In contract to Brentford's glorious and expensive 18th-centry oases the Butts, and new Luxury canalside flats, the Spring Grove conservation area is well hidden between the busy London Road and the even busier A4.
It Harbours a clutch of period and Arts and Crafts style homes on wide tree-lined roads in an area with swathes of green open space.
The spire of St Mary's Church (1856) dominates the skyline, and there are two historic buildings. West Thames Colege now occupies the listed Spring Grove House, erstwhile home of the Pears soap family and botanist and explorer Sir Joseph Banks. And, although for now boarded up, the Jesuit training facility Campion House, which closed in 2004, is tipped for residential conversion.
Spring Grove enoys National Rail and Tube services, and Heathrow is nearby, although some homes are under the flight path.
"Many of our buyers are young professional couples disillusioned by the higher prices in Chiswick and Ealing" says Justin Stevenson of Townsends. "Here they can get a cottage instead of a flat, or a large house instead of a small one. Many of them trade up after they start having children".
One resident who stayed and raised and educated his children here is David Pavett. "I moved here 20 years ago purely to be near work. I used to teach physics and maths at West Thames Collegee. Initially I wasn't keen but we have attractive houses, the area is safe and I grew to like it".
Now, though he is worried. More than 350 units, many of them flats and social housing, are being built on the former Brunel University site, and Try Homes has submitted proposals for 273 homes at Campion House.
David lives in an Edwardian House opposite Campion House and he has to try to prevent the developer from building too high or too much.
"We are not Nimbys and we don't oppose new flats", he explains. "But this is a low-density family area with mostly three storey buildings. We want to the area's character to be preserved".
What is the property mix?
Mostly period houses and low-rise apartment blocks. The period homes were developed by Henry Davies in the early 1850s, primarily to house retired army offers in substantial villas. Davies himself lived in Thornbury (now Campion) House, but his scheme was only partially successful in attracting military retirees.
What do flats cost?
A raised ground floor studio in a large four storey Victorian conversion near West Thames College has ornate cornicing, communal gardens and a shower but, alas, no bath: £159,950 at Churchills. An additional £10,000 buys a one bedroom ground floor in a modern block with communal gardens and allocated parking in the conservation area near Isleworth station; agent is Anthony James Manser.
What about houses?
If you don't mind having the builders in to spruce up a tired property, Quilliam has a three-bed, two reception Thirties house with a garden and garage near Isleworth station; £265,000.
A three bed detached house on Worton Way has three recptions, integral garage, off-street parking and a large (for this area 60 foot) landscaped garden. It is near Hounslow town centre and Hounslow East Piccadilly Line; £435,000 at Townsends.
# where to find it
How convenient are the transport links?
Spring Grove's southern section is convenient for Isleworth National Rail, and the north and east for Osterley and Hounslow East Piccadilly Line stations. Syon Lane National Rail is on the eastern edge. A good bus service links Spring Grove with Chiswick and Hounslow.
What about Outdoor life?
In a word, excellent. Located between Syon Park and Osterley House Spring Grove has numerous recreation grounds and a neighbour in Wyke Green Golf Course. It is near the Grand Union Canal, with its rustic footpath, and the Thames and Brent Rivers. Syon Park has a butterly house, and steam and music museiums are near Kew Bridge.
Shops and restaurants
A Tesco supermarket is located on Syon Lane, on the easter edge of Spring Grove. Hounslow's large shopping parade is just to the west of the area, and more upmarket shops and restaurants are in nearby Chiswick, Kew and Richmond.
How do the local schools perform?
Spring Grove Primary on Star Road and Alexandra Junior school on Denbigh Road score well above average for English, maths and science, whereas Isleworth and Syon Secondary or Ridgeway Road scores below average.

Anthony James Manser - 0208 847 0488