Hogarth’s house. Watercolour by T M Rooke 1897

Russian Orthodox Cathedral

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Where was the first Royal Navy torpedo boat built? Where was the floor covering linoleum invented? Where did the Royal Horticultural Society set up its first experimental gardens? Where did the first V2 rocket explode in World War II?

Chiswick is where all these events occurred, and they are just some of Chiswick’s many `firsts’. Electric trams were inaugurated here, Cherry Blossom Boot Polish launched; and the prototype garden suburb, Bedford Park, built. Chiswick was also the scene of a decisive skirmish in the English Civil War, the place where the 3rd Earl of Burlington built Chiswick House, his Palladian villa. It was also home to many famous people, including William Hogarth, Alexander Pope and W B Yeats.

This website provides information on Chiswick’s rich history. It contains a brief run through of Chiswick down the centuries and separate sections for different topics. The people, pubs, buildings, firms etc mentioned in each section are arranged alphabetically for easy reference.