Acton, London

Acton is a place in the London Borough of Ealing, west London.

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Originally an ancient village (mentioned in the Domesday Book), as London expanded, Acton became absorbed into the city. Acton was a municipal borough of Middlesex from 1921 to 1965, when it was absorbed into the London Borough of Ealing.

Related Topics:
Domesday Book - Municipal borough - Middlesex - 1921 - 1965 - London Borough of Ealing

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Acton lies on the former main road between London and Oxford and several inns along it date back several centuries as stopping places for travellers. Several springs were found towards the end of the 17th century on the north-east side of Acton and they became for a time health spas. Acton used to be famous for its laundries. The local soft water led to there being around 170 establishments in South Acton at the end of the 19th century, serving hotels and the rich in London's West End, leading to the nickname "Soapsud Island".

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Acton is now principally residential, though it maintains some light industry: particularly in the North East in the Park Royal area, and the south near the border with Chiswick.

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Since WW2, Acton has had a small but notable population of Polish immigrants. In recent years a number of Antipodean immigrants have settled there: there are several Australian / South African pubs concentrated in a small area. Other substantial immmigrant groups include Iraqis and Somalis. A Japanese school has attracted a Japanese community to West Acton.

Related Topics:
WW2 - Polish - Australia - South Africa

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The name Acton derives from the Anglo-Saxon for "Oak Town".

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Nearest places:

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• Gunnersbury
• Brentford
• Chiswick
• Wormwood Scrubs
• Kew

Nearest tube stations:

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• Acton Town tube station, Piccadilly Line
• Ealing Broadway station, District Line, Central Line
• Ealing Common tube station, Piccadilly Line, District Line
• North Ealing tube station, Piccadilly Line
• North Acton tube station, Central Line
• East Acton tube station, Piccadilly Line
• West Acton tube station, Northern Line

Nearest railway stations:

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• Acton Central railway station, Silverlink
• South Acton railway station, Silverlink
• Acton Main Line railway station, First Great Western Link
• Ealing Broadway station, First Great Western Link, Heathrow Connect