Dukes Meadows Allotment in Chiswick – Scene of the Crime

The reason that so much of “Dirty Money Terrible People” is set in Chiswick is because I know Chiswick very well indeed. Walpole Gardens was where I bought my first flat, Jenny and I got married in Turnham Green church and we then bought a house in Heathfield Terrace before buying our current home on the marina in Chiswick Quay. We love living here.

I remember seeing the Chiswick Quay estate being built in the mid-70’s. Before the development the area was called Cubitt’s basin and was home to people living on boats in a kind of creek. There are a couple of Pathe News films covering the area which are wonderful. You can find them here:

https://www.britishpathe.com/video/river-scenes-and-barge-colony-aka-pathe-pictorial/query/Chiswick+show+girls

https://www.britishpathe.com/video/floating-village/query/Chiswick

The great thing about living in Chiswick is how different the areas are: Grove Park, Bedford Park, the Glebe Estate and the High Road with its wide pavements, pubs, restaurants and shops. It’s a shame that Cycleway 9 has screwed up the traffic but, hopefully, things will all work out OK in the end.

I also wanted to feature the Thames as I love it so much. Apart from some time in New York I have never lived more than three miles from the river and I learned to swim in it a few miles from the source when I was five. Not sure I would want to swim in it now but I saw a couple of chaps doing so next to Corney Reach the other day when I was on my run.

My allotment in Dukes Meadows in Chiswick was also featured in “Dirty Money Terrible People”. I couldn’t resist it! This photo is my plot in early Spring. If you want one you need to get on the Hounslow website:

https://www.hounslow.gov.uk/info/20168/parks_and_open_spaces/1558/allotments

Good luck; the waiting list for the Dukes Meadows site is seven years!