is a place in the
London Borough Of Hounslow . It is a suburban development situated 13 miles (20.9 km) west south-west of
Charing Cross .
Referred to as ''Felteha'' in the
Domesday Book , subsequently as ''Feltesham'', ''Felten'', and by 1800, ''Feltham''. From Norman times the
Manor of Feltham was closely linked with that of
Kempton . Feltham remained a farming community until the end of the 18th century when many farms converted to
Market Gardens driven by demand from the growing population of
London .
The
Longford River that flows from the north of the town, was constructed in
1638 , built to supply water to
Hampton Court to the south.
A
Flax mill was one of the earliest industrial sites, situated on the bank of the
River Crane that forms Feltham's north-eastern border with
Hounslow . This became a
Snuff mill and finally a
Cartridge mill, presumably associated with the nearby
Gunpowder mills in
East Bedfont until the end of the 19th century.
The railway station opened in
1848 , gravel for the adjacent bridge extracted from a pit on the opposite side of the Hounslow road to form a pond.
The earliest factory buildings built in Feltham were for the
Whitehead Aircraft Company in
1915 . Nearby
Hanworth Park became the test airfield until the company was liquidated in 1919. The factory was used as motor car store, then for the construction of
Trams and
Underground Railway carriages. A class of tram developed there during
1930 was known as ''the Feltham''. The site was sold to the
General Aircraft Company in 1935 and was used for aircraft construction throughout the
War until
1948 . The park is still known as the "Air Park". Since then, industrial developments in Feltham have continued to be associated with aviation, due to the proximity of
Heathrow Airport .
The town is currently undergoing a redevelopment of its town centre, which once was a fairly thriving shopping area complete with market and shops. It is hoped that the redevelopment, which will include a new block of luxury apartments and new shops, a health centre, improved library and signposts clearly labelling all these places will improve the area.
is an area of Feltham that covers approximately 0.25 sq.
Km . It is more widely known as being home to
Feltham Young Offenders Institution .
Feltham may gain new infamy by featuring on the
Hard-Fi album, Stars of CCTV. The song gives a lovely description of life in Feltham, with appropriate references to above-mentioned institution!!!! Lyrics of "Feltham is singing out" at
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- Hard-Fi (based in nearby Staines , and supporting local football club- Brentford FC)
- Freddie Mercury (who lived there after returning from Zanzibar in 1964)
- Oasis (whilst filming the video to "Stand By Me")
- Hepburn (band) (a mildly successful late 90s band, sort of like Kenickie but better)
- Ross Kemp (aka Grant Mitchell from EastEnders , who came (at the third time of asking) to visit the local bowling alley)
- Derek Martin (aka Charlie Slater from EastEnders , who lived, and may still live, in Feltham)
- Brian May guitarist with Queen , attended the former Hanworth Road Junior Mixed School. This building remains as Cardinal Road Infants school
- ''Feltham and its Library past and present'', Hounslow Arts and Recreation, (1986).
