Forum Topic

Boston Manor Park

Is this now open? Seems the police have gone and gates open?

Helen Coles ● 4225d20 Comments

"Lots of poor/wrong information given by the Police and the Press through the whole investigation in my opinion Jim"Agreed Stephen.Can you believe that the BBC London News website today says:The body of Arnis Zalkalns, 41, was discovered in Boston Park, west London.  No mention of Brentford and no mention of "Park". It's just poor professional reporting.  So what else do they misinform us about?

Jim Lawes ● 4206d

Lots of poor/wrong information given by the Police and the Press through the whole investigation in my opinion Jim.Glad the park is now back open.

Stephen Scott ● 4208d

All areas of the park are now open and WE the Friends of Boston Manor will open the pavilion café every day this week as it is half term, from 10 - 4 and always the weekends. We re-opened on Sunday 19th and were delighted with all the kind wishes and support extended to us -thank you.  Children's tennis camp also back on this week.  The mosaic craft ladies have decided to stop their Wednesday sessions for a while but we do have an outdoor exercise class on Wednesdays at 11.15 (rain or shine as if it rains it is done in the MUGA area under the flyover). Children are welcome to join in (there is someone to take charge of them and at only £3 per session (adults only pay) it has to be a bargain.  Come and take a stroll in the sunshine.Oh, and I am meeting with the Hounslow Heritage Officer next week to discuss "the big plans" for Boston Manor House!

Linda Massey ● 4209d

Agreed Kevin. But the public haven't got the authority to take these Police notices down.When will the next Policeman be walking by one wonders. Maybe Health and Safety requires that he/she has to have the right tools!

Jim Lawes ● 4215d

Park is definitely open, I walked through there on Friday. The police have not taken down those notices.

Kevin Farnan ● 4216d

Whilst we have been told that the Park and House are open... and that a small area is still cordoned off as it's still part of a crime scene... I was puzzled to see the following scene on the corner of Boston Gardens and Boston Manor Road this Saturday evening!  Venture in and get told off?Small detail just evades so many in their paid work!You'll remember the poor information published by the Police when they indicated that the house once occupied by the Latvian chap(and subject to their enquiries) was in Boston Road (Ealing) when in fact it is in Boston Manor Road (Brentford). That confused us all. Well I saw the place today. It actually backs onto Blondin Park and it's Nature Reserve/Allotments. Who'd have known that from the poor descriptions in the Press? I believe that to be the case anyway...having spoken to a resident opposite.

Jim Lawes ● 4217d

I ran an English Civil War reenactment a couple of this and a couple of Georgian ones. One the ECWbones we had an exhibition of armour from the Wallace Collection on display.

Neil Chippendale ● 4218d

Oh m God, is that the painting that hung in the house?

Neil Chippendale ● 4218d

Oh dear!  The image has been damaged...but we're sure the Friends of Boston Manor Park will put that right somehow!

Jim Lawes ● 4218d

Do you mean you used to dress up as Mr Clitherow's butler Neil?Here is Mr James...(I hope!).uk/arts/yourpaintings/images/paintings/bmh/624x544/lw_bmh_9_624x544.jpg

Jim Lawes ● 4218d

The idea was to use the house as a wedding venue. Many years ago LBH. installed a fully functional professional kitchen. I doubt if it has been used more than a handful of times. The upper floors were lived in but returned to LBH and the residents moved out. It did suffer a bad case of subsidence and closed for a long time. I used to run re-enactments in and around the house.I haven't been inside for sometime but it does have great potential.

Neil Chippendale ● 4218d

That was interesting Pat..an old scholar of Boston Manor House School. That should give you the Freedom of the place.Any of your school chums still around? Where would the memorabilia be I wonder.Wikipedia states:"John Bourchier Stracey-Clitherow was the last private owner of Boston Manor which he sold in 1923. The house and the surrounding 20 acres (8.1 ha) was purchased by the Brentford Urban District Council which was opened as a public park in 1924.The house was badly damaged during World War II by a V1 dropping across the road. For a time it was used as a school. After extensive restoration work, was re-opened in 1963 by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother as a visitors centre and Museum.Due to its unique architecture and decoration it has been often used as a setting for period films."----------------------------Nice classroom!

Jim Lawes ● 4218d

I recall parts of the Beatrix Potter film being on location in Boston Manor Park some years back (they also filmed in Osterley Park and St Peter's Square W6).On one occasion when I was strolling around the the back of the House and an old Police Car was in attendance..and a prison van...and seeing the blue lamps I hurries on!

Jim Lawes ● 4218d

A helicopter was flying over the Boston Manor Park area at around 18:00 today it was there for around 10 mins.

Stephen Scott ● 4218d

I went to the school in the park, it was lovely. Just two classes. As I recall the top floors were closed.  We had lovely May Days on the front lawn and celebrated Empire Day with flags. Think it closed in the 1950s.  Happy Days !

Pat Kingham ● 4221d

I second that. I visited on Sunday and was given an enthusiastically delivered tour by a woman who I assume to be a volunteer. My thanks to her and the woman on the desk. I was particularly interested to hear that the downstairs rooms were used as a primary school for some years, end ing I think in the 60s.One question I have - it appears that the house isn't used much. The tour lady told me that some of Foyle's War had been filmed there and I am pretty sure that I have read on the forum that a mosaic group meets there on a ?Wednesday? morning. Apparently something to do with the library service occasionally meets there also. Does anybody know what other use the house is put to? It is in need of some repairs and must be expensive just to maintain.

Anne England ● 4222d

One feels for the staff at Boston Manor Park and House and in particular the hard working volunteers during this recent difficult time.They need our support. Their work over the many years has been the foundation of providing us locals with a fabulous Park and it's many facilities.Pop in there and be seen or more crucially visit the House and /or the Cafe.Best wishes to Linda Massey (volunteer) and her teams.I wonder if the Spartan football matches had to be cancelled?

Jim Lawes ● 4222d

Hi Anne,the entrance I use is the one leading off the canal and it was still closed off this morning,looks like it will be for awhile longer.

Anne Parish ● 4222d

I went to Boston Manor House today. The house and the park were open.

Anne England ● 4223d

No,still alot of police over there.

Anne Parish ● 4224d