Adair Road junction with Southam Street (1932)

A wet day in London W10.

This image shows the junction of Adair Road and Southam Street on a very wet day in 1932. The site was the future position of Southam House, built after the Second World War.

Licence: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence

Add your own contribution to Adair Road junction with Southam Street (1932).

Ensure that contributions are kept civilised and are not abusive.

We store your comment's IP address and reserve the right to apply bans where community standards are violated.

If you authorise our The Undeground Map Facebook app by clicking the Facebook logo at the top right of the screen, you can add stories, photos and more to this location.
Note that the Undeground Map Facebook app does not post to Facebook on your behalf.

William Salter

Added: 19 Apr 2018 23:42 GMT

IP: 178.97.107.229

4:1:34618

Post by William Salter: Wedlake Street Baths

The baths and the half penny steps can be seen in the 1962 film the Traitors

Ian Gammons

Added: 3 Apr 2018 08:08 GMT

IP: 81.131.100.203

4:2:34618

Post by Ian Gammons: Pamber Street, W10

Born in Pamber Street but moved to Harlow, Essex in 1958 when I was three years old. The air wasn?t clean in London and we had to move to cleaner air in Harlow - a new town with very clean air!

Norman Norrington

Added: 19 Jan 2018 14:49 GMT

IP: 90.194.159.199

4:3:34618

Post by Norman Norrington: Blechynden Street, W10

In the photo of Blechynden St on the right hand side the young man in the doorway could be me. That is the doorway of 40 Blechynden St.

I lived there with My Mum Eileen and Dad Bert and Brothers Ron & Peter. I was Born in Du Cane Rd Hosp. Now Hammersmith Hosp.

Left there with my Wife Margaret and Daughter Helen and moved to Stevenage. Mum and Dad are sadly gone.

I now live on my own in Bedfordshire, Ron in Willesden and Pete in Hayling Island.

Have many happy memories of the area and go back 3/4 times a year now 75 but it pulls back me still.

Paul Shepherd

Added: 16 Jan 2018 15:21 GMT

IP: 90.255.234.91

4:4:34618

Post by Paul Shepherd: Chamberlayne Road, NW10

i lived in Rainham Rd in the 1960?s. my best friends were John McCollough and Rosalind Beevor. it was a good time to be there but local schools were not good and i got out before it went to a real slum. i gather it?s ok now.

BRIAN WYBROW Ph.D. (Lond.)

Added: 27 Dec 2017 14:48 GMT

IP: 81.155.184.148

4:5:34618

Post by BRIAN WYBROW Ph.D. (Lond.): Maxilla Gardens, W10

I lived at 11A Maxilla Gardens W10 (now partly gone, but what is left is called Maxilla Walk).
I have provided an account of life in Maxilla gardens on the following website; so, to avoid repetition, please visit this link:

https://northkensingtonhistories.wordpress.com/2016/05/08/maxilla-gardens/

Best wishes to all.

Brian

Mary Harris

Added: 19 Dec 2017 17:12 GMT

IP: 217.63.194.106

4:6:34618

Post by Mary Harris: 31 Princedale Road, W11

John and I were married in 1960 and we bought, or rather acquired a mortgage on 31 Princedale Road in 1961 for £5,760 plus another two thousand for updating plumbing and wiring, and installing central heating, a condition of our mortgage. It was the top of what we could afford.

We chose the neighbourhood by putting a compass point on John’s office in the City and drawing a reasonable travelling circle round it because we didn’t want him to commute. I had recently returned from university in Nigeria, where I was the only white undergraduate and where I had read a lot of African history in addition to the subject I was studying, and John was still recovering from being a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese in the Far East in WW2. This is why we rejected advice from all sorts of people not to move into an area where there had so recently bee

Message truncated Show whole message

Maria Russ

Added: 7 Dec 2017 09:46 GMT

IP: 47.72.255.177

4:7:34618

Post by Maria Russ: Middle Row Bus Garage

My mum worked as a Clippie out from Middle Row Bus Garage and was conductress to George Marsh Driver. They travel the City and out to Ruislip and Acton duiring the 1950’s and 1960’s. We moved to Langley and she joined Windsor Bus Garage and was on the Greenline buses after that. It was a real family of workers from Middle Row and it formed a part of my early years in London. I now live in New Zealand, but have happy memories of the early years of London Transport and Middle Row Garage.
Still have mum’s bus badge.

Happy times they were.

Julia elsdon

Added: 22 Nov 2017 18:19 GMT

IP: 87.112.95.228

4:8:34618

Post by Julia elsdon: Shirland Mews, W9

I didn’t come from Shirland Mews, but stayed there when my father was visiting friends, sometime in the mid to late forties. As I was only a very young child I don’t remember too much. I seem to think there were the old stables or garages with the living accommodation above. My Mother came from Malvern Road which I think was near Shirland Mews. I remember a little old shop which had a "milk cow outside". So I was told, it was attached to the front of the shop and you put some money in and the milk would be dispensed into your container. Not too sure if it was still in use then. Just wonder if anyone else remembers it.yz5

David Jones-Parry

Added: 3 Oct 2017 13:29 GMT

IP: 81.156.41.30

4:9:34618

Post by David Jones-Parry: Tavistock Crescent, W11

I was born n bred at 25 Mc Gregor Rd in 1938 and lived there until I joined the Royal Navy in 1957. It was a very interesting time what with air raid shelters,bombed houses,water tanks all sorts of areas for little boys to collect scrap and sell them on.no questions asked.A very happy boyhood ,from there we could visit most areas of London by bus and tube and we did.

Debbie hobbs

Added: 19 Sep 2017 09:08 GMT

IP: 92.40.89.28

4:10:34618

Post by Debbie hobbs : Raymede Street, W10

I SUPPLIED THE PICTURE ABOVE GIVEN TO TOM VAGUE TO PASS ON... ITS DATE IS C1906 ..IN THE DISTANCE IS RACKHAM STREET WITH ITS MISSION HALL, HEWER STREET TO THE RIGHT

Susan Wright

Added: 16 Sep 2017 22:42 GMT

IP: 120.154.67.244

4:11:34618

Post by Susan Wright: Bramley Mews, W10

My Great Grandmother Ada Crowe was born in 9 Bramley Mews in 1876.

David Jones-Parry

Added: 7 Sep 2017 12:13 GMT

IP: 86.152.78.135

4:12:34618

Post by David Jones-Parry: Mcgregor Road, W11

I lived at 25 Mc Gregor Rd from 1938 my birth until I joined the Royal Navy in 1957.Our house sided onto Ridgeways Laundry All Saints Rd. I had a happy boyhood living there

Brenda Jackson

Added: 13 Aug 2017 21:39 GMT

IP: 94.13.78.193

4:13:34618

Post by Brenda Jackson: Granville Road, NW6

My Gt Gt grandparents lived at 83 Pembroke Road before it became Granville Road, They were married in 1874, John Tarrant and Maryann Tarrant nee Williamson.
Her brother George Samuel Williamson lived at 95 Pembroke Road with his fwife Emily and children in the 1881 Census

Apparently the extended family also lived for many years in Alpha Place, Canterbury Road, Peel Road,

LDNnews

Added: 25 Apr 2018 04:00 GMT

IP:

5:14:34618

Post by LDNnews: Bayswater
Eric Bristow: Funeral held for former darts world champion
A celebration is held for the five-time world darts champion who died this month at the age of 60.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-43878068

LDNnews

Added: 25 Apr 2018 01:20 GMT

IP:

5:15:34618

Post by LDNnews: Shepherds Bush

Kate Middleton borrowed the Queen’s earrings for Lindo Wing exit

Kate Middleton borrowed the Queen’s earrings for Lindo Wing exit

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-5652119/Kate-wore-earrings-borrowed-Queen-Lindo-Wing-exit.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
’ target=’new’>
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-5652119/Kate-wore-earrings-borrowed-Queen-Lindo-Wing-exit.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

LDNnews

Added: 25 Apr 2018 01:20 GMT

IP:

5:16:34618

Post by LDNnews: Royal Oak

Family of student stabbed to death attack Britain’s ’soft’ justice

Family of student stabbed to death attack Britain’s ’soft’ justice

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5653835/Family-law-student-18-stabbed-death-attack-Britains-soft-justice.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
’ target=’new’>
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5653835/Family-law-student-18-stabbed-death-attack-Britains-soft-justice.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

	VIEW THE KENSAL TOWN AREA IN THE 1750s The 1750 Rocque map is bounded by Sudbury (NW), Snaresbrook (NE), Eltham (SE) and Hampton Court (SW). Outside these bounds, the 1750 map does not display.
	VIEW THE KENSAL TOWN AREA IN THE 1800s The 1800 mapping is bounded by Stanmore (NW), Woodford (NE), Bromley (SE) and Hampton Court (SW). Outside these bounds, the 1800 map does not display.
	VIEW THE KENSAL TOWN AREA IN THE 1830s The 1830 mapping is bounded by West Hampstead (NW), Hackney (NE), Greenwich (SE) and Chelsea (SW). Outside these bounds, the 1830 map does not display.
	VIEW THE KENSAL TOWN AREA IN THE 1860s The 1860 mapping is bounded by Brent Cross (NW), Stratford (NE), Greenwich (SE) and Hammermith (SW). Outside these bounds, the 1860 map does not display.
	VIEW THE KENSAL TOWN AREA IN THE 1900s The 1900 mapping covers all of the London area.

Upload an image
You can add an image to this location if you are logged into our Facebook app.

Add new information to this location
You can add text to this location if you are logged into our Facebook app.

Log on via Facebook
You can use a Facebook id to add material to this website.

Kensal Town

Soapsuds Island

Kensal New Town was built between the Grand Central Canal (which opened in 1801) and the Great Western Railway line (opening in 1837) in the 1840s.

Single-storey cottages with gardens suitable for drying clothes were the first buildings and Kensal Road, Middle Row, West Row, East Row and Southern Row all appeared between 1841 and 1851. The rows of cottages quickly degenerated into a slum, mainly due to overcrowding, industrialisation and pollution.

The area was dominated by the Western Gas Company and Kensal Cemetery, which provided work but did little to improve the environment. Women were primarily involved in laundry work giving the area its nickname of ‘Soapsuds Island’.

The area was isolated from the rest of London at a time when Portobello Lane (now Portobello Road) was a muddy track sometimes impassable in bad weather.

Cut off from the municipal authorities it was left to charities to attempt to alleviate the social and health problems.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the cottage laundry industry began to be replaced by larger mechanized concerns.

In 1902 Charles Booth described it as, “Just as full of children and poverty as was the old woman’s dwelling in the nursery rhyme.” By this date the area had been transferred to the newly formed Royal Borough of Kensington. When the Piggeries and Potteries in Notting Dale were finally cleared in the early 20th century most of the displaced residents moved north into Golborne ward and Kensal.

By 1923 in the Southam Street area 140 houses contained some 2500 inhabitants. A series of evocative photographs by Roger Mayne in the 1950s showed that little had changed. It was only from the 1960s that the overcrowded and dilapidated terraces were cleared and replaced by social housing including Goldfinger’s Trellick Tower.

LOCATIONS ON THE UNDERGROUND MAP

6 East Row, W10: Scott Hatton:   Scott Hatton lived here in 1960
A seminal gig:   Once upon a time in 1979, Joy Division, OMD and A Certain Ratio were on the same bill - and all for £1.50.
Acklam Hall:   Acklam Hall became a community centre for the post-Westway Acklam Road
Acklam Road Adventure Playground:   Acklam Road Adventure Playground was created in the 1960s.
Cabaret Voltaire in Acklam Road:   Cabaret Voltaire played one of their classic early gigs under the flyover in Acklam Road.
Chamberlayne Farm:   Chamberlain (Wood) Farm developed out of the manor of Chambers, named after Richard de Camera, an early 13th century cleric.
Clayton Arms:   A pub which was situated halfway down West Row in Kensal Town.
Emslie Horniman Pleasance:
Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance:   Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance is the traditional starting point for the Notting Hill Carnival.
I Was Lord Kitchener’s Valet:   I Was Lord Kitchener’s Valet was a clothing boutique which achieved fame in 1960s "Swinging London" by promoting antique military uniforms as fashion items.
Jack of Newbury:   The Jack of Newbury stood at the corner of East Row and Kensal Road until it was bombed on 2 October 1940.
Kensal Town:   Soapsuds Island
Lads of the Village:   One of the signature public houses along Kensal Road.
Middle Row Bus Garage:   Middle Row Bus Garage was situated on the corner of Conlan Street and Middle Row, W10.
Middle Row School:   Middle Row School was established in the late 19th century to provide education to the children of Kensal New Town.
North Kensington:   North Kensington lies either side of Ladbroke Grove, W10.
Portobello Arms:   The Portobello Arms was a former pub in Kensal Town, established in 1842.
Portobello Farm:   Portobello Farm House was approached along Turnpike Lane, sometimes referred to as Green’s Lane, a track leading from Kensington Gravel Pits towards a wooden bridge over the canal.
Portobello Green:   Portobello Green features a shopping arcade under the Westway along Thorpe Close, an open-air market under the canopy, and community gardens.
Queen’s Park Library:   Queen’s Park Library was built to improve the minds of the new Queen’s Park Estate residents.
St. Joseph's Home:   St Joseph's dominated a part of Portobello Road up until the 1980s.
The Bedford family at 3 Acklam Road:   From the 19th century up until 1965, number 3 Acklam Road, near the Portobello Road junction, was occupied by the Bedford family.
The Eagle:   The Eagle, on the corner of Ladbroke Grove and Telford Road.
The Earl Derby:   The Earl Derby stood on the corner of Southern Row and Bosworth Road.
The Flora:   The Flora is situated on Harrow Road, W10.
The Foresters:   A lost pub of London W10
The Mitre:   The Mitre was situated at 62 Golborne Road.
The Prince of Wales (Chilled Eskimo):   A pub in Kensal Town
Wedlake Street Baths:   In a time when most had somewhere to live but few had somewhere to wash at home, public baths were the place to go...
Western Arms:   The Western Arms was a pub situated on the corner of Ladbroke Grove and Kensal Road.

PHOTOS OF THE AREA

Acklam Road protests:   Acklam Road was the centre of much action during the building of the Westway
Adair Road, W10:   Adair Road junction with Appleford Road, March 1964
Adair Road, W10:   Adair Road is a street on the Kensal Town/North Kensington borders.
Corner of Caird Street and Lancefield Street (1910):   2015
Golborne Road bridge (1960s):   We think that this photo dates from the late 1960s, according to fashions and car registrations.
Graffiti along Acklam Road (1970s):   Acklam Road was the centre of much action during the building of the Westway
Harrow Road (1920s):   Harrow Road in the 1920s, looking south east towards the Prince of Wales pub and the Emmanuel Church spire.
Kids in Acklam Road:   Acklam Road was the centre of much action during the building of the Westway
Ladbroke Grove looking north (1950):   Ladbroke Grove on the corner of St Charles Sqaure taken outside the Eagle public house, looking north, just prior to the outbreak of the Second World War.
St Charles Square ready for redevelopment (1951):   Photographed in 1951, the corner of St Charles Square and Ladbroke Grove looking northwest just after the Second World War.
Under westway (1977):   Acklam Road was the centre of much action during the building of the Westway
Western Dwellings from below (1960s):   This photo was taken from the bottom of Southern Row steps.
William Miller's Yard:   William Miller's Yard stood in Chapel Place, West Row.

NEARBY STREETS AND BUILDINGS ON THE UNDERGROUND MAP

13 Bonchurch Road, W10 · 16 Bonchurch Road, W10 · 20 Bonchurch Road, W10 · 22 Bonchurch Road, W10 · 27 Bevington Road, W10 · 3 Bonchurch Road, W10 · 88 Bevington Road, W10 · Acklam Road, W10 · Adair Road, W10 · Adair Tower, W10 · Adela Street, W10 · Alderson Street, W10 · Alperton Street, W10 · Appleford House, W10 · Appleford Road, W10 · Athlone Gate, W10 · Barfett Street, W10 · Bevington Road, W10 · Blagrove Road, W10 · Bonchurch Road, W10 · Bosworth House Bosworth Road, W10 · Bosworth Road, W10 · Briar Walk, W10 · Caird Street, W10 · Caird Street, W9 · Cambridge Gardens, W10 · Conlan Street, W10 · Coomassie Road, W9 · Droop Street, W10 · East Row, W10 · Edenham Way, W10 · Elkstone Road, W10 · Embrook Street, W10 · Enbrook Street, W10 · Faraday Road, W10 · Farrant Street, W10 · Fermoy Road, W9 · First Avenue, W10 · Fourth Avenue, W10 · Galton Street, W10 · Galton Street, W10 · Golborne Gardens, W10 · Golborne Mews, W10 · Golborne Road, W10 · Harrow Road, W10 · Hawthorn Walk, W10 · Hazelwood Crescent, W10 · Hazlewood Crescent, W10 · Hazlewood Tower, W10 · Heather Walk, W10 · Hormead Road, W9 · Huxley Street, W10 · James Collins Close, W9 · James House Appleford Road, W10 · Kensal Road, W10 · Ladbroke Grove, W10 · Lancefield Street, W10 · Lavie Mews, W10 · Lionel Mews, W10 · Manchester Drive, W10 · Mcgregor Road, W11 · Middle Row, W10 · Morgan Road, W10 · Munro Mews, W10 · Orchard Close, W10 · Portobello Road, W10 · Raddington Road, W10 · Ronan Walk, W10 · Saint Charles Place, W10 · Saint Ervans Road, W10 · Saint Josephs Close, W10 · Saint Lawrence Terrace, W10 · Saint Michaels Gardens, W10 · Second Avenue, W10 · Southam House Adair Road, W10 · Southam Street, W10 · Southern Row, W10 · St Charles Place, W10 · St Ervans Road, W10 · St Lawrence Terrace, W10 · St. Columbs House, 9 - 39 Blagrove Road, W10 · Sycamore Walk, W10 · Tavistock Crescent, W11 · Tavistock Road, W11 · Telford Road, W10 · The Arches, W10 · Tollbridge Close, W10 · Trellick Tower · Verdi Crescent, W10 · Wedlake Street, W10 · West Row, W10 · Wheatstone Road, W10 · Wornington Road, W10 ·

	Notting Hill in Bygone Days: St. Charles’s Ward » The
	RBKC Library Time Machine Blog from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Library
	Old Notting Hill/North Ken History Facebook group, covering the history of W10 and W11.
	North Kensington Histories Recollections of people from North Kensington, London
	Westbourne Park Facebook Page
	Queen’s Park Facebook Page
	Latimer Road Facebook Page
	Ladbroke Grove Facebook Page
	The Notting Hill & North Kensington Photo Archive Facebook group
	Born in W10 Facebook group
	Hidden London Historically inclined look at the capital’s obscure attractions
	Londonist All-encompassing website

	Inner West London (1932) FREE DOWNLOAD 1930s map covering East Acton, Holland Park, Kensington, Notting Hill, Olympia, Shepherds Bush and Westbourne Park, George Philip & Son, Ltd./London Geographical Society, 1932
	Central London, north west (1901) FREE DOWNLOAD Central London, north west. Stanford's Geographical Establishment. London : Edward Stanford, 26 & 27, Cockspur St., Charing Cross, S.W. (1901)
	Environs of London (1832) FREE DOWNLOAD Engraved map. Hand coloured. Relief shown by hachures. A circle shows "Extent of the twopenny post delivery." Chapman and Hall, London
	London Underground Map (1921). FREE DOWNLOAD London Underground map from 1921. London Transport
	The Environs of London (1865). FREE DOWNLOAD Prime meridian replaced with "Miles from the General Post Office." Relief shown by hachures. Map printed in black and white. Published By J. H. Colton. No. 172 William St. New York
	London Underground Map (1908). FREE DOWNLOAD London Underground map from 1908. London Transport
	Ordnance Survey of the London region (1939) FREE DOWNLOAD Ordnance Survey colour map of the environs of London 1:10,560 scale Ordnance Survey. Crown Copyright 1939.
	Outer London (1901) FREE DOWNLOAD Outer London shown in red, City of London in yellow. Relief shown by hachures. Stanford's Geographical Establishment. London : Edward Stanford, 26 & 27, Cockspur St., Charing Cross, S.W. (1901)

Kensal Town

Links

Maps