Danger! Keep Out!
Transcript
I dropped my car off for its MOT this morning and took the opportunity to have a little walkaround while I waited to collect it.
In all the twenty years I have lived in Southall, I have never once visited the Manor House Grounds park! Why not? To be honest, it never looked all that inviting from the outside. It looks like (and is) a closed-off space with no way out except the way you go in. My impression of it, rightly or wrongly, was that it was always a place occupied by street drinkers and drug dealers. In other words, I didn't think it was a safe or pleasant area to go to. I've been reading and seeing a lot on my social media and WhatsApp feeds that it's even worse now, as is Southall more generally. I took my life in my own hands and ventured inside.
What I found before 10 a.m. on a Monday in the school holidays in late August is a hidden treasure! The park was deserted except for a couple of people using the outdoor gym, someone lounging in the children's playground, someone else relaxing on a bench, and a few squirrels and pigeons. The busy road on The Green is right outside, but it felt quiet and peaceful inside. A welcome respite!
While I was in the area, I took a closer look at the Manor House itself, and in particular the ruin at the back which was refurbished many years ago as a catering training college. As far as I'm aware, it's never been used in all this time.
I walked up to the roundabout that takes you over the bridge to the station or to Merrick Road. Old Southall is steadily being demolished and new buildings are granted planning permission in its place. I've often wondered if this pattern is related to settler colonialism. Displacing the indigenous population in the name of regeneration and "civilisation". There are some things that some people would prefer if some other people don't think about!
I ended up back in the "new" library at the Dominion Centre and wrote this up by hand in the study room, where it was perfectly quiet as I was the only student. This will be a more regular haunt.
In all the twenty years I have lived in Southall, I have never once visited the Manor House Grounds park! Why not? To be honest, it never looked all that inviting from the outside. It looks like (and is) a closed-off space with no way out except the way you go in. My impression of it, rightly or wrongly, was that it was always a place occupied by street drinkers and drug dealers. In other words, I didn't think it was a safe or pleasant area to go to. I've been reading and seeing a lot on my social media and WhatsApp feeds that it's even worse now, as is Southall more generally. I took my life in my own hands and ventured inside.
What I found before 10 a.m. on a Monday in the school holidays in late August is a hidden treasure! The park was deserted except for a couple of people using the outdoor gym, someone lounging in the children's playground, someone else relaxing on a bench, and a few squirrels and pigeons. The busy road on The Green is right outside, but it felt quiet and peaceful inside. A welcome respite!
While I was in the area, I took a closer look at the Manor House itself, and in particular the ruin at the back which was refurbished many years ago as a catering training college. As far as I'm aware, it's never been used in all this time.
I walked up to the roundabout that takes you over the bridge to the station or to Merrick Road. Old Southall is steadily being demolished and new buildings are granted planning permission in its place. I've often wondered if this pattern is related to settler colonialism. Displacing the indigenous population in the name of regeneration and "civilisation". There are some things that some people would prefer if some other people don't think about!
I ended up back in the "new" library at the Dominion Centre and wrote this up by hand in the study room, where it was perfectly quiet as I was the only student. This will be a more regular haunt.