John Hay bought Twickenham House, Heath Lane, in 1746. From 1742-46, he acted as Secretary of State for Scotland and was closely involved with the 1745 Rebellion. As Master of the Ordnance in Scotland he enjoyed access to military trophies from the Culloden battlefield. It appears that about 190 broadswords had been collected on the orders of the Duke of Cumberland. 150 or so were brought down to Twickenham. 

Some of the swords as painted by Rosa Lewis in a view of the garden in 1888, their tips removed.

Here they were erected as a fence across the middle of his garden, remaining there until the house was demolished in 1888, making way for Heath Gardens.  Most have since found their way to Inverary Castle in Scotland.