Ickenham: Country Houses, History and Ickenham Marsh

Ickenham Between Country Houses and Wetlands

Anyone who wants to experience London beyond its well-known centres, museums and theatres will find in Ickenham a varied combination of architectural history, landscape and distinctive local features. When choosing accommodation in this part of London, the documented country houses, the Church of St Giles and the section of the Hillingdon Trail through Ickenham Marsh are of particular interest. The individual destinations represent different ways of exploring the area, without Ickenham having to be defined by a single theme.

Architecture and History in Ickenham

Swakeleys was built in 1629–1630 for Sir Edmund Wright. The country house has numerous panelled rooms with original fireplaces and an impressive plaster ceiling. The Church of St Giles offers a considerably older historical connection and is listed as a Grade II* building. Its nave and chancel date from the late 14th century; the nave may be somewhat older than the chancel. The church also has an unusual mortuary chapel for the Harringtons of Swakeleys, built in the mid-17th century.

Ickenham Manor Farm also demonstrates how many layers of history can come together in one place. The site includes a medieval moated enclosure with surviving water-filled ditches. The manor house is a two-storey timber-framed building constructed in several phases. The first phase was a medieval open hall house, dating from the mid to late 14th century. The Ickenham Manor Farm monument stands on flat, low-lying ground west of Ickenham Marsh and Yeading Brook. Ickenham Hall provides another historical point of reference: the Grade II listed Georgian country house was originally the home of John Crosier and his family.

Paths, Landscape and an Unusual Experience

Ickenham Marsh adds another side of the area to travel planning. There is an opportunity to explore wetland, meadow and woodland habitats and enjoy views across the landscape. The Ickenham Marsh section of the Hillingdon Trail runs from the A40 to Ruislip Lido and passes Ickenham Green Open Space. This also makes it possible to consider a stay in terms of a specifically named section of the trail and a variety of landscapes, without adding unsupported walking times or distances to the route.

The location of Ickenham Hall is also precisely described for orientation in Ickenham: the country house is opposite Ickenham Station, which is served by the Metropolitan line and the Piccadilly line. A distinctive addition is the Ickenham Miniature Railway in the centre of Ickenham. The ground-level railway has gauges of 3½ and 5 inches and has offered rides to the public since 1970. Alongside the historic buildings and landscape, the Ickenham Miniature Railway provides another local point of reference.

More London places to compare: Isleworth, Kingston Upon Thames, New Malden, Hounslow, Islington, Wembley, Barking and Ilford.