Southall 830-1982

Richard J. Meads

 

Between 1933-35 the Middlesex County Council constructed the new Greenford Road and, at the same time, shut the entrance to the old Greenford Road under the Iron Bridge. To make the entrance to the new road they had fill in and reinforce part of Springdale Dip. This left a large hole on the right hand side. This is where the Greenford Hotel now stands. It had to be built on concrete stilts and rafts.

 

In 1935 Labour took control of Southall for the first time, appointing a Labour Councillor Chairman on all committees. An addition was added at the rear of the Town Hall at a cost of £555 to accommodate increasing staff. Dr E. C. Smithard became the first whole-time Medical Officer of Health.

 

After much delay, the two houses and piece of land in Shackleton Road were purchased and this allowed Lady Margaret Road to go through. The first part of the Quaker Oats Factory, The Mill, was built on the west side of Glade Lane in 1936, and the large part of the factory was started on March 27th, 1937.

 

Two parks were opened on the north side of Southall, Durdans Park of nearly 25 acres and Jubilee Gardens. A Branch Library, costing £10,000 to build and equip, and other buildings and works there cost another £13,000. Also, on July 24th, 1937 Lord Faringdon officially opened Southall Municipal Sports Ground at Spikes Bridge. This has a splendid running track with dressing-rooms, showers and cafe.

 

In August, 1937 the Borough purchased the West Middlesex Golf Course. Both County Councillors, Mr J. Scott and Mr G. Pargiter were re-elected. Mr E. Hamblin, Councilor, opened the new Odeon Cinema on the 16th August, 1936. Mr Alfred Hanson, who had been valuation officer of the Rates Department for years retired September 30th, 1937.

 

On the night of 29th October, 1937 fire destroyed the Metropolitan Film Studios in Gladstone Road. These had been going for some years. Among other films made there, most of comedian Will Hay's were produced there and in them it was easy to pick out places in Southall used on location.

 

A tragedy occurred in The Green on the 28th November, 1937 - Mr George Waddington was knocked off his bicycle and fatally injured. He had been a Councillor for a number of years and had served on many committees. He had many business interests in the town. His wife also had served as a Councillor.

 

On March 6th, 1934 the Southall Norwood Gardeners' Association was formed at a meeting in Beaconsfield Road (this is now the Southall Horticultural Association with a membership in 1982 of 500). An extension to the Southall Technical College was opened by Mr Alfred Clark, Chairman of Electrical and Musical Industries Limited, on November 30th, 1934 and Mr Harry Rowntree opened Dormers Wells School, built at a cost of £30,000, on December 7th - Headmaster, Mr Eburt.

 

What a difference now in 1936 when coming into Southall from the Brent Bridge. The road is wider and in good condition. There is no change on the left hand side to the Iron Bridge although a large new Nursing Staff Home has been added at the asylum and, on the Iron Bridge, there is a large advertisement which points the way to AEC, makers of London's buses. On the right hand side is Brent Meadow with adjoining Wharncliffe Allotments.

 

Houses facing the main road are part of the Whamcliffe Estate being developed. Next comes the Hanwell Bus Garage. This was built in 1924-25 to take 120 buses and extended in 1930. It was not until July 12th, 1950 that the name was changed to Southall Garage. In November 1924 all buses terminated previously at Hanwell Broadway, came on to the new garage.

 

George Cross, cartage contractors which started in Sussex Road, has now established a new business next to the garage. A small coffee stall brings us to the bridge. On the left hand side we now have the Iron Bridge Garage, built for Mr Charles Abbott. It was totally equipped to do all car repairs and servicing and dispensing of petrol at 1/3d (61/2p) to 1/6 (71/2p) per gallon. The Allied Building Estate has built the houses facing the main road to Green Drive and back to the railway, with Lyndhurst Avenue, with the water mains down the middle and railway arch at the end. After the park the next change is that the old Market House has gone and, in its place, well set back for road widening, the new Odeon Cinema and three shops.

 

There are now shops to Hambrough Road and the No 2 Salvation Hall.

 

Under the Iron Bridge on the right hand side is now the new Greenford Hotel with the Greenford Road leading off on the right. The entrance to the Greenford Road under the Iron Bridge was sealed off, and a Timber Yard established there.

 

Although the West Middlesex Golf Course follows down to Dormers Wells Lane, Mr Abbott had found room to have a Service Garage built. Down in the hollow - the house 'Springdale' - Mr Abbott has established a Social Club and Tennis Courts for his garage employees. Also, on the verge, is one of the old pumps which used to supply water for the water carts.

 

A large house now stands at the corner of Dormers Wells Lane and the Uxbridge Road. Longford Avenue had several large houses. Wimpeys have built now on the old Red Lion field and, in order to get planning permission, had to demolish two houses in Burns Avenue to create access by making Waverley Road. You then find 'Melrose' and Mr S. A. Abbott's 'Chestnuts', Holy Trinity Rectory and Church carrying on to the new police station, rebuilt, standing back from the road, but the old shops have gone and the new offices of Abbotts (now 'Abbess') are in their place.

 

The rebuilt George and Dragon with the 'New Hall' still on the pavement edge brings us to the Town Hall (Council Offices) with Fire Station attached. It now had a glass canopy and conveniences.

 

Lady Margaret Road now goes right through to the Ruislip Road, Greenford. It is the longest road in Southall. There are now shops until we reach Tudor Road. Two new roads, St Georges Avenue and Dane Road. The remains of Southall Valve Factory destroyed by fire causing £10,000 damage in October 1931 brings us to Hayes Bridge.

 

Bus Transport

 

As I have mentioned previously, two Southall companies did start to run horse buses from Southall to Hounslow between 1904 and 1913 but these were withdrawn because they were not financially successful. Although the first motor buses came into use around 1908, the first buses came to Southall on Wednesday, 14th April 1923, when route 17B - London Bridge to Southall Town Hall — came into existence, and on Sundays, 12C - Hither Green to Southall Town Hall fare 1/7d (8p). These were operated by the LGOC but they sparked off a rush of what was termed 'Pirate' buses - Cambrian, Eclipse, Commonwealth, Kings, New Era - all independent operators. Their routes extended into London — Liverpool Street to Southall Station, 17L and 170B; Forest Gate to Southall Town Hall, 17C; Cambrian, Liverpool Street to Norwood Road, 286, Barking and Norwood Road, 223. Cambrian final route was the 549 Stoke Newington to Southall, Western Road, before they were purchased by the LGOC on January 25th, 1926.

The rebuilding of the Station Bridge 1925-26 forced a lot of the buses to turn at the Railway Hotel. On January 27th, 1926 route 120, commenced from Southall to Feltham, and this route is still in use today, 1982, but now terminates at Hounslow Heath. As the Wolf Bridge had also been rebuilt double decker buses came into use in December, 1926. In 1925 the 'pirates' decided to amalgamate and form the London Public Omnibus Company. This company was eventually taken over by the LGOC in December, 1929. This was the year that the first buses to use the Greenford Road commenced with route 247, Kings Cross to Hanwell Garage.

 

In 1933 the London Passenger Transport Board came into being and, as Southall has grown, the bus services have been routed to cater for the new estates, so today we have five bus routes - 105, 105A, 195, 232, 120 which serve Heathrow Airport, Hayes, two routes to Hounslow; the Waxlow Estate to Greenford and Yeading. None go further into London than Shepherds Bush. Route 83 - Golders Green to the new King Edward Hospital, and route 92 - Southall Garage to Mount Vernon Hospital via Greenford Road actually operate from Southall but away from the town. Of course we have the buses 207 which serve the main road to Hayes, Hillingdon and Uxbridge. Also the Green Line bus coaches are routed through the town going to Gerrards Cross and High Wycombe. The 89 night bus to London Bridge terminates at Brent Road -- a one and a quarter hour service.