Industrial Unrest
Saturday 28 June, 2.30pm

Between the Wars a belt of industrial enterprise developed from Cricklewood to Hammersmith in, what was then, Middlesex. Much of it was based on precision engineering and particularly electrical consumer goods and cars. John Goodier will guide us through two areas of this landscape, and explain how and why they developed and what is happening to them. The first being in North Acton where the Allnatt brothers developed, almost by accident, a factory estate in an area that had been originally intended for housing. It proved very successful and a number of buildings from the late 1920s and 30s remain. The second is at Hythe Road where a enclave of land, surrounded by railways and the Paddington arm of the Grand Union Canal has since the late 19th century been occupied by industry. Many buildings from the mid twentieth century survive and there are a few good examples from the 1940s and 50s. Both areas have been redeveloped since the 1980s. In North Acton the trend has been to larger units, but in Hythe Road two areas of smaller industrial units have been developed. This is a chance to see the inter-war industrial landscapes before they disappear, and to see the way more recent industrial landscapes are developing. These are not buildings that one can justify preserving, but they do represent an important stage in the twentieth century development of suburban London. The walk includes two stepped footbridges and a section of canal towpath.

Meet: North Acton Station (Central Line) and end at Willesden Junction (Bakerloo and London Overground); the two ends of the walk are quite close and are linked by bus
Cost: Members only, £12

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