News & Views
Manor Farm, Ruislip
The archaeological and historical importance of Manor
Farm transcends the local area. Its future is not merely a Ruislip
matter, but is of concern throughout the borough and beyond. The
following features make Manor Farm unique in this part of England:
- the village earthwork, which is connected with the Saxon park in
existence at the time of the Domesday Survey of 1086;
- the 11th century motte and bailey castle site;
- the site of the Abbey of Bec's priory, remains of which were discovered
beneath Manor Farm House in 1997;
- buildings dating from every period since c1300.
The Manor Farm Working Party was set up in September 1993 to decide how to create a heritage
centre at Manor Farm and interpret its unusually rich history for the
general public. A Heritage Strategy was adopted by the Ruislip/Northwood
Area Committee in January 1994.
Repair and refurbishment of the Manor Farm site commenced in April 2007 financed by the National Lottery Heritage Fund
and Hillingdon Borough Council, and was completed and opened in June 2008 with a remit to encourage more
visitors and public use.
The Manor Farm House has been completely repaired and restored, and now contains a Heritage Interpretation
Centre where visitors can learn about the history of the site. The House is also now the home of the Society's
archive, which has moved from Ruislip Library. For security reasons, immediate access to the locked archive room
on the first floor of the House is generally restricted by the opening hours of the House and to certain named
members of the Society. Other members and the public can also gain admission to the archive room if accompanied
by a named member. Any person not on the named list, which is held at the House, requiring such access should
contact the Society Chairman or Secretary. Members of the Society should always bring their valid RNELHS
membership card. The House opening time is generally from 12 noon to 3.00pm but may be somewhat longer at
weekends, during the summer and on special event days.
The Great Barn has been refurbished, including a new floor and the reinstatement of double doors.
The Little Barn, which houses Ruislip Library, has also been refurbished to include improved public
access and new lighting.
The Cart Sheds have been modified and refurbished to create craft studios.
Please follow the link for the Manor Farm Site Timeline.
Eastcote House Gardens
The London Borough of Hillingdon is planning to make a bid for Heritage Lottery funding
to improve and enhance the grounds of Eastcote House Gardens. The bid would include restoration work
on the Coach House and the Dovecot, and suggested future uses for these buildings which will be of
benefit to the local community.
In an effort to find out the views of the local community as to possible uses of these
buildings and the overall proposals for the site, two meetings were held in March and May 2003 and a
questionnaire issued. The Society was represented at both of these meetings and have returned the
questionnaire stating our views, which are as follows:
The Society feels that the Coach House and the Dovecot
should be repaired, preserved and maintained as sympathetically as possible
with a future use that is in keeping with the environment of the Gardens.
A possible use of the Coach House could be as a tea room, with art display
facilities for local societies, while the Dovecot could become and education
and interpretation centre. The Walled Garden and grounds should be left
as natural as possible with no added features such as aviaries or statues.
All that is needed is improved planting and maintenance. In fact, for
the project to succeed, it will need the constant commitment of the
Council and an understanding that continuous maintenance will be essential.
Our understanding is that another meeting will be called
to report future progress at the end of the public consultation period
and to outline a timetable for the bid. Evidently, no new bids can be
made by the Council until a decision has been agreed by the Heritage
Lottery Fund on the Council's other bid, which has been on-going for
some years, for the Manor Farm site.
Ruislip in 2001
To commemorate the early years of the Millennium, a small group of members of the RNELHS
have compiled a photographic record of the area covered by the ancient Manor of Ruislip, which also
includes present day Northwood, Eastcote and South Ruislip. The choice of photographs is intended
to reflect the various aspects of life in 2001. The results have been mounted in two albums which are
lodged in the Local History Room at Manor Farm House.
2009 Journal
This latest journal contains the following articles:
- The EMI site in Bury Street, Ruislip
- The Flat Bosses in the Nave Roof of St Martin's Church, Ruislip
- Grim's Dyke in Ruislip?
- Vehicle Manufacturing in Ruislip & Northwood
- 70 Years Ago... there were two Catholic Churches in Ruislip
- The History Behind the Road Names for Pembroke Park, Eastcote
- War Relic found in Ruislip Woods
- Society Outings 2009
The 2009 Journal is available for £4.00 (including UK postage) from
the Publications Manager, see Contacts. Please make cheques payable
to "Ruislip Northwood and Eastcote Local History Society".
RNELHS - Minutes of the 2009 AGM
The minutes of the 46th Annual General Meeting of the Society are available to view here.
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