“Fay Sweet dragged me out along Chiswick High Road in 1982 when I just wanted to go to the pub. She took the original photos, insisting that the shop fronts would not be around forever. I returned to the same spots 21 years later in 2003 and even in that short time the difference is striking. I am planning to go out again soon to take 2010 versions.”
- Ian Wylie.
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Thank you to Ian Wylie and Fay Sweet.
Addendum:
The man riding the bicycle in picture 6 of the gallery is George White aka Chicken George. George originally lived in Chiswick with his wife and children. He stabbed his wife, and she and the children left the house. When he was unable to pay his rent, George built a pile of his furniture in the garden, at which point he was evicted by the council and began life on the streets – in particular, at the Chiswick Roundabout under the M4 flyover.
Thank you to Terence Dackombe and Claire Morgan.
love these…so sad to see the high streets of britain become so homogenised…I much preferred the old look.but then I am a full on retronaut!
This has taken me back to growing up in Chiswick High Road. I didn’t even know that guy’s name was “Chicken George” but everytime I heard homeless, he’d pop to mind through my childhood. And the Old Heidelberg! Brilliant!
Be great to see 2010 photos – I lived in Chiswick in early 2000′s and looks pretty familiar…suppose O could go ont he old google maps…
Wow, these old Chiswick photos are great. I was born in Chiswick and lived there for over 30 years until recently being priced out of the area. My Great Grandfather used to own a grocers on the oldhigh road before it was demolished to build the A4.
Love these. I remember the Old Heidelberg well too, and that funny old shop called Grevil (was it a ladies’ fashion shop?). Takes me back.
Fab Pictures, Grevil was a dress shop and I had my first bridesmaids dress from here, the basement was weddings as I remember.
Mylos was a wonderful ice cream shop and my Granddad made his long stainless steel counter for him, many people remember being kids and the length of the counter seemed to go on forever…happy days