Heston gravel
Re WHBM post , posted while I wrote the previous, as I recall the Eastern gravel pit was dug on a rolling basis from North Hyde Lane westwards from about 1952 and filled continuously from the N. Hyde Lane side so the pit was never more than about 100yards E-W but maybe 300-400 yards N-S ,the temporary rail track which ran N-S by the crane was moved periodically... they basically dug out the gravel from the whole eastern extension to Heston Airport of 1938. When the M4 was built they had to dig up part of the filled land for the cutting.... I'm unsure of what happened with the western pit(as I remember quite large and not immediately backfilled) which was north of the line of the M4 I think.... I believe methane emissions from the filled pits were a problem with housing to the north west of the airfield( near Convent way), or was that the filled in canal spur or docks that used to be there?.... Mick