Boca Acton
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Boca Acton, a very small area in West London, is situated between Acton Vale and Acton Town. Boca extends from the Askew Road to Horn Lane, and Goldsmiths to Valetta Road.
Boca (meaning the mouth of the Vale or Stream), has become fashionable amongst artists and musicians since the mid 1990's.
The centre-piece of Boca is the historic chimney of the Wilkinson Sword factory, where it was founded in 1772. The company became famous for manufacturing knives and razors, and previously manufactured swords. The company's past product lines have included guns, bayonets, and other objects such as typewriters and motorcycles.
Boca was famous in the 17th and 18th centuries for its soft water wells, from which the districts distinctive undulating water emblem originated. Boca's wells were first noted as early as 1612, but first became popular during Queen Anne's reign, becoming even more popular later in that century. The water was white and sweet, although a little bitter, and was sold throughout London. There was an assembly room and a racecourse. Because of these fine waters, the number of pubs increased from 13 in 1716 to 21 in 1752. One Brookes in 1763 described the waters thus:
- It's very clear and without smell. The taste is a little nausious, like a weak solution of Epsom salt. It will curdle with soup and with creme of tartare; it produces a white, grumous cloud.
The name Boca fell into disuse at the end of the 19th Century and did not re-establish itself as a known district in London until the 1960's.
Boca Acton is now home to a thriving artistic community, and is a centre of rich cultural heritage and is rapidly becoming one of London's fastest rising property hotspots.
