Did you know that...
Obviously, the name of this village in South West London derives from the words ‘long’ and ‘ford’. It was named after the wide ford across the Colne and the Wraysbury River. The ford is where the old Bath Road crosses the Colne. The village of Longford formed around this crossing but there are signs of human habitation since the Roman times. The Saxon settlement dates from the 5th century. Longford is the only medieval village that developed along Bath Road. This UB7 area is the westernmost locality in Greater London. The village is part of the historic county of Middlesex. Some regard it as a hamlet because it doesn’t have a church.
A 14th-century record mentions 30 buildings in Longford at that time. It had four manor houses. In the 16th century, the Bath Road traversed the river thanks to the Mad Bridge. This bridge survived until the 19th century. The current cast-iron bridge was built in 1834. The original bridge over Longford River was demolished in 1648. A new one took its place in 1675. The bridge is now known as the King’s Bridge. Longford appears on Rocque’s map of London from the 18th century. Houses were found on both sides of Bath Road. Harmondsworth Moors was the name of the uncultivated area on the western side of the rivers. The Longford and Colnbrook by-pass was constructed in 1929.
The center of Longford features a charming vintage character. The village has a couple of Grade II listed buildings. For example, the public house, Longford Cottage, Queen River Cottage, and King’s Bridge. Longford Cottage is a 16th-century building that housed the Society of Friendship. Yeomans is another Grade II listed construction. It has been converted into flats. Longford Village Conservation Area includes seven listed buildings, a listed wall, and several other constructions that are not listed.