Churchfield Road

Churchfield Road, Acton, runs north of and parallel to Acton High Street. At the eastern end is the level crossing of Acton Central railway station after which it becomes East Churchfield Road. The western end forms a junction of which the northern road is Horn Lane, the southern Market Place and the western, the now pedestrianised King Street. St. Mary's Burial Ground lies on the southern side of the centre section of the road.

Station House on Churchfield Road; previously Acton Central station, now a public house

It has its own community association formed in 2001.[1]

Retail

Churchfield road can be divided into two retail sections, the eastern end nearest the station and the western end nearest the mount that merges into the main shopping area. In recent years there has been a slight decline in the number of shops in the road with many of those closed remaining empty. The Sub-Post office at number 24 closed in 2010, after many years. Churchfiled Road has recently seen growth in independent retailers and other business practices such as estate agents, restaurants and cafes. Two new additions are Forbes Waterhouse, Bake Me and Sainsbury.

Public houses

The Station House next to the current Acton Central railway station was formerly the station building itself. It has previously been called The Central Bar[2] and The Churchfield[3]

The Albion at number 2, closed down in 2010 having been open since at least 1881.[4]

The Rocket, formerly The Station Hotel at 11 & 13 has been open since at least 1881.[5]

Foley's at number 115, formerly the Mechanics Arms closed down in 2011 having been open since at least 1889.[6]

Famous residents

Lionel Bart lived at 33/35a Churchfield Road until his death in 1999.[7]

Waitrose opened their second branch at 65 Churchfield Road in 1913.[8]

Eric Ravilious was born at 90 Churchfield Road on 22 July 1903.[9]

This area of West London is a popular location for filming as it is close to the BBC Television Centre as well as other studios. Several Monty Python sketches were filmed on Churchfield Road, and in the later years of Minder, the entrance to the Winchester Club was in Newburgh Road, just off Churchfield Road.[10]

The Leo Sayer hit song "Orchard Road" referred to Churchfield Road, where Leo Sayer's ex-wife had moved out to after they separated.[11] Sayer changed the name of the road as he felt Churchfield Road "didn't sing very well".[12]

References
  1. http://www.churchfield.org/
  2. http://www.actonhistory.co.uk/acton/page9.html
  3. http://fancyapint.com/Pub/london/station-house-ex-the-churchfield/3027
  4. http://deadpubs.co.uk/Middlesex/Acton/Albion.shtml
  5. http://deadpubs.co.uk/Middlesex/Acton/StationHotel.shtml
  6. http://deadpubs.co.uk/Middlesex/Acton/MechanicsArms.shtml
  7. http://www.actonw3.com/default.asp?section=info&spage=common/conlionelbart.htm
  8. Waitrose - Seeking to Attain Perfection by Janet Appleyard-Hobbs. Acton History Group, 2009. ISBN 978-0-9552343-1-6
  9. http://www.southlondonguide.co.uk/ericravilious.htm
  10. http://www.minder.org/locations/loc_winchester.htm
  11. Interview with Leo Sayer, The Bob Rogers Show, Radio 2CH, 10:31:30 AEST 31 July 2008
  12. Hadi, Eddino Abdul (2014) "8 Questions with Leo Sayer: He still makes you feel like dancing", The Straits Times, 1 December 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2019

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