Willesden Green

Willesden Green Tube Station is a London Underground station located in the northwest of the city, serving the Jubilee Line. It was originally opened in 1879 as part of the Metropolitan Railway, which was the first underground railway in the world. It served as a main transport hub for the suburban area of Willesden Green, which was at that time still a rural area of Middlesex.

Over the years, the station has undergone significant changes and renovations. In 1933, it was rebuilt and expanded to accommodate the new Jubilee Line. This expansion included the construction of a new ticket hall, escalators, and a new concrete platform. The Jubilee Line extension was completed in 1979, making Willesden Green a major transport hub for the area.

The station has been a significant landmark in the local area since its opening, and it has been accompanied by many other notable landmarks in the area. One of the most prominent is the Willesden Green Library Centre, which was built in the 1980s and is a modernist-style building designed by architects Ian Fraser and Andrew Bromberg. It is a Grade II listed building and has won several architectural awards.

Another notable landmark in the area is the Willesden Jewish Cemetery, which is the largest Jewish cemetery in Europe. It was established in 1873 and has been the burial site for many notable figures in the Jewish community, including the writer Israel Zangwill and the philanthropist Solomon Schonfeld.

Willesden Green has also been the home of many famous residents over the years. One of the most well-known was the writer and journalist George Orwell, who lived in the area for a period in the 1930s. He wrote about his experiences of living in the area in his book, The Road to Wigan Pier.

Other notable residents include the musician Dusty Springfield, who lived in the area in the 1960s, and the actor Peter Sellers, who was born in Southsea Road, a street in Willesden Green.

Overall, Willesden Green Tube Station and the surrounding area have played an important role in the history of London and the wider United Kingdom. From its origins as a rural area to its transformation into a bustling transport hub and cultural center, it has been a place of significant change and development. With its many landmarks and notable residents, it continues to be a fascinating and vibrant part of the city.