Bryony Road, W12

Bryony Road was one of the main roads of the 1920s Wormholt Estate.

Construction work on the Wormholt Estate (1920)

The East Acton area lay in a ’railway desert’ until the arrival of the Central Line. While areas to the north and south urbanised, a pocket of countryside survived very close to Shepherds Bush until after the First World War.

This continuing bad connection with the rest of the area, before the First World War, allowed White City stadium to be developed as a green field site.
Credit: London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham

The land for the Wormholt Estate was purchased from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners in 1919 with construction work on the Wormholt Estate beginning around 1920. The estate when finished consisted of 590 homes and was built on 125 acres of land. It was the Metropolitan Borough of Hammersmith’s first major housing development. The estate was partly designed for ex-servicemen although takeup was initially poor.

In 1926–28, the London County Council (LCC) built 783 more houses. Plans for 37 shops were dropped.

The designs of buildings on the estates were influenced by both the Garden City movement and the Arts and Crafts movement. The estate was designed by the LCC’s Architects’ Department, particularly F J Lucas, A S Soutar and J M Corment, using Hampstead Garden Suburb as a reference.

The cottages shared a common style but were deliberately different from each other. While every cottage and maisonette had a scullery and toilet, only the cottages of five and four rooms and a small fraction of the three-roomed cottages were fitted with baths.

The Wormholt estate was declared a conservation area in 1980.

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CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LOCALITY

Susan Wright Bramley Mews Added: 16 Sep 2017 22:42 GMT	Ada Crowe, 9 Bramley Mews My Great Grandmother Ada Crowe was born in 9 Bramley Mews in 1876. Reply
Jonathan Penner Pennard Road, W12 Added: 11 Sep 2021 16:03 GMT	Pennard Road, W12 My wife and I, young Canadians, lodged at 65 (?) Pennard Road with a fellow named Clive and his girlfriend, Melanie, for about 6 months in 1985. We loved the area and found it extremely convenient. Reply
Norman Norrington Blechynden Street, W10 Added: 28 Dec 2020 08:31 GMT	Blechynden Street, W10 I was born in Hammersmith Hospital (Ducane Rd) I lived at 40 Blecynden Street from birth in 1942 to 1967 when I moved due to oncoming demolition for the West way flyover. A bomb fell locally during the war and cracked one of our windows, that crack was still there the day I left. It was a great street to have grown up in I have very fond memories of living there. Reply
john ormandy Blechynden Street, W10 Added: 20 Mar 2021 17:30 GMT	Blechynden Street, W10 Went to school St Johns with someone named Barry Green who lived in that St. Use to wait for him on the corner take a slow walk an end up being late most days. Reply
Norman Norrington Blechynden Street, W10 Added: 8 Jun 2021 08:08 GMT	Blechynden Street, W10 Lived here #40 1942-1967 Reply

LATEST LONDON-WIDE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PROJECT

Nower Hill, HA5 Added: 27 Mar 2023 18:28 GMT	Nower Hill, HA5 lo Reply
Albert Mews, SW7 Added: 26 Mar 2023 14:50 GMT	Albert Mews It is not a gargoyle over the entrance arch to Albert Mews, it is a likeness of Prince Albert himself. Reply
Christine D Elliott Blockhouse Street, SE15 Added: 20 Mar 2023 15:52 GMT	The Blute Family My grandparents, Frederick William Blute & Alice Elizabeth Blute nee: Warnham lived at 89 Blockhouse Street Deptford from around 1917.They had six children. 1. Alice Maragret Blute (my mother) 2. Frederick William Blute 3. Charles Adrian Blute 4. Violet Lillian Blute 5. Donald Blute 6. Stanley Vincent Blute (Lived 15 months). I lived there with my family from 1954 (Birth) until 1965 when we were re-housed for regeneration to the area. I attended Ilderton Road School. Very happy memories of that time. Reply
Pearl Foster Dukes Place, EC3A Added: 20 Mar 2023 12:22 GMT	Dukes Place, EC3A Until his death in 1767, Daniel Nunes de Lara worked from his home in Dukes Street as a Pastry Cook. It was not until much later the street was renamed Dukes Place. Daniel and his family attended the nearby Bevis Marks synagogue for Sephardic Jews. The Ashkenazi Great Synagogue was established in Duke Street, which meant Daniel’s business perfectly situated for his occupation as it allowed him to cater for both congregations. Reply
Dr Paul Flewers Hawthorne Close, N1 Added: 9 Mar 2023 18:12 GMT	Some Brief Notes on Hawthorne Close / Hawthorne Street My great-grandparents lived in the last house on the south side of Hawthorne Street, no 13, and my grandmother Alice Knopp and her brothers and sisters grew up there. Alice Knopp married Charles Flewers, from nearby Hayling Road, and moved to Richmond, Surrey, where I was born. Leonard Knopp married Esther Gutenberg and lived there until the street was demolished in the mid-1960s, moving on to Tottenham. Uncle Len worked in the fur trade, then ran a pet shop in, I think, the Kingsland Road. From the back garden, one could see the almshouses in the Balls Pond Road. There was an ink factory at the end of the street, which I recall as rather malodorous. Reply
KJH Andover Road, N7 Added: 7 Mar 2023 17:14 GMT	Andover Road, N7 (1939 - 1957) My aunt, Doris nee Curtis (aka Jo) and her husband John Hawkins (aka Jack) ran a small general stores at 92 Andover Road (N7). I have found details in the 1939 register but don’t know how long before that it was opened.He died in 1957. In the 1939 register he is noted as being an ARP warden for Islington warden Reply
The Queens Head Added: 2 Mar 2023 13:50 GMT	The Queens Head Queens Head demolished and a NISA supermarket and flats built in its place. Reply
Mike Elia Street, N1 Added: 28 Feb 2023 18:09 GMT	6 Elia Street When I was young I lived in 6 Elia Street. At the end of the garden there was a garage owned by Initial Laundries which ran from an access in Quick Street all the way up to the back of our garden. The fire exit to the garage was a window leading into our garden. 6 Elia Street was owned by Initial Laundry. Reply

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NEARBY LOCATIONS OF NOTE

Loftus Road stadium Loftus Road Stadium is a football stadium in Shepherd’s Bush and home to Queens Park Rangers.

Loftus Road stadium

Old Oak Farm Old Oak Farm, by the end of its existence, was a notable stud farm and also housed kennels.

Old Oak Farm

Wormholt Farm Wormholt Farm existed until the First World War.

Wormholt Farm

NEARBY STREETS

Abdale Road, W12 Abdale Road is located near the ’Groves’ area of Shepherd’s Bush.

Abdale Road, W12

Abercrombie House, W12 Abercrombie House is a block on Bloemfontein Road.

Abercrombie House, W12

Adelaide Grove, W12 Adelaide Grove is a road in the W12 postcode area

Adelaide Grove, W12

Aldbourne Road, W12 Aldbourne Road is a road in the W12 postcode area

Aldbourne Road, W12

Auckland House, W12 Auckland House is a block on Bloemfontein Road.

Auckland House, W12

Australia Road, W12 Australia Road is a road in the W12 postcode area

Australia Road, W12

Aycliffe Road, W12 Aycliffe Road is a road in the W12 postcode area

Aycliffe Road, W12

Bathurst House, W12 Bathurst House is a block on Australia Road.

Bathurst House, W12

Batman Close, W12 Batman Close is a road in the W12 postcode area

Batman Close, W12

Bentinck House, W12 Bentinck House is sited on Lawrence Close.

Bentinck House, W12

Blaxland House, W12 Blaxland House is a building on India Way.

Blaxland House, W12

Bloemfontein Avenue, W12 Bloemfontein Avenue is a road in the W12 postcode area

Bloemfontein Avenue, W12

Bloemfontein Road, W12 Bloemfontein Road is one of the main roads of the White City Estate.

Bloemfontein Road, W12

Bloemfontein Way, W12 Bloemfontein Way is a road in the W12 postcode area

Bloemfontein Way, W12

Bramble Gardens, W12 Bramble Gardens is a road in the W12 postcode area

Bramble Gardens, W12

Brisbane House, W12 Brisbane House is a block on Westway.

Brisbane House, W12

Bronze Walk, W12 Bronze Walk is a location in London.

Bronze Walk, W12

Calvert House, W12 Calvert House is sited on Bennelong Close.

Calvert House, W12

Campbell House, W12 Campbell House is a block on Bloemfontein Road.

Campbell House, W12

Canada Way, W12 Canada Way is a road in the W12 postcode area

Canada Way, W12

Carteret House, W12 Carteret House is a building on MacKenzie Close.

Carteret House, W12

Champlain House, W12 Champlain House is located on Canada Way.

Champlain House, W12

Charnock House, W12 Charnock House is located on Bloemfontein Road.

Charnock House, W12

Clematis Street, W12 Clematis Street is a road in the W12 postcode area

Clematis Street, W12

Collingbourne Road, W12 Collingbourne Road is a road in the W12 postcode area

Collingbourne Road, W12

Commonwealth Avenue, W12 Commonwealth Avenue is a road in the W12 postcode area

Commonwealth Avenue, W12

Cornwallis House, W12 Cornwallis House is a building on India Way.

Cornwallis House, W12

Creighton Close, W12 Creighton Close is a road in the W12 postcode area

Creighton Close, W12

Cumming House, W12 Cumming House is a block on Bloemfontein Road.

Cumming House, W12

Daffodil Street, W12 Daffodil Street is a road in the W12 postcode area

Daffodil Street, W12

Denham House, W12 Denham House is a block on South Africa Road.

Denham House, W12

Dunraven Road, W12 This is a street in the W12 postcode area

Dunraven Road, W12

Durban House, W12 Durban House is a block on Australia Road.

Durban House, W12

Ellenborough House, W12 Ellenborough House is a block on Westway.

Ellenborough House, W12

Ellerslie Road, W12 Ellerslie Road is a road in the W12 postcode area

Ellerslie Road, W12

Erica Street, W12 Erica Street is a road in the W12 postcode area

Erica Street, W12

Ethelden Road, W12 Ethelden Road is a road in the W12 postcode area

Ethelden Road, W12

Frey House, W12 Frey House is sited on Australia Road.

Frey House, W12

Galloway Road, W12 Galloway Road is a road in the W12 postcode area

Galloway Road, W12

Hastings House, W12 Hastings House is a block on Australia Road.

Hastings House, W12

Havelock Close, W12 Havelock Close is a road in the W12 postcode area

Havelock Close, W12

Heathstan Road, W12 Heathstan Road is a road in the W12 postcode area

Heathstan Road, W12

Hemlock Road, W12 Hemlock Road is a road in the W12 postcode area

Hemlock Road, W12

Hudson Close, W12 Hudson Close is a road in the W12 postcode area

Hudson Close, W12

Imre Close, W12 Imre Close is a road in the W12 postcode area

Imre Close, W12

India Way, W12 India Way is a road in the W12 postcode area

India Way, W12

India Way, W12 A street within the W12 postcode

India Way, W12

Joslings Close, W12 Joslings Close is a road in the W12 postcode area

Joslings Close, W12

Lawrence Close, W12 Lawrence Close is a road in the W12 postcode area

Lawrence Close, W12

Light House, W12 Light House is sited on Wood Lane.

Light House, W12

Lilac Street, W12 Lilac Street is a road in the W12 postcode area

Lilac Street, W12

Loftus Road, W12 Loftus Road is a road in the W12 postcode area

Loftus Road, W12

Lugard House, W12 Lugard House is a block on Batman Close.

Lugard House, W12

Mackay House, W12 Mackay House is a block on South Africa Road.

Mackay House, W12

Mackenzie Close, W12 Mackenzie Close is a road in the W12 postcode area

Mackenzie Close, W12

Malabar Court, W12 Malabar Court is a block on Commonwealth Avenue.

Malabar Court, W12

Milfoil Street, W12 Milfoil Street is a road in the W12 postcode area

Milfoil Street, W12

Oaklands Grove, W12 Oaklands Grove is a road in the W12 postcode area

Oaklands Grove, W12

Orchid Street, W12 Orchid Street is a road in the W12 postcode area

Orchid Street, W12

Ormiston Grove, W12 Ormiston Grove dates from the Edwardian era.

Ormiston Grove, W12

Phipps House, W12 Phipps House is a block on Canada Way.

Phipps House, W12

Primula Street, W12 Primula Street is a road in the W12 postcode area

Primula Street, W12

Sawley Road, W12 Sawley Road is a road in the W12 postcode area

Sawley Road, W12

Sedgeford Road, W12 Sedgeford Road is a road in the W12 postcode area

Sedgeford Road, W12

Shabana Court, W12 Shabana Court lies off Bloemfontein Road.

Shabana Court, W12

South Africa Road, W12 South Africa Road is a road in the W12 postcode area

South Africa Road, W12

Steventon Road, W12 Steventon Road is a road in the W12 postcode area

Steventon Road, W12

Sundew Avenue, W12 Sundew Avenue is a road in the W12 postcode area

Sundew Avenue, W12

The Curve, W12 The Curve is a road in the W12 postcode area

The Curve, W12

Thorpebank Road, W12 Thorpebank Road is a road in the W12 postcode area

Thorpebank Road, W12

Wallflower Street, W12 Wallflower Street is a road in the W12 postcode area

Wallflower Street, W12

West Hill, W12 West Hill is a road in the W12 postcode area

West Hill, W12

Westway, W12 Westway is a road in the W12 postcode area

Westway, W12

Willow Mews, W12 Willow Mews is a location in London.

Willow Mews, W12

Willow Vale, W12 Willow Vale is a road in the W12 postcode area

Willow Vale, W12

Winthrop House, W12 Winthrop House can be found on Australia Road.

Winthrop House, W12

Wolfe House, W12 Wolfe House is a building on Dorando Close.

Wolfe House, W12

Wormholt Road, W12 Wormholt Road is a road in the W12 postcode area

Wormholt Road, W12

Yew Tree Road, W12 Yew Tree Road is a road in the W12 postcode area

Yew Tree Road, W12

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We now have 558 completed street histories and 46942 partial histories

White City

White City was the place which defined the modern Marathon.

The area now called White City was level arable farmfields until 1908, when it was used as the site of the Franco-British Exhibition and the 1908 Summer Olympics. In 1909 the exhibition site hosted the Imperial International Exhibition and in 1910, the Japan-British Exhibition. The final two exhibitions to be held there were the Latin-British (1912) and the Anglo-American (1914), which was brought to a premature end by the outbreak of the First World War.

During this period it was known as the Great White City due to the white marble cladding used on the exhibition pavilions, and hence gave its name to this part of Shepherd’s Bush.

The White City Stadium was demolished in 1985 to make way for the BBC White City building. Today, the 1908 Olympics are commemorated with a list of athletes inscribed on the side of the BBC Broadcast Centre Building, and the athletics finish line is marked in the paving outside the building.

The Marathon from these London Olympics played an important part in the development of the modern marathon race. In the early years of competitive international sport, the long distance marathon race did not have a standard set distance. The distance run at the first seven Olympics from 1896 to 1920 varied between 40km and 42.75 km. The starting point of the race at the 1908 Olympics was at Windsor Castle creating a distance of 26 miles 385 yards to the finishing line at White City stadium. In 1921 this was adopted as the standard distance.

To house the growing population of Shepherd’s Bush, a five-storey housing estate was built in the late 1930s, which also took the name of the White City. Streets were named after countries that had featured in the exhibitions.

White City tube station was opened on 23 November 1947, replacing the earlier Wood Lane station. Its construction started after 1938 and had been scheduled for completion by 1940, but the Second World War delayed its opening for another seven years.

The architectural design of the station won an award at the Festival of Britain and a commemorative plaque recording this is attached to the building to the left of the main entrance.

LOCAL PHOTOS

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Percy Thrower and John Noakes in the Blue Peter Garden, White City (1975) Credit: BBC TUM image id: 1527783044 Licence:	View of East Acton Central line station in 1920, the year in which it opened, showing the wooden platforms. Beyond the platforms, even as late as the 1920s, the surrounding area is countryside. Work has just started on the Wormholt estate. Credit: Topical Press/London Transport Collection TUM image id: 1556876324 Licence:	Funfair on Wormwood Scrubs (1957) Credit: Alisdair Macdonald TUM image id: 1660582401 Licence: CC BY 2.0	Man waiting to cross Goldhawk Road, about 1935. Why did the postcard photographer not wait until the man had gone? The postcard is now all about him, really, front and centre as he is. The road on the left is Woodger Road Old London postcard TUM image id: 1669307138 Licence: CC BY 2.0	Bloemfontein Road - part of the White City estate Credit: GoArt/The Underground Map TUM image id: 1563736710 Licence:
Wormholt Wood notice TUM image id: 1570540541 Licence: CC BY 2.0	Make West-Way Safe! A road traffic safety campaign about traffic levels between Savoy Circus, East Acton and Wood Lane. This is the original section of the Westway before the elevated 1969 extension was built. These are residents of the White City Estate. TUM image id: 1669212071 Licence: CC BY 2.0

In the neighbourhood...

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Bloemfontein Road - part of the White City estate
Credit: GoArt/The Underground Map
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Wormholt Wood notice
Licence: CC BY 2.0

Make West-Way Safe! A road traffic safety campaign about traffic levels between Savoy Circus, East Acton and Wood Lane. This is the original section of the Westway before the elevated 1969 extension was built. These are residents of the White City Estate.
Licence: CC BY 2.0

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