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Visiting Ealing, London, England: Haven Green — Jewel in the Crown of the Queen of the Suburbs & Historic Crossroads
Perpetually an intersection of people and competing influences
For centuries — indeed, possibly for millennia — what is known as Haven Green has been a crossroads.
History or tradition (or perhaps a nebulous combination of both) holds that Julius Caesar passed this way while heading to do battle (1), having landed on the banks of the Thames at what is now Syon, the seat of the Dukes of Northumberland.
In Medieval times it is known that livestock was often driven through Haven Green on its way to market in London. The Haven was accepted as common land for grazing.
Haven Green used to be much larger than the Ealing, London, England park that it constitutes today. When in the early 19th century the railway arrived in the shape of Isambard Kingdom Brunel's Great Western Railway. The result of this was that Haven Green was cut in half. Ealing Station — today known as Ealing Broadway — dates from 1838. Today, the proximity of Heathrow Airport adds to the busy use of lines which pass through Ealing Broadway. Ealing Broadway Station, opposite Haven Green, is served by both the District Line of the London Underground and by the Great Western Main Line. The Green is also served by several bus routes, which makes for a very busy area.
In the 19th century the local council planted chestnut trees, in order to preserve the Green for the public. Recently, some of these mature trees had to be cut down — some which had grown to 40 metres — because they were unsafe; they were replaced by hornbeam saplings (2).
In spring-time the Green is known for its daffodil flower beds, which have recently been extended.
Roman armies, Medieval cattle, trains, real estate pressure in London suburbia: all in one way of another have arguably been encroaching on Haven Green, which still remains at the heart of what is known as London's Queen of the Suburbs, to which is it sometimes added that Haven Green is the Jewel in the Crown of Ealing.
Ealing Broadway Station is located at The Broadway, London, W5 2NU
April 20, 2020
Notes
(1) See also: https://www.friendsofhavengreen.com/history-of-haven-green/ . The Friends of Haven Green have served as a local citizens' pressure group to advance the interests of local residents who enjoy the Green and for its preservation in the face of encroaching commercial interests.
(2) See also: https://www.friendsofhavengreen.com/current-issues/trees/
Some sourcing: Wikipedia
Also worth seeing
In Ealing itself, the Broadway has a number of fine, gabled frontages; the Town Hall by Charles Jones dates from 1888; Ealing has some fine examples of ecclesiastical architecture; Ealing is the home of one of the sites of the University of West London; the University's strengths include engineering, computer science, law, health sciences, film studies and music: the University's London College of Music uses Vestry Hall in Ranelagh Road: a striking, red brick building with stone facing and Neogothic features, dating from 1880.
London has such huge numbers of visitor attractions that I will refer to only a small fraction of the principal ones; these include: Trafalgar Square; the Houses of Parliament at the Palace of Westminster; Westminster Abbey; St. Paul's Cathedral; the Royal Albert Hall; and many others.
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How to get there
United Airlines flies from New York Newark Airport to London Heathrow Airport, where car rental is available. Underground and train services link Heathrow Airport with Central London; both the District Line of the London Underground an the Great Western Main Line serve Ealing Broadway Station. The Station is also served by bus routes 65, 112, 207, 226, 297, 427, 483, 607, E1, E2, E7, E8, E9, E10, E11 & night routes N7, N11, N83 & N207. Please note that some facilities may be withdrawn, without notice. You are advised to check with the airline or your travel agent for up to date information.
MJFenn is an independent travel writer based in Ontario, Canada
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