Turnham Green

Turnham Green is a public park on Chiswick High Road in west London. It sits in the London Borough of Hounslow and was once one of four medieval villages in the Chiswick area. Christ Church, a neo-Gothic building designed by George Gilbert Scott, stands on the eastern half of the green. A war memorial in the form of a stone obelisk marks the eastern corner. On the south side is the old Chiswick Town Hall, an Italianate building from 1876. The green has been the site of local events for centuries. In 1642, the Battle of Turnham Green took place nearby during the First English Civil War. The green also witnessed a murder in 1680 when the 7th Earl of Pembroke killed a watchman after a drunken evening. From 1912 to 1959, the Chiswick Empire theatre stood facing the north side of the green. The area is now a conservation zone, protecting its historic buildings and streets. Visitors find a mix of historic buildings and open space. Christ Church dominates the centre with its tall spire and Gothic Revival style. The war memorial, unveiled in 1921, stands on five steps encircled by a metal fence. Heathfield Terrace along the southern edge features the old town hall and a converted furniture repository. The green hosts community events such as funfairs and charity sales throughout the year.