Hillingdon History

One of the unexpected invitations I received was from the High Sheriff of Northamptonshire, Amy Crawford, to a lecture and unveiling in Uxbridge.

An American historian, Gregory Sherwood, had been researching a figure from the English Civil War – Sir Richard Lane – who was the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal to both King Charles I and King Charles II during the war. Sir Richard made his family home in Northampton, where he was a Recorder for Northampton. He was also an eminent professor at Middle Temple and an Attorney General to the young Charles II.

The invitation was to a special Talk and unveiling to mark the 380th Anniversary of the 1645 Peace Treaty negotiations which took place in Treaty House, Uxbridge. Richard Lane was a commissioner there negotiating on behalf of the King. There is mystery surrounding the building as much of it was demolished in the 1750’s. Some of the original building remains including the ornate woodwork which decorates the doors and walls of some of the rooms. Through painstaking research which he detailed in his talk he was able to share the structural history of the building. The unveiling was of a painted “reimagining” of the original structure based on the results of his research.

The event took place on 1st February (as part of a local celebration of the Uxbridge Treaty Negotiations), in the Crown and Treaty pub (the current resident of the surviving wing of the Uxbridge Treaty House). The unveiling itself was performed by the current Recorder of Northampton (Judge Rupert Mayo) and the current MP for Uxbridge (Danny Keyes). The Mayor of Hillingdon, Colleen Sullivan and the High Sheriff of Northampton, Amy Crawford, and many other guests were also present.