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Ian Cole — The Grove, Ealing 1978–79

£6.70

36 pages
printed in England
staple bound
14cm x 20cm

The Grove, Ealing 1978–1979

The Grove, once a community of over 200 households at the heart of Ealing, in rows of Victorian cottages along narrow lanes and alleyways, became a wasteland in the 1970s.

A 1930s medical report revealed that Ealing had no slums, only overcrowding. However 'slum clearance' was increasingly seen as an answer to housing issues. Residents felt insulted and objected to their homes being described in this way. They wanted modernisation not demolition. In 1958 the council proposed that between 1961–1971 the Grove area should be cleared but offered no real plan for the future. If residents were housed in multi-storey flats, clearance would make room for car parks and wider roads was one suggestion at the time. My picture (opposite) of the tower block in nearby Acton is included as a reminder of this particular vision.

The area was blighted. Landlords could charge tenants exorbitant rents while failing to maintain their properties and people continued to live in deteriorating conditions with an uncertain future. In 1968 a draft 'Town Centre' plan was proposed. Unfortunately this included a controversial road scheme that would have been disastrous for The Grove and surrounding areas. Local resident associations formed and campaigned successfully against this and other aspects of the overall plan. Eventually, a final Town Centre plan was approved in 1980.

In 1978 I began to record some of the residents and what little remained of the area. As houses were emptied they were usually bricked up to prevent occupation by the homeless. My negatives were never printed and only came to light and printed more recently. Subsequently, The Ealing Civic Society and Open Ealing made possible an exhibition. This resulted in many people associated with The Grove, who had relatives or had lived there as children, attending to share their memories.

Ian Cole

36 pages
printed in England
staple bound
14cm x 20cm

The Grove, Ealing 1978–1979

The Grove, once a community of over 200 households at the heart of Ealing, in rows of Victorian cottages along narrow lanes and alleyways, became a wasteland in the 1970s.

A 1930s medical report revealed that Ealing had no slums, only overcrowding. However 'slum clearance' was increasingly seen as an answer to housing issues. Residents felt insulted and objected to their homes being described in this way. They wanted modernisation not demolition. In 1958 the council proposed that between 1961–1971 the Grove area should be cleared but offered no real plan for the future. If residents were housed in multi-storey flats, clearance would make room for car parks and wider roads was one suggestion at the time. My picture (opposite) of the tower block in nearby Acton is included as a reminder of this particular vision.

The area was blighted. Landlords could charge tenants exorbitant rents while failing to maintain their properties and people continued to live in deteriorating conditions with an uncertain future. In 1968 a draft 'Town Centre' plan was proposed. Unfortunately this included a controversial road scheme that would have been disastrous for The Grove and surrounding areas. Local resident associations formed and campaigned successfully against this and other aspects of the overall plan. Eventually, a final Town Centre plan was approved in 1980.

In 1978 I began to record some of the residents and what little remained of the area. As houses were emptied they were usually bricked up to prevent occupation by the homeless. My negatives were never printed and only came to light and printed more recently. Subsequently, The Ealing Civic Society and Open Ealing made possible an exhibition. This resulted in many people associated with The Grove, who had relatives or had lived there as children, attending to share their memories.

Ian Cole