Are you ready for the Hanwell walk tomorrow, 25.04.2017?

Do you know that tomorrow the Ealing Walking, Talking and Exploring Group would like you to take part in the Hanwell Walk?

We meet at the Lifeline Learning Centre, 79 Uxbridge Road W7 at 11.30 am for a two-hour hike around Hanwell, exploring the old and new streets, parks and pubs, talking about the area past and present, and getting to know one another! Below you can see some of the sights on our route, but you need to be there with us to experience togetherness and fun that our walks and talks offer.

Controversial Hanwell Clock

Jim Marshall, 'The Lord of Loud', has a blue plague in Hanwell. Read about his early life: 'Marshall was born in Acton, West London, in 1923, into a family which included boxers and music hall artists. As a child he was diagnosed with tubercular bones, and spent many years in hospital. His formal education suffered as a consequence. During WWII he was exempt from military service due to his poor health. He became a singer, and then, due to the shortage of available civilian musicians, doubled as a drummer. In his day job as electrical engineer he built a portable amplification system so his light, crooning vocals could be heard over his drums.^[8] "I was making 10 shillings (£0.50) a night and because it was wartime, we didn't have any petrol for cars, so I would ride my bicycle with a trailer behind it to carry my drum kit and the PA cabinets which I had made! I then left the orchestra to be with a 7 piece band and in 1942 the drummer leader was called into the forces and I took over on drums' And then he went on to produce the world famous amplifiers!

We will see a very old pub, a  proof that Hanwell was not born yesterday.:-)

I can't guarantee that these flowers will be still in bloom as I took these pictures nearly a month ago.

What do you think is this? Or maybe you know what it is, Dear Reader.:-)

And this is one of my favourite Hanwell spots. Unfortunately, some local strong beverage lovers like this place too, but they have never been inappropriate towards me.

Mind you, the already mentioned viaduct stretches for impressive 220 metres, imagine that!

Do you know who and why Conolly Dell commemorates? If not, read on: 'Conolly Dell. This park in a shallow depression was opened in 1912 and has four ponds, the Conolly Monument, rockery garden and park railings. Only the plinth of the meme oral still exists and the winged figure surmounting it has gone. The park was has good tree cover including eucalyptus, conifers, and ponds with a thriving colony of smooth newts. It still has its original railings and gates.  Dr John Conolly was the physician of Hanwell Asylum 1839-44 and is credited with having introduced innovative techniques of humane treatment and non-restraint to asylums. The park was part of the grounds of his house, The Lawn and where he later ran a private asylum. It is now part of Brent River Park and much work has been done to improve and restore it. '

After we go under the arches of the viaduct, we will soon find ourselves here:

A bit more walking and we will have some more interesting things to look at and talk about.

There aren't that many thatched roofs in London, right?

Having passed the thatched cottage, St Mary's Church and spacious green, we will enter the Bunny Park with lots of attractions to choose from, including a mini- ZOO, a creative space, a maze and a much welcome after this long walk cafe!

At the park you may choose to stay longer, relax or visit the Zoo, or you can go past the maze to your right and leave the park.

As far as I know, The Art Box is only open on Tuesdays and that is why I chose this day for our tour. It would be interesting to see what's in the box.:-)

 The maze is quite popular with the visitors. You don't need to go to Crete or to Hampton Court to get lost in a maze! Hanwell has it too!

And Wharncliffe Viaduct built by one of the greatest engineers of the Victorian era is there too, 66 feet (21 meetres) above the river called Brent. Ms Wiki will tell you that: 'The viaduct was the first major structural design by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the first building contract to be let on the GWR project, and the first major engineering work to be completed. It was also the first railway viaduct to be built with hollow piers, a feature much appreciated by a colony of bats which has since taken up residence within. '

 Come here at or after dusk to meet the bats if you dare!

If you continue down the path along the river, you will come to the crossing under the viaduct and over the river, and you will find yourself on a meadow looking at Uxbridge Road ahead of you and the Ealing Hospital on the other side of the road. There are many buses you can take from there or you can go back to Hanwell Station if you prefer.

What other name to call the pub near the famous viaduct? Another option to end the tour is to stop at this most friendly pub with good food or go Italian and have a pizza at the recently open and very popular restaurant called L'oro di Napoli Hanwell! The Clock Cafe is very good too and you can eat well at a Polish restaurant near the old pub and the Lidl, I've heard from many people. What is it called?