Hendon NW4 Brent Cross
Where Brent Cross Shopping Centre is today was a farm called Renters. Renters was owned by Geoffrey de Renter in 1309.
Until the 17th Century much of Renters woodland, which was used for making charcoal in the Tudor period. The farmhouse and the area directly around it was used for Hendon Sewage works, and much of the farmland was developed into private housing by the Neeld family.
The Neeld family donated land in Park Road for Hendon Cottage Hospital (1913 - 1987).- see picture.
An underground station, Brent, opened in 1923, and the area became commonly known as Brent. The flyover built in 1965 on the North Circular Road, took the name of the earlier cross roads "Brent Cross".
Further along the North Circular Road, Staples Corner took its name from a mattress factory built in 1926 by Heal’s.
Other industries included Johnson's Photographic Works (1916 - 1973). Hendon Borough Council built a multi-story factory building able to hold 17 small factories in 1962 called Endeavour House. Junction 1 of the M1 opened in 1977.
Brent Cross shopping centre (1976) replaced Hendon Greyhound Stadium (1935 - 1970), the whole area became known as Brent Cross. Brent Cross was the first American style indoor shopping centre in the UK.
Pictures, directories, maps and films
Other NW4 pocket histories
- Church End
- The Burroughs
- Parson Street and the Manor of Hendon
- Brent Street
- Brent Green
- Hendon Central
- Hendon introduction
Email this pageLast modified by: Richard Nurse on 20/11/2007