Acton History

Pictures of Acton

The Kings Rooms

The Kings Rooms, at 55, High Street, Acton contain some elaborate plasterwork.

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These photographs show the interior of 55 High St, Acton – ‘The Kings Rooms’ –  which is soon to be re-developed as part of the regeneration of the swimming pool complex,  although the façade to the High Street will be retained.  The splendid plasterwork in the form of ship’s prows is in the first floor room which was built for use as a dining room.

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The large Acton Borough Council coat of arms with the motto ’“Floreat Actona’ surmounts the interior staircase to the dining room.

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The two Swimming Baths and personal baths were built in 1904, and were supplemented in 1926 by the building usually known as ‘The King's Rooms’ fronting the High Street. During the winter, these formed an entrance hall to the large baths which were floored over and transformed into ‘Grand Hall’ for use as a dance and concert hall. The hall could seat 730 on the ground floor with a further 170 in the gallery. The ground floor of “The King's Rooms” contained cloakrooms and facilities, with a doorway from the entrance hall leading down a set of steps into the main hall. The first floor room was used as a restaurant and the elaborate plaster coving with ship's prows apparently refers to the ‘sailor’ King, (King George V). The name possibly recalls that it was built on part of the site of the former King George V Garden that opened Coronation Day 1911. During the 1st World War the garden was taken over by temporary Army offices, later used as offices for the Acton Borough Council. The remainder of the garden is now occupied by the 1930s part of the Town Hall, completing the original vision for the site.

 

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These images are © D Knights 2012 and are used with the kind permission of Ealing Council.

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