This is Harlesden

This booklet sums up the spirit of Harlesden as seen by young people in summer 2010. Harlesden can be described as a melting pot of cultures and is home to a vibrant community. This booklet celebrates that fact through the colour, patterns, images, poetry, captivating stories and facts the young people collected. This booklet records the young people’s journey as they explored the identity of Harlesden and discovered its positive and celebratory aspects.

CreditsPhotographyAnna ShkallaBenedict Johnson Photography LtdYoung peopleArchive images courtesy of Brent Archives

Design Anna Shkalla

With thanks toJean Joseph- project ArtistAdisa the verbalizer Ann-Marie JohnsonMohammed Hasan

Funded by Renaissance London

Participants:YhonTasDestinyKrystianAmeerNikitaLeah

AngelaAntonioWanetaGeorginaRhianneZulxikorChanelle

“I would describe it as an eclectic mix”

“Harlesden has always been known as the musical town”

“I call it sunny Harlesden. The sun always shines in Harlesden”

“There’s a little bit of everybody here”

“I love it”

In 2001 there were 263,474 people living in Harlesden.(2001 Census)

In 1086 there were 22 villagers in Harlesden, but 100 pigs.

Harlesden began as a Saxon settlement

and was originally called ‘Herewulf’s Tun’

(meaning Herewulf’s farmstead).

In 1837 the railway line was built to the south of Harlesden village.

The Jubilee Clock was built in 1888.

Willesden Junction was opened in 1866, and kick started construction in the area.

In 1599 there were not many more

than seven houses in Harlesden.

THE FACE OF HARLESDEN

beautiful, aggressiveadventurous, outgoingsmart, attractivejoyful, passionate

that sparkle of culturewhat a jewelthe unique attractiontall and proudwhich sparkles with the juice of imaginationspreading the joylike a calm overflowing river

memories of historic placessurround his inner coreunwanted spots on his faceare the punches thrown by rivals

gliding to the beat of pop harlesden’s got rhythm

He walks down the street with his tropical skin

He’s always confused like a bouncing ball

His eyes change colourlike the nature of summer

And he dances with R&B in his ears

He looks left and righthe doesn’t know where to go

Then he sees Brent CrossAnd he goes to see a show

He wears red ruby on his faceAnger is always close to his face

The b

eauty spot of Harlesden is the shops as they vary in cultures, shapes, sizes - all are welcoming to all

A selection of shops in Harlesden

races and religions

The colo

urfu

l it

em

s things to buy new customers get stuck in the rainbow sweety items bubble up and new items show up......................

the old woman, the mother nature of harlesden fl oats across the streets and pavements as if she was an ocean the old woman the

skys

crap

er

of all eyes lo

oks u

pon the comm

unity everyday and every night

the old woman

the ingredients

the recipes in

order for me to truly live

in th

is co

mmunity to work as a partner

ship

the old woman is far fro

m good but good from far

just like gold plated jewelery

when you look, you feel like you are in your homeland

she’s a trustworthy friendshe keeps businesses safeshe’s always a borrowerwho can decide my fateshe works everydayyet you don’t have to paywhen you ask, she givesshe’s strong and stiff she’s an unfiggerable riddle, if you don’t know how she isshe can be fast, lean, slow people crowd around

the best memoriesthe fun timesthe new friendsthe old friendsthe first friendsthe hellosand the goodbyesthe tearsthe laughterthe smiles and frownsthe first crushthe first kissthe first boyfriendthe first gift

.........at times I don’t want to leave

“I have run this shop for 30 years

and my customers come from all

over London”“By the 1970s, McVitie’s biscuit factory was the biggest biscuit factory in the western world”

“All these businesses have been here for years, 30 years, 40 years and even 60”

“He said the sign would last for 3

years, but it’s been up for 33”

“Mahogany, the carnival place, is

Harlesden’s best kept secret”

“This is my father’s identity card from when he came over from Jamaica in 1949, he kept it all this time. First stop was Paddington and then they moved to Harlesden in the early 1950s. I’ve lived here for most of my life”

hand rest, eye mover, stool for kids, my alphabet cinema, m

y pap

er c

hurc

h, a

lway

s a lasting feeling

face as wrinkled as a prune

heart as peaceful as a classical tune

the messy appearance

is not as it seems

as deep into the root happiness

and wisdom lurk

like a trifle, full of character

and looks confusing to the eyes

you long to discover

what awaits you inside

like gold he can be soft and fragile

This booklet is part of ‘This is me, This is Harlesden’, a project Brent Museum and Brent Archives undertook with young people during 2010 to explore identity.

‘This is Harlesden’ involved a group of young people working with an artist to explore Harlesden’s identity, both past and present. The group recorded positive aspects of Harlesden through photography, sketching, writing poems and interviewing local people. The young people used their research as inspiration to create two banners, which were displayed at Harlesden Library Plus. ‘This is Me’, the other part of the project, explored fashion and identity with young people and resulted in a short film, available as a separate DVD.

‘This is Me, This is Harlesden’ is part of Stories of the World, one of the major projects at the heart of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. The Cultural Olympiad began in 2008, and uses the power of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to inspire creativity across all forms of culture, especially amongst young people.

For more information about this project please contact the Learning Officer at:

Brent Museum and Brent Archives020 8937 3600museum@brent.gov.ukhttp://www.brent.gov.uk/museum