Historical Dates and Events
John Offley was born in
1586, and was the oldest surviving son and heir of
Henry Offley of Madeley (1536 1613) by Mary, daughter of Sir John
White,
Lord Mayor of London. He was knighted at Theobalds on 25 April 1615.
Sheriff 1616 - 1617. JP and DL. Struck off the Commission in 1632.
1635
- Sir John Offley owned a large house in Isleworth, shown on Moses Glover
map. "Moat House"?
1645 - Sir John Offley built first house on the Spring Grove site
1754 - House sold to Elisha Biscoe, who demolished it and built Spring
Grove House on the site
1776 - Death of Elisha Biscoe
1779 - House leased to Sir Joseph Banks for 21 years at an annual rent of
£200 clear of taxes
1784 - Mail coach first appeared along road to London. Bristol to London in
12 hours. Average 9 mph
1808 - House purchased by Sir Joseph Banks for £6,000. Engraving shows lake
in front of the house
1820 - Sir Joseph Banks dies, and is buried in St. Leonard's Church,
Heston
1829 - Lady Banks dies. The property is bequeathed to nephew, Sir Edward
Knatchbull
1830 - House purchased by Mrs Anne Fish, who lived there with cousin Henry
Pownall and family
1834 - Mrs Fish dies, and Henry Pownall inherits the property
1838 - Andrew Pears snr., retires from the soap business
1850 - Estate sold by auction to property developer, Mr H D Davies
1862 - Pears factory moves to Isleworth
1886 - Spring Grove House sold to Andrew Pears. Estate extends to 20
acres
1894 - Andrew Pears rebuilt the house, spending £120,000 in less than two
years
1900 - Andrew Pears moved out of the house, to live in "Mevagissey
House" on the London Road
1902 - House put up for auction but failed to achieve its reserve price
1903 - House proposed as new town hall but proposal narrowly defeated
1903 - House sold to Mrs Hossack, of Piccadilly
1905 - House auctioned and bought by Edgar Miller, Ph.D., of "Health
House"
1906 - Eastern side of the estate (except drive and lodge) resold for
development
1910 - House used as a private convalescent home
1914 - House became a military hospital for the duration of the Great
War
1922 - Estate bought by Middlesex County Council and house opened as Spring
Grove Polytechnic
1923 - Spring Grove Secondary School established
1946 - School renamed Spring Grove Grammar School
1959 - School moves to new premises in Lampton; Spring Grove House becomes
Isleworth Polytechnic
1967 - Rebuilding of Isleworth Polytechnic is commenced, involving
demolition of NW section of house
1969 - Spring Grove Grammar School at Lampton converts to Lampton
School
1972 - Spring Grove House still standing: reprieved from demolition until
Phase III, "date not yet fixed"
1976 - Isleworth Polytechnic renamed "Hounslow Borough
College"
1993 - College renamed "West Thames College"
1996 - Two-year refurbishment and restoration of house by the current
owners is completed
2005 - House still standing, and in full use as college administration
centre
