Forum Topic

I'm looking for the old Turnham Green LANE !

Any suggestions?

Jim Lawes ● 1427d29 Comments

Off the Old Market Place?

Maggie Dodge ● 1427d

It was renamed after one of our most right-wing and unpopular prime ministers who provoked a run on the banks and held office for just a few weeks. Turnham Green Lane is now Wellesley Road.The Duke of Wellington did leave behind some great quotes. After his first cabinet meeting: “An extraordinary affair. I gave them their orders and they wanted to stay and discuss them.”

Tom Pike ● 1427d

Jim, it’s right next to Fishers Terrace. Near Gradgrind Avenue, (named after a local famous for his clever sums).

Russell Pearson ● 1427d

We’ve always referred to Christ Church as Turnham Green Church, in our family. Ive always thought it was a distance from the Terrace and the station. This would explain it.  Best not to mess about with street and place names unless there’s an exceptionally good reason.

Maggie Dodge ● 1427d

Great stuff, Tom!  I found this further info from the West Chiswick and Gunnersbury Society site; https://westchiswickgs.org/wellesley-road/

Robert Fish ● 1427d

Thanks.Now where can I find Brandenburg Road in Chiswick?

Jim Lawes ● 1426d

https://www.ebay.com/itm/233704947753Try under Ealing. Parts of Chiswick are Ealing Borough as I’m sure you know

Maggie Dodge ● 1426d

Brandenburg Road was renamed Burlington Road in 1917; the same year the Saxe Coburg Gothas became the Windsors. This is a full three years after German soldiers were reputedly raping Belgian Nuns and skewering Belgian babies on bayonets and so it does make you wonder whgat particular atrocity merited these name changes so late in the day.michael adams

Michael Adams ● 1426d

Thank you for that Michael. So Brandenburg became Burlington... I know the road.with Gunnersbury Baptist Church on the corner.I remember the old vicar in the 1950s.. the Revd John Caiger.. top speaker and preacher.I attended a Youth Club called the Covenanters there. Other youngsters were members of Crusaders attached to other churches.I used to have a friend in Cressy Avenue by the Steam Packet..but it seems no longer there..What happened? It was named after a top local. Can't find the road now. Where's it gone?

Jim Lawes ● 1426d

It turned into Mead Close

Bernard Allen ● 1426d

"The first Vicar of St Paul’s, Grove Park, was the Rev Nevison Lorraine, who had three children: Geraldine, Ernest and Herbert. Cllr Cressy, who died in 1932, gave his name to Cressy Avenue, now Meade Close. "https://brentfordandchiswicklhs.org.uk/local-history/places/street-names-of-chiswick/No reports of who Meade was!On the subject of roads with Germanic connections... Waldeck and Pyrmont roads in Strand on the Green were named after Principality of Waldeck and Pyrmont in Germany.One of the Princes of Waldeck and Pyrmont ended up as a General in the SS during WWII.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josias,_Hereditary_Prince_of_Waldeck_and_Pyrmont

Michael Robinson ● 1426d

Alain-Fournier, author of Le Grand Meaulnes, stayed for a time in Brandenburg Road.  He wrote letters to his family describing his time which were collected by Strachan in The Lost Domain, which used to be in Chiswick Library.  The whole plot of his book seems to have been based on a party he went to somewhere in Chiswick.

Vivienne Cox ● 1426d

Thank you everyone for your help and reply.I've been meandering around the Dead Donkey Lane (South) area of Grove Park (another changed name enhancement) looking for the John Bull pub. I know I'm getting dotty but I'm sure I got the John Bull name correct. I called at The Bulls Head but they told me to buzz off.Where's the John Bull pub gone?

Jim Lawes ● 1426d

Isn’t the John Bull,  the pub opposite Gunnersbury Station?

Maggie Dodge ● 1426d

Maggie is right and it is now called The Gunnersbury.

Jann Grant ● 1426d

Indeed https://pubwiki.co.uk/Middlesex/Chiswick/JohnBull.shtml

Russell Pearson ● 1426d

Thank you again. Ah the JOHN BULL pub name change to THE GUNNERSBURY! More appropriate?I once heard that in the old days you could catch a train from BRENTFORD ROAD!Never heard of it. Where was it? You're the Chiswickologists!

Jim Lawes ● 1425d

Brentford Rd was the old name for Gunnersbury station.

Michael Robinson ● 1425d

Before it became The Gunnersbury, for as long as I can remember the side wall had a huge mural proclaiming it to be "The World Famous John Bull" (visible from CHR when travelling west).Which made me smile, since it was hardly "world famous" even in Chiswick!

Richard Cathcart ● 1425d

Isn't the John Bull name still visible on the side wall ?

Richard Greenhough ● 1425d

There was once a time when you could catch a train from Hammersmith & Chiswick Station, but not since 1917, so probably too long ago even for you to remember, Jim.

Richard Greenhough ● 1425d

Yes, its still there.

Michael Robinson ● 1425d

Whatever happened to The Ship at Rest pub? And what a great name!

Russell Pearson ● 1425d

That little lettering is not what I was referring to.Rather there was a huge paitned mural-type sign, covering almost all of the area above covered by scaffolding in your pic, which proclaimned its worldwide fame.

Richard Cathcart ● 1425d

Google street view goes back to 2008 and then it was "JB Bar and Diner".

Michael Robinson ● 1425d

"It was renamed after one of our most right-wing and unpopular prime ministers who provoked a run on the banks and held office for just a few weeks"You mean the Arthur Wellesley who was closer to being a moderate by the standards of the time, managed to get Catholic Emancipation passed (specifically the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829) and actually fought a duel against one of the more rabid far right opponents (I cannot help but think that would enliven PMQs!) and he was prime minister from 22 January 1828 to 16 November 1830, a period of 2 years and 299 days so not "held office for a few weeks".Apart from that you might also know him as the Duke of Wellington and the commander of the army which defeated Napoleon - could be that had something to do with the name of the street especially as there is a Malborough Road just off Wellesley Road

Justin Stephenson ● 1425d

A national hero. That’s Wellington. A national zero. That’s Tom Pike. One accurate with his cannon. One inaccurate with his facts. “ Wellington was gradually superseded as leader of the Tories by Robert Peel, while the party evolved into the Conservatives. When the Tories were returned to power in 1834, Wellington declined to become prime minister because he thought membership in the House of Commons had become essential. The king reluctantly approved Peel, who was in Italy. Hence, Wellington acted as interim leader for three weeks in November and December 1834, taking the responsibilities of prime minister and most of the other ministries.[189] In Peel's first cabinet (1834–1835), Wellington became foreign secretary, while in the second (1841–1846) he was a minister without portfolio and Leader of the House of Lords.[190] Wellington was also re-appointed Commander-in-Chief of the British Army on 15 August 1842

Simon Culpath ● 1425d

I'm  impressed with all your responses.Chiswickologists all.Just a quicky...What happened to Stonehill,Clarence, Silver  and Chertsey?

Jim Lawes ● 1425d

Some years back a distant girlfriend came over from Uzbekistan and said she like to see the magnificent buildings in Regent Street.It was her first visit to the UK.Being a loyal Chiswickologist...I waltzed her down our Brook Road ..then into Regent Streetand charmed her with the history of Pinkham Mansions!Never saw her again!

Jim Lawes ● 1425d