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Hanwell
Hanwell maps
Historic maps of Hanwell and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Hanwell maps
Hanwell photos
We have no photos of Hanwell, although we do have photos of these nearby places:
South Ealing| Brentford| Ealing| Norwood Green| Osterley| Norwood| Heston| Southall| Kew| Acton| Chiswick| Perivale| Greenford| Hounslow| Richmond| Twickenham| Whitton| Cranford| Mortlake| Hayes| Barnes| Wembley| Old Malden| Heathrow| Hammersmith| Ham| Teddington| South Harrow| Wembley Park| Kensington
Hanwell area books
Displaying 1 of 13 books about Hanwell and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Hanwell
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of Hanwell.
Add your memory of Hanwell
or of a photo of Hanwell.
The War Years.
I was born near Lords Cricket Ground in London in 1933 and came to Hanwell soon after where my family settled in Greenford Avenue. Hobbayne School was a few yards down the road so I started my education there. In 1939 the Second World War started and we had grandstand seats in our house to observe the German Luftwaffe attacks over London. Northolt wasn't too far away and we often watched as the RAF fighters climbed out of the airfield there to engage the enemy aircraft. One particular night stays forever in my memory. After the siren sounded my brother and I went into our front room as usual to observe proceedings. We never went into our Anderson shelter as it was always filled with water. We were just kids and felt bullet-proof anyway. Out of the night sky to the east a Heinkel 111 bomber appeared. We could identify it with certainty as the wings were eliptical like a Spitfire with a "greenhouse" front canopy which contained the aircrew. As it flew... Read more
Hobbayne School
I attended Hobbayne from 1957 -1963. Who remembers Mr Ridley? Unfortunately I found myself standing outside his office on a number of occasions waiting upon the Headmaster's wrath for some minor misdemeanour! I spent a lot of my free time at Churchfields and the Bunny Park and "loitering" on the green in Cuckoo Lane. A wonderful carefree childhood.
Visiting Graves of Grandparents And Great Grandparents
My grandparents Mary (Westbrook) Howard and John Howard rest in the Hanwell cemetery, along with Mary's parents, buried in the row ahead. It took me one and a half hours to find them, as cousin Robert couldn't remember where they were. I was disappointed not to find the grave of my aunt Kathleen McManus. I came all the way from America to find them.
Hanwell Community Centre
I first played 5 a side football here for the cubs/scouts in the annual tournaments they had for all scout groups in ealing then. Played nearly every week from 1982 to 2009!when I had to re-locate to Nottinghamshire. Played there again in July, things have changed - new electrics, new roof that had leaked for 10 years, new changing rooms and showers, will suit the Japanese world cup squad if we ever hold it again, new reception, must have cost over million to do up. Charlie Chaplin was an orphan there over 120 years ago, so it was about time they got out the paint brushes.
Greater London memories
Grange Academy For Young Ladies
My school in South Ealing was know as 'Grange Academy for Young Ladies', or rather, just simple Grange seniors. I loved my school days and equally net-ball, but hated the fact that we had to play in our blouses tucked into our navy blue knickers. Boys would congregate around our school gate where we would have to play in full view of them. It was most embarrassing. Our class rooms were made up with wooden doors that could be folded back in the Summer leaving one side open to the lovely weather. Compared to schools of today it was primitive yet wonderful in a way. I have never seen a school like it since. I did go back to have a look at the old place in the 1990s. The only change I noticed was they had closed in the sheltered area around the quadrangle so it is no more open to the elements.
I do cherish my school memories.
Mouse Goes to School
When I was about 11 years old I secretly bought a pet mouse on impulse, but quickly realised that it was a silly thing to do as I knew my Dad would not let me keep it. I couldn't afford a cage for it. I hadn't thought it through at all. Frightened to leave it at home I took him to school, stupidly thinking I could keep him hidden in my desk or up my sleeve, but of course the inevitable happened and somebody snitched on me. I thought, 'now I'm in for it' and waited for the screams to emit from my dear teacher as my friend popped his little brown head out from the cuff of my sleeve. but to my amazment she was wonderful about it. She took me aside and gently talked some sense into me. That teacher was Mrs. Lakin and I have never forgotten her. I loved her best of all my teachers. The school, Grange juniors. Consequently I did tell my mother about... Read more
St Mary's Church
We lived in an upstairs flat in South Ealing. The tube railway line ran behind our flat, and beyond that, allotments. We also had a good view of St. Mary's church. It was wonderful to hear the bells ring on Sunday mornings. I wonder if they still ring as a lot of churches have had their bells stollen. There is a path way through the cemetary which could be reached through the alley leading to Grange school. I often walked that path way to and from my friends house. It was very spooky, particularly in the dark, and the school alley way although lit, was not much better as nobody else was usually around. I would think twice about making the same journey today. It was a much shorter way home and I did'nt even stop to think of any danger like I would today. As a child I felt so free and the world was my oyster. South Ealing was a safe place to grow up. Cars... Read more
