Stanwell
Encyclopedia
Stanwell is a suburban village in the Surrey
borough of Spelthorne
. It is located 15.7 miles (24.8 km) west south-west of Charing Cross
and half a mile (0.8 km) from the southern boundary of London Heathrow Airport
and the London Borough of Hillingdon
. The census area Stanwell North has a population of 7,301 and the census area Stanwell South has a population of 4,766.
Stanwell appears in the Domesday Book
of 1086 as Stanwelle. It was held by Walter, son of Othere. Its domesday assets were: 15 hide
. It had 4 mill
s worth £3 10s 0d and 375 eel
s, 3 weir
s worth 1000 eel
s, 10 plough
s, meadow
for 12 plough
s and woodland
worth 12 hogs. It rendered £14.
In 1603, Lord Knyvett
was granted the manor of Stanwell. Lord Knyvett was the man who arrested Guy Fawkes
in his attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament. In his will Lord Knyvett made provision for the foundation of free school in Stanwell and the school was founded in 1624. The school building still exists in the High Street but is now used as an old people's day centre. Stanwell's 12th century St Mary's church contains monuments to Lord and Lady Knyvett. It has Norman
and Gothic
architectural elements.In 1838, an unknown species of rose
was found in a local garden and given the name of Stanwell Perpetual.
From 1930 Stanwell formed part of the Staines Urban District
of Middlesex
. In 1965, under the London Government Act 1963
, most of the rest of Middlesex became part of Greater London
while the Staines Urban District was transferred to Surrey
.
After the Second World War, large-scale housing society and council house
building began, mostly to house airport workers.
In 2004, the village won a Bronze Medal in the national Britain In Bloom competition in the Urban Community category.
was the site of Stanwell’s manor-house from the 17th century, located about half a mile to the west of the village, north of Park Road. The Gibbons
family owned the manorial rights from 1754 to 1933, and slowly sold off the estate from the 1800's. Sold to John Watson Gibson
in 1933, in 1937 330 acres (1.3 km²) were sold off to the Metropolitan Water Board for the development of the King George VI Reservoir
. After Gibson’s death in 1947, Stanwell Place was sold to King Faisal II of Iraq who owned it until his assassination in 1958. The estate was then purchased for gravel extraction, and despite local attempts to prevent it, the house was allowed to become derelict, and eventually demolished in the 1960's.
was headquartered at the Cirrus House in the London Borough of Hounslow
, near Stanwell.
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
borough of Spelthorne
Spelthorne
Spelthorne is a local government district and borough in Surrey, England. It includes the towns of Ashford, Laleham, Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell and Sunbury...
. It is located 15.7 miles (24.8 km) west south-west of Charing Cross
Charing Cross
Charing Cross denotes the junction of Strand, Whitehall and Cockspur Street, just south of Trafalgar Square in central London, England. It is named after the now demolished Eleanor cross that stood there, in what was once the hamlet of Charing. The site of the cross is now occupied by an equestrian...
and half a mile (0.8 km) from the southern boundary of London Heathrow Airport
London Heathrow Airport
London Heathrow Airport or Heathrow , in the London Borough of Hillingdon, is the busiest airport in the United Kingdom and the third busiest airport in the world in terms of total passenger traffic, handling more international passengers than any other airport around the globe...
and the London Borough of Hillingdon
London Borough of Hillingdon
The London Borough of Hillingdon is the westernmost borough in Greater London, England. The borough's population was recorded as 243,006 in the 2001 Census. The borough incorporates the former districts of Ruislip-Northwood, Uxbridge, Hayes and Harlington and Yiewsley and West Drayton in the...
. The census area Stanwell North has a population of 7,301 and the census area Stanwell South has a population of 4,766.
History
There are two theories regarding the origin of the name Stanwell. One is that it was named after St Anne's Well in the village. The second, and more likely, theory is that it in fact means 'stone well'. Indeed the first few letters of the name are the same as in the name of neighbouring Staines, which also is said to mean 'stones'.Stanwell appears in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
of 1086 as Stanwelle. It was held by Walter, son of Othere. Its domesday assets were: 15 hide
Hide (unit)
The hide was originally an amount of land sufficient to support a household, but later in Anglo-Saxon England became a unit used in assessing land for liability to "geld", or land tax. The geld would be collected at a stated rate per hide...
. It had 4 mill
Mill (grinding)
A grinding mill is a unit operation designed to break a solid material into smaller pieces. There are many different types of grinding mills and many types of materials processed in them. Historically mills were powered by hand , working animal , wind or water...
s worth £3 10s 0d and 375 eel
Eel
Eels are an order of fish, which consists of four suborders, 20 families, 111 genera and approximately 800 species. Most eels are predators...
s, 3 weir
Weir
A weir is a small overflow dam used to alter the flow characteristics of a river or stream. In most cases weirs take the form of a barrier across the river that causes water to pool behind the structure , but allows water to flow over the top...
s worth 1000 eel
Eel
Eels are an order of fish, which consists of four suborders, 20 families, 111 genera and approximately 800 species. Most eels are predators...
s, 10 plough
Plough
The plough or plow is a tool used in farming for initial cultivation of soil in preparation for sowing seed or planting. It has been a basic instrument for most of recorded history, and represents one of the major advances in agriculture...
s, meadow
Meadow
A meadow is a field vegetated primarily by grass and other non-woody plants . The term is from Old English mædwe. In agriculture a meadow is grassland which is not grazed by domestic livestock but rather allowed to grow unchecked in order to make hay...
for 12 plough
Plough
The plough or plow is a tool used in farming for initial cultivation of soil in preparation for sowing seed or planting. It has been a basic instrument for most of recorded history, and represents one of the major advances in agriculture...
s and woodland
Woodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
worth 12 hogs. It rendered £14.
In 1603, Lord Knyvett
Thomas Knyvet, 1st Baron Knyvet
Thomas James Knyvet, 1st Baron Knyvet was the second son of Sir Henry Knyvet of Charlton, Wiltshire and Anne Pickering, daughter of Sir Christopher Pickering of Killington, Westmoreland. His half-sister Catherine Knyvet was married to Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk...
was granted the manor of Stanwell. Lord Knyvett was the man who arrested Guy Fawkes
Guy Fawkes
Guy Fawkes , also known as Guido Fawkes, the name he adopted while fighting for the Spanish in the Low Countries, belonged to a group of provincial English Catholics who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605.Fawkes was born and educated in York...
in his attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament. In his will Lord Knyvett made provision for the foundation of free school in Stanwell and the school was founded in 1624. The school building still exists in the High Street but is now used as an old people's day centre. Stanwell's 12th century St Mary's church contains monuments to Lord and Lady Knyvett. It has Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
and Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
architectural elements.In 1838, an unknown species of rose
Rose
A rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae. There are over 100 species. They form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Flowers are large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows...
was found in a local garden and given the name of Stanwell Perpetual.
From 1930 Stanwell formed part of the Staines Urban District
Staines Urban District
Staines was a local government district from 1894 to 1974 around the town of Staines. Apart from Staines itself, it also covered Ashford, Laleham and Stanwell....
of Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
. In 1965, under the London Government Act 1963
London Government Act 1963
The London Government Act 1963 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which recognised officially the conurbation known as Greater London and created a new local government structure for the capital. The Act significantly reduced the number of local government districts in the area,...
, most of the rest of Middlesex became part of Greater London
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
while the Staines Urban District was transferred to Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
.
After the Second World War, large-scale housing society and council house
Council house
A council house, otherwise known as a local authority house, is a form of public or social housing. The term is used primarily in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Council houses were built and operated by local councils to supply uncrowded, well-built homes on secure tenancies at...
building began, mostly to house airport workers.
In 2004, the village won a Bronze Medal in the national Britain In Bloom competition in the Urban Community category.
Stanwell Place
Stanwell PlaceStanwell Place
Stanwell Place was a manor house and associated estate and tenant farms, located to the west of the village of Stanwell, Middlesex. Built from the 17th century, during the early part of the 20th century it was sold off to create a reservoir and series of local small holdings.The manor house was...
was the site of Stanwell’s manor-house from the 17th century, located about half a mile to the west of the village, north of Park Road. The Gibbons
Gibbons Baronets
There have been two Baronetcies created for persons with the surname Gibbons, one in the Baronetage of Great Britain and one in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom...
family owned the manorial rights from 1754 to 1933, and slowly sold off the estate from the 1800's. Sold to John Watson Gibson
John Watson Gibson
Sir John Watson Gibson was an English civil engineer, key in developing the water supply infrastructure in the former British Empire, and instrumental in the design of Mulberry Harbour used in the Normandy landings.-Early life and career:...
in 1933, in 1937 330 acres (1.3 km²) were sold off to the Metropolitan Water Board for the development of the King George VI Reservoir
King George VI Reservoir
The King George VI Reservoir in England lies to the south of Stanwellmoor near Stanwell and Heathrow. The reservoir was opened in November 1947 and named after the then reigning monarch King George VI. It is owned by Thames Water....
. After Gibson’s death in 1947, Stanwell Place was sold to King Faisal II of Iraq who owned it until his assassination in 1958. The estate was then purchased for gravel extraction, and despite local attempts to prevent it, the house was allowed to become derelict, and eventually demolished in the 1960's.
Economy
At one point British Mediterranean AirwaysBritish Mediterranean Airways
British Mediterranean Airways Limited, trading as BMED, was an airline with operations from London Heathrow Airport in England. It operated scheduled services as a British Airways franchise to 17 destinations in 16 countries throughout Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia from London...
was headquartered at the Cirrus House in the London Borough of Hounslow
London Borough of Hounslow
-Political composition:Since the borough was formed it has been controlled by the Labour Party on all but two occasions. In 1968 the Conservatives formed a majority for the first and last time to date until they lost control to Labour in 1971. Labour subsequently lost control of the council in the...
, near Stanwell.
Famous residents
- Thomas KnevyttThomas Knyvet, 1st Baron KnyvetThomas James Knyvet, 1st Baron Knyvet was the second son of Sir Henry Knyvet of Charlton, Wiltshire and Anne Pickering, daughter of Sir Christopher Pickering of Killington, Westmoreland. His half-sister Catherine Knyvet was married to Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk...
, Member of Parliament in 1601, was given the manor of Stanwell for uncovering the Gunpowder PlotGunpowder PlotThe Gunpowder Plot of 1605, in earlier centuries often called the Gunpowder Treason Plot or the Jesuit Treason, was a failed assassination attempt against King James I of England and VI of Scotland by a group of provincial English Catholics led by Robert Catesby.The plan was to blow up the House of...
in 1603 - Nicholas HilliardNicholas HilliardNicholas Hilliard was an English goldsmith and limner best known for his portrait miniatures of members of the courts of Elizabeth I and James I of England. He mostly painted small oval miniatures, but also some larger cabinet miniatures, up to about ten inches tall, and at least two famous...
, painter leased Poyle Manor - James NaresJames NaresJames Nares was an English composer of mostly sacred vocal works, though he also composed for the harpsichord and organ....
, English organist and composer born in Stanwell in 1715 and married Teresa Costello - Richard Cox, British horticulturist, created Cox's Orange PippinCox's Orange PippinCox's Orange Pippin is an apple cultivar first grown in 1825, at Colnbrook in Buckinghamshire, England, by the retired brewer and horticulturist Richard Cox. Though the origin of the cultivar is unknown, the Ribston Pippin seems a likely candidate. The variety was introduced for sale by the 1850s...
apple, first grown in his garden on the Bath Road - Sir John Watson GibsonJohn Watson GibsonSir John Watson Gibson was an English civil engineer, key in developing the water supply infrastructure in the former British Empire, and instrumental in the design of Mulberry Harbour used in the Normandy landings.-Early life and career:...
, civil engineer, lived in Stanwell Lodge and then Stanwell Place between the 1920's and his death in 1947 - Sir Allen Lane, the founder of Penguin Books, lived at Silverbeck, Stanwell Moor
- King Faisal II of Iraq owned Stanwell Place from 1948 until his assassination in 1958
- Gary NumanGary NumanGary Numan is an English singer, composer, and musician, most widely known for his chart-topping 1979 hits "Are 'Friends' Electric?" and "Cars". His signature sound consisted of heavy synthesizer hooks fed through guitar effects pedals.Numan is considered a pioneer of commercial electronic music...
, singer, was raised in Stanwell, attending the local Abbotsford School - Pete ShawPete ShawFor the football player of the same name see Pete Shaw .Pete Shaw is a British author, broadcaster, programmer and theatrical producer.- Early life :...
, author and theatrical producer, was raised in Short Lane, Stanwell - Vonn StröppVonn StröppVonn Ströpp or Vonn Stropp is the most-used of over 123 pseudonyms used by a visionary painter whose work has been described as "a kind of pre-Raphaelite psychedelia". The son of a schizophrenic Irish father, he often speaks of a dismal childhood. Self-taught artistically, he began at age eleven...
, surrealist painter born in Stanwell in 1962