Southall remembered: the bridge kebab stall, the gasholder and the pub that took rupees
Over the past decade, several landmarks that defined Southall for generations have gone, from a kebab shack on the station bridge to the blue gasholder that dominated the skyline.
Southall has changed a great deal in recent years. New housing, the arrival of the Elizabeth line and road improvements have reshaped the town centre, and several places that older residents remember well have gone with them.
Here is a look back at some of the landmarks and moments that people who grew up in the area still talk about.
The kebab stall on the bridge
For almost 50 years, a small shack on the Southall station bridge on South Road served grilled kebab in naan with a chilli sauce that many locals still remember. It is understood the stall was opened by two brothers in 1969.
Archive photographs show a small brick building with an awning, standing against the railings over the railway, with customers queuing at the counter. It was knocked down in 2017 during works on the bridge, when the area around the station was being upgraded for the new railway services.
The gasholder you could see for miles
Few landmarks were as recognisable as Southall's pale blue gasholder. It stood beside the Great Western main line and was built in the early 1930s. At about 90 metres tall, it could be seen across much of West London.
For many drivers, passengers and plane spotters, it was the sign that they were nearly home. The gasholder was taken down in 2019 to make way for the large housing development on the former gasworks site, one of the biggest regeneration schemes in the borough of Ealing.
A pub, a restaurant and a chart hit
Southall was also known for a pub on South Road that accepted Indian rupees as well as pounds. It became a talking point well beyond West London and drew visitors from across the country.
On Western Road, one long-established Indian restaurant is reputed to be a favourite of the King, who has visited Southall several times over the years, including when he was Prince of Wales.
The town's influence also reached the music charts. In September 2003, the Rishi Rich Project released Dance With You (Nachna Tere Naal), featuring Jay Sean and Juggy D. The track reached number 12 in the UK and became one of the best-known British Asian songs of its time.
Six years later, in 2009, Jay Sean went to number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 with Down. He was one of the few British Asian artists to top the American chart.
A changing town
Southall is still one of London's best-known South Asian centres, famous for its food, shops, gurdwaras and festivals. Many of the places that once marked its streets now exist only in photographs and memories. Residents are still sharing their own recollections of the town as it used to be.