Books by Paul Howard Lang

Hanwell and Southall both have surprisingly interesting historical associations. The adjoining Middlesex parishes are linked by the Uxbridge Road, formerly the Oxford Road, which was connected to London. Hanwell and Southall were both reliant on agriculture right up to the end of the Victorian period. It was during the Edwardian era, and particularly after the First World War, that Southall began to change to an industrial district - greatly facilitated by the good transport links such as the canal and railway networks. Hanwell never industrialised to the same extent as Southall, and remains far more suburban in character to this day. Hanwell is linked in the popular imagination with Charlie Chaplin, who went to school at the Central London District School. Contrasting images of the school as it was and how it now appears are shown in this book. Southall has the distinction of having the oldest manor house in Greater London - dating from the sixteenth century and restored. The Middlesex County Asylum, dating to 1831, was also in the Southall parish. The building still remains and is currently undergoing restoration. The importance of the railways and the local connection with Isambard Kingdom Brunel is dealt with, as well as the importance of the Grand Junction Canal in speeding the growth of industry in the Southall area. Hanwell amalgamated with Ealing in 1926 and Southall in 1965, but they still retain their own identities in the present day, as they did a hundred years ago.

Originally a county town in Middlesex, Ealing became known as the 'Queen of the Suburbs' at the beginning of the last century. Famous for the Ealing Studios, the oldest film studios in the world, in this book authors Paul Lang and Dr Jonathan Oates delve into the fascinating but often lesser-known history of this district. Characters associated with Ealing include Olga Grey, hockey player and MI5 agent, and Ealing's pro-Hitler MP, and other links with espionage and political extremism include suspected Soviet spies and a Communist cell in nineteenth-century Hanwell. Crime has stalked the streets of Ealing with the tale of the disappearance of Peregrine Henniker-Heaton and dissent when the borough was home to anti-German riots in 1915 and the Sunday Opening controversy in the 1930s. Alongside these tales the authors uncover stories of sports stars, film studios, wartime and ancient Ealing. Secret Ealing explores the lesser-known episodes and characters in the history of the borough through the years. With tales of remarkable characters, unusual events and tucked-away or disappeared historical buildings and locations, it will appeal to all those with an interest in the history of this West London district.

Explores the rich and fascinating history of the London Borough of Ealing through an examination of some of its greatest architectural treasures.

Richmond upon Thames was the first borough to be known as the 'Queen of the Suburbs', before Ealing or Surbiton were known by this sobriquet. With around 100 parks and green spaces, including Kew Gardens and Richmond Park, as well as fine examples of Tudor, Regency, Georgian and Victorian architecture, Richmond remains a desirable place to live, with a long and interesting history. In Richmond upon Thames Through Time, author Paul Howard Lang hopes to show how Richmond, to a great extent, has retained the 'Queen of the Suburbs' title. Telling the story of Richmond and its environs through a selection of beautiful photographs and postcards, he showcases the many changes that have taken place over time, as well as what has remained the same. This is an essential volume for anybody who is familiar with this attractive, historic town.