Editing Wealdstone

{{For|the football club|Wealdstone F.C.}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country                  = England
| map_type                 = Greater London
| region                   = London
| population               = 11,394
| population_ref           = (2011 Census. Ward)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=13688811&c=Wealdstone&d=14&e=62&g=6328153&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&o=362&m=0&r=1&s=1477247013262&enc=1|title=Harrow Ward population 2011|access-date=23 October 2016|publisher=Office for National Statistics|work=Neighbourhood Statistics|archive-date=24 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161024034959/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=13688811&c=Wealdstone&d=14&e=62&g=6328153&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&o=362&m=0&r=1&s=1477247013262&enc=1|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| official_name            =
| static_image_name        = War memorial and clock tower, Wealdstone - geograph.org.uk - 4446283.jpg
| static_image_caption     = Wealdstone war memorial and clock alongside a parade in the northern part of High Street
| coordinates              = {{coord|51.595697|-0.335190|display=inline,title}}
| london_borough           = Harrow
| constituency_westminster = [[Harrow West (UK Parliament constituency)|Harrow West]]
| post_town                = HARROW
| postcode_district        = HA3
| postcode_area            = HA
| dial_code                = 020
| os_grid_reference        = TQ155895 
}}
'''Wealdstone''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|w|iː|l|d|s|t|oʊ|n}}) is a district located in the centre of the [[London Borough of Harrow]], England. It is located just north of [[Harrow, London|Harrow]] town centre and is south of [[Harrow Weald]], west of [[Belmont, Harrow|Belmont]] and [[Kenton, London|Kenton]], and east of [[Headstone, London|Headstone]].
The area accommodates most of Harrow's industrial and business designated land. Wealdstone was the location of the [[Kodak Harrow]] factory; it closed in 2016.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://moderngov.harrow.gov.uk/documents/s108616/HarrowandWealdstoneAreaActionPlan.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917191337/https://moderngov.harrow.gov.uk/documents/s108616/HarrowandWealdstoneAreaActionPlan.pdf |archive-date=2021-09-17 |url-status=live | title=Harrow and Wealdstone Action Plan Final | accessdate=8 October 2021 | website=moderngov.harrow.gov.uk}}</ref> Wealdstone is centred on the High Street, and much traffic is bypassed from here by the George Gange Way flyover built in 1996.<ref>[https://www.theundergroundmap.com/article.html?id=45229]{{dead link|date=September 2021}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/6518586.that-was-1997-that-was/|title=That was 1997, that was|website=News Shopper|date=17 January 1998 }}</ref> Its western boundary is formed by Harrow View, across which [[Headstone Manor]] lies, whereas on the east is Byron Park and the [[Stanmore branch line|Belmont Trail]]. [[Harrow & Wealdstone station]] and the council offices are located at its southern end.

== Etymology ==
The eponymous Weald Stone is a [[sarsen stone]], positioned to mark the then boundary between the parishes of [[Harrow, London|Harrow]] and [[Harrow Weald]]. It is located outside the Bombay Central restaurant,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.harrow.gov.uk/www2/mgAi.aspx?ID=98117|title=Agenda item - Application for a new premises licence in respect of Mumbai Central, 328 High Road, Harrow, Middlesex, HA3 6HS|date=2015-12-01|language=en|access-date=2016-08-11}}</ref> which was built as a public house (previously known as the Weald Stone Inn and prior to that, the Red Lion), outside 328 High Road, Harrow Weald.<ref>{{cite book
| title = A History of the County of Middlesex: volume 4
| series = [[Victoria County History]]
| author = T F T Baker, J S Cockburn, R B Pugh (eds.)
| year = 1971
| chapter = Harrow, including Pinner: Introduction
| chapter-url = http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=22463
| pages = 169–172
| url = http://www.british-history.ac.uk/source.aspx?pubid=86
| access-date = 29 November 2009
}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed">
File:Weald Stone from the south.png|Close up of The Weald Stone from the south
File:Weald Stone outside Bombay Central.png|The Weald Stone is in the bottom right of this picture of Bombay Central
</gallery>

==History==
Wealdstone Urban District was created under the [[Local Government Act 1894]] in 1894, and absorbed by [[Harrow Urban District]] in 1934.

Much of the housing stock in central Wealdstone consists of Victorian and Edwardian terraces along with new flatted developments in High Street and George Gange Way.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www2.harrow.gov.uk/documents/s152635/Ward%20boundary%20-%20Appendix%20B.pdf |title=Ward boundarey |website=www2.harrow.gov.uk |access-date=2021-10-04 |archive-date=28 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328152830/https://www2.harrow.gov.uk/documents/s152635/Ward%2520boundary%2520-%2520Appendix%2520B.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[File:The Kodak Factory, Harrow (6448693205).jpg|thumb|200px|The former [[Eastman Kodak]] factory on Headstone Drive, Wealdstone. It was Kodak's first outside the U.S., opened in 1891 and closed 2016, now demolished.]]
The [[Kodak Harrow]] factory was located in Wealdstone until its closure in 2016. This, along with nearby factories of [[Winsor & Newton]] (a facility of the artists' materials company which closed in 2010),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/local-news/colart-groups-close-wealdstone-art-5994438|title=ColArt Group's to close Wealdstone art materials factory with 190 redundancies|first=Ian|last=Proctor|date=30 September 2010|website=MyLondon}}</ref> [[Whitefriars Glass]] and Hamilton Brush Works,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld/objects/1upC0mKBRgydCbnYm6u4Hw|title=BBC - A History of the World - Object : Whitefriars Glass|website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> turned Wealdstone into Harrow's industrial centre. Waverley Industrial Estate still contains industry today. A [[Her Majesty's Stationery Office]] factory in the area was demolished in 1996 and now replaced by [[Harrow Crown Court]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dtels.org/html/cce_harrow5.html|title=DTELS - Headquarters (CCE Harrow Page 5 of 5)|website=www.dtels.org}}</ref>

At the junction of Graham Road with High Street was located the former Herga Cinema which opened in 1939 but closed in 1951.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/17998|title=Herga Cinema in Wealdstone, GB - Cinema Treasures|website=cinematreasures.org}}</ref> The building was gutted by fire in the early 1960s, later renovated and variously used throughout its later life  as commercial premises until Harrow Council confirmed in 2018 that the building was to be demolished and replaced by flats.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/news/16186322.wealdstone-metro-land-cinema-site-become-flats/|title=Former cinema to be turned into homes|website=Harrow Times|date=26 April 2018 }}</ref>

The bypass of Wealdstone High Street was completed in late 1996. In 1997, supermarket chain [[Asda]] announced a grand scheme for a superstore in Wealdstone involving a redevelopment of the town centre which included the demolition of 60 small business establishments. The project divided opinion and was scrapped, but in a more modest scheme was revived later that year.<ref>{{Citation
| title = Asda: We still want to build Wealdstone store
| newspaper = Pinner Observer
| date   = 25 September 1997
| page   = 16
| url    = https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002510/19970925/111/0016
}}</ref><ref name="auto"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/6518391.public-divided-over-asda-plan/|title=Public divided over Asda plan|website=News Shopper|date=17 January 1998 }}</ref> Following lengthy negotiations and consultations, Asda dropped the plan in 1999 blaming Harrow Council.<ref>{{Citation
| title = Asda lashes out as it drops store plan
| newspaper = Pinner Observer
| date   = 13 May 1999
| page   = 4
| url    = https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002510/19990513/025/0004
}}</ref> Local traders were reportedly "beleaguered" by the high street's decline since the opening of the bypass and the abandonment by [[Sainsbury's]] of a new supermarket project in 2001, which traders hoped would help revitalise Wealdstone.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/6395035.towns-hopes-for-revival-are-dashed/|title=Town's hopes for revival are dashed|website=News Shopper|date=3 October 2001 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/6407131.future-bleak-as-sainsburys-turns-its-back-on-wealdstone/|title=Future bleak as Sainsbury's turns its back on Wealdstone|website=News Shopper|date=18 July 2001 }}</ref> Later that year, Harrow Council secured funding for a community centre including a library at the site of a former [[Safeway (UK)|Safeway]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/6382047.a-new-centre-of-hope/|title=A new centre of hope|website=News Shopper|date=12 December 2001 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/news/481608.name-new-community-centre/|title=Name new community centre|website=Harrow Times|date=20 April 2004 }}</ref> It opened in 2004 as the Wealdstone Centre. Asda eventually opened a smaller supermarket on the high street in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.retail-week.com/grocery/store-gallery-asda-opens-its-first-high-street-store-in-wealdstone/5076525.article|title=Store Gallery: Asda opens its first high street store in Wealdstone|first=Luke|last=Tugby2015-06-30T16:14:00+01:00|website=Retail Week}}</ref>

[[File:Queen Victoria mural, Wealdstone.jpg|thumb|200px|A mural of Queen Victoria on the sidewalls of Harrow & Wealdstone station]]
A mural commemorating [[Queen Victoria]] was painted on the railway bridge in 2004 by local children.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/news/533515.wealdstone-mural-finished/|title=Wealdstone mural finished|website=Harrow Times|date=6 October 2004 }}</ref>

===Crime and policing===
[[File:Wealdstone Police Station from W.png|thumb|left|Wealdstone Police Station in 2017]]
[[File:High Street, Wealdstone (2) - geograph.org.uk - 234453.jpg|thumb|left|High Street showing police station on the right in 2006]]
Possibly the most prominent building in Wealdstone is the former Police Station in the high street. The site was built in 1909 and has been [[Grade II]] listed since 1998.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/advice/heritage-at-risk/search-register/list-entry/213016|title=Former Wealdstone Police Station, High Street HA3 - Harrow &#124; Historic England|website=historicengland.org.uk}}</ref> It is known for its distinctive style and features.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=https://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/news/8927209.wealdstone-police-station-could-close-under-metropolitan-police-authority-mpa-plans/|title=Wealdstone Police Station could close|website=Harrow Times|date=23 March 2011 }}</ref>

In 2003, plans by the [[Metropolitan Police]] to close Wealdstone police station was met with by protests and opposition in the community. A petition against the closure received 200 signatures.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/6247809.protests-grow-over-threat-to-wealdstone-police-station/|title=Protests grow over threat to Wealdstone police station|website=News Shopper|date=15 May 2003 }}</ref> The station eventually remained open, but the issue arose again in 2008 and 2011 amid police plans to sell the building. While the station was no longer open to the public, it still housed the Anti-Social Behaviour Partnership team.<ref name="auto1"/>

In May 2011, [[Navin Shah]] representing [[Brent and Harrow (London Assembly constituency)|Brent and Harrow]] in the London Assembly asked then-Mayor of London [[Boris Johnson]] about his thoughts on the closure. Johnson responded:
{{blockquote|Let's be clear - the closing of a police station is always a very difficult decision. People understandably are reassured by the physical presence of a corner police station. But the Met's real estate portfolio is ageing, and modern policing is these days more reliant on resources other than just bricks and mortar.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.london.gov.uk/questions/2011/1407|title=Wealdstone Police Station|date=9 May 2011|website=Mayor's Question Time}}</ref>}}

[[Gareth Thomas (English politician)|Gareth Thomas]], MP for [[Harrow West]], launched a petition to save the station.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/local-news/save-wealdstone-police-station-petition-5984918|title='Save Wealdstone Police Station' petition started by local MP|first=Ian|last=Proctor|date=13 July 2011|website=MyLondon}}</ref> However, opponents were unsuccessful and the station was closed.
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/harrow/17967517.former-wealdstone-police-station-become-flats-cafe/|title=Former police station could be turned into flats|website=Watford Observer|date=15 October 2019 }}</ref>

Wealdstone formerly had the highest crime rate in the borough, as the town suffered from antisocial behaviour and drug crime, higher than the borough's average. However, the Wealdstone Antisocial Behaviour Partnership (WASP), started by the Metropolitan Police to tackle crime in the town in 2010, saw impressive results with crime figures below the average in the borough. Wealdstone was one of only four Harrow wards to show a fall in reported Crime from April 2015 to March 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/news/8205307.new-police-team-to-tackle-problems-of-wealdstone/|title=New police team to tackle problems of Wealdstone|website=Harrow Times|date=7 June 2010 }}</ref>

== Sport ==
The Harrow Leisure Centre<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.leisureconnection.co.uk/centre/2/21/harrow-leisure-centre.html |title=Harrow Leisure Centre :: Leisure Connection Ltd |access-date=27 July 2007 |archive-date=28 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928103158/http://www.leisureconnection.co.uk/centre/2/21/harrow-leisure-centre.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> is located in Wealdstone and facilities include [[human swimming|swimming]], [[badminton]], [[snooker]], [[martial arts]] and a gym run by Harper's Fitness. One of the country's oldest remaining skate parks, [[Harrow Skate Park]], is next to the leisure centre. The park is a major centre of the British skateboarding scene and draws visitors from all over the country.

In 1903, [[Wealdstone FC]] played at the College Farm ground situated in Locket Road, then later played in Belmont Road before moving in 1922 to [[Lower Mead]], which was located behind the Dominion/ABC cinema (now closed) on Station Road, prior to its controversial sale to [[Tesco]] for retail development in 1991. After many years of without a home stadium of their own, Wealdstone FC is now based nearby in [[Ruislip]], having abandoned plans to relocate within the borough of Harrow at Prince Edward Fields, [[Canons Park]], now the home stadium of [[Barnet FC]]. Former players include [[Stuart Pearce]], [[Vinnie Jones]] and [[Jermaine Beckford]].

== Demography ==
[[File:High Street, Wealdstone - geograph.org.uk - 234286.jpg|thumb|Wealdstone High Street (2006)]]
Wealdstone is the youngest ward in the borough of Harrow.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.harrow.gov.uk/downloads/file/23432/2011-census-second-release-a-look-at-harrow-s-wards |title=Archived copy |access-date=28 March 2020 |archive-date=28 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328160410/https://www.harrow.gov.uk/downloads/file/23432/2011-census-second-release-a-look-at-harrow-s-wards |url-status=dead }}</ref> It is also the most deprived part of the borough.<ref>[http://harrowgiving.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Harrow-Council-Background-Paper-Needs-Analysis.pdf ]{{dead link|date=September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.harrow.gov.uk/downloads/file/26921/deprivation |title=Archived copy |access-date=11 December 2020 |archive-date=26 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226100914/https://www.harrow.gov.uk/downloads/file/26921/deprivation |url-status=dead }}</ref>

According to the 2011 census, the largest ethnic group in Wealdstone ward is White British (25%), followed by 20% Indian and 13% Other Asian.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ukcensusdata.com/wealdstone-e05000304|title=Wealdstone - UK Census Data 2011|first=Good Stuff IT|last=Services|website=UK Census Data}}</ref>

==Governance==
Wealdstone ward is within the [[Harrow West]] constituency, currently represented by Labour MP [[Gareth Thomas (English politician)|Gareth Thomas]]. However smaller parts of the district west of High Street and north of Locket Road are in the Harrow Weald ward, which is in [[Harrow East]] constituency and represented by Conservative MP [[Bob Blackman]].

==Other amenities==
[[File:Holy Trinity, Wealdstone - geograph.org.uk - 4731116.jpg|thumb|Holy Trinity, Wealdstone]]
The Holy Trinity [[Church of England]] was built in Gothic style in 1882.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/middx/vol4/pp257-260|title=Harrow, including Pinner : Modern churches &#124; British History Online|website=www.british-history.ac.uk}}</ref>

Schools include  [[Sacred Heart Language College]], [[Salvatorian College]] and [[Whitefriars School]].

== Transport ==
===Tube/Trains===
There is one station in the district:
* [[Harrow & Wealdstone station]] ([[Bakerloo line]], [[Watford DC Line]], [[Southern (train operating company)|Southern]] and [[West Midlands Trains]])

=== Bus routes ===
Seven [[London Buses]] routes run during day, as well as a school bus (640). There are two night routes serving Wealdstone: [[London Buses route 140|140]] and [[London Buses route N18|N18]].

== Notable people ==
*[[The Wealdstone Raider|Gordon Hill/The Wealdstone Raider]], internet personality
*[[Joseph McCann (criminal)|Joseph McCann]], lived for some time at an estate in Wealdstone

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.oldsalvatorians.com Old Salvatorians (Unofficial)]

{{LB Harrow}}{{London Districts}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Areas of London]]
[[Category:Districts of the London Borough of Harrow]]
[[Category:Places formerly in Middlesex]]
[[Category:District centres of London]]