Hillingdon Hall

The Soldiers Return name came from the days when soldiers would return to the nearby RAF base to convalesce after active service. RAF Uxbridge occupies the former estate and grounds of the historic Hillingdon House and has an important connection with Britain's air defence during the World War II. The original Hillingdon House is thought to have been built in 1617 and was rebuilt in 1717 by the last Duke of Schonberg. Prior to 1717, the estate had been identified as belonging partly to the manor of Swakeleys and partly to the Manor of Colham. A Medieval settlement within this area was concentrated within te settlements of Hillingdon, Colham and Uxbridge and it is likely that the site lay within common land and wasteland between these. The current Hillingdon House was rebuilt in 1844 after being destroyed by fire. In 1907 the gardens covered 47 acres and contained a five-acre lake formed by a dam in the River Pinn. The park as a while covered approximatley 158 acres with no significant changes by 1914. The estate was bought by the Government in 1918 an used as a convalescence home for Canadian soldiers after which it became the RFC Armanent and Gunnery School. In 1919 the RAF Depot relocated from Halton to the site and became the main recruit-training centre. During the 1920's new barrack blocks around a large parade ground and other buildings were built to accommodate this. Hillongdon House soon began to house headquarters for units, of which the most notable was No 11 (Fighter) Group who were there from 1936.

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