Willesden

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November
10
2015
Willesden before it was absorbed by London, was the most populous borough in Middlesex.

The name derives from the Anglo-Saxon Willesdune, meaning the "Hill of the Spring" and a settlement bearing this name dates back to 939 AD.

Willesden was bounded on the north-east by the Roman Watling Street, later Edgware Road, on the north and west by the river Brent, and on the south-east by the Kilburn brook. An ancient track, some of it forming part of Harrow Road and Kilburn Lane, marked most of the southern boundary. The soil is mostly heavy and poorly drained clay, probably once covered by thick oak forest and well-adapted to the grass farming that characterised the area from the 18th century.

From the 14th to 16th centuries, the town was a place of pilgrimage due to the presence of two ancient statues of the Virgin Mary at the Church of St Mary. One of these statues is thought to be a Black Madonna, which was insulted by the Lollards, taken to Thomas Cromwell’s house and burnt in 1538 on a large bonfire of "notable images" including those of Walsingham, Worcester and Ipswich. There was also a "holy well" which was thought to possess miraculous qualities, particularly for blindness and other eye disorders.

The river Brent, running from north-east to south-west, flooded frequently. It was dammed between 1835 and 1839 to form the Welsh Harp along the northern boundary, but although the reservoir and feeders to the canal reduced the Brent it remained capable of serious flooding. The principal tributary of the Brent in Willesden was the Mitchell brook which entered the Brent north of Stonebridge and was itself formed from two tributaries. The northern branch, called the Sherrick or Slade brook, rose near Edgware Road at Cricklewood and flowed through Sherrick green where it was joined by a stream flowing northwards from Willesden Green. The southern branch rose south of Willesden Green and flowed west and north through the open fields. South-east of the Brondesbury ridge the land drained into the Kilburn brook, also known as West Bourne, Ranelagh Sewer, or Bayswater rivulet.

The parish of Willesden remained predominantly rural up until 1875, when its population was 18,500. However, this changed with the opening of the Metropolitan Railway (later the Metropolitan line) station of Willesden Green on 24 November 1879. By 1906 the population had grown to 140,000, a phenomenon of rapid growth that was to be repeated in the 1920s in neighbouring areas such as Harrow. The Metropolitan line service was withdrawn in 1940, when the station was served by the Bakerloo line, and later the Jubilee line.

Willesden became an urban district in 1894 and a municipal borough in 1933. In 1965, it joined Wembley and Kingsbury in the London Borough of Brent.

World War I caused Willesden to change from a predominantly middle class suburb to a working class part of London. After the war, Willesden grew rapidly as many factories opened up with numerous flats and houses. The local council encouraged building to prevent large unemployment and decline. To the present day, Willesden has been shaped by the patterns of migration which marks it out as one of the most diverse areas in the United Kingdom. City of London Corporation records show that the first black person recorded in Brent was Sarah Eco, who was christened in St. Mary’s Church in Willesden on 15 September 1723. The 1901 United Kingdom census recorded that 42% of the population was born in London. In 1923, the specialist coach builder Freestone and Webb established their base in Willesden, producing bespoke cars on Rolls-Royce and Bentley chassis until 1956.



Licence: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LOCALITY


Kevin Pont   
Added: 30 Aug 2023 09:47 GMT   

The connection with Bletchley Park
The code-breaking computer used at Bletchley Park was built in Dollis Hill.

Reply

LATEST LONDON-WIDE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PROJECT

Comment
Wendy    
Added: 22 Mar 2024 15:33 GMT   

Polygon Buildings
Following the demolition of the Polygon, and prior to the construction of Oakshott Court in 1974, 4 tenement type blocks of flats were built on the site at Clarendon Sq/Phoenix Rd called Polygon Buildings. These were primarily for people working for the Midland Railway and subsequently British Rail. My family lived for 5 years in Block C in the 1950s. It seems that very few photos exist of these buildings.

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Steve   
Added: 19 Mar 2024 08:42 GMT   

Road construction and houses completed
New Charleville Circus road layout shown on Stanford’s Library Map Of London And Its Suburbs 1879 with access via West Hill only.

Plans showing street numbering were recorded in 1888 so we can concluded the houses in Charleville Circus were built by this date.

Source: Charleville Circus, Sydenham, London

Reply
Comment
Steve   
Added: 19 Mar 2024 08:04 GMT   

Charleville Circus, Sydenham: One Place Study (OPS)
One Place Study’s (OPS) are a recent innovation to research and record historical facts/events/people focused on a single place �’ building, street, town etc.

I have created an open access OPS of Charleville Circus on WikiTree that has over a million members across the globe working on a single family tree for everyone to enjoy, for free, forever.

Source: Charleville Circus, Sydenham, London

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Comment
Charles   
Added: 8 Mar 2024 20:45 GMT   

My House
I want to know who lived in my house in the 1860’s.

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NH   
Added: 7 Mar 2024 11:41 GMT   

Telephone House
Donald Hunter House, formerly Telephone House, was the BT Offices closed in 2000

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Comment
Paul Cox   
Added: 5 Mar 2024 22:18 GMT   

War damage reinstatement plans of No’s 11 & 13 Aldine Street
Whilst clearing my elderly Mothers house of general detritus, I’ve come across original plans (one on acetate) of No’s 11 & 13 Aldine Street. Might they be of interest or should I just dispose of them? There are 4 copies seemingly from the one single acetate example. Seems a shame to just junk them as the level of detail is exquisite. No worries if of no interest, but thought I’d put it out there.

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Comment
Diana   
Added: 28 Feb 2024 13:52 GMT   

New Inn Yard, E1
My great grandparents x 6 lived in New Inn Yard. On this date, their son was baptised in nearby St Leonard’s Church, Shoreditch

Source: BDM London, Cripplegate and Shoreditch registers written by church clerk.

Reply
Comment
Vic Stanley   
Added: 24 Feb 2024 17:38 GMT   

Postcose
The postcode is SE15, NOT SE1

Reply


NEARBY LOCATIONS OF NOTE
Dollis Hill Dollis Hill tube station lies on the Jubilee Line, between Willesden Green and Neasden. Metropolitan Line trains pass though the station, but do not stop.
Willesden Green Farm Willesden Green Farm, owned by All Souls College, Oxford, was south of the High Road, opposite Willesden Farm.

NEARBY STREETS
Addis Court, NW2 Addis Court is a block on Grunwick Close (Dollis Hill)
Alexander Avenue, NW10 Alexander Avenue was laid out in the mid 1930s (Willesden)
Antoinette Mews, NW2 Antoinette Mews is a location in London
Arnoux Court, NW2 Arnoux Court is sited on Grunwick Close (Dollis Hill)
Beaconsfield Road, NW10 Beaconsfield Road is a street in Willesden
Belton Road, NW2 Belton Road is a street in Cricklewood
Bertie Road, NW10 Bertie Road is a street in Willesden
Brent New Enterprise Centre, NW10 Brent New Enterprise Centre is a location in London
Brenthurst Road, NW10 Brenthurst Road is a road in the NW10 postcode area (Willesden)
Bryan Avenue, NW10 Bryan Avenue runs from Peter Avenue to Donnington Road in Willesden (Willesden)
Bryan House, NW10 Bryan House is a block on Bryan Avenue (Willesden)
Burnley Road, NW10 Burnley Road runs parallel with the tracks of the Metropolitan/Jubilee line, to the north of them (Dollis Hill)
Cameron House, NW10 Residential block
Chambers Lane, NW10 Chambers Lane is a street in Willesden (Willesden)
Chantry Crescent, NW10 Chantry Crescent is a road in the NW10 postcode area (Willesden)
Chapel Close, NW10 Chapel Close is a road in the NW10 postcode area (Willesden)
Chaplin Road, NW2 Chaplin Road is a street in Cricklewood
Chapter Road, NW2 Chapter Road follows the line of the railway between Willesden Green and Dollis Hill (Willesden Green)
Churchill Road, NW2 Churchill Road is a street in Cricklewood
Churchmead Road, NW10 Churchmead Road is a road in the NW10 postcode area
Cobbold Estate, NW10 The Cobbold Estate is an area just off the North Circular Road
Cobbold Road, NW10 Cobbold Road is a street in Willesden
Colin Road, NW10 Colin Road is a street in Willesden
Cooper Road, NW10 Cooper Road is a small crescent next to Dollis Hill station (Dollis Hill)
Dalmeyer Road, NW10 Dalmeyer Road is a street in Willesden (Willesden)
Deacon Road, NW2 Deacon Road is a street in Cricklewood (Willesden)
Denzil Road, NW10 Denzil Road is a street in Willesden
Dobree Avenue, NW10 Dobree Avenue is a road in Willesden, built on the site of the Grange Brickworks (Willesden)
Donnington Road, NW10 Donnington Road runs between Sidmouth Road and Harlesden Road, NW10 (Willesden)
Doyle Gardens, NW10 Doyle Gardens is a street in Willesden (Willesden)
Elmwood House, NW10 Elmwood House can be found on All Souls Avenue (Willesden)
Franklyn Road, NW10 Franklyn Road is a street in Willesden
Glebe Road, NW10 Glebe Road is a street in Willesden
Global Cooperation House, NW10 Global Cooperation House is located on Pound Lane
Gowan Road, NW10 Gowan Road is a street in Willesden
Grunwick Close, NW2 Grunwick Close was the location of the Grunwick factory, heart of a notable 1970s labour dispute (Dollis Hill)
Hawthorn Road, NW10 Hawthorn Road is a street in Willesden
High Road, NW10 High Road is a street in Willesden
Kings Road, NW10 Kings Road is a street in Willesden
Lecthmere Road, NW2 Lecthmere Road is a location in London
Litchfield Gardens, NW10 Litchfield Gardens is a street in Willesden
Maundeby Walk, NW10 Maundeby Walk is a street in Willesden (Willesden)
Maybury Gardens, NW10 Maybury Gardens is a road in the NW10 postcode area
Meyrick Road, NW10 Meyrick Road is a street in Willesden
Oak Tree Mews, NW2 Oak Tree Mews is a location in London
Pamela Court, NW10 Pamela Court is a block on Sterling Close
Parkfield Road, NW10 Parkfield Road is a street in Willesden
Peter Avenue, NW10 Peter Avenue is a street in Willesden (Willesden)
Pound Lane, NW10 Pound Lane is a street in Willesden
Preston Place, NW10 Preston Place is a street in Cricklewood
Regency Mews, NW10 Regency Mews is a street in Willesden
Regency Street, NW10 Regency Street is a road in the NW10 postcode area
Reservoir Way, NW10 Reservoir Way is a location in London
Roundwood Road, NW10 Roundwood Road is a street in Willesden (Harlesden)
Rowdon Avenue, NW10 Rowdon Avenue is a road in the NW10 postcode area (Willesden)
Sandringham Road, NW2 Sandringham Road is a street in Cricklewood (Willesden Green)
Sapcote Trading Centre, NW10 Sapcote Trading Centre is a street in Willesden (Willesden)
Selbie Avenue, NW10 Selbie Avenue is a road in the NW10 postcode area (Willesden)
Severn Way, NW10 Severn Way is a road in the NW10 postcode area (Willesden)
Sherrick Green Road, NW10 Sherrick Green Road is a street in Willesden (Dollis Hill)
Sidmouth Road, NW2 Sidmouth Road is a location in London (Willesden)
St Andrews Road, NW10 St Andrews Road is a street in Willesden
Sterling Close, NW10 Sterling Close is a road in the NW10 postcode area
Strode Road, NW10 Strode Road is a street in Willesden
Trojan Business Centre, NW10 Trojan Business Centre is a location in London
Tudor Mews, NW10 Tudor Mews is a road in the NW10 postcode area
Unity Close, NW10 Unity Close is a road in the NW10 postcode area
Utopia House, NW10 Residential block
Villiers Road, NW2 Villiers Road was built by the United Land Co
Waterford Way, NW10 Waterford Way is a road in the NW10 postcode area (Willesden)
Windsor Road, NW2 Windsor Road is a road in the NW2 postcode area
Yewfield Road, NW10 Yewfield Road is a street in Willesden

NEARBY PUBS


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