More on the Work of Susan Casey
The inspiration for the Isleworth 390 Project came from Peter Downs – the Chairman of the Isleworth Society, before Susan. His wife Mary worked in the Youth Office for the LBH and employed me as the Field Officer for all the Youth Clubs in the borough! (Sadly Mary passed away recently in Atfield House). Peter and Mary Downs were legends!
Way back, Peter Downs suggested that the Isleworth Society took on the task of researching and recording the lives and deaths of every WW1 Serviceman on the Isleworth War Memorial. There are 390 names!
Sadly, Peter died before the project was started, but Susan Casey 'stepped up' and began the four year project. It was a tremendous task. She gathered a small team of willing amateur researchers and the beautiful book was completed, on time, for the WW1 Commemorations in 2018.
Over the four years of research, Susan had enticed seven local schools to join the 2018 Remembrance event. Every child wore a sash with the name of one of the servicemen from the memorial. Many, many other Isleworth residents and businesses were there too. There were hundreds of people. It was truly wonderful to see. All credit to Susan!
A few months later, one young student asked her parents to take her to France to pay her respects at ‘her’ service man’s grave! Isleworth’s Fallen Solders will always be remembered by our local children, and their children!
The Isleworth Society would very much like to honour the memory of Susan Casey, and plans are in place to put a memorial in the Memorial Square Garden opposite St Bridget's Church. A design, endorsed by Susan’s sister Anne, is in the process of being created.
A small plaque will be added honouring Susan and her enormous contribution to Isleworth, and the 390 Project.
Tribute to Susan Casey 1950 - 2025
The Isleworth Society is sad to report the death of our Chair Susan Casey on Friday 31 January 2025.
A memorial website has been established at
https://susan-j-casey.muchloved.com
The family would love to see memories, comments, condolences noted there. Funeral details will be posted on the above link when finalised.
Shrewsbury Walk - The Early Years
The Earl of Shrewsbury had significant connections with Isleworth. Charles Talbot, 12th Earl, and Duke of Shrewsbury (1660-1718) resided occasionally at Shrewsbury House and died there. The house stood on the site of Beck’s Wharf, originally Shrewsbury Wharf and now Lion Wharf, and was owned originally by Sir Thomas Ingram. A nobleman of great political note in the reigns of King William and Queen Anne, Charles Talbot was at one time Lord High Chamberlain of the Household, Lord High Treasurer of England and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, three great offices never before united in the same person. His half portrait below is of the school of Godfrey Kneller c1700.
The house was used as a school for Roman Catholic boys from St Mary’s, which moved to its existing site on the Twickenham Road in 1905. A Mr T. Davey of Inwood Road Hounslow, wrote of his experiences there: ‘Who could ever forget or old master and governess there, Mr and Mrs Jack Gavan…. the governess chasing us boys up Beck’s Wharf as naked as we were born, carrying our clothes after swimming in the Thames, down the Wharf, often times having swum across to the Ait to escape her; and the journeys on the Ait to the ‘Og-Hole’, which actually was an open air swimming bath, let fall into decay before it was opened and closed and reopened again in 1902.’
Photos from Hounslow Local Studies at Feltham Library
The photos were taken in 1961, just after the new housing and shopping centre was developed in Shrewsbury Walk.
Recognisable businesses are Philips and Harwin Electrics. If anyone knows anything about the early businesses, shopkeepers or residents who lived here in the 1960s, do please do get in contact with us by email at: newsletter.isleworth.soc@gmail.com
Around Isleworth
Isleworth stretches from Cole Park Allotments in the west, north to Osterley and to Syon Park in the east, including Ivybridge, Worton, the Woodlands, Spring Grove, St John’s Road and Old Isleworth; it also shares three rivers (The Crane, Duke of Northumberland’s and Thames) as well as sections of the London, Great West, Richmond and Twickenham roads. Enjoy the virtual photo tour of some of its special places
Cole Park Allotments
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