Get to know some of your Brent local history with Philip Grant

Wembley Matters readers, particularly in Sudbury and Kingsbury, may be interested in two local history events taking place in the next few weeks. Both are being presented by Philip Grant, of Wembley History Society, and posters are attached giving details.

The first is an illustrated talk on Saturday 4^th June, at the new Barham Community Library. Visitors will have the chance to see the facilities at Friends of Barham Library’s new premises at 660 Harrow Road (part of the Barham Park Buildings, which were home to Sudbury’s own public library from 1952 until Brent Council closed it in 2011), as well as to enjoy a talk which combines the story of Wembley’s own fire brigade with the involvement of a local family in it.

The second event is an illustrated walk from Kingsbury Library on Wednesday 22^nd June. As part of the “Festival of Learning”, those taking part can discover that history is not just what you had to learn at school, but things you can see as you walk around somewhere you may have shopped, without actually noticing them before.

Even if you cannot come to either event, you can still find out more about the local history of Brent (its people, places and occasions that have happened here) online. Recent improvements to the Brent Archives homepage, at: https://www.brent.gov.uk/archives , allow you to “click” on the local history articles link, to access a menu of illustrated pdf files on a variety of subjects, or on the online catalogue link, to search for places in the borough from over ten thousand pictures, from Victorian times to the present.

Your chance to share in Sudbury’s history

Guest blog by Philip Grant

Next Saturday, 10^th October, everyone in the Sudbury area of Brent will have the chance to discover what an interesting place they live in. For months, local people from the Sudbury Court and Sudbury Town Residents’ Associations, Friends of Barham Library and two local primary schools have been working with Wembley History Society. Adopting old photographs and postcards (some from as early as the 1890’s), taking matching colour views of the same locations today and researching some of the stories behind the pictures, they have put together an exhibition for everyone in Sudbury to enjoy. It will be open at Sudbury Methodist Church Hall from 2pm to 5.30pm, and is free of charge.

The “Sudbury – Then and Now” display will comprise thirty-five pairs of images, taking you on a winding route through the area, from Watford Road and the Sudbury Court Estate in the north to Barham Park and Wembley Fire Station in the south. Four of these have been contributed by Sudbury and Barham Primary Schools, whose Year 5 classes used some of the old photos for their own local history projects in the summer term. As one of their teachers said: ‘The children were stunned to know how close they were to local living history, and were left wanting to know more.’

If you live in Sudbury, and would like to know more about the special history that is all around you, although perhaps without realising it is there, please come along to the exhibition next Saturday. As the poster below says: everyone is welcome!

Discover some Brent local history this summer

Guest blog by Philip Grant

 

Some of the comments on last month’s blog about the unexploded Second World War bomb which was unearthed at Wembley Park suggest that there are “Wembley Matters” readers interested in local history. Wembley History Society has been promoting an interest in the area’s history for over sixty years, and here are some of the activities it is involved in which give you the chance to discover more.

If you live in Kingsbury, and thought that history was just something you had to learn in school, with lots of dates that you could never remember, there is an Adult Learners’ Week event on Tuesday 16 June which may change your mind. “History – it’s a walk in the park!” will take you on a guided walk around Roe Green Park, looking at features you may have passed by without knowing the stories behind them. The walk leaves Kingsbury Library at 1.30pm, and details can be found HERE

 

This event is free, and there is no need to book – just turn up by 1.25pm on the day if you want to take part.

Kingsbury Cricket Team, c.1901

If Sudbury is your local area, there is a community local history project taking place at the moment which could be “up your street”. Wembley History Society and Brent Archives are working with residents’ associations, schools and individuals to put together material for a display in the autumn. “Sudbury –Then and Now” is inviting people to “adopt” one of many old photographs and postcards of the area, find out a little about the story behind it, and take a matching colour view of the scene in 2015. If you think that this would be of interest to you, more details can be found on the Sudbury Town Residents’ Association website HERE which includes a pdf presentation about the project, and how you can get involved.

The Mall, Sudbury. c.1914

Vale Farm Swimming Pool, 1950's

 If you prefer to get your information from an illustrated talk, there is an opportunity to find out more about some of Brent’s most unusual homes from the 1920’s and 1930’s, and the man who designed them, on Friday 19 June. “Ernest Trobridge – Kingsbury’s Extraordinary Architect” is the subject of a Wembley History Society presentation at English Martyrs’ Hall, just off Blackbird Hill, Wembley Park, beginning at 7.30pm. There are details HERE and on the poster above

Philip Grant

Brent North Hustings Tonight (Friday)

A last-minute hustings has been organised this evening at St George's Church, Sudbury. It will start at 7.30pm.

It is in the Parish Centre just behind the church in St Andrew's Avenue off the Harrow Road. LINK

Scott Bartle, Brent North Green Candidate, speaks out at Sudbury Hustings

The packed hustings was held in a beautiful but dimly lit church so please excuse the quality of the picture.

Bid to Open Children's Library and Study Space in Barham Park building

From Friends of Barham Library

Friends of Barham Library have identified a second empty building in Barham Park as suitable for much needed community use.

A few weeks ago the Barham Volunteers made a bid to the Barham Park Charity to be allowed to take over the empty Cardroom building in Barham Park so that they could reopen a Library in the area. They have now made a bid for a 2nd empty space within the Barham Park Buildings for the opening of a separate Children Library and Study Space for children and young people of Sudbury & Wembley.

The 2nd space used to be the Council's Parks Department Reception area but has been empty for at least 5 years. According to Francis Henry of Daniels Estate Agents, who is acting as the Property Manager for Friends of Barham Library on a volunteer basis, the room which is around 30 sq metres in size would be ideal for a standalone Children Library for the area.

The room is accessed from the main Harrow Road and is clearly visible. It is also close to the bus stops for numerous local buses serving the area and a short walk from the Barham Park play area and small car park.

According to Paul Lorber, a former Councillor for the area, the biggest losers of the closure of Barham Park Library were children and young people and a replacement library is much needed.
While the Barham Volunteers continue to run two volunteer libraries and second hand bookshops from temporary premises in Sudbury Town Underground Station and 428 High Road Wembley what they need is permanent premises within Barham Park so that they can expand their activities and provide a full blown library service that the local area needs.

Paul Lorber said:

We have fantastic local support which has enabled us to keep going and to run two volunteer Libraries for around 3 years. We have shown our ability to get things done and we now want to make the best possible use of the empty parts of the Barham Park buildings to expand our library and educational service to the local community.

Besides running the book lending and selling service from their two temporary premises the Barham Volunteers also run English Conversation Classes, an Arts & Crafts Club and Chess Club for Children and let their space out to an elders Bridge Club and for advice sessions to young people.

The decision to allow Friends of Barham Library access to the empty parts of the Barham Buildings lies with four Labour Councillors who currently act as Trustees of the Barham Park Charity. The Trustees are due to meet at the end of January when it is hoped that they will finally agree to let local people to open a Volunteers run Library in Barham Park.

Anyone wishing to support the "We want to get back to Barham Park volunteer library campaign" should visit the existing Friends of Barham Library premises in Sudbury Town Underground Statio open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 3:30pm to 6:30pm. or 428 High Road Wembley (near Daniels Estate Agents & KFC) open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 12pm to 5pm.
 

The Planning Inspector calls on Brent Civic Centre on July 22nd

The closure of half of Brent's libraries continue to reverberate throughout the borough. After the controversial Kensal Rise planning committee deferral and the revised Cricklewood plans, we have a Planning Inspectorate hearing at the Civic Centre on July 22nd into the Barham Park complex of buildings which includes the closed down Barham library.

 On their website Friends of Barham Library write:

A Planning Inspector will hold “informal sessions” to consider Brent Council's Appeal against Refusal of their planning application on Tuesday 22 July at the Civic Centre Empire Way starting at 10a.m.

Brent Council submitted a planning application to change the use of the closed Library space and other parts of the building away from general ‘community uses’. they did so to enable ACAVA to convert most of the building to 29 artist studios for rent.

Friends of Barham Library and others opposed this. The Planning application was REFUSED by the Planning Committee by 6 votes to 1 in November 2013.

Despite this clear decision the Labour Councillors running Brent decided to use taxpayers money to Appeal against the decision of the Council’s own Planning Committee. The Appeal will be decided by an independent Planning Inspector and this is why they are holding these informal session.

Friends of Barham Library will make representations to the Planning Inspector and continue to oppose the Appeal as the consequence is the effective taking away of the buildings in Barham Park away from local people.

The actions of Brent Council are a direct contradiction with the agreement of 22 October 1936 when Titus Barham gifted his home to the people of Wembley when he expressed his wish as follows:

“The settlor is desirous that (his home and gardens) shall be preserved for and dedicated to the recreation of the public”

In our view Brent Council should honour this wish.