Yiewsley is a large suburban village in the London Borough of Hillingdon.
Yiewsley’s transition from an agrarian community began when the Grand Junction Canal was opened. Construction started in May 1793 and connected the area to the Thames at Brentford, passing through Yiewsley on its way north following the River Colne. An aqueduct was built at Cowley Lock to cross the Fray’s River. In 1794, the canal opened between the Thames and Uxbridge, and in 1795, the aqueduct over the Fray’s River was likely completed.
The following year, in 1796, Colham Wharf, Yiewsley’s first dock, was established near Colham Bridge. In 1801, the Paddington Arm of the canal opened, connecting the area to national trade routes.
The canal played a vital role in transporting Cowley stock bricks, which were made from the abundant brick-earth in Yiewsley. The bricks were transported mainly along the Grand Junction Canal and the Regent’s Canal to supply the demand for building materials in Victorian London.
By the 1890s, approximately 100 million bricks were produced annually in West Middlesex, meeting London’s construction needs. However, the brick-earth deposits began to deplete around the early 20th century. Brick production continued until 1935, while gravel and sand extraction continued into the 1970s.
The Great Western Railway’s construction began in 1835, with the Paddington to Maidenhead line opening in 1838, making West Drayton its first station. The GWR branch line to Uxbridge Vine Street was completed in 1856. West Drayton Station was relocated in 1884, four months before the Staines and West Drayton Railway branch line was opened. In 1895, the station was renamed West Drayton and Yiewsley station.
Industrial diversification occurred from the mid-1800s, with the 1920s marking the development of Trout Road as a hub for oils and chemical production. From the 1930s onwards, numerous smaller companies involved in chemicals, plastics and engineering components established themselves in the area.
Following the Second World War, two firms began producing motor vehicles in Yiewsley. Road Machines manufactured various vehicles, while James Whitson & Co started manufacturing coaches and fire engines.
In the 1960s, rail travel demand waned, and the branch line to Uxbridge Vine Street ceased passenger services in 1962.
Today, Yiewsley is a growing community with residential housing and commercial businesses. The development of the Elizabeth line, the London Plan, and Hillingdon Local Plan has led to significant construction of residential apartments on former industrial sites. Yiewsley’s High Street features national retail outlets like Tesco, Iceland, and Aldi, and Heathrow Airport remains a major source of employment in the area.
Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones grew up in Whitethorn Avenue, attending St Stephen’s Infant School and St Matthew’s Church of England Primary School.
Yiewsley is a large suburban village in the London Borough of Hillingdon.
