A free exhibition, Ealing’s 1970s Wasteland – The Grove, featuring previously unseen photographs of the destruction of The Grove in Ealing Broadway in the late 1970s to make way for Ealing’s new town centre is to take place at Open Ealing.
Hosted by Ealing Civic Society, the images captured by local photographer Ian Cole between 1978 and 1979, show what happened to the area before the new town centre was built during the early 1980s.
At one point, the Grove was home to 200 households and was made up of rows of terraced cottages. The area was called unfit and plans were made to demolish the area to build a caer park, wider roads and new homes in high rise flats. Local residents were said to be insulted that their homes were considered slums and wanted the area to be modernised and not demolished.
Speaking to EALING.NEWS about his photographs, Mr Cole said: “At the time I was working as a cameraman for London animation studios, living in Ealing and not long out of college. I had already started taking photos in Ealing when Corinne Templar of the Ealing Civic Society introduced me to people still living in the Grove and the volunteers who were supporting them.”
A few of the homes still survive but the vast majority were demolished to make way for the new town centre.
Opening times for Ealing’s 1970s Wasteland – The Grove:
June 15 2024: 1pm-6pm
June 16 2024: 1pm-6pm
June 23 2024: 1pm-6pm
June 29 2024: 1pm-6pm
June 30 2024: 1pm-6pm
at: Open Ealing, Unit 14, School Lane, Dickens Yard,W5 2TD.
A special talk and viewing will also be taking place on 18 June 2024 starting at 7:30pm.
