Forum Topic

Acton history destroyed

For almost ten years I have walked past the old fish and chip shop at the junction of Old Oak Common Road opposite Homebase.It doesn’ t look like much – but it was probably my favourite building in Acton.On the outside its an old single-standing Victorian building next to a very busy road junction.But if you looked through the single-glazed window it was like looking into a time capsule.It was almost as if in 1970  (I’m guessing) the owner had switched the lights off, locked the door and never looked back. The posters were still on the walls, there was (from memory) a marble fish bar, and wooden cubicles for people to eat in. It was like a film set - only real.I kept meaning to take photographs of it – but never did. Nothing – literally nothing in the shop – changed in the ten years I have been walking past it.More recently I noticed the building was up for sale but I had heard the fish shop was to be protected and didn’t really think about it.Anyway today I walked past it and it had been smashed up by builders. ( I could only see the front but assume it has all been destroyed)I am feeling completely gutted – and wondered whether it was just me who liked it -  and whether it was just my imagination which made me think it was protected?(And also does anyone know anything about its history?)

Richard Grange ● 5986d19 Comments

Richard.I thought i read somewhere that the internal furnishings were to be dismantled and moved to a museum somewhere. Can't remember where i got that info from though. Hubby has just informed me that he saw someone in there just recently carefully chipping away and removing the old tiles.....green weren't they ?At some stage it was also a pie and mash shop.Been empty for years.....Yes, a lovely piece of history gone.

Ellie Rose ● 5986d

It was called:W Burrows & Sons.Google brings up some interesting images.

Ellie Rose ● 5986d

I used to go there when I lived nearby as a child and teenager.  It must have closed in the late 70s I would think?    A great place (or plaice!) where you could get fish, pie, chips, etc to take away or stay with a cuppa or two.  I saw the planning application and objected to it initially, then missed the second round somehow or other.  I think they're building flats there.

Angela White ● 5986d

I wonder what happended to the '& Sons'. Maybe not interested in the fish trade.

David Archer ● 5986d

I am really hoping that what Ellie has said about someone preserving the interior may be right ...But that has led to a whole series of other questions – who has got the fish and chip shop now, is it in boxes somewhere,  is it going to stay in Acton and is it ever going to be put back together?Anyway – this is (or was) it.... (see image below) ...... http://www.lcc.org.uk/images//web_Burrows1a.jpgI think what made it worse was that when I walked past yesterday the builders were in the process of putting in the cheapest,  crappiest PVC windows where the shop window had been.

Richard Grange ● 5986d

A few more pictures including the chalk "Closed for the foreseeable future" sign probably written decades ago ... and some of the tile-workhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/gaetanlee/157465326/in/photostream/

Richard Grange ● 5986d

Here's a photo of the interior, uploaded in 2006:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/sf2london/222750494/in/photostream/.. and another uploaded about a year ago, with separate photos of fish tiles:    http://www.flickr.com/photos/janepbr/3279068388/in/photostream/Note that as a number of posters have been removed from the walls, something must have changed over the years!

Ian M Green ● 5986d

this is a traversty. This has been a part of acton history for many years! is nothing sacred? Am gutted!

Emma Daniels ● 5986d

Thanks for these pictures IanIts good to know there is some kind of record of the fish shop as it was.I particularly like the Chips Give You Bags of Energy posters... clearly from the pre-healthy eating era.Slightly alarmed that they had gone missing by the time of the second picture. Lets hope they have been preserved and not half-inched

Richard Grange ● 5986d

We have a customer coming in today that may know a bit more about this shop......Will keep you posted.In the meantime, does anyone know anything about the history of this property on Birbeck Road? seems the photographer would like more info.http://paintedsignsandmosaics.blogspot.com/search/label/Acton Another good site to look on is:www.derelictlondon.com.A few old pictures on there of Acton including one on Churchfield Road i believe (under shops)

Ellie Rose ● 5986d

I recall this fish and chip opened on Friday's in the early 1990's. An elderly gentleman would open-up the shop (on his own as I recall) and serve fish and chips on Friday evenings and then suddenly it closed for good.

Tina Spooner ● 5986d

According to the following document (http://www.tinyurls.co.uk/U2546 - page 2) this building appears to have been listed locally.

Tina Spooner ● 5986d

To all those concerned about 'local history' - can I remind you all that both the Town Hall, the Library and the old school - now a community centre round the back of the Town hall in the High Street are all under threat of development.The old tram depot at the other end of the High Street has an agreed planning permission in place, so expect that to go too.Whether the facades of the buildings will be retained is anyone's guess.

Dee Cook ● 5986d

I am very interested to see evidence that this was locally listed - although I don't know what impact this would have had on the planning process.However IF it turned out that someone had destroyed the shop in contravention of listing regulations  then they should be prosecuted. (There is however no evidence of this to date)

Richard Grange ● 5986d

Richard.It seemed that the Burrows have a surviving daughter/s living in Devon and it is her/they that are rebuilding the site.Go to the planning section on the LBE site and do a search for these applications:PP/2007/4277PP/2008/1298P/2009/2578 This is the most interesting one.....http://www.pam.ealing.gov.uk/PlanNet/search.asp?authentication=12345&id=PLN111623Look at the Written scheme of investigation.English heritage have been fully involved all the way.It WAS a listed building.

Ellie Rose ● 5986d

Its good to know that English Heritage was involved..... I still want to know where it is all gone though ...

Richard Grange ● 5985d

warehouse 13

David Archer ● 5985d

Quote from the 09_x_10_-_1_East_Acton_Lane_PP_and_LBC document from the ealing.gov.uk Web site:"English Heritage have confirmed that they support the demolition of the listed building subject to a S106 agreement to ensure that the items of special interest significant to the Listing (internal fittings, Polly Brace tiles, shop front) are removed and donated to Yesterday’s World, a social history museum in Kent, for storage and later recreation alongside a historic chemists shop and other historic features."Also, from Ellie's last link:"3.2.7 A photographic record of the building will be carried out by English Heritage. These will be supplied to PCA as digital images for use in the report".[PCA is www.pre-construct.com]So it seems that photos are with PCA and/or English Heritage, while the fittings have gone to Kent.

Ian M Green ● 5985d

Yes Ian.I knew the interior was going to a museum somewhere but wasn't sure which one.Those Polly Brace tiles are very collectable and fetch a pretty penny at auction..Bonhams sold some a while back but so pleased they are being kept for public viewing along with the rest of the salvage.

Ellie Rose ● 5985d