Edwardian Acton
East Acton
East Acton was a popular location for postcard photographers
and there were many versions printed of the forge and the view of the
Goldsmith’s Arms.

Cottages at East Acton.

Looking North up East Acton Lane towards the Goldsmith’s Arms.
Looking East from outside the (old) Goldsmith’s
Arms (to the left).
The Gallery of the pub was used to hire
agricultural labourers.

In this view the pub has been rebuilt, but the
scene is still recognisable, and the old cottages in the centre are still
there.

The picturesque forge at East
Acton.
The Centre of Acton


Looking south from Horn Lane into Market place. Churchfield
Road to the left, King Street to the right.
Churchfield Road Looking to the West. This was one of the important
shopping streets of Acton.
(DK)

This is said to be the view from Cock and Crown
Yard, looking North. It is suggested that this postcard has been printed back
to front – the church tower is not symmetrical.

A later view looking up Mill Hill Grove
Acton’s Churches

St Mary’s Church with the London and South Western
Bank and a tram to Southall.

St Mary’s Church with, on the right, the London
and South Western Bank and to the left, King Street. The area in front of the
Church, formerly dense housing and shops was cleared in the late 1900’s and is
laid out as a garden.

The church from Churchfield Road, looking South West. (DK)

St Mary’s Church in 2006 before the recent
redevelopment of the Town Square.
A church dedicated to St. Mary existed as early as 1231, when Walter,
rector of Acton,
is first recorded. The church served the whole parish until 1872, and also
acted as the seat of local government. The rapid increase in population of
Acton in the mid 19th century brought about the rebuilding of St. Mary's and
new parish churches for South Acton (All
Saints) in 1873, East Acton (St. Dunstan's) in 1880, and Acton Green (St
Alban’)s in 1888. The original church was extended, developed, and added to
until the whole church, except the tower, was demolished in 1865, because it
could seat only 500 and was considered completely unsuitable. The present
church, consisting of a chancel, nave with aisles, and south-east chapel, was
built of red brick with stone dressings to the design of H. Francis in a
Decorated style. The tower was rebuilt in 1876 and the vestry was extended over
part of the churchyard in 1906.


St Alban’s Church, Acton Green built in 1887/78 in
Edwardian times, and about 2000.


The new Wesleyan
Church, Acton Hill, now the Acton Hill
Methodist Church.
In 1907 this church replaced the earlier chapel , still existing in Gunnersbury Lane.
It was built on site of “The Oaks” Acton
Hill Methodist
Church, was designed by Gordon & Gordon, and built of Kentish
rag-stone with dressings of Bath
stone, with tower and Gothic detail. Originally seated 780 on ground floor, 181
in gallery, 39 in choir. When the Congregational Church in Churchfield Road closed in 1976 an agreement was made with the Acton United Reformed
church for joint use of the church. The
church was modernised and made more flexible in use in 1978.

An early view of Gunnersbury Lane
Acton’s parks – Acton Park


The Goldsmiths' Company had
grand plans for the laying out of roads, and the construction of large houses
on the land bounded by Churchfield
Road East, East Acton Lane and Uxbridge Road. However after only
building a few houses, the plan was dropped, and sold the site to the local board for Acton park.
In 1888 the local board bought 21 acres from the Goldsmiths' Company
and 4 acres from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners and laid out Acton park, between Churchfield Road East
and Uxbridge Road
including with sports facilities. The grounds were landscaped in a rustic style by the Cheal family of
Gatwick.

The Bandstand (which can now be located by a
circular flower bed) is reputed to be the site of one of a number of windmills
– this one being sited just beyond the Church Field – one of the common fields
of Acton.


One of the features of the new park was the
memorial removed from Derwentwater House, installed in 1904.
Acton’s Parks – Woodlands Park


The original pond, and the new pond that was
rebuilt in 2006.

Edwardian view.


Views of the icehouse and the newly restored park
taken in 2006 and 2007.
The former Woodlands House which fronted the High Street opposite the
Steyne, together with about 6 acres of land was purchased by the local council
in 1903 for the county school (most of the buildings of which still stand in
the grounds of the college) and for the laying out of Woodlands Park. The
grounds were restored in 2006, the icehouse excavated, and the former pond
restored.
Acton Cottage Hospital


Acton Cottage Hospital was opened in 1898, and was
supported by a donation from Passmore Edwards. The earliest part of the
building was the central block, but the building was gradually extended by the
addition of the pavilions shown in the picture to the left (c. 1910), and by
further blocks including a nurses home at the rear, and the War Memorial wing that
replaced the left hand pavilion in the 1920’s.
Recently, all the old buildings have been replaced
with the new Acton Care Home, and the central building restored, as shown in
the picture to the right.
Follow
this link for more information on Passmore Edwards, and links to further
pictures of Acton Cottage Hospital and Acton Library.
South Acton


South Acton was an area of dense housing and many
small businesses, the most predominant of which were laundries.

Parish Hall, South Acton.
Haberdashers School

This picture shows the Haberdashers School
in Creffield Road.
This is now the Japanese
School.
Most of the images on this page have been provided
courtesy of Mr Paul Lang.
It is believed that all the images of old
postcards on this page are out of copyright.

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