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The foundations of the town of Uxbridge date back to Roman times. Recent discoveries include some Roman burials, the first evidence that the Romans lived there.

If you looked for Uxbridge in historical documents, you probably wouldn't recognise it, because the spelling frequently changed. Sometimes it is called Woxebrugge", sometimes Wxebrugge", and sometimes Yuxbrigge".

Right up until the 19th century, people spelled places and even their own names the way that they sounded. This could mean that the same person would spell a place in several different ways.

In 1189 a document from King Henry known as ìBassett's Grant" gave the people of Uxbridge a right to hold a market every Thursday. All profits went to the owner of the Honor of Wallingford, which included Uxbridge.

The weekly market was the making of Uxbridge. Farmers from all over Middlesex and Buckinghamshire came to market to sell their goods. Uxbridge Town grew quickly once the market had been set up, and was one of only two towns in Middlesex to send a member to the first Parliament of Edward I.

Uxbridge was lucky to have grown up on a main road, at a river crossing, because this meant that it began to be used as a stopping place for horses and carriages on their way between London and Oxford.

In the Greater London Development Plan of 1966, Uxbridge was designated an office centre, and so it has been mainly large office buildings which have gone up over the past 20 years. Among the notable buildings now are Harman House, a large mirror glass building overlooking the railway station, Charter Place, which houses Coca-Cola Schweppes, The Quays, overlooking the canal, and Baker's Court. Some of the new buildings and developments carry forward old names that have been associated with the town for some time.

Today Uxbridge is the main shopping centre for the borough. With the Chimes and Pavillions shopping centres providing shops, restaurants, parking and cinema facilities.

AREAS: Hillingdon, Uxbridge, Hayes, Eastcote, Ickenham, Northwood, Harefield, Ruislip

LOCAL SPORTS TEAMS:
Football: Hayes F.C. Uxbridge F.C. Yeading F.C. Brookhouse F.C. Ruslip Manor F.C. Harefield F.C. Denham F.C. Hillingdon F.C. Northwood F.C.

Hockey: Eastcote H.F.C. Cricket: Hayes, Uxbridge, Harefield

ATTRACTIONS:
Heathrow Airport
Stockley Park
Middx Show
RAF Uxbridge
Beck Theatre
Ruislip Lido
Grand Union Canal
Cranford Park
Western International Market

LOCAL SHOPPING:
Chimes
Pavillions

For more Hillingdon links and information
visit the Community Centre