The Army on Hounslow Heath
Summer 1686
1686
Training ground for the army
Hounslow Heath was a small part of a once vast spread of deforested land that existed since medieval times. Twickenham Green, Heathfield Recreation Ground and Crane Park are all that remain of the Hounslow Heath as public open land in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. All that remains in the neighbouring London Borough of Hounslow is Hounslow Heath Nature Reserve.
Hospital Bridge Road takes its name from a military hospital designed by Sir Christopher Wren. It was established on the site of present day Hospital Bridge Road roundabout as part of a permanent citadel built by King James II halfway between the key royal power houses of London, Windsor and Hampton Court. As well as the hospital there was a huge barn to store hay and grain for the encampment and a bake house proving 3,000 loaves a day. James was deposed in 1688 by William, Prince of Orange when all evidence of the encampment began to be removed from history.
