Until 1819, the area bounded by Heathrow Road, Tithe Barn Lane and Bath Road was one of the open fields of Harmondsworth Parish and was known as Heath Row Field. In 1819 came enclosure.

The settlement of Heath Row was spread out in a straggling manner mostly on the west side of Heathrow Road. The name described its layout - a row (of houses) by a heath. On one side were smallholdings and farms of fields and orchards which ran for a little over one mile. The name Heath Row with this spelling dates to 1453.

The area to the south and east of Heathrow Road was common land of the parish and formed the western edge of Hounslow Heath: a mixture of pasture, hunting and foraging land on less fertile heath.

Although most of the agricultural land in West Middlesex was in use for market gardening, mixed farming was also practised at Heath Row itself. Later, this made it more attractive than the rest of the locality - mixed farming, unlike market gardening, could in the 1930s exist quite happily with trees and hedgerows.

The presence of numerous ponds and historic farmhouses added to the attractions of the hamlet of Heath Row. Heathrow Road was renowned for being a riot of wild flowers in the Spring. Flowers such as red and white campion, ragged robin, harebells, ox-eye daisies abounded with willow herb and yellow iris beside the ponds.

Heath Row spanned, north to south and then to west, from Kings Arbour orchard to Perry Oaks Farm, lined with buildings and orchards along Heathrow Road. All the homes and farms clung to this 90 degree-turning lane.

Heath Row had an unusual and continuing agricultural focus being so close to London. It had no terraces but instead small cottages and a few larger houses in large grounds.

Two lanes broke off Heathrow Road - Cain’s Lane to New Bedfont and High Tree Lane to West Bedfont. At the top of Cain’s Lane was in the 1910s an Anglican Mission room in the heart of the orchards and fields of Perrotts Farm.

A sizeable Neolithic settlement is believed to have been in the Heathrow area. Waste pits filled with struck flint, arrowheads and fragments of pottery were also found.

Agriculture was the main source of income for residents in Heath Row hamlet. The underlying brickearth and gravel made for reliable farming for fruit trees, vegetables and flowers. The soil held manure well and London markets were in easy reach of these perishable cash crops. Most residents were involved in the large West Middlesex market gardening concerns.

Often several sorts of fruit were mixed in the orchards where a lot of such soft fruit was grown, often under the fruit trees. Sometimes vegetables or flowers were grown under the fruit trees. An author in 1907 reported "thousands and thousands" of cherry, plum, pear, apple and damson trees.

In the 1910s a small gravel pit, of just under an acre, was built on the east side of Tithe Barn Lane where today’s Compass Centre stands.

After the First World War, the amount of fruit-growing in the area decreased due to demand for more market gardening land. By 1939, less than 10% of the orchard area was left.

Produce was taken to Covent Garden market - 14 miles away - or by smaller growers to Brentford market. Until motor trucks came, Covent Garden was about six hours away at laden horse-and-wagon speed. Goods had to set off before 10pm the previous day to reach the market when it opened at 4am. Many residents grew produce that they would travel into London with to sell. On the return journey, they collected manure for farming.

After horse manure became less available due to the rise motor traffic, local farmworkers started using sewage sludge from the Perry Oaks sewage works (opened 1936) as fertiliser.

Heathrow was away from main roads and this kept it secluded and quiet. Parts of Heath Row held on to old-style mixed farming. It was chosen for the Middlesex area horse-drawn ploughing competitions which needed land which was under stubble after harvest.

In the 1930s Heathrow Hall and Perry Oaks were mixed farms with cattle, wheat, sheep and pigs. The other farms were largely market garden and orchards.

In May 1944, the bulldozers arrive to obliterate all traces of Heath Row.

LAMENT FOR HEATHROW 1944

We shall remember thee in days to come
Before the ruthless hand of man had spoiled
When sweet peace lingered on thy country brow,
The day when sound of plover lulled thee,
The night when screech owl loved thy lonely shade
We shall remember thee although the time
Of visitation great had come!
No longer is there peace within thy gates
That peace which was thy birthright. Now they come
They strip the wealth and riches from the soil
Although most fertile land in all the south,
But now the tyrant’s hand has claimed thee,
Cruel progress could not pass unheeding by.
Soon will be nought to mark thy hedges trim
No hedge, no tree, no wayside flowerets fair
Naught that is lovely left. Oh woe the day!
Long years have passed since Rome raised camp on thee,
And yet they passed and left thee undisturbed
Hadst thou a voice couldst tell us of thy past,
But now men want to rob of all thy grace
Full comely thou dost seem as we must go
And so “Goodbye” – a long last farewell.
For some short time the larks may still come home
The weasel, mole and field mouse tunnel round;
Yet as the circling days go swiftly by
Soon will be gone all traces of the past
Save in our memories fond – we still
Remember Heathrow.

John Wild 1944




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