For centuries an isolated village, Northolt's first station opened in 1907 as part of the Great Western and Great Central Joint Railway, an ambitious project to build a new line from London to the Midlands. London Underground's New Works Programme saw the route transformed into part of the Central line. Today, another ambitious project to build a new railway from London to the Midlands is underway, with HS2 tunnelling directly under Northolt and building a ventilation shaft near the station.

We delve into the ancient history of the village, which was described by a 1920 guidebook as one of the most beautiful in the vicinity of London. We also discover the lost racecourse, experimental social housing, the surreal spiral hills of Northala fields, and a model railway club.

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A full list of references for all the sources used for the episode is available here