Watling Estate

In the 1850s, Burnt Oak referred to no more than a field on the eastern side of the Edgware Road (Watling Street). By the 1860s plans were in place to build three residential streets: North Street, East Street, and South Street. The area was generally known as Red Hill until the opening of Burnt Oak tube station on the Northern line of the London Underground on 27 October 1924. It was on farmland to the south-east of the community in Edgware Road, that London Transport constructed a new road, Watling Avenue, and London County Council built the Watling Estate housing estate. In September 1931 Jack Cohen opened his first Tesco store at 54 Watling Avenue, Burnt Oak.^[2][3][4]

The Housing of the Working Classes Act 1890 (53 & 54 Vict. c. 70)^[5] encouraged the London authority to improve the housing in their areas.^[6] It also gave them the power acquire land and to build tenements and houses (cottages).^[1] The First World War indirectly provided a new impetus, when the poor physical health and condition of many urban recruits to the army was noted with alarm. This led to a campaign known as 'Homes fit for Heroes'. In 1919 the Government, through The Addison Act (Housing Act 1919) the required councils to provide housing built to the Tudor Walters standards. It helped them to do so through the provision of subsidies.^[7] These were then removed by the Geddes Axe of 1922, and partially restored by the Wheatley Act of 1924.

Thus LCC was actively looking for suitable land when the Northern line was extended in 1934, opening up a new transport corridor. LCC quickly purchased 387 acres (157 ha) of farmland adjacent to the new Burnt Oak tube station. The plans were drawn up by the LCC's chief architect, George Forrest. He set aside 48 acres (19 ha) for allotments and parks and 16 acres (6.5 ha) for schools and public buildings. The rest was for housing.^[8]

The initial tenants were selected by London County Council. Like other estates, they were a relatively well-off though overwhelmingly working-class population with small families. 20% were skilled manual, 20% transport workers and 10% clerical with wages between £3 and £4 a week. Almost half of the incomers were under 18.^[8]

The estate was seen as a threat by the older citizens of Edgware who dubbed it "Little Moscow".^[11] and likened the initiative to one of the "raw, red tentacles of that housing octopus, the London County Council".^[8]

The Watling Estate was made a conservation area in 2007.^[12]

• Downham Estate