Harlesden shown within Greater London
| Harlesden | |
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Harlesden shown within Greater London |
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| Population | 12,227[1] |
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| OS grid reference | |
| London borough | Brent |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | London |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LONDON |
| Postcode district | NW10 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| European Parliament | London |
| UK Parliament | Brent South |
| London Assembly | Brent and Harrow |
| List of places: UK • England • London | |
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. Also in the middle of the area the population is primarily made up of people of Afro-Caribbean heritage but also has a large number of Irish Catholic and Brazilian residents as well as a large Portuguese community.
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.
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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.[2] More recently the area has now become home to a Brazilian community and Portuguese community. Most of the houses are Victorian terraces.
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.
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