Editing Hounslow (section)

=== Hounslow Heath ===
[[Hounslow Heath]] has a continuous recorded history dating back to the [[Norman conquest of England|Norman]] period, in which it lent its name to the hamlet of [[Heathrow (hamlet)|Heathrow]]. It was infamously known for the numbers of [[Highwayman|highwaymen]] and [[footpad]]s in the area,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hounslow Heath - Highwaymen and Highway Robbery|url=http://www.stand-and-deliver.org.uk/hounslow_heath.htm|access-date=6 May 2018|website=Stand-and-deliver.org.uk}}</ref> who targeted wealthy individuals and noblemen.<ref>{{Cite web|date=13 January 2017|title=When Hounslow Was The Most Dangerous Place In Britain|language=en-GB|website=Londonist.com|url=https://londonist.com/london/history/when-hounslow-was-the-most-dangerous-place-in-london|access-date=6 May 2018}}</ref>

The Heath once had strategic importance as its routes acted as a throughway from London to the west and southwest of Britain. The present northern boundary of the Heath - Staines Road - was the [[Roman roads in Britannia|Roman Road]] later known as the [[Devil's Highway (Roman Britain)|Devils Highway]]. There are several historic references to Roman camps surrounding the Heath. Both Oliver Cromwell and James II used the heath as a military encampment.

In 1784 the first accurate measurements were made on the heath to establish the base line for the Ordnance Survey trigonometrical survey of Great Britain. The event was attended by [[George IV|King George IV]] and [[Joseph Banks]], president of the [[Royal Society]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Owen |first1=Tim |last2=Pilbeam |first2=Elaine |title=Ordnance Survey, Map Makers to Britain since 1871 |date=1992 |publisher=Ordnance Survey/HMSO |location=Southampton/London |isbn=0-31-900249-7|page=6}}</ref>

In 1793, the [[Cavalry Barracks, Hounslow|Cavalry Barracks]] were constructed and were extended with the [[Beavers Lane Camp]]. Between 1914 and 1920 the heath became [[Hounslow Heath Aerodrome]].

[[Hounslow Heath Aerodrome]] was a grass airfield and was operational from 1910 to 1920. It was in the London borough of Hounslow, and in 1919 was where the first scheduled daily international commercial air services began.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/west-london-news/hounslows-forgotten-airports-vital-role-11143221|title=How Hounslow's forgotten airports helped win the world wars|last=Cumber|first=Robert|date=6 April 2016|website=Getwestlondon.co.uk|access-date=6 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/airfield-finder/hounslow/|title=Hounslow - Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust UK|website=Abct.org.uk|language=en|access-date=6 May 2018}}</ref>