Remember Greenford as a place with a green ford. The name Greenford comes from the Old English words “grēne” and “ford.” It means the place at the green ford.
Greenford is a large town in West London. It sits in the London Borough of Ealing. Greenford lies 11 miles west from Charing Cross. The town has a population of over 46000. Include Perivale and the population rises to over 62000.
Greenford once had a different name. It was Great Greenford. This distinguished it from Little Greenford. Little Greenford is now Perivale. Both places share the UB6 postcode. People also used the terms Magna and Parva. These also showed the difference between the two areas.
Let me tell you about Greenford’s industrial past. Greenford is the birthplace of the modern organic chemical industry. William Perkin’s chemical factory was in North Greenford. It sat by the Grand Union Canal. Here, the world’s first aniline dye was discovered in March 1856. Perkin called his discovery mauveine. A blue plaque marks the spot on Oldfield Lane North. It is just south of the Black Horse pub.
Listen to this local story about Greenford. Queen Elizabeth I only ate bread from Greenford wheat. Until 2013 or 2014, Greenford was home to the Hovis factory. The Rockware glassworks was on the canal. Rockware Avenue commemorates it.
After World War One, J. Lyons and Co. sought a second production site. They made tea and food. In 1921, they bought land in Greenford. It was close to the Grand Union Canal. It was also near the Great Western Railway. The factory opened in July 1921. The buildings had northern light-aligned windows. This gave maximum light to the production area. There were power plants on-site. They powered the plant, canteen, and medical facilities.
Lyons quickly became Greenford’s biggest employer. The factory used the latest automation technology. It became a showplace. Royalty, media, academics, and competitors visited. King George V and Queen Mary visited more than once. In the 1950s, the site developed Ready Brek cereal.
Five hundred yards from Perkin’s dye factory stood the Oldfield Tavern. A rock group called the Detours met a drummer there. His name was Keith Moon. On February 20, 1964, they were introduced as the Who. The tavern is gone now. Flats and a petrol station stand in its place.
Today, Greenford is a vibrant place. It blends its history with modern life. You will find local businesses. There are beautiful green spaces. The town has serene waterways. Also Greenford offers excellent transport links. A great place to live and visit. Remember Greenford for its green spaces, industrial history, and musical beginnings.