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The name of Hillingdon derives from Hillendone. It may mean Hille’s hill with Hille being a notable resident of the past. The Domesday Book records this area. Hillingdon is part of the town of Uxbridge in North West London. This area belongs to the historic county of Middlesex. It was an ancient parish. In 1866, it became a separate civil parish. The western side of the parish area was included in the Uxbridge local board of health. Hillingdon West was part of the Uxbridge Urban District. Hillingdon East was part of the Uxbridge Rural District. In 1929, as a result of the population growth, Hillingdon was integrated into the Uxbridge Urban District. The parishes were abolished in 1938.
Since 1954, this UB8 area is part of Greater London and it is its westernmost borough. Hillingdon tube station was initially opened in 1904. For almost 20 years, the station was called Swakeleys. Some of the platform roundels still have this name. The original building station was demolished to make way for the rerouting of the A40. A new building was constructed in 1994. It won that year’s Underground Station of the Year award. Bus routes U2 and A10 serve Hillingdon as well.
From 2001 to 2011, Hillingdon’s population grew by 11.5%. It became one of the fastest growing boroughs. Records show 12,000 living here in November 2010. The present-day St John the Baptist church dates from the 17th century. The original church building was older. In the 19th century, architect George Gilbert Scott designed the church extension. The church took damage during World War II. Hillingdon Court is a Grade II listed mansion. It was built in the 19th century for banker Charles Mills and his family. Since 1978, this mansion belongs to ACS International Schools and it is used for educational purposes.