History of Kilburn and West Hampstead

In the story we look chronologically and alternate between what was happening to David and his brother Tommy Nutter. David Nutter was born in Edgware in May 1939 and Tommy four years later in April 1943 while his parents were living in North Wales. Their great grandfather had been a builder in Kilburn and their mother Dorothy (Dolly) Bannister was born there. In 1937 she married Christopher Nutter who worked as a seating upholster in the de Havilland aircraft factory at the Stag Lane aerodrome in Edgware. After their marriage he and Dolly ran ‘John’s Café’ at 7 Handel Parade Whitchurch Lane in Edgware for his brother-in-law John Cross. When Christopher was discharged from the Army in February 1946, the family returned to Edgware where they lived over the café. By 1961 the family had moved to 24 Eresby Road, one of the houses built in Kilburn by Dolly’s grandfather, Edward Tribe. The entire road, which ran from Kilburn High Road to Kingsgate Road, was demolished as part of the building ...

After several years of research, and with the technical expertise of Adrian Hindle-Briscall, we have published two unique and free online maps. One map covers the studios, record companies, record shops and clubs in North West London from Finchley Road, through West Hampstead, Kilburn, Willesden and Harlesden. The other looks at the musicians, producers and managers who lived the area.  Screen shot of Map 1 Map 1 includes the well-known Decca Studios in West Hampstead as well as the now unknown site of the Edison National Phonographic Company. Did you know about Master Rock studios in Kilburn High Road where many famous bands made records? This area also had Island, Trojan and Zomba Record companies. There were Irish clubs like the Banba in Kilburn, the Purple Pussycat disco in Finchley Road, and music venues such as the popular Gaumont State, The National, the Mean Fiddler and today’s The Fiddler. Map 2 shows the homes of three of the Rolling Stones; Mick Jagge...