Goldhawk Road

Goldhawk Road is the 34th out of 35 stations on the Circle Line that I have visited. 
It is just a few minutes walk from the previous station, Shepherd's Bush Market and is situated less than ten minutes from Shepherd's Bush station. Consequently I have covered most of this area with the other stations.

Across the road from the station is Shepherd's Bush Market. There is a tube station at either end of the market.

You can see the railway lines running above the market.

Next to the market is this alley way which I followed to have a look at the Old Laundry Yard. It opened a year ago with lots of interest. It was advertised as offering the best of West London's street food and community space for workshops and events.

When I visited it was a Friday lunchtime.

It doesn't look like a thriving enterprise to me! The laundry still looks fresh though!

I  came back through the market onto Goldhawk Road.  I was very surprised at the number of fabric shops I walked past. The displays in the windows were enticing.

I noticed in a couple of shops they were selling Liberty silk fabrics at greatly reduced prices. No doubt the fabrics will be 'seconds' but nevertheless it's the place to visit if you're looking for fabrics.

I walked to Shepherd's Bush Green  at the end of Goldhawk Road. This is where the shepherds would rest their flocks before taking them on to Smithfields Market. This area was rural until the late 18th century when large semi-detached houses started to be built along the main roads.   I then walked round onto Shepherd's Bush Road  to have a look at the roads behind Goldhawk Road. Very residential.

I also came across this row of lovely railway cottages.

Went down this alley by the side of the cottages which led me back onto Wells Road, the road which runs down the side of the tube station.


Also on Wells Road is this Grade II listed bus garage .

I walked past the side entrance to the tube and walked left along Goldhawk Road.


Passing  the Shepherd and Flock pub built in 1869.
I noticed that there seemed to be much more social, affordable housing in this area





Sycamore House is  sheltered housing for the over 55s run by Hammersmith United charities. It apparently has an excellent private garden at the back with numerous features including raised beds for residents to do their own garden if they so wish. 

Lime Grove runs between Goldhawk Road and Uxbridge Road. I am familiar with this road for a couple of reasons. In the early 70s I used to teach at a school in Hammersmith and each week would take classes of children to Lime Grove swimming pool. I believe the baths closed in the early 80s when a new Hammersmith Swimming Pool was opened. Lime Grove baths opened in 1907.

A report from the Medical officer for Hammersmith Borough in 1964 described the baths as follows:
The public wash house and baths in Lime Grove provide facilities for bathing, swimming and laundry work. For bathing there are  private hot baths or shower cubicles; and towels, soap, bath cubes and shampoo are supplied at a small cost. There are concession rates for children and for old age pensioners free baths on certain days. In the public wash-houses, fully automatic machinery is provided for washing and spin drying. There are also hand irons.
There are two swimming baths at Lime Grove, the smaller  being open all year round. The larger one is available in the summer months only, as during the winter season it is converted into a public hall which may be hired for meetings, concerts, wrestling etc., and certain periods are set aside for badminton and indoor bowls.


Across the road from the baths I remember there were the Lime Grove BBC studios. The studios were built in 1915 for the film industry and were used by some of the biggest names in the British film industry at that time - Alfred Hitchcock and David Lean. The BBC took over the studios in 1949 as a 'temporary measure' before the TV centre at Wood Lane was built. Programmes produced there included Blue Peter, Steptoe and Son, Doctor Who, Panorama and many others. In 1992 the studios were closed and were later demolished. There is now a new housing estate on the site.

I returned to Goldhawk Road station. The ticket hall is at ground level with stairs leading up to the platforms.