Willesden

Willesden is an area in North West London which forms part of the London Borough of Brent. It is situated 5 miles (8 km) north west of Charing Cross. The area has strong links to Ireland and has a sizable Irish population, as well as a large Afro-Caribbean community.

Etymology
The name derives from the Anglo-Saxon Willesdune, meaning The Hill of the Spring, and a settlement bearing this name dates back to 939 AD. The Domesday Book of 1086 records it as Wellesdone. The town's motto is Laborare est orare.

Early history
From the 14th to 16th centuries, the town was a place of pilgrimage due to the presence of two ancient statues of the Virgin Mary at the Church of St Mary. One of these statues is thought to be a Black Madonna, which was insulted by the Lollards and burnt in 1538.

Modern history
The parish of Willesden remained predominantly rural up until 1875, when its population was 18,500. However, this changed with the opening of the Metropolitan Railway (later the Metropolitan Line) station of Willesden Green on 24 November 1879. By 1906 the population had grown to 140,000, a phenomenon of rapid growth that was to be repeated in the 1920s in neighbouring areas such as Harrow. The Metropolitan Line service was withdrawn in 1940, when the station was served by the Bakerloo Line, and later the Jubilee Line.

World War I caused Willesden to change from a predominantly Middle Class suburb to a Working Class part of London. After the war, Willesden grew rapidly as numerous factories opened up with numerous flats and houses. The local council encouraged building to prevent large unemployment and decline. To the present day, Willesden has been shaped by the patterns of migration which marks it out as one of the most diverse areas in the United Kingdom. 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 15 September 1723. The 1901 census recorded that 42% of the population was born in London. In 1923, the specialist coach builder Freestone and Webb established their base in Willesden, producing bespoke cars on Rolls-Royce and Betley chassis until 1956.

Willesden became a municipal borough in 1933, and it is at this time that the area became predominantly working-class. A small Irish community had formed in Willesden by this time, which grew rapidly during the period of the Second World War. 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 war, Willesden suffered large damage due to the heavy concentration of industry, such as munition factories, and railways in the area.



The period from 1960 saw migrants settling from the Caribbean and the Indian Subcontinent. Since the 1960s, Willesden has been popular with young working holidaymakers from Canada, Australia and New Zealand, although this popularity has declined somewhat in favour of other areas since about 2003.

Willesden went into a period of decline during the 1970s and 1980s as much of the housing was inadequate due to overcrowding as industry was mixed with housing. The whole of central Willesden bar (the area by the Willesden Green station) was earmarked for redevelopment; however, this did not come to fruition. In the late 1980s, traders were given money to revamp the High Street to prevent it closing. This worked and Willesden since then has been rejuvenated into a thriving suburb of London.



Politics
The Willesden Green ward is represented on Brent Council by two Liberal Democrat councillors, Mohammed Anwar and Gavin Sneddon, and one Labour councillor, Lesley Jones.

Willesden forms part of the Brent Central parliamentary constituency and is home to the local MP, Liberal Democrat Sarah Teather.

Transport and Locale
The area is mostly in the NW10 postcode district, but partly also falls on the NW2 postcode district. Dollis Hill is also sometimes referred as being part of Willesden.

In 1965 the Municipal Borough of Willesden was abolished and it became part of the London Borough of Brent in Greater London.

Tube

 * Willesden Green station, Jubilee Line, London Underground

The railways were instrumental in developing Willesden from a quiet village to a vibrant part of London. Willesden Green station was opened in 1879 by the Metropolitan Railway and has a grand 1920s facade. The Metropolitan connected Willesden to Central London, Harrow, Uxbridge, Rickmansworth and Aylesbury. The Metropolitan no longer stops regularly at the station (apart from when the Jubilee Line is out of service). Dollis Hill station and Neasden station, and are also within walking distance for some Willesden residents.

Road
By road, Willesden is connected to many places as the A41 road/A5 road runs close by in nearby Kilburn/Cricklewood. The North Circular Road, the inner orbital road of London, is nearby running through Neasden.

Buses
A large bus garage built in 1902 and thus many bus routes start or run through the town. These routes are shown in the table below. The majority of buses are run by Metroline for Transport for London. The Queen visited it during her Golden Jubilee celebrations.

Nearest places

 * Harlesden
 * Neasden
 * Dollis Hill
 * Cricklewood
 * Kensal Green
 * Kilburn
 * Stonebridge
 * Brent Park
 * Brondesbury Park
 * Mapesbury

In popular culture

 * The town was featured in the popular novel White Teeth by Zadie Smith in 2000 which was subsequently made into a TV series. Moreover, Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros sang from 'Willesden to Cricklewood' on their album Rock Art and the X-ray Style.


 * Willesden is also the origin of the formation of the 1980s breakdance group The Willesden Dodgers with Pete Q. Harris, Nigel Green and Richard Jon Smith as the main members.


 * "Willesden Green" is also the title of a song written by Ray Davies and performed by The Kinks and is included in the soundtrack of the 1971 film "Percy". The Kinks Willesden Green Lyrics:


 * Zadie Smith's younger brother, Ben Smith, is an underground British rapper who goes by the name Doc Brown. He features on the track "Think Back" from the album The Enthusiast produced by the British dj Evil Ed. He raps "Born and bred in Kilburn" but also says "Veteran Willesden tenant. Brent the borough of residence"


 * Willesden Green is a running reference/joke on the animated TV cartoon series Danger Mouse.


 * Peter Davison, best known as the Doctor in Doctor Who, stars in The Last Detective (from 2002) which is filmed and set in and around Willesden.


 * Jonathan Creek is regularly filmed around Willesden.


 * The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band make a short reference to Willesden Green on their track "Shirt", the second track of their 1969 album Tadpoles. quote: "Now, here in Willesden Green, yes, brrr, it is a bit chilly but no matter. Here comes a gentleman and we're going to talk to him about shirts"


 * Lead Balloon a BBC4 sitcom starring Jack Dee is filmed mainly in Willesden.


 * In Willesden was a static inverter plant of HVDC Kingsnorth.


 * Willesden was the first location of Zomba Records where it remained for many years whilst growing into the International Music Company which would later release the music of such global artists as Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince and Britney Spears.


 * The family who share their house with a ghost in the BBC's 1992 Sitcom So Haunt Me lived on Meadow Road, Willesden.

Cycling
Willesden is home to London's largest cycling club, with over 200 members. Founded in 1926 Willesden Cycling Club (or WCC) is still going strong, with competitive riders in many disciplines, in the form of Track cycling, Time Trials, Road Racing and particularly AUDAX events. The club also provides grass-roots coaching and social rides as well as frequent "club runs" into the Chilterns and surrounding areas.