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Anyone else fascinated by this?I have tested it for some research on a technical issue.  Not very accurate, and the information out of date.  But perhaps a reasonable starting point.Just out of interest, I asked the question:  "What is the history of Chiswick", and then reran the same question a few times.Here is the first answer.  I will post the next two answer to follow:"Chiswick is a suburban area of London, located in the west of the city. It has a long and rich history dating back to the Roman period.During the Roman period, Chiswick was an important site for the production of pottery and tiles, with evidence of kilns and other industry found in the area. The village was also an important stop on the road that connected London with Bath, and it is believed that a Roman road passed through the area.In the Middle Ages, Chiswick was a small village with a population of around 100 people. The village was largely rural, with a number of farms and fields. In the 16th century, the area became popular as a location for grand country houses, and several wealthy families built large homes in the area.During the 18th and 19th centuries, Chiswick grew rapidly as a residential suburb of London. Many of the grand country houses were converted into more modest homes, and new streets and developments were built to accommodate the growing population. The arrival of the railway in the mid-19th century further accelerated the growth of the area, making it easier for people to commute into central London.Chiswick has a rich artistic and cultural history, with several notable residents including the artist William Hogarth, who lived in the area in the 18th century, and the poet Alexander Pope, who built a villa in nearby Twickenham.Today, Chiswick is a popular residential area with a thriving community and a wide range of amenities, including shops, restaurants, and parks. The area has also become a popular location for film and television productions, with several notable productions filmed in the area, including "Downton Abbey" and "Doctor Who.""

T P Howell ● 445d9 Comments

There's a fun Podcast from the Grauniad (probably banned in Chiswick) from Today in Focus "Are chatbots coming for your job?"In this case, it seemed that the chatbot, called Sidney, came for our correspondent, telling him he had fallen in love with him. I don't think the affair was consummated.

Guy Lambert ● 444d

Maybe not the mainland, but Chiswick Eyot had Neolithic / Bronze Age dwellers. They used to drink in the Bulls Head too. Some still do 😜https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_WG-75

Russell Pearson ● 444d

Thought the cheese was delivered there not produced there, no mention of saw mills.

Janice Evans ● 444d

They managed to miss a few important details. There have been neolithic finds in Hammersmith, Acton, Brentford and Barnes, but not Chiswick. At the time most of the Chiswick peninsular would have been the riverbed or marshland, so not useable land. The High Road and Wellesley Road would probably have been the route between Hammersmith and Brentford along the riverbank. The Romans would often use routes that already existed, but the High Road was just a road to get to other places and never a destination. At the time of the Doomsday book, Chiswick, Acton and Ealing were part of Fulham Palace. Gunnersbury and Paddenswick was once a single property with two houses, I assume all the land inbetween was part of Gunnersbury, it explains some of the modern boundaries. As the river moved and the land became useable Chiswick and Sutton Court were created on Kempton soil, soil washed down by the Thames from Kempton. Although the course of the river now appears immovable it wasn’t always that way. The first map of the Chiswick timeline (1593) looks wrong as the river is in the wrong place, but is probably how it was at the time. You can see in the modern road network that Burlington Lane was once along the riverbanks and in Barnes the roads were pushed south as the river moved. Chiswick is made up of four different villages, Chiswick, Strand on the Green, Turnham Green and Sutton Court. Strand of the Green is the least connected to Chiswick and was a small fishing / laundry village. Turnham Green was the commercial centre with all the shops and was the last to appear with no known origin. It probably started as the triangle between the Roman roads before encroaching on land to the north in Acton and to the south in Sutton Court. Sutton Court was the Kings land and collected the local taxes until someone squatted there and it became private property, if it wasn’t for the Duke of Devonshire buying it, they whole area could have become Sutton Court. At a guess the possible confusion with Sutton may have played a part in the choice of names. Chiswick was the small neighbour to Sutton Court and Turnham Green and was mostly church land, even today the Dean of St Pauls still owns some of it, the names Glebe and Prebend are clues to their past. The origins of the name all link to Cheese, but there are different ideas. The idea of a fair or market seems to have disappeared as no record of a fair or market has been found. A farm seems plausible, a river loading point less so, the river would have been used for many other things not just cheese. I like the idea that there is no connection with cheese production and is named after a Mr Cheese.

Colin Potter ● 444d

It didn't mention that the tribe of Hounslowians have been trying to assimilation by force the affluent tribe of Chiserati for many years.

Basil Finnis ● 445d

I don't know if it is something you would include, but there was the battle of Turnham Green in 1642 I think. Turnham Green being a village at the time.

Bob Guyett ● 445d

Very interesting and needing further understanding. I have just returned to the Library a sustantial book called THE TIMES LONDON HISTORY ATLAS.With an accompanying map the book describes the arrival of the Romans on our lands and how they settled in London, Fulham Brentford, and Staines. No mention of Chiswick,Chelsea or Richmond!The Brentford Dock Estate has accommodation blocks named after Romans.Thanks for the link. Will look up Brentford!

Jim Lawes ● 445d

"Chiswick is a district of West London, located in the London Borough of Hounslow. The area has a long and fascinating history, dating back to the Roman period and beyond.During the Roman era, Chiswick was a rural area outside of Londinium (now London), and there is evidence of a Roman villa in the vicinity. The villa, which dates back to the 1st century AD, was discovered in the 18th century and is now part of Chiswick House, a well-known historic landmark in the area.During the Anglo-Saxon period, Chiswick was part of the Kingdom of Mercia and was known as Ceswican or Ceswican Ford. The name is thought to mean "landing place for cheese", and it is believed that cheese was produced in the area and transported down the Thames to London.In the medieval period, Chiswick was a small village with a church and a few houses. The area was known for its orchards, which produced apples and pears that were sold in London. In the 16th century, a large mansion known as Chiswick House was built in the area, which would become a popular destination for wealthy Londoners seeking a country retreat.During the 18th and 19th centuries, Chiswick became a popular residential area for wealthy merchants and aristocrats, who built large mansions and villas in the area. The arrival of the railway in the mid-19th century made it easier for people to commute into central London, and the area continued to grow and develop into the 20th century.Today, Chiswick is a vibrant and diverse area with a rich history and a number of cultural attractions, including the aforementioned Chiswick House, the Fuller's Griffin Brewery, and the Thames riverside walk. The area is also home to a number of shops, restaurants, and cafes, and is known for its strong community spirit and sense of place."

T P Howell ● 445d

"Chiswick is a district in west London, England, that has a rich and varied history dating back to Roman times. Here is a brief overview of some of the key events and developments in the history of Chiswick:Roman period: Chiswick was a rural area in Roman times, and a number of Roman artifacts have been found in the area, including coins and pottery.Anglo-Saxon period: During the Anglo-Saxon period, Chiswick was part of the Kingdom of Mercia, and a Saxon church was built in the area. The church, which was dedicated to St. Nicholas, was later rebuilt in the 19th century.Middle Ages: Chiswick was a small village throughout the Middle Ages, and it was known for its agricultural production, particularly its market gardens and orchards. The village was also the site of a number of large mansions and estates, including Chiswick House, which was built in the early 18th century.19th century: In the 19th century, Chiswick began to grow and develop rapidly, particularly after the opening of the Great Western Railway in 1838. The railway station, which was located on the site of the present-day Chiswick Park station, made it easier for people to travel to and from London, and led to the construction of a number of new homes and businesses in the area.20th century: Chiswick continued to grow and develop throughout the 20th century, particularly after the construction of the M4 motorway in the 1960s. The area became a popular residential and commercial district, and many of its historic buildings and landmarks were preserved and restored.Today, Chiswick is a vibrant and diverse district that is home to a number of shops, restaurants, and cultural attractions. Some of the area's most popular landmarks include Chiswick House and Gardens, the Arts Educational Schools London, and the Fuller's Brewery."

T P Howell ● 445d