This book is a local history booklet about the history of Notting Hill and Ladbroke Grove. It tries to explain that these are two separate areas which border each other. Notting Hill is an affluent area. However the northern tip of Notting Hill which borders Ladbroke Grove became run down in the 1950s. Lancaster Road, W11. is the dividing line between the two areas. The area around Lancaster Road was where the black community moved into in the 1950s. The book gives some information about the Notting Hill Race Riots of 1958 which led to the Notting Hill Carnival.
The book also has information about Ladbroke Grove which was a working class suburb with gas works and factories. One of the earliest car factories in the UK was established in this area.
The book is intended to accompany a guided walk around the area. It therefore focuses on things which you can visit, such as the Elgin pub, the old Electric cinema and the church.
The author was recently on BBC Radio London talking about the book.