Osterley Park. noise and traffic noise when within 50 metres of the A4, Hounslow town centre (designated a Metropolitan The study area slopes gently northwards and beyond which bird song and general urban ambient Centre in the London Plan) lies to the immediate south- westwards from the Rivers Thames and Brent. The sounds take over. west and the major trading, industrial, retail and office River Thames lies approximately two kilometres

Postmodernist office building, London Road, Spring Grove

Title page photo: St. Mary’s Church at the boundary of Osterley and Spring Grove

20m X Y 10m above Height in storeys sea level (estimated at 3m per storey) M4 Osterley Osterley Osterley Osterley Piccadilly Great St. Spring Hounslow London Motorway Park Farm Park House Park Line West Mary’s Grove Loop Road Road Church Line Hounslow | Context & Character

2 Hounslow | Context & Character 3 c2010 The Grove, Spring Grove, 1900s Great West Road, looking east towards St Mary’s Church, Road, looking east towards St Mary’s Great West 1950s c1935 establishments with playing fields. establishments with the encouraged by the coming of By the late C19th, Spring concentrated settlement of the more railway, to the south of the study area Grove was evolving the London Road. During the C20th northwards from rural to urban as the character shifted from area’s was absorbed into the expansion county of Middlesex of London. was severed The open land to the south of Osterley a This brought Road/A4 in 1925. by the Great West development repositioned station and considerable extended potential. East-west ribbon development to include by way of new housing roads, northwards Park and the curve around the edge of Osterley from London Road. southwards to meet the expansion the Davis estate, Additional roads were added around and within it along Harvard Road. own estate land itself was the north Osterley’s To Although in in 1965. slashed through by the motorway dissociating effect a cutting and with a tree edge, the Osterley Park are and noise impact from the M4 on very considerable. c1920 lay within the administrative Hundred of Isleworth, Hundred of Isleworth, lay within the administrative within the Twickenham, and which included Heston county of Middlesex. became more eminent by the mid Osterley House northeast to abut grand avenue stretched A C18th. the old route to the north, opposite Windmill Road, on To be a ford across the River Brent. what appears to crossing place Green formed a the southeast, Wyke Lane to route is continued as Wood from where the old the To the southeast. the south, and Sion (Hill) Lane to supplied London south market gardens and orchards The mid C19th railway severed with fresh produce. of its land but was placed into House from much Wyke station A estate. a deep cutting as it passed Osterley’s and avenue being to the south led to a new access created into Osterley Park. and to the north, The stations south of London Road were a Osterley, in conjunction with the status of The main layout and outer development opportunity. focused on the late ring of the Davis housing estate, large house and a C18th Spring Grove House, a new Remaining large plots church were complete by 1865. to build educational of land were attractive as a place c1870

For most of the last millennium much of the study area For most of the last millennium much House, an old estate to the south east including Wyke disappeared in built of Osterley House and now mostly south, to Osterley’s form, and Scratedge the brickfield Winding Saxon lanes crossing the London Road Winding Saxon lanes crossing the linked small ran parallel with the river Brent and and agricultural fields. settlements amongst open land in Elthorne Hundred, Osterley as an emparked House has been a just to the north of Isleworth Hundred, wide scale. major formative influence on a There is likely to have been human settlement in have been human settlement in There is likely to since prehistoric times. Known the higher ground an the Roman/London Road archaeology identifies with much of Area. However Architectural Priority and land, and with many incoming this area marshy the across Smallbury Green (near alternative routes Roads) Twickenham of London and present junction of not hardened until the later years the highway was (toll house) is shown on turnpike A the coaching era. This period the eastern entrance on 1745 mapping. of local brown coincides with a number of buildings on both sides of brick and features which have survived the London Road. brief historic context historic brief Osterley and Spring Grove Spring and Osterley Osterley and Spring Grove land and building use Osterley is almost exclusively residential in use. There are three evenly distributed shopping parades which function as local centres, a superstore to the east, a centrally located library and a pleasant public garden which offers surprising respite from the nearby Great West Road. Early C20th pre-WWI semi-detached houses There is virtually nothing in the way of local business use. However there are large trading estates to the east. Osterley is dominated by uniform two storey semi-detached interwar residential development with some short terraces on generally wide streets, often with grass verges. Larger, more individualistic detached houses are located on the fringe of Osterley Park, along with some much older properties. Most have extensive private gardens. There are pockets of postwar in-fill and extension developments. Spring Grove is altogether more diverse than Osterley, having developed over a longer period and being essentially the meeting point of Osterley’s 1960s infill town house and flat development interwar southern expansion and Isleworth’s steadier northern expansion from London Road. Though the primary use is residential there is a central concentration of community/institutional uses which include Isleworth Crown Court and two large educational facilities, along with a landmark church. Though the dominant form is two storey pre-WWI and interwar houses the central and western parts are peppered with interwar and postwar flat and house developments. The eastern part is more uniform, sharing some characteristics with Osterley: two storey semi-detached interwar residential with some short terraces though with less generous street widths and an absence of grass verges. Further east is a late 1930s c2010, gradual increase in building height homogeneous development of flats in two storey semi-detached house- from 2 to 8 storeys, street off London Road style buildings. The high street to the south (shared with Isleworth) offers a regularly spaced series of shopping parades and some business uses, with some buildings at the Hounslow town centre end reaching up to eight storeys in height. The earliest of these taller buildings were commercial in use, but are being used as a precedent for increasing the height of residential buildings.

Late interwar semi-detached houses

Well-used shopping parade at local centre Hounslow | Context & Character

4 Hounslow | Context & Character 5 Movement modes separated by grass verges Typical unattractive and intimidating back Typical footpath Road subway Interwar-era Great West pedestrian crossing in fair condition Osterley tube station functions as a minor intermodal transport hub with retail The Gillette Building clock tower, a major clock tower, The Gillette Building gateway landmark at the eastern

The overall movement structure is dominated by the east-west road and structure is dominated by The overall movement West Road which, A4 Great of these is the The most defining rail routes. a major trunk still performs of the M4 motorway, despite the availability including Heathrow London and the immediate west road function for more as a Road to the south functions, if sporadically, Airport. London links. roads provide north-south though often busy, high street. Lesser, a the route network offers small pockets, on a local level Apart from a few of connectivity. relatively high degree travel is biased by bus, tube and train, though The area is well-served more local bus service weaves through the A towards an east-west axis. study area. through the overall area is on Pedestrian movement and way-finding Road barriers being the Great West the only major the whole easy, and the large trading estate with its infrequent crossing opportunities barriers are in the form of sections of development to the east. Lesser residential blocks. Vehicular the railway corridors and long, unbroken by a continuous red brick wall which access to Osterley Park is restricted the main entrance, though the stretches each side of and emphasises the park Access from historic importance. wall itself is considered to be of of the River Brent to the north east is to the more natural environment end of Access routes to the north line. prevented by an industrial railway the park are limited by the M4 motorway. development period, back and side alley of the area’s Typically of which are in poor condition and pedestrian ways proliferate, many many of these are necessary for ease uncomfortable to use. However, areas and important nodes such of movement to and from residential an opportunity for and therefore offer as bus stops, shops and stations, improvement. clock tower at the eastern edge of the area, The Gillette Building’s St Mary’s Art Deco tower (both illuminated at night) and Osterley station’s church spire provide landmarks.

Road

London

M4

Road

Great West Great

movement & legibility movement Osterley and Spring Grove Spring and Osterley Osterley and Spring Grove green and blue landscape The study area is generously provided with and surrounded by public open spaces of a variety of sizes and uses. By far the largest and one of the most important in the borough, Osterley Park provides both formal and informal recreational opportunities. In Osterley itself, a public garden Jersey Gardens, Osterley, just off the Great (Jersey Gardens, created as part of the Great West Road development) West Road offers surprising respite from the nearby traffic noise and has an adjacent children’s play area and formal recreation area. Unfortunately it is not directly accessible from the south of the study area. Sports-oriented spaces abound and some attract many users from outside the borough, both amateur and professional. More natural experiences are available just outside the area to the north-east along the River Brent/Grand Union Canal, though direct accessibility is an issue. Many streets are generously though not always uniformly or regularly tree-lined. Some streets, most notably the Great West Road, have wide grass verges, though elsewhere many of these are poorly Potential village green, Spring Grove maintained and featureless. The interwar garden suburb nature of much of the development has left a legacy of small to medium green spaces within residential areas. Many are well-defined, well-managed and attractively planted and furnished, though some are neglected and reflect a lack of any clear sense of identity, responsibility and ownership. Later postwar large infill and extension developments, typified by residential buildings standing alone in open space and undefined by street patterns, sometimes result in lifeless, un/underused green areas with seemingly pointless fences and gates added on at a later stage. Such ‘space left over after planning’ or ‘SLOAP’ along with its more well-intentioned though failed interwar Rare example of hard and soft landscaped cousin provide opportunities for creative intervention. Such interventions public space, Isleworth Crown Court could take the form of promotion of local responsibility and ownership, cosmetic planting and landscaping and/or urban agriculture. Children’s play areas are sparsely but evenly distributed. There is an opportunity for improved provision, quality and co-location, particularly in the south of the study area. The relatively flat topography precludes much in the way of views unless from the top deck of a bus or a second storey in the the north-east corner of the area, from where a church spire, the higher ground bordering Richmond Park and, on a good day, the North Downs may be glimpsed to the south-east.

Modern linear public garden, Osterley, with potential for further links

SLOAP, south-west Spring Grove Hounslow | Context & Character

6 Hounslow | Context & Character 7 The Lodge, Spring Grove Spring Grove House behind unattractive Spring Grove House behind unattractive gates of the late C18th Davies Estate, Villas Spring Grove The Quaker meeting house to the east of Spring Grove Osterley House viewed from across the pond Osterley House viewed The Tudor Tudor Osterley House [1] and other buildings dominate the heritage value of the [1] and other buildings dominate Osterley House (including the area to at the highest level, the park area with four listings and Garden. being a Registered Park the north of the motorway) was a possession of what in the C13th Thomas Gresham took Sir built Osterley Park in the area around a farmstead, and wooded and wild a strongly altered the stable block is visibly 1570s. Even though purpose of were emparked (enclosed) for the The grounds enclosure. deer hunting. and architecturally important Robert Child commissioned considerable house in the mid C18th, for example, to changes to the Elizabethan main and a few years later the east front the west front by William Chambers, building in classical Adam, creating a richly dramatic Georgian by Robert were sweeping changes to the landscape and gatehouses There styles. bridge and aviary were built. Later ‘Roman’ A created at access points. formal, and the open vista is extended the landscape became much less Crossing pathways continue by the farm and grazing fields around. farm buildings remain to the north. ancient links with Heston and fine Area. a Conservation estate comprises the majority of a more urban but small scale nature. the south, the London Road is of To [2] is hidden in an old former lane which The Quaker meeting house (ll*) Another brown brick classical Georgian crossed the London Road. visible on London Road, with one of building, Pine House [3] is more and other former commercial or the listed milestones opposite. Pubs including the 1930s moderne fire municipal buildings are locally listed, station flats. Area includes the London Road but The second Conservation originates from 1850. Henry Davis in his planned speculative estate villas surrounding the listed Spring Grove House of Italianate ‘stone’ The Thornbury Road [5], northward. [4], also extended a lane now most Thornbury Road. Some of Davis’ former almshouses are also on [6] prestigious buildings, now locally listed include Campion House formal gardens at the Church [7] were laid out beside and St Mary’s north of the estate. Some of the larger spaces were taken for large 1867. educational establishments, such as Lancaster House [8] built in have The building and its locally listed Henry Little gymnasium alongside of the been converted to residential, with housing development in much gates onto London Road are all listed. grounds. Smaller buildingsand the listed. Many of the houses are of high quality and some already locally an The railway station opened near Osterley Park in the 1880s and the road’s attractive cluster of older buildings formed there [9]. Later, considerable development Road brought severance by the Great West Alongside Jersey Gardens [10], formed and some community buildings. during the road construction, this area also gained some good interwar the area gained the west, relocatingstation further After the development. accompanied by a group by Charles Holden, Art Deco station [11] listed 1980s of apartment buildings. Other potential conservation areas are a linear town house development and a 1930s moderne estate. 3 2

8 4 10 7

5 6 9 11 1

heritage assets heritage Osterley and Spring Grove Spring and Osterley Osterley and Spring Grove urban types

The most dominant urban types by area within the Osterley and Spring Grove study area is the interwar loose grid (type 2). The courts and cul-de-sacs (type 4) of the later postwar years and the 1980s are also Type 1 strongly represented. There is some earlier compact grid (type 1) along the formative London Road and at the historic urban cores of Osterley and of Spring Grove along the axis of Thornbury Road, and the centre of the study area and its Hounslow town centre fringe has seen some recent urban renaissance-style development (type 5). The exclusively commercial/retail big box (type 6) appears along the London Road and on the eastern edge next, to the large area of commercial use along and north of the Great West Road/Golden Mile. Appropriately, there are no slabs and towers (type 3) In spite of their 19th century axial core, Osterley and Spring Grove manifest typologically and morphologically as largely type 2 extensions Type 2 of neighbouring Hounslow and Isleworth to the southeast. For more information on general urban types found in the borough, including historical development, aspects of form and SWOT analyses, 2 see Section 4: Urban Types.

2

Type 2 4 1

5

Type 4

Type 5 Hounslow | Context & Character

8 Hounslow | Context & Character 9 Sensitivity to change Suitability for tall buildings

Design Quality Permanence

For more information on characterisation and assessment see Section 1: Introduction - Methodology

character areas and assessments and areas character Osterley and Spring Grove Spring and Osterley Osterley and Spring Grove character area defining characteristics & types description assessment General uniformity of scale, density, layout, building Extensive interwar ribbon development of 2 storey Design Quality - Medium type, urban type, use and period. semi-detached and terraced houses running east-west Sensitivity to change - Medium A alongside and north of the A4 Great West Road and Location along and formative influence of Great West bounded to the north by Osterley Park. Larger, more Permanence - High Road. individualistic detached houses are located on the fringe of the park. Three blocks of interwar 3 storey Suitability for tall buildings - Unsuitable Urban type: flats near landmark Osterley station and pockets of Type 2 postwar in-fill developments. Served by local parades at each end. Two large open spaces to the south. Dominated by A4 which creates a major barrier to north-south movement.

General uniformity of scale, density, layout, building Extensive interwar ribbon development of 2 storey Design Quality - Medium type, urban type, use and period. semi-detached and terraced houses running east- B west alongside and north of the A4 Great West Road. Sensitivity to change - Medium Location along and formative influence of Great West Served by local parades at each end. Small, well- Permanence - High Road. used public garden, formal recreation space, library and hotel/pub/restaurant at centre. Large superstore Suitability for tall buildings - Unsuitable Urban type: occupies northeast end. Landmark church to south Type 2 with some 6 east. Dominated by A4 which creates a major barrier to north-south movement.

General uniformity of scale, density, layout, building Larger, more individualistic 2 storey inter- and postwar Design Quality - High type, urban type, use and period. detached houses located on the southern edge of C Osterley Park. Area branches out from northward Sensitivity to change - Medium stem of Thornbury Road (from Spring Grove) with its Linearity. Permanence - High vista towards Osterley Park, earlier prewar houses, Urban type: shopping parade, small businesses and nearby library. Suitability for tall buildings - Unsuitable Type 2 with some 1 Main entrance to park. Area is served to the south by public garden and small recreation space though cut in half by railway line.

Extreme uniformity of scale, density, layout, building Medium sized 1980s infill private housing development. Design Quality - Medium type, urban type, use and period. L-shaped scheme of mostly 3 storey town houses in D horseshoe perimeter blocks around parking courtyards Sensitivity to change - Medium Segregation. with an extension of 2 storey semis and detached Permanence - High houses on a branched cul-de-sac. Well planted with Urban type: trees and shrubs. Inward-looking with strong sense of Suitability for tall buildings - Unsuitable Type 4 privacy though permeable from end to end by foot and cycle through the development or by parallel path on southern edge. Hounslow | Context & Character

10 Hounslow | Context & Character 11 assessment Design Quality - Low Design Quality - - Low Sensitivity to change Permanence - High buildings - Unsuitable Suitability for tall Design Quality - High Sensitivity to change - High Permanence - High Suitability for tall buildings - Unsuitable Design Quality - Low Sensitivity to change - Low Permanence - Low Suitability for tall buildings - Some Design Quality - High Sensitivity to change - High Permanence - High Suitability for tall buildings - Unsuitable description Mostly interwar exclusively residential development Mostly interwar exclusively residential extending south straddling Spring Grove Road and uniform 2 storey to back of London Road. Largely with some short semi-detached early interwar houses Areas urban form to terraces, closely related in overall small amount of late C20th infill in the and B. Very A and one of 2-3 form of a cul-de-sac of bungalows only one street storey town houses. Modest planting; road by from main has grass verges. Largely buffered Area G. Part of Spring Grove historic core flanking Thornbury Part of Spring Grove historic core flanking Road link from Isleworth to Osterley Park. Mid C19th houses of a wide variety of types and sizes give way Area is to early interwar semis, from south to north. peppered with postwar and late C20th/early C21st in-fill development. Only very few blocks and streets Location of have strong coherence and continuity. college with historic house, though partly hidden from Smooth transition to main road and local centre view. retail and non residential uses. Main Road heights 3-4 storeys. Mostly 1970s and 1980s exclusively residential Mostly 1970s and previously undeveloped land at development in In Spring Grove and Osterley. boundaries of Lampton, by railway but linked by footbridge. two parts bisected semis and terraces with mix of 1970s 2 storey West: cul-de- flat blocks, on branching free standing 3 storey 1980s earlier period to south. East: sac extension from houses and 3 storey flat blocks 2 storey terraced Both parts have minimal on branching cul-de-sacs. to Osterley Station. planting. Footpath access north hinterland Piecemeal high street to residential retail, community transitional zone. Mix of residential, from individual and office uses in buildings ranging converted c1900 houses to purpose built mid- to high rise blocks. Postwar residential developments turn their backs to the main road with long blank walls, though they are softened by tree planting and verges. creating a Setbacks and footway width are irregular, Most School located at rear. poor sense of continuity. residential is 2-3 storey with exception 3-8 storey block to west.

defining characteristics & types characteristics defining General uniformity of scale, density, layout, building layout, building of scale, density, General uniformity use and period. type, urban type, areas. Contrast with surrounding Urban type: 4 Type layout, building Extreme uniformity of scale, density, type, urban type, use and period. Urban type: 2 Type layout, building type, urban type, Mix of scale, density, use and period. Location along and behind London Road Urban type: 4 with some 5 and 6 Type layout, building Moderate uniformity of scale, density, type, urban type, use and period. Urban type: 1 and 4 with some 2 and 5 Type

F

E

H Osterley and Spring Grove Spring and Osterley

character area character G Osterley and Spring Grove character area defining characteristics & types description assessment General uniformity of scale, density, layout, building Part of Spring Grove historic core east of Osterley Design Quality - High type, urban type, use and period. Road north-south link. A similar mix to Area H to the I south but more uniformly interwar to the north and Sensitivity to change - High Urban type: east with 2 storey semis and terraces. Location of Permanence - High Type 2 with some 4 Isleworth Crown Court, large school and landmark St. Mary’s Church. Less infill than Area H and far greater Suitability for tall buildings - Unsuitable coherence and continuity particularly in the interwar areas. Smooth transition to main road and local centre retail and non residential uses. Main Road heights 3-4 storeys.

General uniformity of scale, density, layout, building Redevelopment of Brunel University campus into Design Quality - Medium type, urban type, use and period. apartment blocks and town houses. Includes J refurbishment of listed building (originally Borough Sensitivity to change - Medium Higher density contrasts with surrounding areas. Road College). 3 storey town houses and 4 storey Permanence - High apartment blocks with generous surface parking in Urban type: restricted access estate. Mostly turns its back on Suitability for tall buildings - Unsuitable Type 5 surrounding area. Main east-west axis leads to former Gothic college building in its own formal tree-planted grounds. Area includes sports centre and ground to north.

Extreme uniformity of scale, density, layout, building Mostly interwar exclusively residential development Design Quality - Medium type, urban type, use and period. extending southwards from Great West Road to railway K line. Largely uniform 2 storey semi-detached houses Sensitivity to change - Medium with some short terraces. Very similar to Areas A and Urban type: Permanence - High Type 2 B in overall urban form, though with narrower streets and an absence of grass verges and very modest Suitability for tall buildings - Unsuitable tree planting. Internally good permeability but limited external links, which compromises access to local centres and public transport: the only direct access to Great West Road is by narrow back footpath.

Extreme uniformity of scale, density, layout, building Uniform late 1930s moderne-style development of flats Design Quality - Medium type, urban type, use and period. in two storey semi-detached house-style buildings, with L two sets of front and side entrances. Basic built form is Sensitivity to change - Medium Urban type: very uniform but coherence is compromised by retro- Permanence - Low Type 2 fitting of windows and randomly differing boundary treatments. Very regular street grid with moderate Suitability for tall buildings - Unsuitable quality small green amenity spaces. Close to local centre, railway station and small modern allotment. Art Deco commercial building to northeast. 1980s 2-storey semi infill to south. Hounslow | Context & Character

12 Hounslow | Context & Character 13 assessment Design Quality - Low Design Quality - - Low Sensitivity to change Permanence - Medium buildings - Unsuitable Suitability for tall Design Quality - High Sensitivity to change - High Permanence - High Suitability for tall buildings - Unsuitable description Piecemeal and disconnected residential, business and residential, business Piecemeal and disconnected extending backwards from London community uses areas of coherence: street of early Road. Only two very semis and terraces with mostly interwar 2 storey and 1990s branching cul- shallow front gardens; 2 storey terraces. Short row of late de-sac estate of along London Road. Much 2 storey houses Victorian throughout area. Large schools small postwar infill of two local Area has advantage east. with grounds to along London shopping parades and public transport Road. Osterley Park and surrounding open space including Osterley Park and surrounding open Listed historic mansion Green to the east. Wyke farmland. One of surrounded by gardens, park and The in London. the last surviving country estates open spaces in west overall area is one of the largest presence of the London, though it is marred by the which cuts across the northern half of M4 motorway, noise and creating a it, bringing high levels of traffic Formal recreation barrier to north-south movement. uses to east and west.

defining characteristics & types characteristics defining Mix of scale, density, layout, building type, urban type, layout, building type, Mix of scale, density, use and period. behind main road Location along and Urban type: 1 with some 4 and 6 Type General uniformity of use open space Large publicly accessible green water bodies Green corridor, Nature conservation area Metropolitan Open Land Urban type: Atypical

M

Osterley and Spring Grove Spring and Osterley N character area character Hounslow | Context & Character

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