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During the Middle Ages, Eastcote was known as Ascot. Together with two other areas, it formed the Ruislip parish. The name derives from the eastern location in the parish. This North West London area was home to the Hawtrey family in the 16th century. Winifred Walleston lived in the Hopkyttes cottage. After she married Ralph Hawtrey, they renamed it Eastcote House. Their son John built the dovecote. The building license was obtained by his nephew Ralph after John passed away. Ralph was the father of Mary Hawtrey who became Mary Bankes after marrying Sir John, Chief Justice to King Charles I. She is remembered as the defender of Corfe Castle for three years during the 17th-century English Civil War.
A 16th-century survey records 62 houses in this HA4 area. Haydon Hall is a notable local building. It was raised in 1630 for Lady Alice, Countess of Derby. Highgrove House is an 18th-century Grade II listed building. Most notable residents include UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill who spent his honeymoon here and Queen Victoria of Sweden who stayed here during World War I. St Martin’s Church in Eastcote is a Grade I listed building from the 13th century. This church is believed to have been built on the site of the church mentioned in the Domesday Book.
During World War II, a branch of Bletchley Park code-breaking operation was located in the area. At the beginning of the 20th century, Eastcote had 120 houses and 600 residents. A 2007 census counts 12,000 people living here. Jessie Matthews is one of the most famous Eastcote former residents. The English actress starred in many musical films and won the United States Drama Logue Award for her one-woman stage show. Actress Luisa Bradshaw-White who plays in EastEnders and Holby City hails from Eastcote. Her fellow EastEnders colleague, actor Bernard Holley, was born in this area as well.