March 2015 archive

Orme’s Green

Westbourne Green had a very refined air in 1795 and was still considered a beautiful rural place in 1820. The Grand Junction canal, passing north of the village between the grounds of Westbourne Farm and Bridge House, was a scenic enhancement, later used to attract expensive building to the area. Although housing was spreading along …

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The modern marathon – invented at White City

The 1908 Olympics are commemorated with a list of athletes inscribed on the side of the BBC Broadcast Centre Building in White City, London W12, and the athletics finish line is marked in the paving outside the building. When the modern Olympics began in Athens in 1896, a race of 40 kilometres, or 24.85 miles, …

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The pubs of Portobello Road