A reasonably local walk that Islanders may wish to try is Crane Park. Straddling Twickenham and Hounslow, the park is a slender ribbon, over 2 miles in length, following the bends of the area’s lesser known river, the Crane.
The nearest entrance to Brentford is at Meadway, Twickenham, reached directly by the 267 bus. Alternatively go on foot, starting at Isleworth Ait and follow the path of the Duke of Northumberland’s River, a 16th century canal that meets Crane Park at Twickenham.
For hundreds of years the Crane valley was a thriving industrial focus of factories, flour mills, and market gardens, using the river for water power and transportation. The decline of industry in the 20th century led to the area becoming derelict. The land was sold to Twickenham Council and first opened as a park in 1935 with subsequent sections gradually regenerated and added later. Thanks to the campaigning of local people, Crane Park has been saved from property developers several times over the years.
Walking the narrow corridor, one is aware that the city is never far away. There are secluded woodlands, pastures and water meadows along the 30-acre route, though modern housing often presses onto the river on both sides. The park also passes under two major roads, creating a very London mixture of the urban and rural.
Arguably the highlight is Crane Park Island, an islet reached by footbridge with a numbered walk for visitors. It is now a designated Local Nature Reserve managed by the Wildlife Trust, and home to endangered kingfishers, bats, water voles and marsh frogs. Nearby is the Shot Tower, a Grade 2 listed building and last remaining feature of the (in)famous Hounslow Gunpowder Works. Once one of the largest gunpowder factories in Europe, the works experienced frequent explosive accidents resulting in many worker deaths and blowing out the windows of buildings as far away as Strawberry Hill and Isleworth.
The Shot Tower (see photo above) now houses a Visitor Centre, open on Sundays, with a separate coffee kiosk open Wed-Sun.
Friends of River Crane host volunteer days and semi-regular events there.
Extract from our ‘Island LIFE’ newsletter
