Chiswick history

A surprising fact about Chiswick is that it had one of the largest shipbuilding yards in the world in the early part of the 20th century. But Chiswick was a late developer as a residential area. Houses were constructed between the High Road and the river between the First and Second World Wars, but the real house development boom in Chiswick took place after Chiswick Bridge was constructed, and after the Great West Road was extended through the area after the Second World War. Chiswick’s name comes from the old English for “Cheese Farm”. Perhaps if things had worked out differently, we would all be eating chiswick rather than cheddar.

Chiswick still contains many old houses some even from the 17th century. Chiswick House is a large Palladian Villa designed by the Earl of Burlington in the 18th century. It is now maintained by English Heritage. Chiswick Bridge is the finishing line of the University Boat Race.