Acton

Acton is an area in West London, England. North Acton, West Acton, East Acton, South Acton, Acton Green, Acton Town and Acton Central are all parts of Acton, In 2001 the census showed it has a population of 53,689 people.

The name Acton stands for ‘Oak Farm’ or ‘Farm Oak Trees’ and it comes from the Anglo-Saxon words for Oak (ac) and Farm (tun). In the Doomsday Book it was mentioned originally as an ancient village, as London expanded Acton became engaged into the city.

Acton is situated between London and Oxford and has several inns along it dating back several centuries as places for travelers to stop. Nowadays the route linking London and Oxford which is the A40 dual carriageway bypass passes through North Acton.

On the north-east side of Acton, towards the end of the 17th century several springs were found and for a time these became health spas. At the end of the 19th century there were around 170 organizations in South Acton due to the result of the local soft water which Acton became famous for.

Acton was a main industrial centre employing tens of thousands of people in the 20th century; the motor vehicles and components industries employed the majority. The North Acton industries combined with the industrial focus of Harlesden and Park Royal. Towards the south of Acton in Acton Vale they had some famous names such as; Evershed & Vignoles (electrical equipment), Lucas CAV (automotive electrical), Wilkinson Sword (swords and razors), T. Wall & Son (Wall’s Sausages and Wall’s Ice Cream), Napier & Son (engines), H. Bronnley & Co (Soaps) and Vandervell Products (bearings).

Acton is mainly all residential now although it still has some industry, mostly in Park Royal the northeast area, and Cheswick near the border of the south. Waitrose was created in Acton, as Waite, Rose and Taylor – near the police station on the high street, with its second branch opening in 1913 in Churchfield.