Things you didn't know about... Elthorne Heights

Hanwell's 'henge is in Elthorne Heights
The stone displayed at the entrance to Elthorne Park near Elthorne Heights is a sarsen stone. It is one of the many remains of a layer of sandstone that once covered much of the south of England. Many megalithic monuments were built using sarsen stones, including Stonehenge.

Brunel built his first big bridge near Elthorne Heights
The Wharncliffe Viaduct near Elthorne Heights was the first major structural design by that most famous of British engineers, Isambard Kingdom Brunel. It was also the first viaduct to carry telegraph, in 1839. It is now a Grade I listed structure.

It's Elthorne Heights station, not Hanwell!
The good citizens of W7 felt that the name Hanwell reminded too many people of Hanwell Lunatic Asylum and demanded their train station be called Elthorne Heights instead.

Charlie Chaplin went to school near Elthorne Heights
Between 1896 and 1898, Charlie Chaplin attended the Central London District School for Poor Law Children. The school closed in 1933 and is now Hanwell Community Centre. The building was used for a number of scenes in the film Billy Elliot. Before their 1969 US tour, legendary band The Who paid a visit to Elthorne Heights to rehearse in the community centre. Deep Purple also rehearsed here.

Elthorne's windmill gave artist inspiration
There was a windmill in the Elthorne Heights area in the 14th century. It was later immortalised in the Joseph Turner painting Grand Junction Canal at Southall Mill, Windmill and Lock.

Elthorne Heights is not even 100 years old
Elthorne Heights came into existence just before World War I.

How green is the valley in Elthorne Heights?
Both Churchfields Recreation Ground and Brent Valley Golf Club were opened around the beginning of the 20th century to help keep the area free from buildings, and in turn preserve the hillside and river valley.

Elthorne Heights battle
The charmingly named Cuckoo Hill in Elthorne Heights was the site of a sixth century battle between the Britons and some Saxon invaders.