Secret Ealing

Originally a county town in Middlesex, Ealing became known as the ‘Queen of the Suburbs’ when joined to London in the last century. Famous for the Ealing Studios, the oldest film studios in the world, in this book authors Paul Lang and Jonathan Oates delve into the fascinating but often lesser known history of this district. Characters associated with Ealing include Violet Gray, hockey player and MI5 agent and Ealing’s pro-Hitler MP and other links with espionage and political extremism include suspected Soviet spies and a Communist cell in 19th century Hanwell. Crime has stalked the streets of Ealing with the tale of the disappearance of Peregrine Henniker-Heaton and dissent when the borough was home to anti-German riots in 1915 and the Sunday Opening controversy in the 1930s. Alongside these tales the authors uncover stories of sports stars, film studios, wartime and ancient Ealing.Secret Ealing explores the less well-known episodes and characters in the history of the borough through the years. With tales of remarkable characters, unusual events and tucked away or disappeared historical buildings and locations, it will appeal to all those with an interest in the history of this West London district.