THE district between Hendon and Kingsbury is believed to be haunted.
Thirty-five years ago, Welsh Harp Fair was bigger than to-day. On
Bank Holidays I used to visit friends at Neasden, near Wembley, and
we boys used to walk across the fields to Hendon.
The homeward road (Cool Oak-lane), after crossing the Welsh Harp,
wound up a hill between tall dark trees and silent ponds, and past
the blank wall of the grounds surrounding a large house.
Although only five miles from the Marble Arch, it was very lonely:
being cut off from London by the Harp, a sheet of water a mile long.
The people of Neasden believed that the road was haunted. I remember
the boys speaking of actually seeing a tall white ghost. This story
may have been originated in the contrast between the brilliantly
illuminated fair and the dark country road. Of course, the fair was
not always on, so there was some other reason for the superstition.
Anyhow, the neighbourhood is unchanged, and the children of to-day
keep away from the place at nights.