To mark 80 years since the end of the war in Europe we asked you to share your stories of VE Day 1945 "During the war we lived in Hampton Road in Teddington I was born in 1940 and have a few memories of VE Day itself There was a big bonfire and party in Bushy Park Gardens in the evening which my mother judged I was too young to go to I can’t understand that decision to this day.. "I have many memories of walking through the American camp which took over all of Bushy Park to get to the post office in Hampton Hill High Street We took our vegetable peelings there for their pigs "One particular memory from shortly after the war on Armistice Day is when a contingent of American soldiers marched through the streets and being amazed how big and tall they were - and so smartly kitted out!" She always repeated this story with shining eyes and much laughter as my father was on some mission with the army "She left my 8 month old sister with my grandmother and headed out onto The Mall and joined the celebrating crowds around Buckingham Palace The atmosphere was incredible and full of happiness and people dancing and singing "Her cousin Malcom spotted them in the crowd amazingly and ended up joining them on the roof of the cab (and subsequently paying for it) "8 May 1945 was an incredible date for her "I remember VE Day with such happy thoughts "I was 5 years old and lived in Sunbury then with my mother (my father was in North Africa during the war years and he did not come home until 1946) and along with a family friend and his son and we went up to Buckingham Palace We travelled by bus and I remember seeing all flags and buntings in the streets of the borough on the way and in the city "We managed to get to the railings of Buckingham Palace and we children stood on the wall and hung onto the railings shouting "We want the King" and were lucky to see King George VI It was an exciting day and will always stay in my memory." It was on the return route often taken by enemy bombers after dropping bombs on the London docks On their way back they would casually drop left-over incendiary bombs on areas such as ours "Having been put to bed at the usual time for a six-year-old I was woken up later to a cacophony of shouting all accompanied by the banging of drums and clanking of saucepans "My mother came in to see if I was awake and told me that the war had just ended in victory That meant that before long I would see my Daddy for the first time; after he had spent practically the whole of the war in a succession of prisoner-of war camps It also meant that there would be no more planes flying over the house at night no more banging of guns and no more searchlight beams scouring the dark sky The huge barrage balloons that were for years a looming presence seen from our back garden "Best of all was the feeling that I would be seeing for the first time the kind man that my mother had told me such a lot about." Thank you to everyone who submitted their memories and stories from VE Day 1945 We hope that over the bank holiday weekend you will enjoy making some new memories and honour those who lived through such a significant chapter in our history If you're attending a local street party or event to mark the anniversary, please tag us on social media and use the hashtag #RichmondVEDay80 Up to: May 2025 © London Borough of Richmond upon Thames is expanding its retail presence from nine to 14 locations with the introduction of its first Wine Warehouse in East Sheen Following the opening of its Wimbledon store in July Amathus will unveil the new Wine Warehouse in East Sheen ft format marks a new chapter for Amathus as it aims to solidify its position as a leading wine and spirits retailer in the UK. expressed excitement about the new venture: “We are thrilled to be opening our most ambitious concept to date – the first Amathus Wine Warehouse – in East Sheen This newest opening will be home to a much larger Amathus store alongside an eclectic and thought-provoking selection of spirits.” masterclasses and events in dedicated tasting areas led by one of the company’s Masters of Wine Georgiou emphasised that the warehouse will offer a unique experience Amathus established in 1978 by the Georgiou family has grown from a single London store to a premium wholesaler with over 5,000 products The company has earned a following in its stores across Bath Georgiou noted that each Amathus store has its own character and East Sheen is poised to become a destination for the surrounding communities of Richmond He also highlighted the company’s pride in joining the East Sheen community and the anticipation of welcoming local customers From mid-June 2024 the company has expanded from 9 to 14 sites Other new locations include Notting Hill's Elgin Crescent Georgiou emphasised the company's commitment to growth driven by a belief in providing the best wines and spirits to its discerning clientele AWL announces creation of new global win... Robin Copestick joins Packamama board London Wine Fair announces line-up Gen Z shifts towards low & no alcohol am... Diageo GB announces new marketing and in... LWC and MDCV enter new on-trade partnership You can now view the latest Harpers supplement with our digital edition... View the Top 100 2024 competition results here.. Vergelegen – continuity and change on the Schapenberg Talking innovation and opening doors with LWC Koshu brings flavour of Japan to London Reh Kendermann: Sales Manager UK residents are welcome to visit the Sheen Art Trail for free Small independent business community East Sheen Village and the Sheen Artists group have joined forces to create the Sheen Art Trail connecting a variety of local businesses and artists who will display their work in shop windows and interiors The trail will offer artists the opportunity to showcase their work beyond their studios or traditional galleries and for businesses to generate increased interest in their respective spaces The exhibiting artists cover a range of disciplines painting and photography - there is something for everyone to enjoy Visitors to the trail will be able to follow a map that plots the location of each business hosting the artists’ work and they will have the opportunity to discover and even buy beautiful artwork by local artists. Jacquie Duncan from East Sheen Village said: “We are proud and excited to be supporting this fantastic collaboration between our independent high street businesses and the talented and diverse community of artists who live and work in SW14 This is a unique opportunity for both parties to attract additional interest and footfall and to give residents and visitors the chance to discover our area’s vibrant shops and art scene” The trail is free to follow and requires no advanced booking. The artists and businesses involved encourage visitors to look out for additional event announcements on @sheenarttrail_ and @eastsheenvillage Instagram accounts The trail will enable visitors to discover and enjoy the wealth of independent businesses and creative talent that Sheen has to offer as well as benefit from the energy and inspiration that the event is expected to bring to the local area Find out more about the Sheen Art Trail Up to: March 2025 Dreams has announced the opening of its new premium concept store in East Sheen marking a key milestone in the company’s growth and expansion strategy The East Sheen location is the first of its kind introducing a boutique-style experience tailored for smaller high street sites while reflecting the brand’s focus on a more premium Spanning 4,000 square feet across two floors the store offers a curated selection of branded mattresses The East Sheen store introduces a range of design innovations aimed at enhancing the in-store experience now displayed with illuminated lightboxes and floating shelves provides an intuitive journey for customers as they search for their ideal mattress Dreams has incorporated two 55-inch digital screens for dynamic campaign and service messaging—an interactive first for the brand With the brand’s signature blue perimeter walls serene environment designed to make the mattress selection process enjoyable and relaxing Early trading at East Sheen has already shown promising results with a positive response from the local community The initial performance reflects Dreams’ commitment to offering a premium in-store experience underscoring the value customers place on experiencing products in person before making a purchase Dreams has outlined plans for further store openings in the coming months This expansion also includes the recruitment of 50 new retail colleagues who will undergo the brand’s newly introduced ‘Consumer Journey’ training to ensure that every location provides an exceptional customer experience This growth builds on Dreams’ record investment in store refurbishments positioning the retailer for sustained growth into 2024 and beyond “The opening of our new concept store in East Sheen demonstrates our dedication to giving customers the best possible experience when shopping for a bed premium environment where our bed experts are on hand to guide customers and help them find the perfect bed for their needs By bringing this experience to smaller high street locations These investments are part of our ongoing efforts to ensure every customer enjoys a seamless journey to better sleep and I’m excited about what’s to come as we continue to bring new elevated store formats to customers across the UK.” The new concept store in East Sheen represents Dreams’ latest effort to evolve its retail strategy balancing an accessible high street presence with a premium shopping experience it aims to bring this enhanced model to more locations supporting its commitment to customer service and innovation across the UK join your neighbours and local conservation charity Habitats & Heritage to collect litter across East Sheen This litter-picking session is open to residents of all ages for a morning to clear the local area but under-18s should be supervised by a parent or guardian Litter-picking tools and rubbish bags will be provided If you can spare a Sunday morning to give our community a clean please sign up and come along with your family and friends Register now Based in Twickenham, Habitats & Heritage is a charity acts for the natural and historic environment in south and west London Up to: June 2024 Dreams has opened a “first-of-its-kind” concept store in London’s East Sheen neighbourhood The bedding and furniture retailer’s new store spans 4,000 sq ft across two floors and forms a “significant milestone in the company’s new growth strategy” the store’s features include illuminated lightboxes and floating shelves and an in-store ambiance with the brand’s signature blue walls The opening forms part of Dreams’ wider expansion and growth plan with further store openings expected over the next few months said: “The opening of our new concept store in East Sheen demonstrates our dedication to giving customers the best possible experience when shopping for a bed “By bringing this experience to smaller high street locations Sainsbury’s has completed its first store conversion of the year following the acquisition of 14 retail sites last autumn a new Sri Lankan street food concept from the founders of Kolamba is set to open in London’s Covent Garden this summer Frasers Group has opened two stores at Westfield Stratford City in East London as both Sports Direct and FLANNELS join the scheme © 2025 Completely Property Technology Limited part of The Completely Group Limited By Ellis Hawthorne2024-10-29T15:39:00+00:00 Jonathan Hirst: “By bringing this experience to smaller high street locations we’re making Dreams more accessible without compromising quality" The new store covers 4,000 sq ft across two floors premium environment where our bed experts are on hand to guide customers" Dreams' sleepmatch technology helps customers find their perfect mattress Dreams has launched a new premium store concept designed for smaller high street locations making the retailer “more accessible”. The beds and mattresses retailer opened the first-of-its-kind concept store in East Sheen featuring a range of premium products and upgraded store fittings. the store has upgraded technology including new lightboxes Dreams is in the midst of a store estate expansion and refurbishment programme with further openings expected in early 2025. Dreams chief executive Jonathan Hirst said: “The opening of our new concept store in East Sheen demonstrates our dedication to giving customers the best possible experience when shopping for a bed we’re making Dreams more accessible without compromising quality I’m excited about what’s to come as we continue to bring new Last month, Dreams posted a sales increase of 2.2% to £395.4m for the year ending December 2023 while its key profit measure underlying EBITDA rose to £59m from £58m. The retailer revealed it had invested a “record-breaking amount” in store expansion and refits during its financial year including upgrades to its technology systems supply chain and machinery as part of a modernisation programme. refitted another 22 and opened a distribution centre in the Midlands North Lanarkshire, which increased its stock capacity by 30%. Site powered by Webvision Cloud Amathus Drinks has announced the opening of its first Wine Warehouse in East Sheen Positioned as a cross between a wine warehouse and a store it aims to offer an expanded version of Amathus’ normal in-person range The warehouse has been described as “quality focused” and has over 2,000 wines spirits and beers for customers to choose from. Amathus said that the warehouse offers case discounts The opening joins Amathus’ other stores which are in Soho In an interview with Drinks Retailing in April MD of Amathus Drinks Harry Georgiou commented that “our Wine Warehouse will be like our retail stores but bigger – and having the pallet case displays and the volume in abundance”. the warehouse model could reach around 50 outlets eventually our stock levels are around £11 million,” Georgiou said at the time of the interview It maps out a future for the business.” We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience, serve personalized ads or content, and analyze our traffic. By clicking "Accept All", you consent to our use of cookies. Find out more info about our Privacy Policy HERE We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze how you use this website and provide the content and advertisements that are relevant to you These cookies will only be stored in your browser with your prior consent You can choose to enable or disable some or all of these cookies but disabling some of them may affect your browsing experience Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns Well-heeled families love the houses and top-rated schools in the suburb that offers the closest thing to country living in London Homes & Property | Where to live Fans of East Sheen — referred to by locals simply as Sheen — point to the open spaces of Richmond Park; the quick commute into Waterloo for City workers; “outstanding” state primary schools and a long high street along Upper Richmond Road with a good choice of chain stores and independent shops has been selling homes in East Sheen for 23 years He says it is the closest thing to country living in a town and though not much has changed generally over the years Battersea and Wandsworth to get a bigger house with a bigger garden.” In Victorian times East Sheen was home to the mega-rich who built their large mansions in the roads around Richmond Park Few of these houses survived for more than 50 years Most were demolished between the wars and replaced with smaller family houses in a variety of styles which these days sell for up to £2 million Two of the most interesting large Victorian houses to survive are The Cottage in Christchurch Road and The Halsteads in Fife Road Both are early works by the architect Sir Arthur Blomfield while The Halsteads has a unique place in building history It was one of the first concrete-built houses and though it was designed by Blomfield it was built by Joseph Tull one of the inventors of concrete shuttering Blomfield also designed East Sheen’s Christ Church with its distinctive square tower before becoming one of the leading church architects of the late Victorian age It was a wonder his reputation survived the collapse of Christ Church tower in the days before it was due to open in 1863 apparently poor workmanship was blamed and Blomfield was exonerated Another East Sheen house with a story is Percy Lodge once the home of the late broadcaster David Jacobs Dating from 1740 it is the only surviving Georgian house in East Sheen and was built as a hunting lodge by Hugh Percy In the Twenties it was saved from demolition by the architect of Art Deco cinemas Robert Atkinson who built The Mall a private road of detached neo-Georgian houses in the grounds Percy Lodge was last on the market six years ago There was little scope for building new homes in the area until the Stag Brewery shocked the neighbourhood The controversial Stag Brewery site is on the river in nearby Mortlake This development in Lower Richmond Road promises a new village heart for Mortlake with 633 new homes There will be a new high street and the scheme designed by award-winning architects Squire and Partners will open up new vistas of the river and include the conversion of the imposing Victorian maltings building Richmond council gave the go ahead in January despite opposition from local groups such as the Mortlake Brewery Community Group will put unacceptable pressure on local infrastructure and do nothing to improve traffic flow The scheme now awaits a decision from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan who may well demand more affordable housing be included East Sheen has everything from small Victorian cottages to Victorian and semis and detached houses in sizeable gardens The most desirable roads are between Upper Richmond Road and Richmond Park The enclave around The Plough pub and Christ Church in Christchurch Road has an almost rural feel The most expensive house currently for sale is Park Gate a four-bedroom home of most distinctive design Built in 1935 it extends to more than 4,200sq ft and has an unusual octagonal drawing room and a first-floor wraparound balcony overlooking Richmond Park South of Upper Richmond Road are the roads known as the “Royals” Pretty two- and three-bedroom cottages here include a two-bedroom home in Queens Road Holmesdale Avenue is a small conservation area of Arts and Crafts semi-detached houses which have their front doors set at an unusual angle East Sheen is well known for its large blocks of Art Deco flats including Courtlands and Deanhill Court in Upper Richmond Road and St Leonard’s Court in St Leonard’s Road A three-bedroom ground-floor flat in Courtlands in need of renovation covers 1,100sq ft and is on the market for £750,000 Two-bedroom flats in St Leonard’s Court start at £425,000 Houses in North Sheen around the railway station are generally smaller and range from Victorian terraces to Twenties semi-detached homes The most expensive house currently for sale in North Sheen is a five-bedroom semi-detached Edwardian house in Sheen Road Savills estate agent Michael Randall says families come to East Sheen for its good-size houses He says they can expect to pay about £1.3 million for a four-bedroom house of 1,600sq ft; from £1.6 million to £1.7 million for 2,000sq ft and for a large semi-detached Twenties or Thirties house close to Richmond Park Boat Race House in Mortlake High Street has 14 two- and three-bedroom flats and two-bedroom penthouses with two-bedroom penthouses from £2.2 million Randall says East Sheen is a popular rental area with families trying the area before they buy; parents aiming to get their children into a particular primary school and with people who need to rent while their home is being renovated “We don’t always have enough rental homes to satisfy the demand,” he says One-bedroom flats range in price from £1,150 a month to £1,450 a month with two-bedroom flats from £1,400 a month to £2,200 a month Four-bedroom family houses rent from £3,250 a month in Colston Road close to Thomson House School and £4,250 a month in Coval Road close to Sheen Mount Primary The most expensive house currently to rent is a five-bedroom Arts & Crafts property in Sheen Lane for £8,500 a month Staying power: Savills agent Michael Randall says East Sheen gets under people’s skin and once settled “Over my 23 years I have seen families move from a two-bedroom house to a larger house and then once their children leave home trade down to something smaller East Sheen is in the SW14 Mortlake postcode and on its western boundary it strays into TW9 and TW10 Anywhere in the Christ Church and East Sheen Avenue conservation areas with houses closest to Richmond Park in roads such as Fife Road particularly desirable The cheapest homes are in two blocks of flats in North Sheen Chertsey Court at the junction of Clifford Avenue and Lower Richmond Road is a block of Art Deco council flats with “right-to-buy” homes available to purchase — a three-bedroom flat is on the market for £450,000 The Towers is a 12-storey private tower block in Lower Mortlake Road where a two-bedroom flat is for sale for £410,000 The South Circular road runs through East Sheen along Upper Richmond Road There are two train stations — North Sheen and Mortlake — with services to Waterloo that take around half an hour Both stations are in Travel Zone 3 and an annual travelcard to Zone 1 costs £1,696 East Sheen has a busy shopping centre along Upper Richmond Road and down Sheen Lane with a good mix of high street chains and independent shops There is a large Waitrose and branches of WH Smith Tesco Express and fashion boutique Whistles an American sandwich shop-turned-restaurant; Boutique Café and The Robin Craft Café In Upper Richmond Road are Neeman Persian Café; Lupo Bros with its brunch menu; Kozy Coffee; Artisan now with four south-west London branches; and 11 Coffee & Co The only chain restaurant is Pizza Express There are two butchers — R Chubb & Son and T Swatland The Cavan Bakery is part of a 10-strong south-west London chain going since 1929 There’s The Parish Bakery and Madeleine’s Cake Boutique specialising in wedding cakes Ice cream parlours are Bella del Gelato and Gelatorino Numerous delicatessens include Sheen Polish Delicatessen The Sheen Bookshop happily survives and in Sheen Lane while Level Crossing Records is mining the vinyl revival There’s Pandemonium toy shop; Butiker for Scandi-style gifts and homewares; Sandrine for Belgian chocolates; Sheen Uncovered for glamorous underwear run by the same people as boutique Ruby Blue; and Rug Store for Persian carpets and kilims there are no fine dining restaurants; however there are two pubs in Lower Richmond Road: the Hare & Hounds is a Young’s pub which occupies a landmark building and Savills’ Michael Randall recommends the Pig and Whistle La Plata Steakhouse is an Argentinian steakhouse; and Forty-Four is a restaurant with an outside terrace Villa Rosa is a popular local Italian café; Mamma Mia and Leonardo’s operate as an Italian restaurant and wine bar; Oliveira is an organic vegan and vegetarian restaurant; and Faanoos serves Persian food East Sheen has two lovely country-style pubs: The Victoria in Temple Sheen and The Plough in Christchurch Road Richmond Park with over 2,300 acres is like having the countryside on your doorstep East Sheen Common in Fife Road is owned by the National Trust; it has football pitches Palewell Common and Fields in Enmore Gardens has a pitch and putt course Sheen Park Cricket Club plays on both East Sheen Common and Palewell Common Sheen Lawn Tennis and Squash Club is in Parklands Close There are two private multi-sports clubs: Roehampton Club in Roehampton Lane offers golf croquet and squash; and The Bank of England Sports Centre in Priory Lane in Roehampton offers a gym There are two golf clubs in Richmond: The Royal Mid Surrey in Old Deer Park and Richmond in Sudbrook Lane There are cinemas in Barnes and Richmond and theatres in Richmond The nearest council-owned swimming pool is Pools on the Park in Old Deer Park in Richmond; it has both indoor and outdoor pools Sheen stands out for its good choice of state primary schools rated “outstanding” by Ofsted They are: Sheen Mount in West Temple; Thomson House in Sheen Lane; Holy Trinity CofE in Carrington Road; St Mary Magdalen’s RC in Worple Street and East Sheen Primary School in Upper Richmond Road West ages 11 to 18) in Park Avenue and Christ’s School (co-ed There is also a wide choice of private primary and preparatory schools in East Sheen and the surrounding area; they are: Tower House (boys ages four to 13) in Sheen Lane; King’s House (co-ed ages three to 14) in Kings Road in Richmond; Unicorn School (co-ed ages three to 11) in Kew Road; Broomfield House (co-ed ages three to 11) in Broomfield Road; Kew College (co-ed ages three to 11) in Cumberland Road; Kew Green Preparatory (co-ed ages four to 11) the last four all in Kew; ages three to 11) in Richmond Hill; Falcons Preparatory School for Boys (ages seven to 13) in Kew Foot Road in Richmond; and Falcons School for Girls (ages two to 11) in Woodborough Road in Putney ages four to 18); The Swedish School (co-ed Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer Royals watch historic flypast as huge crowds turns out for VE Day 80th anniversary Royals watch historic Red Arrows flypast for VE Day 80th anniversary UK tourists face major travel shake-up as Dubai airport set to close David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash in London 'shut down' by council over noise complaints David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash 'shut down' over noise complaints A PUB’S former landlord is building a wall to block off its beer garden after being told to get out A court ruled Tony O’Neill legally owns the small patch of land despite losing his lease to run the boozer The plot had been considered unowned pavement A breeze-block structure is now being built in front of the doors at The Plough in East Sheen, South West London The pub’s freehold owners, bar chain Fuller’s took back control after Mr O’Neill ran it for 15 years But a judge backed his “adverse possession” claim after using the land for years More than 600 customers have now signed a petition against the wall. Fuller’s said: “We are continuing to pursue every avenue to see if there is a way we can ensure that the local community can continue to enjoy the pub garden for the long term.” Mr O’Neill said “a low wall has been built to demarcate the relevant land”, and that he expected “further discussions” with Fuller’s. Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/ Specialist drinks distributor Amathus Drinks is expanding its retail estate with the addition of five new stores over the next few months including a wine warehouse in the west of London Locations for the new shops are Elgin Crescent in Notting Hill (its second in the West London neighbourhood) MD Harry Georgiou noted that retail was hugely important to the business believing that “the best will continue to serve the best” “We’re not blind to the economy but we’ve never been short of ambition,” he said “Our stores provide our buyers the perfect opportunity to source the best wines and spirits from across the world and to have the vast and eclectic range available to our trade buyers.” The UK specialist drinks importer, distributor and retailer previously told db it remained optimistic about the state of the high street, noting that its retail arm gave the business “more flexibility as an importer” as they could take a chance on something that could be more difficult to sell to the trade but which could be hand-sold through the retail business “I see no reason not to double our footprint again and at a faster pace,” Georgiou added Amathus opened its first retail store in 1978 with the retail business closely entwined with its trade side as a premium London wholesaler but it’s set in our trade crown,” Georgiou continued “Our standing in the trade gives us a huge reach and synergies between our two offerings are tremendous The opening of our first wine warehouse is a completely natural evolution for us.” added that the number of drinks unique to Amathus made its stores “a key destination for anyone interested in exceptional wine and spirits – on both sides of the counter” “We’re lucky to have some serious wine nerds award winning mixologists and spirits geeks who quite literally speak the same language as our very particular customers and the recent appointment of Ana [Jackson MW] speaks volumes,” he added Jackon, (née Sapungiu) joined the business as the new head of wine business development in February, having previously been head buyer at Oddbins Former Vivino exec Andy Harris also joined the company as its new marketing manager The company launched a private client service in 2023 which Lithgow said was expected to grow “exponentially” We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings we will not be able to save your preferences This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again As we cautiously begin to put the long months of lockdown behind us and East Sheen businesses prepare to welcome the community and visitors back we take a look at how the area is faring and offer an insight into some of what is in store for you East Sheen’s is in good shape – new businesses are arriving and there are signs of life in some empty units There is also a great deal of local love and support – and ‘keeping it local’ will be critical in the months ahead If you live in or visit SW14 and choose to shop here you really will be making a difference to dedicated local East Sheen’s location between Richmond Park and the Thames makes it a great place to live and to visit There is a wide range of lovely independents and parking is easy if you do come by car in free time-limited bays with a Richmond Card or up to ninety minutes free in the centrally located Waitrose car park The local community particularly seems to appreciate two things – businesses that offer something different and businesses that offer a great customer service. Take, for example, Robert Neil a family-run hair salon that has been here for no less than 49 years Whilst the past 12 months have been the most challenging time in the salon’s history they have prioritised their young staff’s financial and mental wellbeing and made changes over the past year “We’ve worked really hard to build our social media presence and have run live events on Facebook competitions and giveaways and posted haircare tips We have exciting plans ahead for our 50th anniversary we can’t wait to welcome our clients back through the doors – we’ve missed them.” Along the high street and on Sheen Lane, there have been some new business openings during lockdown, including L+ Architects and Upper Rich. Caffe, a husband and wife run crêperie and café. Lockdown also brought SW14 its own Farmers Market, Farmford & Co., each Friday and Saturday on Sheen Lane (Pig & Whistle car park) These are all votes of confidence in the area On Sheen Lane, La Ciclista – which opened just over six months before lockdown – is another business with a difference This cycling hub is a café with on-site bike parking that rapidly became a destination for locals as well as the many walkers runners and riders who pass by en route to the river or park During lockdown they moved to takeaway-only but they are excited to be able to fully resume the business of fuelling and hydrating locals and visitors as soon as the roadmap allows In Mortlake, The Tapestry has been a great example of ‘pivoting’ to provide groceries takeaway and social media reminders each week they are focusing on how to open safely and keep their business running hardworking and determined and are refurbishing their garden and looking at new ideas how to help customers with parties at home and how to make the most of their newly delivered cargo bike “There will be good times again,” says Jackson “even if that might be in a different way to before We came to appreciate in lockdown the importance of a balance between work but it doesn’t make us less determined to give our customers the best.” The same goes for all of SW14’s businesses – come and check them out soon Up to: Partner blog 2021 Your guide to London's culture and transport news and events taking place across the city Published on 15th September 2021 by ianVisits in History, Underground London On a side street not far from Mortlake station is a set of 1930s residential flats and in front a curious brick building – the entrance to an underground air-raid shelter The air-raid shelter was built in two stages the first being a solid if simple couple of rooms with toilets for people to wait out the danger for a short while a second section was added for people to spend the whole night down here the lawn in front of the flats was excavated down and it seems likely that the excavated soil was then piled up on top to create additional protection as there’s a wall and deep hedge running around the site today Entry is through a solidly locked door in a very back-garden style round brick shed with a tiled roof and then down a set of steps to the underground spaces so tours are illuminated by large portable floodlights The first two rooms are the first two to be built and are simple long rooms with a wall leading to a couple of chemical toilets — one room for men The doors are offset so that if a bomb hits one room the blast would be deflected slightly before hitting the next room It’s a very spartan space as you would expect with just a few benches to sit on and a few dim light bulbs in the cold damp box hoping for the best while the smell of the acrid chemical toilets slowly filled the room As the intensity of bombing raids became more apparent in 1941 it was decided to add a second row of rooms You can clearly see how wartime shortages are already making themselves felt in the construction which is noticeably cheaper than the earlier part of the shelter these two rooms were also much more luxurious for the residents with three rows of double-width beds in each it could hold 48 families – or more likely mothers and children — in the space a post box for the porter to deliver any letters written while people sheltered from the bombs above The ends of the two sleeping quarters have emergency exits up ladders and it’s thought that there may have been a surface structure during WW2 but it’s been lost now and secure glass lids let light down into the bunker instead the carefully painted numbers on each bed-bunk are as crisp as when first painted and each bunk had its own carefully numbered coat hook The air-raid shelter was used for some time after the war as storage by the people who lived in the flats which seems so eminently sensible an idea that it’s a surprise that it wasn’t converted professionally into fixed storage units as it means a lot of original fittings are still intact The heritage charity looking after the bunker is currently working on a plan to stabilize the structure, and the damp is having an effect on the steel-reinforced concrete and starting to rust the metal bars. They are fundraising for that work to be carried out Tours don’t happen that often as the air-raid shelter sits in a residential estate. This visit was part of Open House London and is also opened for local school visits This website has been running now for over a decade, and while advertising revenue contributes to funding the website, it doesn't cover the costs. That is why I have set up a facility with DonorBox where you can contribute to the costs of the website and time invested in writing and research for the news articles It's very similar to the way The Guardian and many smaller websites are now seeking to generate an income in the face of rising costs and declining advertising Whether it's a one-off donation or a regular giver every additional support goes a long way to covering the running costs of this website and keeping you regularly topped up doses of Londony news and facts If you like what you read on here, then please support the website here and the latest news published on ianVisits You can unsubscribe at any time from my weekly emails © ianVisits Homes and Property | Home Page The grandchildren of a 100-year-old man who fought to protect the house he was born in from developers have vowed to keep it in the family Ted Vine spent his whole life in the Upper Richmond Road property in East Sheen — now wedged between a branch of Waitrose and a DIY shop was so determined to protect "his little piece of England" that he turned down offers of hundreds of thousands of pounds from businessmen trying to buy him out have promised to keep his wish that it be passed down through the generations his grandson who runs the chimney-sweep business started by Ted's grandfather in 1850 said: "I supposed you would say we are a family who know our roots and like our traditions and heritage "My grandfather was offered a lot of money to give part of that up but he remained resolute brought his own wife home to that house where they brought up their own kids You can't put a price on 100 years of good memories." Ted's granddaughter Beverely Stephens said: "My grandfather always said the only way he would be taken out of the house was in a box." The lease on the house was bought by Ted Vine's father in the early 1900s for 14 shillings a week Ted was born in 1909.When his father died in 1940 Ted took over the house with his wife Violet After handing over the chimney sweeping business to Richard Richard said: "He had a fascinating life and was full of stories "He told us about hearing the Zeppelin raids over London during the First World War about his time with the RAF during the Second World War and about how he used to play cricket as a boy on a patch of land where Waitrose has now been built."That is why the house is so important to us My grandfather said it was his little piece of England It would be sad to sell it now when it has survived so much." He said his grandfather had not led a particularly healthy life but had kept active "He had a Guinness at lunch and a scotch in the evening," he said Mr Vine leaves behind six grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren A horse and carriage was due to carry Mr Vine from his home to Mortlake Crematorium today The reign of four different monarchs — George V (1910-1936) George VI (1936-1952) and Elizabeth II (1952 to present day) The leadership of 18 different prime ministers from Herbert Asquith in 1910 to Gordon Brown.Two world wars The 1948 summer Olympics held in the original Wembley stadium Live Aid on 13 July 1985 organised to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia The death of Princess Diana in August 1997 The 7/7 terrorist attacks in London 2005 which killed 56 an associate director in its Wandsworth sales team to take on the role of head of sales and oversee its multi-disciplinary East Sheen office Having joined the firm’s Wandsworth sales department in April last year Sophie steps into her new position with circa eight years of industry experience and intricate knowledge of the area and its sales market Sophie started her property career as a sales negotiator at Douglas and Gordon before spending several years at Winkworth where she progressed to assistant sales manager Sophie has established herself quickly within the residential sales business since joining the Wandsworth office as an associate director Sophie has specialised in southwest London leading a team comprising several specialists handling the sale of properties at all market levels ranging from terraced cottages to flats to substantial family houses Sophie will also work closely with the cluster of nearby Savills offices Sophie Barton comments: “Having worked in southwest London for many years in the Fulham I am thrilled to be joining the fantastic team in East Sheen It is a beautiful area and one I know increasingly well from regular walks in Richmond Park with my dog Arnold from first-home flats all the way through to characterful houses set in acres of land I will bring my experience and enthusiasm to the role and look forward to collaborating with our lettings and residential development colleagues as well as our local offices Some of my existing clients from Wandsworth are looking for properties in East Sheen and I look forward to fostering client continuation as well as forging many new client relationships through offering the highest standard of care.” adds: “We are delighted to see Sophie take the next step in her career with the role of head of sales in East Sheen showing herself to be a trusted advisor offering in-depth and market-relevant knowledge for clients looking to buy I look forward to Sophie growing the business while continuing the high level of care knowledge and professionalism for which the office is renowned.” © London West (powered by ukpropertyforums.com) Sign up to receive your free bi-weekly London West journal here and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" UK Property Forums enable forums and events in the property sector which help to create business development opportunities Office Address:UK Property Forums Ltd is located in Reading 0203 478 7340 info@ukpropertyforums.com A petition warns that the area already struggles with 'regular and serious levels of traffic congestion' News | Transport Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice Concerns have been raised with City Hall over the impact of “unprecedented development" on south-west London's transport network A petition on the issue has received more than 1,000 signatures from residents in Barnes, Mortlake and East Sheen, while Sadiq Khan's transport deputy has insisted that Transport for London [TfL] is well prepared for the demands of future housing in the area started by Green councillor Niki Crookdake the area contains “a corridor hugely constrained by the River Thames giving rise to regular and serious levels of traffic congestion” The petition warns that improvements to the area’s transport infrastructure are needed to “support the unprecedented level of development in the area which is destined to accommodate at least an additional 3,000 homes and more than 6,000 people living and working in the area” It continues: “In addition to this, there are major uncertainties over the future of Hammersmith Bridge and rail and bus service levels in the locality some of which have recently been reduced.” The petition requested the appointment of an 'independent transport consultant' who could provide advice on improvements to local infrastructure But in a letter responding on the mayor’s behalf, deputy mayor for transport Seb Dance has said that “at this stage TfL believes that there is no need" for such a consultant He said that while he understands local concerns “the level of development proposed for the area reflects the housing targets and anticipated growth in employment for Richmond as set out in the London Plan" [the main document outlining future development in the capital] Mr Dance added: “TfL has carried out strategic modelling to ensure that the level of growth throughout London can be supported by transport infrastructure and management measures which are set out in the Mayor’s Transport Strategy and the London Plan “I hope you will appreciate that such developments are vital in ensuring everyone in London has somewhere to live Watchdog calls on Oasis and Ticketmaster to refund fans hit by inflated prices Are you playing London's coolest new sport Unique ‘Lion Houses’ in Barnes on sale for £5m Make more of London this autumn with these exciting experiences The petition was supported by the Mortlake and East Sheen Society the Mortlake Community Association and the Barnes Community Association - and was initially raised at City Hall by Green London Assembly Member Siân Berry in July Homes & Property | Property News renting and decorating in London from our award-winning experts The coronavirus pandemic may have changed what buyers look for in a property with gardens and space to work from home now a priority yet not everyone is leaving London to find it they are seeking that dream home in different parts of the capital with central London prices falling and leafy suburbs recording staggering price growth Top of the list of areas seeing renewed popularity in 2021 is Highgate where searches on Rightmove for homes to buy soared 97 per cent at the beginning of this year compared with the same time in 2020 Asking prices in the hilltop village — home to Kate Moss among others — are now £1.17 million on average Interior designer Nicola Watkins and her husband Brett moved just under a mile from Archway to Highgate in north London swapping their flat by Archway Tube station for a two-bedroom home in Pond Square “We’re in the middle of the triangle — Highgate Wood We basically went to one of those every day during the first lockdown,” says Nicola The couple had lived in Archway since 2017 in a 485sq ft property they transformed from a one- to a two-bedroom flat with their now two-year-old son on the scene they decided to rent it out In October last year they bought a 1,000sq ft apartment in Highgate — paying £940,000 after negotiating a £45,000 reduction from an older couple now based in Yorkshire “It’s got a huge communal garden which we were hesitant about at first but it’s been fantastic, particularly now, you can talk to people and there are other children here,” says Nicola who left her job just before Covid struck to set up an architecture and interior design firm byWatkins.com Towards Highgate Tube station are three “Milton” roads which are well-located for the Parkland Walk conservation trail that runs from Alexandra Palace to Finsbury Park perfect for taking the dog out,” says Mark Sumray of Dexters Highgate branch The Holly Lodge Estate has houses and some small flats — a four-and -a-half minute walk to the heath “One-beds tend to be £350,000 to £500,000 — they’re not big but it’s quiet and peaceful,” says Sumray For £2million-plus there’s Cholmeley Park for Channing School and Waterlow Park while for £5million there’s Sheldon Avenue Schools: St Joseph’s Catholic primary school is rated outstanding St Michael’s and Highgate primary schools and Highgate Wood and Parliament Hill secondary schools are rated good Five London areas popular with 2021 home hunters Between Abbey Wood in Bexley and Erith in Kent Belvedere is popular with first-time buyers Teacher Jenna Stonebanks is looking to buy in the area with her husband Dean and says the green outdoor spaces are a big draw Having lived with family for around two years to save the couple are ready to start their property search “There are huge parks for the kids — I take my niece and nephew there quite a lot,” says Jenna “It’s got good transport links but is far enough out that you don’t feel the hustle and bustle there are little villages in it like Upper Nuxley which is lovely.” “People buying in Belvedere are not necessarily starting their search here they might search south Bexleyheath or Welling with a mile radius then see the price difference,” says Jack Clyde of Robinson Jackson Popular roads in the area include Bedonwell Road which has Thirties semi-detached houses a quick walk from the nursery on the same road so really any road off that one is a good choice,” says Clyde Two-bedroom Victorian terraces in Alfred Road for around £310,000 or three-bedroom semi-detached houses from £380,000 to £400,000 Schools: Bedonwell Infant and Nursery School is rated outstanding by Ofsted There are well-rated Grammar schools in Welling the leafy well-heeled suburb is popular with young couples and families on the hunt for good schools “Some people have moved south of the river because of Hammersmith bridge [closing],” says Paul Westwood of Knight Frank “If they’ve got children at St Paul’s or The Harrodian PR consultant Deborah Battsek moved to East Sheen 25 years ago then sold her house in Temple Sheen Road to buy a garden flat about five minutes away “There’s a wonderful local community,” says Deborah “Friends of mine living in the country just became glorified taxi drivers while everything my children did was within walking distance and “The closure of Hammersmith bridge is a complete nightmare for homeowners but even with that I still want to be back there,” adds Deborah who says it was the right time to make a change — swapping her five-bedroom house for an apartment in Leinster Avenue “The people who bought the house are a young couple with a six-month-old baby They moved from a one-bedroom flat with no outside space Cottages on the roads around North Worple Way with semi-detached houses a five-minute walk to the park or high street Schools: There are five outstanding primary schools most of the secondary state schools are rated good Among independent schools is Ibstock Place which ranks in the top 10 per cent for A-level results