Growing-up With Southall From 1904 (Memories of R.J. Meads)

 

Over the Green. 

                         You will note I have made little reference to anything over the south side of the railway. In the days I am writing about there were no buses, and we only went “over the Green” to get something special or on visits to relations. Several of our relations lived and worked that side, and we used to be sent to Cogswell’s or Owen Barnett’s for seed potatoes and take our metal and rags to Brand’s at the same time. The two brothers Stanley had charge of the “White Swan” and they were the last that I can remember to ride a penny-farthing bicycle. Featherstone School under Mr. West, headmaster, used to turn out some very good athletes, also a good football team which won the “Gosney Cup” most years. The building firm of A. & B. Hanson had their offices and yard in Featherstone Road, and they carried out the contracts for a great many local buildings which included churches, pubs, cinemas and factories. Mr. Ben Hanson lived at Beverley House in the King Street. The Hanson family, who came to Southall about 1886, became involved in a great deal of local affairs. Besides the building firm Ban was a councillor for many years. A brother was Head Postmaster, and a Mr. Alf Hanson was Chief Rating Officer for the Council. 

                         The drill hall in Featherstone Road, built in 1901, housed a Middlesex Regt.Territorial company and the R.S.M. used to live in a flat there. The horses used at the Gas Works were stabled in Havelock Road, which is now the Council yard. Opposite was the Cemetery lodge, just to the rear of which was a small mortuary. 

                          King Street had several good shops – Butler’s ( mens’ outfitters ); Boots ( chemists ); Maypole ( butter and margarine ); Freeman, Hardy & Willis ( footwear ); Cutland’s ( drapers ); a large Co-Op; World Stores ( provisions ); Norwood Farm Dairy; Loaring’s ( oilshop ); Platt’s ( grocers ); and the Labour Exchange.