Thanks to Feltham History Group, Ken Baldwin, Feltham Local Studies Department, Pam Crymble, Kathleen Hope (Feltham, Hanworth and Bedfont Appreciation Society Facebook) and Hounslow Council / Highways for information, photographs and permissions
1635 map produced for Duke of Northumberland
The fire started at 6.30pm and due a moderate breeze that had veered north-westerly following the passing of a deep depression, it destroyed most of the village.
Some placed the seat of the fire at a farmhouse owned by William Ansell, later referred to as ‘Blaize Farm’. However, this is in doubt given it was located on the east side of the road and given the direction of the wind.
Sometime following the fire, Lord Strafford, the Earl of Wentworth, received a letter from a Mr Garrard in which he noted that, “The fire had claimed the Manor House, 13 other houses and 16 Barns with an estimated value of £5,000”.
Lord Cottington funded the rebuilding of the village and there is a record of the handing over of the new Feltham Manor House to Lord Cottington in 1639.
Original Manor House with barn before fire
The new Manor House was built in 1639 and bought by A.H Moss in 1901.
A.H Moss with his wife Ada Marie Moss (nee Toplis) and their two children, Emily Rhoda (Pam Crymble's mum) and Henry, outside the Manor House c1919
Alfred Henry Moss started A.H Moss Parkview Nurseries in 1904 with £100 lent to him by his father. The nursery was well known for its roses, a million of which were exported each year to America from the early 1900's onwards.
The original Moss Florist on Feltham High Street, between Rochester Parade and Feltham Manor House
The right side of the florist shop was bombed in 1939. The old shop remained until a new one was built around 1959/60. Theodopolis Toplis, Ada Marie Moss's father, lived in the little house at the end of the greenhouses, where he died on 14th November 1921.
The new Moss Florist, which was built around 1959/60, and Feltham Manor House opposite Elmwood Avenue
Four Point garage c1960's with Manor House (centre background)
Photo from Metropolitan Archives
Manor House being demolished, 1966
The new Manor House stood in the High Street on the site of what is now Tesco's petrol station, across the street from Elmwood Avenue. When it was demolished in 1966 to make way for the Four Point garage, an archaeological excavation of the site failed to produce any evidence of an earlier medieval manor house. Looking at the oldest surviving map of Feltham village, it would appear that the original Manor House was located nearer to St Dunstan's church.
Four Point Garage c1970's
Photo by Peter D Hocking
Friends of Feltham Green, with help from Hounslow Council's Thriving Communities Fund, local Councillor Farah Kamran and Hounslow Highways, were able to improve a very neglected part of Feltham High Street at the junction with Elmwood Avenue.
Local residents and businesses helped with planting, weeding, painting and creating a tree bench, the Great Fire of Feltham Anniversary Bench 2024. It surrounds a large Holm oak to provide a seating area for people who use the nearby bus stop.
The 'Great Fire of Feltham' Anniversary Bench 2024, designed and made by local resident Dr. Lino Cericola, and installed by members of Church Road allotments, Hanworth
The wood was burnt before varnishing for effect.
Elmwood Avenue border in process of being planted up with bee friendly hot coloured perennials or with fire related names (e.g. Red Hot Poker)
With help from Habitats & Heritage and Hounslow Council Highways, two QR codes will be installed on the bench so that people can link to this page to read about the Great Fire of Feltham 1634, the Manor House and the story behind the bench and border project. An elm tree will be planted in this border during winter 2024/25 to help bring back the species to Feltham and to reflect the naming of Elmwood Avenue.
Thanks to Hounslow Council Highways for permission to plant-up the border, install the tree bench and purchase and maintain the new tree.