We approached Ladbroke Grove from Barlby Road, pausing to look at the few remaining terraced housing on the left as we approached the junction and the Cowshed pub.
EDINBURGH ROAD
Today’s maps no longer show Edinburgh Road, whereas it is clearly marked on the Deeds of houses in Barlby Gardens. These were built in 1916. It ran from the top end of Barlby Road, near Ladbroke Grove, beside the railway lines towards Old Oak Common .
Today the start of Edinburgh Road can still be seen in Barlby Road, but it used to be of cobbles and tarmac whereas now it is part of a small concreted car park for the occupants of these houses.
The cobbles were still in place in the 1980s and the road was used to carry lorries on to the site behind Barlby Gardens to warehouses storing Fyffes bananas. Their large advertising hoardings could be seen easily from the road.
This warehousing was removed about 1992 when the area was developed by British Rail for milling/cleaning sheds for Eurostar trains. In turn, with the opening of St. Pancras in early 2008 these sheds themselves are no longer in use.
J.G. October 2008
