Hounslow

The London Borough of Hounslow is a London borough in West London, England.

A town at the centre of the Borough of Hounslow, has existed since the 13th Century. The name Hounslow derives from the Domesday Book entry of Hundeslawe meaning Hund’s hill.

The borough was formed in 1965, under the London Government Act 1963, by the merger of the area of the former Brentford and Chiswick Urban District, Feltham Urban District and the Heston and Isleworth Urban District of Middlesex.

This outer borough of Greater London is on the Thames River and was the site of the first stop on an important coach route to Southampton and Bath. Hounslow town developed on either side of the main Great West Road from London to the West of England, causing a large number of inns to be built to serve the travellers. A few, such as The Bell retain their names, although the buildings have been replaced.

The town has grown rapidly in the latter half of the 20th century due to other travellers. This time due to its connection to Heathrow Airport. Today the items Hounslow manufactures include razor blades, soap, tires, biscuits, precision instruments, pharmaceuticals, and heating equipment.