Hi, there was a similar cottage opposite the other signal box but gone before my time. My earliest recollection is that between the two level crossings was Express Dairy and they had a siding off the line opposite no 95. During the second world war there was an Anderson shelter in the garden and afterwards it was dug up and rebuilt in the garden and used as a shed, where I played as a child. It was still there a few years ago but alas gone now. The house looks to be in a poor state and I guess it will be demolished. The site must be a prime piece of real estate
The 'old house' you mentioned in the video is 95 Bollo Lane. It was the signalman's house back when the level crossing was controlled from a signal box, opposite. The box was removed and the two crossings are now both controlled from the signal box at the other crossing. There were bells in the signal box connected to Acton Fire Station and these were sounded to inform the signalman that fire engines would be coming along the road and to keep the gates open to road traffic. The railway line was the boundary between Acton and Chiswick, hence No 95 being in W4. My Grandfather was signalman here and my Grandparents lived in the house all their married life, from 1919. It was a narrow country lane at the time. My father and his three brothers were all born in the house and as a child I was a frequent visitor and clearly remember watching 'Ginny' going to and fro. My mother was born further along the Lane in W3. After my Grandfather died, my uncle (the youngest of the 4 brothers) continued as signalman and my Grandmother stayed in the house until her death in 1982. My Uncle died in 2005. There was originally an outside toilet but one was installed inside in the 1950s. There was no full bathroom, ever! The garden was triangular and went all the way down to South Acton Station.
That's an amazing family story! The area was orchards I assume in your grandfather's day. It's so different now.
I wish I'd done more research before I walked along Bollo Lane - I'd decided to concentrate on the new housing, telling its story and then visit the Mosaic House. In between I was simply walking and the house intrigued me. Do you know its future?
An interesting article as usual.
I spent two months living in Gunnersbury Court on Bollo Lane in the mid 80s and so I recognised a lot of what you described.
Hi, there was a similar cottage opposite the other signal box but gone before my time. My earliest recollection is that between the two level crossings was Express Dairy and they had a siding off the line opposite no 95. During the second world war there was an Anderson shelter in the garden and afterwards it was dug up and rebuilt in the garden and used as a shed, where I played as a child. It was still there a few years ago but alas gone now. The house looks to be in a poor state and I guess it will be demolished. The site must be a prime piece of real estate
The 'old house' you mentioned in the video is 95 Bollo Lane. It was the signalman's house back when the level crossing was controlled from a signal box, opposite. The box was removed and the two crossings are now both controlled from the signal box at the other crossing. There were bells in the signal box connected to Acton Fire Station and these were sounded to inform the signalman that fire engines would be coming along the road and to keep the gates open to road traffic. The railway line was the boundary between Acton and Chiswick, hence No 95 being in W4. My Grandfather was signalman here and my Grandparents lived in the house all their married life, from 1919. It was a narrow country lane at the time. My father and his three brothers were all born in the house and as a child I was a frequent visitor and clearly remember watching 'Ginny' going to and fro. My mother was born further along the Lane in W3. After my Grandfather died, my uncle (the youngest of the 4 brothers) continued as signalman and my Grandmother stayed in the house until her death in 1982. My Uncle died in 2005. There was originally an outside toilet but one was installed inside in the 1950s. There was no full bathroom, ever! The garden was triangular and went all the way down to South Acton Station.
That's an amazing family story! The area was orchards I assume in your grandfather's day. It's so different now.
I wish I'd done more research before I walked along Bollo Lane - I'd decided to concentrate on the new housing, telling its story and then visit the Mosaic House. In between I was simply walking and the house intrigued me. Do you know its future?