Ben's Cafe* , popular with cyclists,was on the Bath Road just behind Doghurst Cottages at the beginning of Heathrow Road ( * had been Jock's Cafe in the early 1930s till Ben Ward took over, served airport workers till about 1952)
Regarding the photo of David Wild of Shrub End, Cains Lane, the nurse in the photo (with child on lap) was Frances Cordell who lived in a cottage in Longford and who up to just before her death in May 2003 (age 93!) was a member, Sunday School teacher and organist at Colnbrook Baptist Chapel, where I am still a member and remember her very well. Her cottage overlooked the North West corner of the Airport. The Wilds and the Philps (also mentioned in the video) were also connected with Colnbrook and Longford Baptist Chapels.
I dont personally know but I have written with photo to an elderly friend (93! And now living in a Home in Tunbridge Wells) who knew Frances very well. She may remember what Frances said about the Wilds. Her mind is still quite good. I seem to think that a family of Wilds moved out to Colchester when they were removed from their farm. It may have been David. I will let you know anything I find out.
Very strange business. Heston Airport was nearby and could easily have been expanded. The popular Blackbushe airport that was huge and also free of the notorious Thames Valley fog was strangely shut down and decommissioned.
I can only think that, being wartime, the decision was made for war-specific reasons. Perhaps cost or easy to evict everybody under emergency powers. But I don’t actually know
My father was born at common barn farm in 1927 and his grandmothers small holding was compulsory purchased in 1929. She moved to Bedfont where she lived until the age of 94. His family received a council house in Hounslow where the family lived until the last one died some 10 years ago. He always said it was near the Queen’s Building. I’m assuming it was were Fairey’s were located. Lovely website - thanks. Martin
Thanks Martin for sharing your interesting family history! There were a lot of houses which I wasn’t able to research. There’s a chance your family lived there
Ben's Cafe* , popular with cyclists,was on the Bath Road just behind Doghurst Cottages at the beginning of Heathrow Road ( * had been Jock's Cafe in the early 1930s till Ben Ward took over, served airport workers till about 1952)
Regarding the photo of David Wild of Shrub End, Cains Lane, the nurse in the photo (with child on lap) was Frances Cordell who lived in a cottage in Longford and who up to just before her death in May 2003 (age 93!) was a member, Sunday School teacher and organist at Colnbrook Baptist Chapel, where I am still a member and remember her very well. Her cottage overlooked the North West corner of the Airport. The Wilds and the Philps (also mentioned in the video) were also connected with Colnbrook and Longford Baptist Chapels.
Do you know what happened to the family after 1944? I loved that photo and their house - it seems so contemporary
I dont personally know but I have written with photo to an elderly friend (93! And now living in a Home in Tunbridge Wells) who knew Frances very well. She may remember what Frances said about the Wilds. Her mind is still quite good. I seem to think that a family of Wilds moved out to Colchester when they were removed from their farm. It may have been David. I will let you know anything I find out.
Very strange business. Heston Airport was nearby and could easily have been expanded. The popular Blackbushe airport that was huge and also free of the notorious Thames Valley fog was strangely shut down and decommissioned.
I can only think that, being wartime, the decision was made for war-specific reasons. Perhaps cost or easy to evict everybody under emergency powers. But I don’t actually know
My father was born at common barn farm in 1927 and his grandmothers small holding was compulsory purchased in 1929. She moved to Bedfont where she lived until the age of 94. His family received a council house in Hounslow where the family lived until the last one died some 10 years ago. He always said it was near the Queen’s Building. I’m assuming it was were Fairey’s were located. Lovely website - thanks. Martin
Thanks Martin for sharing your interesting family history! There were a lot of houses which I wasn’t able to research. There’s a chance your family lived there
In Cain’s Lane