Category: West London

Last Thursday I met up with Ron Hill in Cockney’s in the Portobello Road.  Later, I was informed that it was under threat of closure because of a proposed doubling of the rent.  Local MP, Joe Powell, is backing the campaign, which includes an online petition:  ‘Cockney’s Pie & Mash on the Portobello Road has said that it is at risk of closing following a proposed doubling of its annual Continue reading

My thanks to Dougie Gray for alerting me to this amazing story on Facebook. The article had appeared in the Acton Gazette on 11th July 1958:  ‘A little grey-haired woman of 73, who survived the Titanic disaster, this week broke a 46-year silence when she spoke to me about the night 1,500 people perished in Continue reading

Today marks the 80th anniversary of: ‘Victory in Europe Day’.  I spoke to my sister Shirley recently and she told me that on that day in 1945, Dad was still in the Army in the South of France, and recalled attending a street party in Bassein Park Road, around the corner from our home in Continue reading

On 8th March 1957, the West London Observer reported that: ‘A member of local Skiffle group, F. G. Trott, was on his way to his Norbroke Street, Shepherd’s Bush home, one day recently, when he called at the W. G. Stores, Shepherd’s Bush Market, to browse through their gramophone records.  Talking to the manager, the Continue reading

The West London Observer filed the following report on 12th May 1933: ‘The Anglo-American Baseball Club, who have taken the Queen’s Park Rangers’ ground at Loftus Road, Shepherd’s Bush, for the summer, open their season at home on Saturday with a fixture against Oxford University. Alf Mancini, the well-known local boxer will “kick-off” at 3.30pm. Continue reading

The pub’s origins date back as far as 1737, when it was known as the Coach and Horses. In October 1821, the Morning Post reported that an inquest was held there following the discovery of the body of Joseph Stevenson. The pub landlord, a Mr Green, stated that he had known the deceased for some Continue reading

For Bill Burnett’s latest excursion to West London, I suggested a meet-up in ‘The Old Ship’. Situated very close to the river in Hammersmith, there are a limited number of outdoor tables. Once inside, I took note of the following: ‘The Old Ship, circa 1678 – originally the pub faced inwards away from the river. Continue reading

The following article appeared in the Press on 28th February 1964: ‘Two Kensington men are forming a Rhythm & Blues Club in the Portobello Road this Saturday. They are John Scott, of Lancaster Square, and Robert Freedman of Kensington Park Road. The Club, in St. Peter’s Hall, has been named the “Gate Blues Club” and Continue reading

‘On the evening of 8th December 1954, just before darkness fell, a violent gale, described as a “minor tornado” struck across West and North-West London, doing great damage to property and causing a number of casualties, none, however, fatal.’  The West London Observer and various other newspapers later reported on the incident:  ‘Mr William Mudge, Continue reading

The following article appeared in the Cumberland & Westmorland Herald on 19th April 1890:  ‘The old-thatched cottage on Shepherd’s-bush-green standing on the premises once belonging to an ancient inn, where all the travellers in days gone by, used to stop in their journey to and from the west of England and the metropolis, is about Continue reading