It is very difficult to say nowadays where the suburbs of London come to an end and where the country begins. The railways, instead of enabling Londoners to live in the country have turned the countryside into a city.
Anthony Trollope
Thatβs probably as true today as when Trollope first wrote it. Certainly it was the advent of the Great Western Railway in the mid nineteenth century that led to the scattered villages of Ealing, Gunnersbury and Pitshanger merging into unbroken residential areas, centred around the new station in what is now Ealing Broadway.
That is a much-shortened version of the history of my home suburb which I told in a previous post: Ealing, the Queen of the Suburbs? Today, for the Monochrome Madness challenge*, I thought it would be fun to share some black and white edits of photos I have taken in and around Ealing over the years.
My feature image is of Ealing’s Victorian Town Hall, a black and white edit of the feature photo from that previous post. You’ll spot some more edits from that post’s images below but also some that I hope will be completely fresh. The only thing they have in common, apart from location, is that I thought they might look good in monochrome!
* I see Leanne isn’t posting this week so I’ll add a link to her challenge at a later point!
New development of apartments in Dickens Yard, Ealing Broadway
Frontage of a cinema in Ealing Broadway; closed down in 2008, the long-awaited reopening has been promised for this autumn
Almshouses in South Ealing
St Mary’s Church, South Ealing, from the churchyard at the rear
Lych gate of St Mary’s Church, South Ealing
Memorial in South Ealing Cemetery
In the older section of South Ealing Cemetery
A path through Walpole Park in the autumn
Walkers in Walpole Park
A sunlit corner of Walpole Park
An ancient cedar tree damaged by Storm Eunice in February 2022, Walpole Park
Fallen oak leaves, Walpole Park
Squirrel in Walpole Park
Black cat and net curtains
A fun weathervane on a local house
A former pub, now a home, on the Ealing/Brentford border
A seating area in the garden of the Moon & Maybe, our favourite coffee shop, which seems a good place to finish our ‘tour’!
31 Comments
equinoxio21
Net curtains? Amazing. They used to be quite popular in France. (A while ago. Though one still sees them in rural areas…)
Sarah Wilkie
There aren’t nearly so many around here as there used to be but they’re still quite popular.
equinoxio21
Exactly what I thought. I associate them with the countryside (Normandy) of my childhood. But I still see a few around. Soon, they’ll become “vintage” and come back in fashion…
Cheers Sarah.
grandmisadventures
I love the black and white pictures- really striking. I especially love how it has captured the sky and made it look so dynamic π
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much – yes, B&W can really bring out the contrasts in a sky π
sustainabilitea
I tend to prefer color, but these are beautiful in B& was well. I especially liked the shots looking up at the sky and the one of the older section of the cemetery. I was surprised how attractive the sunlit corner shot looked because I always think of light as in color. The tree shot below it is beautifully framed.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you for this detailed feedback π I find backlit shots can be effective in B&W providing there’s plenty of contrast.
Anabel @ The Glasgow Gallivanter
I wouldnβt mess with that cat! Itβs giving you a mean stare. (We had a black cat once, enough said!)
Sarah Wilkie
Haha yes, I does look a bit mean! I do like black cats however π
Anabel @ The Glasgow Gallivanter
So do I, but of the two we had the black one was definitely less friendly. Though I think itβs a myth that thatβs generally true.
thehungrytravellers.blog
Some very interesting little details here, and some which you would somehow know were England without being told. And I donβt mean because theyβre grey!
Sarah Wilkie
All of Ealing is grey today, I wouldn’t need to do much editing to create B&W shots! But yes, some of these scenes are very English π
Marie
You’re right – they all look great in monochrome. I don’t think I’ve ever been to Ealing (although I’m pretty sure I’d an aunt who lived near Ealing Common) but your mini tour would certainly prompt me to visit sometime for a walkabout – and a coffee of course! I love the nod to days gone by… the cinema, almshouse and old pub….. Isn’t there so much in each little neighbourhood when we actually take time to explore…
We’ve a bit of what you have! Has stopped raining all day – So so grey – I’ve the light on since morning! Oh for sun and a palm tree somewhere!!
Sarah Wilkie
Well, if ever you’re in the area I’d happily take you for that walkabout, and a coffee! Yes, it’s rained all day here π§β But we’re off to warmer climes (Madagascar) next week!
Marie
No way!!!
So so jealous…
Heading to crete ourselves so can’t complain really…
Looking forward to hearing all about your trip … its definitely on our list…
Sarah Wilkie
Glad to hear you’re able to get away too π
Mike and Kellye Hefner
You live in a beautiful place, Sarah. Ealing has such gorgeous older buildings, and I’m sure a lot of interesting history. I am fascinated by the cemetery, and I do believe that is the moodiest black cat I’ve ever seen!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Kellye – as London suburbs go it’s really rather nice and does have a bit of history to it, but there are far more beautiful places around the country! I agree about the cat, he does look a bit grumpy. Maybe he didn’t want to have his photo taken?
Mike and Kellye Hefner
I’m sure you interrupted some of his very important business!
Anne Sandler
Beautiful images in black and white Sarah. Even the autumn leaves look good! The images of Saint Mary’s church are outstanding.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Anne π I must share the interior of that church one day, it’s really quite striking!
Alison
Yes definitely look good in black and white. Cats just love window sills I find. The graveyard shot is a great one for Halloween
Sarah Wilkie
Ooh, I hadn’t thought of the Halloween link – I guess the black cat would fit that too!
restlessjo
Mackerel skies look good in black and white and I like that sunlit shot of Walpole Park. Just having one last vin blanc at a pavement cafe in Toulouse before we head for the airport π€π
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, the skies can make all the difference to a shot, especially in black and white π Looks like you’ve had a great trip, from what I’ve seen on Facebook!
restlessjo
Slight hiccup with bomb alert at Toulouse airport but I’m on board now. A celebratory wine will occur π€π·π©΅
Sue
Great wander round in monochrome! Love the train weathervane
Sarah Wilkie
It’s fun isn’t it? I always smile when I see it!
Sue
Yes! π
margaret21
A fascinating glimpse of a part of London I don’t know. I’ll bet you won’t be looking for an outdoor seat in that coffee shop today.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Margaret π No, not ‘coffee outside’ weather today! Although that garden is so sheltered we’ve been known to sit out there on a sunny winter’s day π