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History of Willesden & Willesden Green
Willesden derives from the word Willesdune, The Hill of the Spring. The area was very rural untill the second half of the 19th century. When rail links started oprating in the 1870s, population grew rapidly, even more after the second world war. Willesden has quite a few Victorian and Edwardian properties and even more 1930’s semis or detached properties, many with large gardens. Gladstone park near buy on top of which sits Dollis Hill House has commanding views of the area. The mansion house was a place of retreat for Gladstone (4 times prime minister). Unfortunately, the house has been damaged by fire and still awaits its fate.
Willesden is one of the most culturally diverse places in London for being a place where people have migrated. City of London Corporation records show that the first black person recorded in Brent was Sarah Eco, who was christened in St. Mary’s church in Willesden on September 15, 1723. A small Jewish Community of refugees from Europe also formed during the war, with 3.5% of the population in 1951 born in Germany, Poland, Russia or Austria. During the 1960s, migrants from the Caribbean and the Indian Subcontinent settled in the area. Since the 1960s, Willesden has been popular with young working holidaymakers from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa .
Willesden has excellent transport links, a great choice of properties with many houses having large gardens. It has a regular french market. It has a fairly limited choice of shops and places to go out but has many large department stores in nearby Neasden (IKEA, John Lewis etc).
Places of interest
http://www.willesden-local-history.co.uk/
http://www.brent-heritage.co.uk/willesden.htm
http://www.brent-heritage.co.uk/dollis_hill_house.htm
• Gladstone Park
Transport Links – Visit Transport for London for more information
Willesden Green– Jubilee Line
Kilburn– Jubilee Line
Willesden Junction – Bakerloo Line & Rail
Local Authority
Brent – http://www.brent.gov.uk/
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