Swakeleys dates from 1629–1630; the architectural history of St Giles and Ickenham Manor Farm reaches back to the late Middle Ages. Ickenham Marsh also offers wetland, grassland and woodland habitats, as well as views of the landscape. This makes it possible to plan a stay around two distinct interests: architectural history and nature.
Historic Buildings and Their Layers of History
Swakeleys was built in 1629–1630 for Sir Edmund Wright. Its distinctive interior features include numerous panelled rooms, original fireplaces and an impressive plaster ceiling. The house thus combines its period of construction with remarkable fittings.
The Church of St Giles is listed as a Grade II* building. The nave and chancel date from the late 14th century; the nave may be slightly older than the chancel. The church also has an unusual burial chapel, built in the mid-17th century for the Harringtons of Swakeleys. Medieval architectural history and a later family chapel thus come together here.
Ickenham Manor Farm includes a medieval moated site with surviving water-filled ditches. The manor house is a two-storey timber-framed building constructed in several phases. Its first phase was a medieval open-hall house, dated to the mid-to-late 14th century. The monument stands on flat, low-lying ground west of Ickenham Marsh and Yeading Brook; its location thus adds a tangible landscape connection to its architectural history.
Ickenham Hall is another part of the story: a Grade II listed Georgian manor house. It was originally the home of John Crosier and his family. The Hall is opposite Ickenham Station, which is served by the Metropolitan and Piccadilly lines. It is worth checking current timetables before travelling, as transport services can change.
Paths, Landscape and the Miniature Railway
The Ickenham Marsh section of the Hillingdon Trail runs from the A40 to Ruislip Lido and passes Ickenham Green Open Space. These named endpoints provide clear orientation for this section of the route. Ickenham Marsh offers the opportunity to explore wetland, grassland and woodland habitats and enjoy views of the landscape. Visitors who want to include the landscape in their stay as well as historic buildings will find a focus of its own here.
In the centre of Ickenham is the Ickenham Miniature Railway, a ground-level railway with 3½- and 5-inch gauges. It has offered rides to the public since 1970. This adds a very different kind of experience to the architectural history and paths through the landscape. If you plan to take a ride, check the current operating times in advance.
Plan Your Stay
If travelling via Ickenham Station, check the current services on both lines. This helps you coordinate your choice of activities with practical travel arrangements, without assuming that the different sights form a set walking tour.
Discover more destinations: Ruislip, Harmondsworth, Northwood, Harefield, Harlington, West Drayton, Uxbridge.
Return to the main travel overview: Hillingdon.
