Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Grove Mill with old machinery decorating the lawn
.
The Hanwell Flight of six locks, a scheduled ancient monument, was operated by tow tract-
ors at one time and was used in the filming of the 1964 comedy film
The Bargee
. Alongside
is St Bernard's hospital, which was once the county lunatic asylum. A conspicuously bricked-
up arch was used for coal delivery by canal and rectangular holes were for fire hoses. The
hospital produced all its fruit, vegetable and animal requirements and the surplus was taken
away by canal. The flight has horse steps and tubular hitching posts.
At the bottom of the flight the canal joins the River Brent from the Welsh Harp feeder
reservoir, deepened for barges for the rest of the way to the Thames, and the Brent River Park
from the A40, crossed upstream by the railway over the 1837 Wharncliffe Viaduct.
Giant hogweed appears along the banks and a nature reserve has been built on a former
refuse tip. Beyond Osterley Park's aviary, Osterley Lock is accompanied by new bird nest
boxes at the first of three places where the canal cuts off bends of the river.
The M4 passes over and large houses begin to appear. On the right bank, beyond Wyke
Green golf course, is Osterley Park House, a crumbling 1576 mansion built for Sir Robert
Gresham, founder of the Royal Exchange. Robert Adam converted the property from 1763 to
1767, one of the most complete examples of his work. It has a richly decorated interior, Geor-
gian furniture, wall paintings, sculptures, Gobelins and Beauvais tapestries and fine carpets.
A 16th century stable is still in use. It is all set in a 1.4km
2
park and farmland with Pleasure
Grounds, neoclassical garden, lakes, orangery and nature trails and was used for filming
The
Queen, Burke & Hare, The Grass is Greener
and
Miss Potter
.
