Cranford was once a small village on the Bath Road (now the A4). As one of the main routes into London, wealthy travellers would often fall victim to robbers and thieves. Nearby Hounslow Heath was notorious for its highwaymen and their daredevil activities were romanticised in poems and stories. Highwaymen were generally caught and hanged, but until the 19th century small ‘lock ups’ like this were used to detain thieves, robbers and vagrants. This one known locally as the ‘Highwayman’s Cage’ was in use until the early 19th century. As police stations gradually replaced lock ups across the country, most were demolished and this one is an amazing survival. It has been fully restored including its iron-barred window and reinforced door. Cold and dark inside, it gives a chilling insight into rough justice of the past.