Castlebar Hill is a

hill A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. It often has a distinct Summit (topography), summit. Terminology The distinction between a hill and a mountain is unclear and largely subjective, but a hill is universally con ...

Ealing Ealing () is a district in West London, England, west of Charing Cross in the London Borough of Ealing. Ealing is the administrative centre of the borough and is identified as a major metropolitan centre in the London Plan. Ealing was histor ...

which is high. In the 18th century, it was the location of Castle Beare, a grand

mansion A mansion is a large dwelling house. The word itself derives through Old French from the Latin word ''mansio'' "dwelling", an abstract noun derived from the verb ''manere'' "to dwell". The English word '' manse'' originally defined a property l ...

country seat A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, while the ...

, for the area at this time was but a

hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...

, not yet having been built up as part of the London

conurbation A conurbation is a region comprising a number of metropolises, cities, large towns, and other urban areas which through population growth and physical expansion, have merged to form one continuous urban or industrially developed area. In most ca ...

. Castlebar Hill is also the name of one of the roads that runs up the hill (now classed as part of the B455). An experimental hostel for deaf and blind children was founded at what is now 8 Castlebar Hill by Dr Edith Whetnall FRCS, a pioneering audiologist. The hostel was opened in 1953 by

Iain Macleod Iain Norman Macleod (11 November 1913 – 20 July 1970) was a British Conservative Party politician and government minister. A playboy and professional bridge player in his twenties, after war service Macleod worked for the Conservative Researc ...

MP and Spencer Tracy, as part of The Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital. It closed in 1993. In 2015, the Ealing Civil Society unveiled a plaque dedicated to the work of Dr Edith Whetnall on the building.

Notable residents

* Archibald Constable, publisher. * Lord Heathfield of Gibraltar * Lt. General Frederick Wetherall, who conquered Java during the Napoleonic Wars. * Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, father of Queen Victoria. * Squire George Osbaldeston, outstanding sportsman and gambler.

References

Districts of the London Borough of Ealing Hills of London Streets in the London Borough of Ealing {{London-geo-stub