Bedfont

Bedfont is a suburb in the London Borough of Hounslow, approximately west of Charing Cross. Originally a distinct village, Bedfont has a large central conservation area around Bedfont Green. The majority of the housing was built at a time of an emerging economy of aviation and distribution-related businesses. The area was formerly part of the Staines Rural District and was one of the formerly agricultural areas chosen for significant low-rise social housing, planned and built in the mid 20th century. Bedfont straddles Staines Road (A315) and traditionally includes North Feltham north of Staines Road – a mainly commercial area – and the neighbourhood of Hatton. The heart of the area has many parks and the south-eastern streets and Cage Park are contiguous with the larger district of Feltham. East is the River Crane around which are a few remaining parts of Hounslow Heath. The nearest railway station is at Feltham and the area adjoins the Hatton Cross Underground station on the Piccadilly line. Heathrow Airport is to the north. A typical list of evolving Middle English orthography follows the Domesday Book's "Bedefunde" (1086). All forms confirm two components, the first unclear and the latter certain (in meaning). In the most orthodox Old English language (Old English), a tongue relatively little-written and standardised, funta or funde means spring or small pool. Bed could be an intuitive idea of the village water source lying in a bed. All of the land is gravel terraces which rise gently to the north and fall to the south with a rare natural spring and small ponds, some medieval, all removed near the centre. Bed is close to at least one known proper name (noun), Bede. The natural spring here suggests an Anglo-Saxon proper village pre-dating the 10th century monastic cult of Bede. However, Bed has a standard personal tribe/following '-ing' prefix in Beddington a dozen miles to the east. An obscure, longer Germanic noun is Byden, a type of drinking-vessel, a potential root.