Ealing history

Ealing means “Territory of the people of Gilla” in Anglo-Saxon. In the 18th century Ealing was a fashionable area for country houses, because it was a secluded rural area, but also close to London. Initially, Georgian houses were built around Ealing Common.. There was further development of residential property south of the Uxbridge Road in the first part of the 19th century. It became a fashionable suburban locality in the 1870s onwards, with mainly rich people building houses in the area. Ealing became more attractive for city businessmen needing to commute daily to London when trams began to run along the Uxbridge Road at the turn of the 20th century, but increased accessibility meant that a great deal of new working-class housing was constructed in the early years of the century too. Ealing Common off the Uxbridge Road is 47 acres in size. Ealing is mainly famous for being the home of Ealing Studios where many famous British films were produced before and after the Second World War, particularly the “Ealing comedies”. The BBC still uses the studios.