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The Domesday Book records Robert, Count of Mortain as the man in charge of Feltham in the 11th century. He was the half-brother of King William the Conqueror. The record mentions 21 houses and 10 cultivated ploughlands. King Henry VIII annexed this area to the Honor of Hampton Court. His daughter, Queen Elizabeth I, gave it to the Killigrew family for 80 years. However, 40 years before the Killigrews’ lease ended, Feltham passed to Francis Cottington, 1st Baron Cottington of Hanworth Park. The last owner of the entire manor was Aubrey Beauclerk, 5th Duke of St Albans. In the 19th century, parts of manor were sold. In the 20th century, the area was divided by farmers and developers.
Nineteen-century records mention 924 people living here. By 1901, the population grew to 4,534. Feltham Urban District formed in 1904 but it was disbanded in 1965. Administratively, the area is part of Greater London but the residents continue to regard Middlesex as the home county. Famous market gardener A.W. Smith also known as the Cabbage King lived here in the 19th century. His greenhouses along Feltham’s High Street were nicknamed the Glass City. In 1997, the well-known music group Oasis filmed their music video “Stand By Me” at the shopping center in this West London area. Until the late 1950s, Aston Martin cars were built here. Longford River is man-made.
Feltham has many open spaces. The natural river Crane forms the eastern boundary. It separates this area from the nature reserve Hounslow Heath. There’s also a country park and the former London Air Park which has been reconverted to a sports place. Feltham Assembly Hall is a public venue for community events. The railway station was built in 1848. Notable former residents include Queen members Freddie Mercury and Brian May, Led Zeppelin’s guitarist Jimmy Page, and The Animals’ guitarist Vic Briggs.
