History of Kilburn and West Hampstead

David Green was from Knockmullin, New Ross, Ireland. He married Mary Ronan, also from New Ross and they had 11 children. They came to London during the War and by 1949 were living at No.1 Lanhill Road, near the Chippenham Road. They had moved near Paddington Recreational Ground, renting a cramped two rooms and a kitchen at 168 Kilburn Park Road (since demolished), when they emigrated to Australia in 1956 on the “10-pound Poms” assisted passage which required them to stay there for two years. The cost was £10 per adult, the children travelled free.    The Greens sailed on SS Strathnaver and arrived in Fremantle on 7 July 1956, and then travelled on to Ballarat, (about 70 miles from Melbourne). Molly soon found she was unhappy with life in Australia. She said it did not stop raining in the promised ‘land of sunshine’. ‘We imagined Australia, being a young and growing country, would be progressive. Instead, it’s so quiet here in Ballarat, it’s just like Ireland.’ In Austr...

This is a story of a clever con man who committed crimes around the world and his link to West Hampstead. On 21 May 1924 the Oxo export manager Cyril Aldersley was at his desk in Thames House, Queen Street Place in the City of London, when to his surprise he was told Chief Inspector Wallace wanted to see him. Wallace confronted Aldersley, accusing him of being involved with cheque frauds in Portsmouth amounting to £700.  Wallace produced photographs and a newspaper article about a civil case that he said involved Aldersley. Cyril said he had never been to Portsmouth and knew nothing about it. The Chief Inspector ignored Aldersley’s protests and said he must consider himself under open arrest. After Cyril handed over his passbook and some cheques, Wallace left saying he would return at 5pm with his Superintendent.     Thames House  Aldersley was concerned that something was not right. His fears were confirmed when he telephoned Scotland Yard and wa...