Hillingdon
Explore hidden histories, historic photos, and things you never knew about Hillingdon from the collections and archives of Historic England.
Discover your local listed buildings and places
Introducing some of Hillingdon's most historic sites, included in the National Heritage List for England. Some of these captions have been summarised by AI. Click through for the official List entry.
Heinz Administrative Headquarters and Former Research Lab…
Hillingdon
These two buildings were designed by Gordon Bunshaft of the American practice Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, and completed in 1965 as the administrative headquarters and research laboratories...
Stockley Park: Business park Phases I and II, and country…
Hillingdon
A pioneering suburban business park, established to a master plan of 1984 by Arup Associates, led by Michael Lowe, and mainly developed from 1985 to 1993, with landscape architects Ede...
Hillingdon Civic Centre and integrated hard landscaping, …
Hillingdon
Civic centre, designed in 1971, largely built in 1973-1977, the civic suite completed 1978 and external works like landscaping in 1979, by Robert Matthew Johnson-Marshall (RMJM), partner in...
Medieval moated site 382m south-east of Brackenbury Farm
Hillingdon
Moated sites were prestigious residences from 1250-1350, symbolizing wealth and status rather than defense. "Pynchester Moat" holds historical significance despite previous disturbances.
Group Operations Room
Hillingdon
The Group Operations Room at RAF Uxbridge, built in 1938, was crucial for Fighter Command's operations during World War II, including the Battle of Britain.
Swakeleys
Hillingdon
Built for Sir Edmund Wright in 1629-1630, Swakeleys exemplifies 'artisan mannerism' with its H-shaped design and features like mullioned windows, panelled rooms, and classical interiors.
Randalls Department Store
Hillingdon
Furniture shop, built in 1938, designed by William L Eves (1867-1950). Read the official list entry to find out more.
World War II Bofors gun tower and ancillary building
Hillingdon
World War II Bofors gun tower and ancillary building (possibly either a magazine or a shelter for the off-duty gun crew).
Roman Catholic Church of St Gregory the Great and church …
Hillingdon
Roman Catholic church and associated hall, 1965 to designs by Gerard Goalen. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Ruislip motte and bailey
Hillingdon
Ruislip motte and bailey is a Norman medieval fortification, important for studying Norman Britain and feudal system development, associated with a Benedictine priory and archaeological...
Uxbridge Quaker Meeting House
Hillingdon
Quaker Meeting House built in 1817, with an extension to the south built in 1962 from designs by Hubert Lidbetter. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Harefield Place
Hillingdon
Harefield Place, a former principal manor, features 17th-century gardens with terraces and rare brick arcades.
The Great Barn, Harmondsworth
Hillingdon
Barn built in 1426-7 and substantially of that date. Later work of various periods including restoration by Peter McCurdy & Co. in 1987. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Church of St Peter and St Paul
Hillingdon
The Church of St Peter and St Paul showcases architectural evolution from 12th to 19th centuries, featuring elements like a C12 font and notable monuments.
Footbridge Across River Colne, to North of Denham Court
Hillingdon
The bridge is a rare example of a circa 1850 wrought iron single-span lenticular truss design with a chinoiserie balustrade.
Polish Air Force Memorial
Hillingdon
A memorial to the Polish Air Force who served under overall British Command between 1940 and 1945, designed by Mieczyslaw Lubelski and erected in 1948.
Brackenbury Farm moated site 3/4 mile (1210m) NW of Icken…
Hillingdon
Moated sites like Brackenbury Farm were built in medieval England as prestigious residences, often reflecting wealth and status, and contain valuable archaeological and environmental...
Breakspear House
Hillingdon
Breakspear House, a 17th-century large house, features red brick, hipped dormers, rich architectural details, and artisan mannerist style carved chimney pieces.
Church of the Holy Trinity
Hillingdon
1852-3 by Samuel Sanders Teulon. N aisle added 1894 by JEK and JP Cutts (Cherry and Pevsner) or 1895 by Messrs Fassnidge of Uxbridge (Clarke).
Church of St Mary
Hillingdon
Late C13 chancel. The W part of the nave N arcade is also C13. N aisle rebuilt and the arcade extended to the E in the C15. C15 W tower. S aisle and S arcade are early C16. C16 S porch.
Church of St Giles
Hillingdon
Nave and chancel are late C14, the nave possibly slightly earlier than the chancel. Bell turret added or rebuilt in the C15.
Harlington War Memorial
Hillingdon
First World War stone Celtic cross war memorial with later Second World War additions. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Harefield War Memorial
Hillingdon
War memorial. 1921 designed by Frederic Herbert Mansford. Names of the fallen of the Second World War added in 1948. C21 addition of memorial stones to Victoria Cross recipients.
Church of St Laurence
Hillingdon
C12 nave, C13 chancel. Some C14 windows in the nave. Late medieval timber arches in place of chancel arch, and some late medieval pews.
Uxbridge War Memorial
Hillingdon
War memorial. Designed by the sculptor Captain Adrian Jones (1845-1938) and dedicated in 1924. A Second World War dedication was subsequently added.
Church of St Mary, South Ruislip, with boundary walls and…
Hillingdon
Church with north chapel and southern walled courtyard, built 1957-1959 to the designs of Laurence Edward King. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Road Traffic Hazard Sign
Hillingdon
Road traffic sign, 1904-1919. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Hillingdon through time
This timeline shows the first period of use for buildings and places on the National Heritage List for England, just one of the details recorded for every list entry. Click around to see how Hillingdon changes over time.
Early medieval AD 410 to AD 1066
This period, often associated in England with Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, saw a reduction in urban living from the Roman period and increased migration from northern Europe.
Traces of this period can be found in cemeteries, particularly in artefacts and in some of the very early churches, as this period also saw the growth of Christianity in Britain.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanently altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Early medieval AD 410 to AD 1066
This period, often associated in England with Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, saw a reduction in urban living from the Roman period and increased migration from northern Europe.
Traces of this period can be found in cemeteries, particularly in artefacts and in some of the very early churches, as this period also saw the growth of Christianity in Britain.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanently altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Aerial photos of Hillingdon
Aerial photography helps reveal secrets of England's changing landscapes that are impossible to see from the ground.
Hayes
His Master's Voice Gramophone Factories, Hayes, 1920
Hayes
The HMV Gramophone Factories, Hayes, 1932
Harefield
Bells United Asbestos Works, Harefield, 1921
Harefield
Harefield Mills on the Grand Union Canal and the site of the disused Harefield Mills, Harefield, 1938
Uxbridge
St Margaret's Church and the town centre, Uxbridge, 1930
Uxbridge
The High Street and environs, Uxbridge, 1933
West Drayton
Wilkins and Campbell Britannia Works (Wax Refinery), West Drayton, 1947
West Drayton
The town, West Drayton, 1947
London Heathrow Airport
London Airport, 1954
London Heathrow Airport
Terminal 3, London Heathrow Airport, 1986
Hillingdon in the Historic England Archive
The Historic England Archive cares for over 15 million images, dating from the 1850s to the present day. Discover stunning images of Hillingdon's past.
Charles George Harper Collection
Ickenham, Hillingdon, Greater London Authority
Date created: 1892 - 1933
A view from the south-east looking past the village pump towards St Giles' Church
John Gay Collection: London
Hillingdon, Greater London Authority
Date created: 1960 - 1974
The inside of an aircraft hangar at Heathrow Airport with engineers working on a British European Airways helicopter, while in the foreground the...
John Gay Collection: Modern Architects
Hillingdon, Greater London Authority
Date created: 1968 - 1975
A newly built housing development in Harefield, Hillingdon seen as the construction work is drawing to an end
John Gay Collection: Counties
Hillingdon, Greater London Authority
Date created: 1959 - 1963
The interior roof of an aircraft hangar at Heathrow Airport with the top half of a Bentley motor car in the foreground
John Laing Collection
Heathrow, Hillingdon, Greater London Authority
Date created: 20 Sep 1978
A man on a ladder, perhaps working on the roof or guttering of an unfinished building, probably at Terminal 2 at Heathrow Airport
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
West Drayton, Hillingdon, Greater London Authority
Date created: 1880 - 1920
EXTERIOR VIEW
Charles George Harper Collection
Harmondsworth, Hillingdon, Greater London Authority
Date created: 1892 - 1933
Interior view showing a man shovelling grain in the Great Barn at Harmondsworth
John Gay Collection: London
Hillingdon, Greater London Authority
Date created: 1960 - 1963
Passengers inside a terminal at Heathrow Airport
John Gay Collection: Modern Architects
Hillingdon, Greater London Authority
Date created: 1968 - 1975
A view looking across a modern housing estate in Hillingdon from an elevated pedestrian walkway leading in to the houses
John Gay Collection: Counties
Hillingdon, Greater London Authority
Date created: 1959 - 1963
A Bentley motor car parked inside an aircraft hangar at Heathrow Airport
John Laing Collection
Heathrow, Hillingdon, Greater London Authority
Date created: 20 Sep 1978
An interior view showing scaffolding towers, machinery and rubble during construction in Terminal 2 at Heathrow Airport during redevelopment work
Stories about heritage in your local area
Historic England publishes news, blogs, research, videos, and podcasts celebrating England's rich heritage. Discover the stories we have about Hillingdon.
A Guide to English Gothic Architecture
Mentions The Great Barn, Harmondsworth
Learn how to identify the features and characteristics of medieval Gothic architecture in England.
7 of the Best Post-war Parks, Gardens and Landscapes in England
Mentions Stockley Park: Business park Phases I and II, and country park and golf course
Here are seven of the amazing post-war parks, gardens and landscapes that exist all over England.
A Spotter’s Guide to Post-Modern Architecture
Mentions Hillingdon Civic Centre and integrated hard landscaping,
Post-Modernism in architecture was an international phenomenon, which can be defined by its relationship to the Modern Movement.
A Brief Introduction to Lidos
Mentions Uxbridge Lido
Increasing water safety concerns in the 1920s inspired the creation of outdoor pools with concrete, tiled tanks and water filtration systems.
9 Places that Tell the Story of the Royal Air Force
Mentions Group Operations Room
Some of our most important listed structures help to illustrate the key achievements of the RAF during the twentieth century.
A Brief Introduction to Vernacular Houses
Mentions The Great Barn, Harmondsworth
Vernacular houses were built to reflect local customs and traditions using locally available materials like wood, stone and brick.
6 Sites of Memory for Overseas War Heroes
Mentions Polish Air Force Memorial
The First and Second World Wars were truly global in scale and involvement.
London’s Battle of Britain Bunker Still Revealing its Secrets
Mentions Group Operations Room, Hillingdon
Recent archaeological work at the Battle of Britain Bunker in Uxbridge reveals more about the site, 86 years after it was built.
Harlow New Town Roman Catholic Church Upgraded to Grade II* Listing
Mentions Roman Catholic Church of St Gregory the Great and church hall
The Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of Fatima in Harlow has been upgraded to Grade II* by DCMS on the advice of Historic England.
More Lifeline Grants for Culture in All Corners of the Country
Mentions Hillingdon
Lifeline grants from the latest round of the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund will protect a further 162 heritage organisations.
Unusual Second World War Sites Listed and Upgraded to Mark the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain
Mentions Polish Air Force Memorial, Hillingdon
Four new listings are highlighted alongside three other sites either upgraded or re-listed which show how the Battle has left its mark across England.
The Best of England’s Post-War Parks, Gardens and Landscapes Protected
Mentions Stockley Park: Business park Phases I and II, and country park and golf course
Newly announced protections by Historic England are the result of a three-year collaboration with The Gardens Trust.
1980s Buildings Officially Become Heritage
Mentions Hillingdon Civic Centre and integrated hard landscaping,, Hillingdon
Historic England announces the listing of 17 Post-Modern buildings
Best Inter-War Pubs Listed
Mentions The Angel PH
Rare, overlooked buildings are protected and celebrated through listing following extensive research
Hillingdon's social history through photos
Over 10,000 images from the Historic England Archive have been specially selected and re-captioned for teachers, students, and anyone who wants to learn more about their local area.
Workmen in a canteen during construction at Heathrow Airport, Heathrow, Greater London
Period: 1970s (1970 - 1979)
These workmen are from John Laing plc and were building a new hangar at Heathrow Airport. The men are having a meal and a break in the site canteen.
Workmen in a canteen during construction at Heathrow Airport, Heathrow, Greater London
Treaty House, 90-90 Oxford Road, Uxbridge, Greater London
Period: Stuart (1603 - 1713)
The wood-panelled Presence Chamber in the Treaty House, looking towards the fireplace. The room is described as 'Charles the First's Room'.
Treaty House, 90-90 Oxford Road, Uxbridge, Greater London
Treaty House, 90-90 Oxford Road, Uxbridge, Greater London
Period: Stuart (1603 - 1713)
The back of the Treaty House. The Treaty House dates from 1576 and was originally known as Place House.
Treaty House, 90-90 Oxford Road, Uxbridge, Greater London
Treatment of TB child patients, Harefield Sanitorium, Harefield, Greater London
Period: World War Two (1939 - 1945)
This photo show children with TB being treated in their beds outside, under the verandah alongside the wards.
Treatment of TB child patients, Harefield Sanitorium, Harefield, Greater London
St Margaret's Church, Uxbridge, Greater London
Period: Edwardian (1902 - 1913)
The parish church stands in Windsor street. St. Margaret's was built and in use by 1245.
St Margaret's Church, Uxbridge, Greater London
Ruislip Almshouses, Ruislip, Greater London
Period: Tudor (1485 - 1602)
Ruislip Almshouses stand in Eastcote Road on the north side of the churchyard.
Ruislip Almshouses, Ruislip, Greater London
Nurses' home at Harefield Sanatorium, Harefield, Greater London
Period: World War Two (1939 - 1945)
The caption on the reverse of the photograph read: “Training in a T.B. hospital".
Nurses' home at Harefield Sanatorium, Harefield, Greater London
Mount Vernon Hospital, Rickmansworth Road, Northwood, Greater London
Period: Edwardian (1902 - 1913)
Patients and nursing staff on the terrace outside the Mount Vernon Hospital.
Mount Vernon Hospital, Rickmansworth Road, Northwood, Greater London
