The Crane Park Shot Tower is a Grade II listed building. Built in 1828 it is believed that the 25.3m tall tower was used, for the manufacture of lead shot. Molten lead was poured, through a sieve and formed shot as it fell to the bottom of the tower, where it was cooled in a tank of water.

The Shot Tower is the only remaining building of the Hounslow Gunpowder Mills. The powder mills in Crane Park were established in 1776 and closed in 1927.  At its height the gunpowder mills covered over 100 hectares and around 60 different structures. Some of the structural foundations can still be seen on the island next to the shot tower.

The gunpowder industry in this area was a major employer but it was dangerous work and explosions were a frequent occurrence, with around 55 recorded during their existence. On 11 March 1758 one of two explosions was felt in Reading, and in April 1774 another explosion terrified people at church in Isleworth. In 1772 three mills blew up, shattering glass and buildings in the neighbourhood.

The Tower is now a visitor attraction, open on Sundays and managed by the London Wildlife Trust. It was restored in 2004 as a visitor centre, with an exhibition, education rooms and a firth floor viewing area.