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.
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...
The Goodlet diaries: Week 52 – the final entry
Week 52 - the last part of our year-long serialisation of Goodlet's diaries from 80 years ago, begins with our...
The Goodlet diaries: Week 51
Week 51, the penultimate entry of our serialisation, is dominated by a school play, more concerns about finances and visits...
The Goodlet diaries: Week 50
Week 50 of Goodlet's diaries is swept along by the sensational news of the king's abdication and that his brother George...
The Goodlet diaries: Week 49
Week 49 is dominated by what Goodlet calls 'the Royal crisis' as it becomes clear that King Edward (pictured above...
The Goodlet diaries: Week 48
Goodlet takes a stroll to Kew Bridge (pictured) in week 48 while the march to war speeds up a notch...
The Goodlet diaries: Week 47
Week 47 of Goodlet's diary is one of contrasts: Admiring the new trolley buses along the Uxbridge Road (pictured) while...