IT seems almost incredible that in the twentieth century a station on the Metropolitan Railway should stand amidst quite rural surroundings. About Brentford,[*] however, there are still several fine properties which have hitherto escaped the grip of the speculative builder--e.g., Osterley Park, the seat of the Earl of Jersey, and Syon Hill, the seat of the Duke of Northumberland--and the immediate neighbourhood of Boston Road is not yet covered with semi-detached villas, or sordid streets of jerry-built cottages. It is nearly a quarter of a mile's walk along the road leading from Hanwell to Brentford before one comes to the first house on the right. Though not a mansion of the first rank, it is of sufficient size and antiquity to arrest attention. This is Boston House. It stands a little back from the high road, and the handsome iron gates allow the passer-by a glimpse of its quaint gables and narrow stone porch. It was built in 1622, and is a brick house of three stories, with three gables in front, and a long range of offices, etc., stretching from it on the north side. [*] In a paper reprinted from _Home Counties Magazine_ for October, 1901, occur the following remarks in 'Royalty in the Parish': 'Edmund the Atheling, also called Ironside, in 1016 was murdered at night in a house at Brentford by his brother-in-law, Edric Steone. Henry VI. in 1445 held a chapter of the Garter at the Red Lion Inn, Brentford. Charles I. witnessed the Battle of Brentford between his troops and those of the Parliament in 1642 from the grounds of Boston House. But it is not generally known that King William IV. and Queen Adelaide dined at that house in 1834.' The hall, which is not large, is surrounded by shields bearing the arms of former owners of the manor. The first of these to the north of the entrance is that of Edward I., who granted the manor to St. Helen's Hospital in the City of London. Then follow those of Edward VI., who granted it to the Duke of Somerset; Elizabeth, who granted it to Robert, Earl of Leicester; Charles II. and William IV., who visited Boston on several occasions. In addition to these are seen in order those of other holders of the manor: Rollesby, who devised it to St. Helens; St. Helen's; Edward, Duke of Somerset; Robert, Earl of Leicester; Sir Thomas Gresham, who also owned Osterley; Sir W. Read; I. Goldsmith. These are on the south side. On the north are Clitherow and Hewett; Clitherow and Campbell; Clitherow and Barker; Clitherow and Paule; Clitherow and Gale; Clitherow and Jodrell; Clitherow and Powell; Clitherow and Kemeys; Clitherow and Pole; Clitherow and Snow.