Harlesden

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 51.53734
longitude = -0.24955
region= London
london_borough= Brent
population= 12,227 [ [http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=3&b=5942254&c=Harlesden&d=14&e=16&g=327782&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&enc=1 UK Census 2001] ]
official_name= Harlesden
constituency_westminster= Brent South
post_town= LONDON
postcode_area= NW
postcode_district= NW10
dial_code= 020
os_grid_reference= TQ215835

Harlesden is a suburban town in the London Borough of Brent. Its main focal point is the Jubilee Clock which commemorates Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. Though being one of the UK's most deprived areas it has been praised for its vibrant Caribbean culture. The population is primarily made up of people of Afro-Caribbean heritage but also has a large number of Irish Catholic and Brazilian also a large Portuguese community. Though being dubbed the UK Murder Capital and being notorious for Yardie Gang culture, the area is known for being the Reggae capital of London. Prince William and Jesse Jackson have visited the area due to the high levels of crime.

Harlesden has a rich culture of boxing, with two Olympic Gold medallists hailing from Harlesden: Audley Harrison who won gold in the Super-Heavyweight division at Sydney in 2000, and James Degale who won gold in the Middleweight division at Beijing in 2008.

History

In the 19th century, Harlesden, then a rural village, began to develop some of its urban appearance with the arrival of the railways. Willesden Junction, Kensal Green and Harlesden stations all had an effect on the developing village. Cottages for railway workers were built, as was grander housing for the local middle class.

Harlesden eventually lost its rurality, with factories replacing farms and woodland. After the end of World War I, low cost housing spread across the area, filling in the gaps between surrounding villages. Harlesden quickly became part of the growing London conurbation. Large factories in Harlesden included McVitie & Price (later United Biscuits) from 1910 and Heinz from 1919. One of Europe's biggest industrial estates was constructed in nearby Park Royal.

The image of Harlesden today began to take shape throughout the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Continued immigration from Ireland and new immigration from the Caribbean, Indian sub-continent and Africa radically changed the racial and cultural make up of the area. [web cite|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5942254&c=Harlesden&d=14&e=16&g=327782&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1204805227775&enc=1&dsFamilyId=87|title=Harlesden (Ward) Ethnic Group (UV09)|publisher=Office for National Statistics|Work=2001 Census Neighbourhood Statistics|date=2001|accessdate=2008-03-06] More recently the area has now become home to a Brazilian community and Portuguese community. Most of the houses are Victorian terraces.

Transport and locale

Nearest Places

* Stonebridge Park
* Kensal Green
* Willesden
* Wembley
* Neasden
* Shepherd's Bush
* Acton
* Queen's Park

Harlesden has excellent transport links. It has bus routes 18, 187, 206, 220, 224, 226, 260, 266, 487 and PR2 running in the town centre as well as routes 6 and 297 running just outside. It has two underground stations serving the Bakerloo line as well as National Rail services running between Watford Junction & Euston, Richmond & Stratford and between Willesden Junction and Clapham Junction.

Tube and Train stations

* Harlesden Station
* Stonebridge Park station
* Willesden Junction station

Famous current/former residents

*Paul Bettany
*Paterson Joseph
*Paul Merson
*Keith Moon
*Louis Theroux
*Shane Ritchie [ [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/shane-richie-you-ask-the-questions-757787.html Shane Richie: You Ask The Questions - People, News - Independent.co.uk ] ]
*Sabrina Washington
*KT Tunstall

External links

*http://www.harlesdentown.com

References