Harlesden, Willesden, Mary Seacole & a Wassail: Sunday 2nd February 2014, ten years in the past at this time was a pleasing winter day, not too chilly and with some sunshine and lightweight clouds, good for panoramas, so I went early to have a stroll across the space earlier than occurring to {photograph} the wassail in Willesden Inexperienced.
Harlesden, Willesden & Mary Seacole
It was way back on one of many dirtiest trains possible, home windows assume with mud so I may hardly see outdoors that I first got here to Willesden Junction Station from Richmond on the North London Line which ran to the Metropolis and Broad Road Station. Upgraded to run to North Woolwich within the 80s with new rolling inventory the road turned a key means for me to journey to {photograph} round north London. These days the road is a part of London’s Overground, since 2016 run by Arriva Rail London, part of Deutsche Bahn and somewhat cleaner, with trains working to Stratford.
Willesden Junction, which hyperlinks with the Bakerloo line and one other Overground service from Euston to Watford Junction isn’t in Willesden however in Harlesden and has platforms at two ranges, and in addition has mainline trains speeding previous with out stopping. Apparently, in line with Wikipedia, in earlier years it was was nicknamed “Bewildering Junction” or “The Wilderness” as a result of it contained such a maze of entrances, passages and platforms and it’s nonetheless somewhat like that.
If yow will discover it, a footpath leads over the mainline tracks subsequent to the road from Richmond and Clapham Junction via an industrial wasteland and ultimately to Hythe Street. Google Maps even dignifies it with a reputation, Salter Road Alleyway. Turning left at into Hythe Street takes you to Scrubs Lane, however going proper can take you to the Grand Union Canal, with a bridge main throughout to the tow path. I did each.
The blue sky with clouds was good climate for panoramas, and I took a quantity going backwards and forwards slightly within the space, throughout the Scrubs Lane bridge and again. On the nook of this bridge is a memorial backyard to Mary Seacole (1805-81) who nursed many British troopers within the Crimean Struggle in addition to working in her native Jamaica and Panama and Cuba, funding her medical work from the proceeds of her common retailer and boarding home in Jamaica. The backyard, on the canal financial institution subsequent to Mitre bridge, on Scrubs Lane, not removed from the place she was buried in St Mary’s Catholic cemetery, Kensal Inexperienced, was begun in 2003, shortly earlier than the 2005 bi-centenary celebration of her beginning.
The backyard, now somewhat overshadowed by a brand new growth, was a pleasing place to sit down within the solar and eat my sandwiches earlier than making my solution to Willesden Inexperienced for the Wassail. Photos from the stroll begin right here on My London Diary and embody extra panoramas in addition to different photos.
Willesden Wassail – Willesden Inexperienced
This was the fifth City Wassail in Willesden Excessive Road organised by Rachel Rose Reid to rejoice native shopkeepers who give Willesden Inexperienced its character and assist to create a vibrant group.
The wassail is described as a “small free pageant run by and for folks from Willesden Inexperienced” and in addition celebrates the work of all who stay there and create the neighbourhood and introduced collectively artists and volunteers from the realm together with James Mcdonald, Berakah Multi Religion Choir, Poetcurious, Errol Mcglashan and several other others, with extra performing later after the wassail.
The group met at Willesden Inexperienced Station, although sadly this was closed for engineering works on the day. Right here there was a efficiency from ParkLife singers, a area people choir run as a not-for-profit co-operatvie and led by Charlotte Eaton, earlier than Rachel Rose Reid launched us to the primary shopkeeper who informed us slightly abor her store, Daisychain Florist, with all the 70 or so folks current repeating her phrases in Occupy ‘mike-check’ type.
Then everybody sang a Wassail Tune, borrowed from the Carhampton Wassail, with the store identify rather than its “Previous Apple Tree”. You possibly can learn this on My London Diary.
The identical sample was repeated at various outlets alongside the Excessive Stret together with Hamada grocery store, Khan Halal Butchers, Pound.com, Nook Barber Store, Crimson Pig, Fornetti, Mezzoroma and Purchase Smart.
There have been different stops on the route for poetry and songs, together with one within the yard on the entrance of Sainsbury’s, one in every of comparatively few chains within the space.
Right here we had been additionally informed concerning the marketing campaign to save lots of the Queensbury Pub on Walm Lane from demolition, with a petition of over 4,000 signatures to Brent Council towards the demolition of this ‘Asset of Neighborhood Worth’ and its substitute by a ten storey block of flats. The pub had been open since 1895 however was purchased by developer Fairview New Properties (North London) Ltd in 2012. Brent turned down the event, however the developer, now known as Redbourne (Queensbury) Ltd put ahead new plans in 2018. Once more these had been refused by the council however the developer’s enchantment succeeded. The pub vlosed in 2022-3 and was demolished in October 2023 to construct 48 flats. The event is meant to incorporate a brand new pub.
The Wassail ended with various poetry performances reverse the Willesden Inexperienced Library constructing website, after which we moved to the neighbouring cherry tree for a ultimate wassail after which everybody let off the social gathering poppers and embellished the tree with ribbons. It was barely much less noisy model of the normal banging pans and firing weapons with a purpose to get up the apple timber.
The wassailers then moved to the Bar Gallery in Queens Parade on the nook of Walm Lane, the place refreshments had been accessible and there have been to be extra performances. I went alongside however then realised it was time for me to begin my journey house and left.
Extra photos on My London Diary at Willesden Wassail.
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Tags: canal, demolition, footpath, free pageant, Grand Union Canal, Harlesden, Hythe Rd, trade, London, London Photographs, Mary Seacole, memorial backyard, Mitre Bridge, panoramas, peter Marshall, poetry, Queensbury Pub, Rachel Rose Reid, Scrubs Lane, songs, Stroll, Walm Lane, Wassail, wassail music, Willesden Inexperienced, Willesden Inexperienced Library, Willesden Excessive Road, Willesden Junction, Willesden Wassail
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