Historical Maps of Ealing dean and its surroundings
1741-45 - John Rocque Map of London and environs.
This map shows Ealing (Eling) dean common. Although the scale is a little out, we can see the pond (top right) which later becomes the site for St. John's church. The explanation lists the common as "woods" while the surrounding fields are either Pasture or Ploughed land.
1800 Thomas Milne land use
This map show the land use in 1800. The fields around the common are shown as Arable land, this being a slight change from the 1745 map which showed a mix of Arable and Pasture land use.
First Ordnance Survey Map 1805-69
This Is the first ordnance survey map edition from 1805-69. It shows the common with a scattering of buildings on the Uxbridge road. There is a stream depicted running down the East side of the common, this is believed to be the Radbourne stream which come above ground in Little Ealing and runs in a culvert in Radbourne Avenue.
1832 Ealing Dean Common courtesy of Ealing History centre
This map was surveyed in May 1832 and was included as a part of the deeds of the land. It shows the common just before it became allotments. There are various details including, roadside ditches, two ponds, gates and hedges on adjoining fields as well as a dwelling owned by John Hill and his wife which was situated on the common for around twenty years before it became an allotment. This was the reason they were allowed to keep their "small wooden cottage" as it was later referred to, on the allotment site. The second version of the image highlights the gates in red, the roadside ditches with a yellow arrow and the main road with a blue arrow.
1841 - Tithe Map courtesy of L.M.A.
This map shows the allotments as areas 1060 and 1061. The two ponds can be seen, as well as a footpath that bisects the top western side of the site. There was a livestock pound on the Uxbridge road where the footpath meets the road. Once St. John's church was built in 1876 the footpath used as a cut through to the church. Mr Hill's dwelling can be seen to have three components and is separated from the allotments. It was recalled by his son Edward Hill in around 1865 that their cottage was separated from the allotment by a hedge and a ditch, although they did pay rent for a plot.
1865 - Map courtesy Ealing History centre & National library of Scotland
This map is very similar to the Ordnance survey map published in 1868. Areas to note are the Pound on the Uxbridge road is still listed and the footpath from the pound to Mattock lane. The two ponds on the East site are still visible. There is a line of trees around the fields to the east of the site. A cottage is shown at the bottom right of the east side, this mentioned as a "Retired Cottage" was lived in by the Major family. The second map is very similar, with a few details which are clearer to see, like the area on the top right of the east side by Hills cottage being separated from the allotments.
1893 - Map courtesy of National library of Scotland
This is an excellent map with clear details, by this time the land where Hill's cottage stood had been sold off after a legal battle concerning Edward Hill and the allotment committee, the committee losing and Hill then sold the land and a house was built on it, which still stands today. The pound is still in existence and the footpath which became known as the "Church footpath" as St. John's church had been built where there used to be a large pond. The ponds on the east side have now gone, there is a glass house on the top right section of the East side which most likely belonged to George Weeden who owned a plant nursery where St John's parade is now situated. The Model cottages were built in 1869 as well as other buildings further down.
1913 - Map courtesy of National library of Scotland
The big change on the map is the creation of Dean gardens in 1911 from the top section of the west allotments. The other notable change is the massive amount of houses and streets built all around the allotments. A new allotment site was found which is now called Haslemere allotments, there were 25 plots lost from Ealing dean common and 72 new plots allocated in Haslemere. This indicated that plot sizes were now smaller than the original 20 poles and were 10 poles in size. The glasshouse at the top right is not shown and may have been removed, Mr G. Weeden died in 1915 at the age of 76 years old.
1938 - Map courtesy of National Library of Scotland
The details on this map are more basic, we can see a change to the Dean gardens layout and the section of allotment of the East side top right is cut off from the allotments. This section appears to have become over grown with trees and a privet hedge across the front (details shown in aerial photos) The House sold in 1869 by Edward Hill has now been extended with a second building built next to it.
1956 - Map courtesy of National library of Scotland
This map has great details. We can see a lot of features that still exist today, including Model cottages and Point cottage. In the early 1970s, that council compulsory purchased the west side of the allotments for housing. The East side still exists today.
