Ealing: A Potted History

For much of its history Ealing was a rural village in Middlesex, outside London. Improved communications encouraged first its development as a market garden for the capital and later as an attractive suburb in West London, nicknamed ‘Queen of the Suburbs’. In this book, local historians Dr Jonathan Oates and Paul Howard Lang look back over the centuries to uncover the fascinating history of the district. The new public buildings, churches and chapels played an important role alongside large-scale housing developments from the nineteenth century onwards. Leisure was important in Ealing too. The inhabitants of Ealing included many famous names recorded by blue plaques today but all benefitted from the growth of shopping centres in the area. Not only was it well-known for its open spaces but is also the home of film studios. The stories of Ealing’s places and people bring the history to life, together with illustrations to show where reminders of the area’s past can still be found. Illustrated throughout, this accessible historical portrait of the transformation that Ealing has undergone through the ages will be of great interest to residents, visitors and all those with links to the district.