Did you know that...
Cranford’s name comes from the Anglo-Saxon “cran-ford” which means “ford of cranes”. This small settlement was part of the Elthorne Hundred in the historic county of Middlesex. The 11th-century Domesday Book mentions William Fitz Ansulf as in charge of this West London area. The Knights Templar owned most of Cranford in the 13th century. In the 17th century, Sir Roger Aston bought the entire area and unified the manors. The Berkeley Parade takes its name after the Berkeley family who owned the Cranford Estate starting with 1618. Elizabeth Berkeley’s tomb and her effigy built by Nicholas Stone are found at the local church.
This TW5 area has a few notable buildings. Stansfield House from the 17th century is a building of historic importance. One of the two remaining lock-ups of the Metropolitan Police can be found in this area. The lock-up dates from 1838. First it was used to hold people overnight and then as a mortuary. The Architectural Review journal used the words “ingenious architectural fun” to describe local buildings. Cranford was known as Middlesex’s “smallest and prettiest village”. There’s mention of a priest living here in the 11th century so it’s most likely that this area had a church back then. St Dunstan’s Church’s tower dates from the 15th century. The church’s oldest bell is from 1338. The Anglican Holy Angels and Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady and St Christopher are other local places of worship.
Cranford does not have a railway or tube station. The area is served by nearby Hatton Cross, Hounslow West, and Hayes and Harlington stations. Ian Gillan of the rock group Deep Purple lived here as a child. Big Jim Sullivan is another music personality with connections to Cranford, he went to the Woodfield Secondary School. The graveyard of St Dunstan’s Church has comedian Tony Hancock’s ashes. Royal physician Charles Scarborough is another notable burial.