Ealing Escorts

Ealing is a large suburb in west London, England and the administrative headquarters of theLondon Borough of Ealing. It is located 7.7 miles (12.4 km) west of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan.[1] It was historically a rural village in the county of Middlesex and formed an ancient parish.[2] Improvement in communications with London, culminating with the opening of the railway station in 1838, shifted the local economy to market garden supply and eventually to suburban development. As part of the growth of London in the 20th century, Ealing significantly expanded and increased in population, becoming a municipal borough in 1901 and has formed part ofGreater London since 1965. It now forms a significant commercial and retail centre with a developed night time economy.
Archaeological evidence shows that parts of Ealing have been occupied for more than 7,000 years[citation needed] Iron Age pots have been discovered in the vicinity on Horsenden Hill. A settlement is recorded here in the 12th century[citation needed] amid a great forest that carpeted the area to the west of London. The earliest surviving English census is that for Ealing in 1599. This list was a tally of all 85 households in Ealing village giving the names of the inhabitants, together with their ages, relationships and occupations. It survives in manuscript form in thePublic Record Office (PRO E 163/24/35), and has been transcribed and printed by K J Allison.
Settlements were scattered throughout the parish. Many of them were along what is now called St. Mary's Road, near to the church in the centre of the parish. There were also houses at Little Ealing, Ealing Dean, Haven Green, Drayton Green and Castlebar Hill.
The Church of St. Mary's, the parish church, dates back to the early twelfth century. The parish of Ealing was divided into manors, such as those of Gunnersbury and Pitshanger. These were farmed; the crops being mostly wheat, but also barley and rye. There were also animals such as cows, sheep and chickens.