EAW005414 ENGLAND (1947). The White City Estate, White City Stadium and environs, Shepherd's Bush, 1947

If you zoom in on this image ,you can make out the oval shaped cycle track that was sited between the white city road and Lawson House.This track was well used by cycle owning kids from the estate who formed their own teams.This photo also shows the electric power houses ,one in McKenzie Close{now gone} and the surviving one on the prefab site.It is good to see the original trees that were planted but have now sadly aged and gone.

My name is Douglas Gray and I was born on The White City Estate in Lawrence Close.When I was three months old my family then moved in to Phipps House and lived there for the next 25 years finally moving to Batman Close.I want to say how proud I am to say I lived on the estate,as it sometimes gets a very bad and undeserved press.There was a wonderful sense of community on this estate and the flats were a design success apart from the small kitchens.My memories of living here are of children......lots of children,all playing in safety and in harmony{well as far as kids do!}I recall many street traders who served the estate,coalmen who grazed their horses on the grass play areas between the blocks of flats,bakers with barrows with huge wooden wheels,the bagwash man who would throw bags of washing into the courtyards helped by us,eager to join in the fun! The sweetman with his green van,the various greengrocers,the vinegar man with his cry of "BLEACH SIXPENCE A BOTTLE, VINEGAR FIVEPENCE A PINT" Charlie Ferris sold peanuts,Tony Tedeshi sold Ice Cream from his Tony Bros van,the muffin man ringing his bell selling crumpets from his tray, coalmen from Lebons and Sam Taylor from Busby's Coal.The shoe repair collectors for Payne's ,The rent collectors,the Royal Liver Insurance man,The Provident Cheque man,Jack Johnson the winkle and shrimp man,The rag and bone man who gave us small parachutes instead of money for our rags{just once that is....it was usually money lol}great fun was had with those parachutes for many many weeks.I am rambling now,but I want to stress that this estate was a great place to live and I am extremely proud to say I lived there.