On the north side of the town, Wiggins and Sankeys had a large Builders Merchants business at Hayes Bridge. Three large Cartage Contractors – Staceys (Beresford Road), Chiltons (Mount Pleasant), Builders Cartage and Moores (General Carriers), Hamborough Road.
As we move into the next decade with a population of 8,500, brickfields were gradually disappearing and roads and houses taking their place. Motor cars were becoming more frequent. Two more banks — Midland at the corner of Adelaide Road and Barclays, corner of Avenue Road — and two garages established.
Sounds
What up till 1900 had been a quiet little village now began to resound to progress. The trains with their shrill whistles, the clanking of the trams along the main road, the works’ hooters, Gas Work’s siren, Abbotts and school bells all became recognisable and you could set your clocks by them. All the churches had single bells but, by 1982 by means of new technology, St Johns have been able to achieve the sound of a carillon. Other more vocal sounds came from tradesmen calling their wares around the streets. The ‘Coalman’ with his horse and dray – he would deliver to your cellar at about 1/1d cwt. ‘Baker’ delivering quarten loaves for 3½d. `Milko’, either with a horse-drawn float or hand barrow, coming round three times a day, serving from a churn or hand can and measuring your requirement straight into your jug, or leaving cans on your doorstep. Greengrocers would also come round, each with their own vocal efforts. The Muffin Man with his bell, and tray on his head. The Fishmonger with his ‘Winkles, all fresh’. Dicky Duffel with his watercress. Wild Rabbit Joe, with rabbits each end of a pole on his shoulder, shouting his presence. The ‘Rag-Bone’ man doing his best to get something, and would probably give children a windmill on a stick for jam jars etc. As yet the motor car had made very little impression although they had horns. Cyclists had bells. But, as yet, the aeroplane had not arrived.
On the corner of Regina Road and Pluckington Place is the winter quarters of Beaches Fair family. Since 1900, after their rounds of fairs and fetes, all the equipment would be repaired and redecorated. It used to be all horses at first but, gradually, it has modernised with caravans and electricity. The Beach family were well respected and did quite a lot for charity. Most have died out now, but one still remembers the noise of the hurdy-gurdy –the large steam engine driving the roundabout, and the napalene lights, the swings and coconut shies — Southall’s very own fair people.
1910-1920
Southall is still in the Uxbridge Parliamentary Constituency, and represented by:
1910 -1911 J. Bigwood
1911- 1915 Hon S. T. Mills (Killed in action 1915)
1916-1918 Hon Arthur Mills (these were the sons of the Baron of Hillingdon)
1918-1922 Hon Sydney Peel
Chairman of the Southall-Norwood Urban Council:
1910-1911 Mr P. L. Hanson
1911-1912 Mr W. J. Clements
1912-1913 Mr H. Harries
1913-1914 Mr G. S. West
1914-1915 Mr J. J. Wilson
1915-1916/7 Mr Culley (Labour)
1917-1918 Mr Harries
1918-1919 Mr A. T. Cantwell (Labour)
1919-1920 Mr G. Groundswell (Labour)