Local history
We have a rich local history: From daredevil pilots to royal molecatchers, and from manor houses to once rural villages. Our borough has had more than its fair share of fascinating characters, interesting tales, and also has towns recorded in the Domesday book. Curious about the area's past and its role in various national or international events? Then read on. We have collated years of history articles for you from Around Ealing magazine and included others that have appeared online more recently, which will be added to regularly as we go along, including a serialisation of a diary from the 1930s. Thanks must go to the borough's archivist Dr Jonathan Oates - because many of the stories are written or researched by him - and to the local history section of Ealing Central Library.
Film tells how Ealing was ‘cradle of British rock’
A new movie is being premiered in November that tells the tale of how 1960s Ealing earned the label ‘the...
Sir Michael Balcon and the Ealing Studios
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the death of the man who was the head of production at Ealing...
Ealing Town Hall’s past
Ealing Town Hall will close next year for refurbishment and reconfiguration. When it reopens, it will continue as the borough’s...
Lady Byron, Ada Lovelace and Ealing
This is a tale involving a world-famous poet; his wife, a Victorian social campaigner and school benefactor; and their talented...
Did monks’ ghosts haunt local church?
Ghosts and the supernatural will rear their heads next month, in October, with Hallowe’en everywhere you look. St Dunstan’s church...
Cricket scorer reaches 2,000 ‘not out’
The ‘scorer’ at a cricket club performs an important role, keeping records of all that occurs on the pitch. At...
Spies: The real ‘M’ and his near undoing in Ealing
Maxwell Knight was a paradox, writes Henry Hemming. A jazz obsessive and nature enthusiast (he is the author of the...
Daughter finds her father’s war medal on Ebay
The daughter of a First World War fighter-plane pilot accidentally found her father’s RAF war medal on the internet. Lieutenant...
A story too far? Dr Toufar – librarian and man of mystery
From 1949-1969 Dr FA Toufar was employed as reference librarian at Ealing Central Library, then located in Pitzhanger Manor House,...
Horsenden Hill: Saxons, spies and the odd surprise
Horsenden Hill stands tall at the heart of our borough – our largest open space and a part of life,...
Council staff a century ago: From pianists to roadmen
Just over a hundred years ago, Ealing Council employed a pianist for the public baths, wagon drivers and an ‘office...
The Montpelier Road murders
Montpelier Road is a quiet, residential street. Just over six decades ago, though, it was the scene of arguably one...