History
Towards the end of the 17th century several springs were found on the north-east side of Acton and, for a time, they became health spas. As a result of the local soft water Acton became famous for its laundries and at the end of the 19th century there were around 170 establishments in South Acton. These laundries would serve hotels and the rich in London's West End, leading to the nickname "Soapsuds Island".
The parish of Acton formed a local board of health in 1865; becoming an urban district in 1894. The town became incorporated as the Municipal Borough of Acton in 1921. This authority combined with the municipal boroughs of Ealing and Southall to form the London Borough of Ealing, within Greater London in 1965.
Acton was the second largest industry for the second world war (The first being Coventry).
South Acton was known as "Soap Sud City" as it was the major area for all Laundry in West London, the last laundry closed in the late seventies and is now a block of low red brick flats.
Read more about this topic: Acton, London
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