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Crane Park

Crane Park (in Whitton, Twickenham) is the site of the Hounslow Powder Mills which were built in the 16th century and continued to make gunpowder until 1927. The mills have disappeared, but the park has been used by the local community for generations. The history of the park is still vissible as a "Shot Tower" still stands inthe centre of the park together with blast banks, sluices and ruins of other buildings.

Crane Park follows the bends of the river Crane from Meadway in Twickenham to Hanworth Road at its western end. The park is managed to encourage wildlife, and the banks of the Crane are home to a thriving colony of Marsh Frogs and the rare Water Vole. A shared use path runs through the park. 2010-12 saw a major restoration program from Greater London Authority, LBRUT & LB Hounslow funding.

'The Fishbourne', 'The Old River', 'The Powder Mill River' - all these names have, at various times been given to the Middlesex river which is now called The Crane. The source of the River Crane is in the higher levels of land situated between Pinner and Harrow where a series of small brooks unite to form a larger stream called Yeading Brook. At Cranford Park the stream becomes a river, and from this point onwards, is generally called the River Crane. The river describes a complete semi-circle until it joins the Thames at Twickenham. Gunpowder manufacture was the most important of the Crane industries, one which was carried on for at least 400 years up to the present century when Messrs. Curtis and Harvey closed their mills in 1927. Until the reign of Henry VIII, because of the lack of saltpetre in this country, most of the gunpowder was imported. However by the middle of the 16th century, gunpowder mills had been established on Hounslow Heath and were considerably extended during the reign of Elizabeth, when the great expansion of naval enterprise beyond Europe meant that the country was no longer solely dependent on continental powers for supplies of saltpetre. The status of the mills was further increased in the reign of James I, who granted a Royal Charter to the manufacturers on the Heath. The powder mill in what is now Crane Park, was established between 1766 and 1768. This first mill started life as a corn mill and was converted to the manufacture of gunpowder. The original mill passed through various hands including Edmund Hill, John Butts and Harvey and Grueber until 1820 when it was bought by the firm of Curtis's and Harvey. They began a programme of expansion to increase the number and capacity of the mills and improved the water supply which was essential for gunpowder manufacture. This group of mills were called the Hounslow Powder Mills although they were actually closer to Twickenham and Hanworth. They were sometimes referred to as the Hanworth Mills. After development the site covered more than 100 acres. The buildings were sited far apart, screened by trees or mounds of earth and the potentially dangerous parts of the site were built of lightweight materials to reduce the resistance to shock if they blew up. The mills chiefly produced high class small arms powders for military and sporting purposes. The gunpowder industry in this area was a major employer but it was dangerous work. Curtis's and Harvey issued a fairly comprehensive set of safety rules for their employees which they were required to carry with them at all times and produce on demand. In spite of these precautions explosions frequently occurred, many involving considerable loss of life. Hounslow Powder Mills experienced at least 55 explosions during their working life. In January 1772, when three mills blew up at Hounslow the effects were felt like an The Shot Tower, Crane Park

Once the site of the old Hounslow Gunpowder Mills, this island is now a peaceful haven surrounded by the River Crane. It is a mosaic of woodland, scrub and reedbed, which due to careful management provides a home for the increasingly scarce water vole. The island welcomes visitors throughout the year and has good facilities for people with disabilities. School children on specially organised visits can investigate the rich aquatic life in the shallow stretches of the Crane. The old Shot Tower was opened as a nature and visitor centre in 2004.It is now open to the public every Sunday afternoon.The large millpool on an island above the mills has been turned into a nature reserve.

http://www.force.org.uk/ http://www.parkrun.org.uk/crane/