Monday 9^th August 1846 proved to be a black day in the history of the Roundhouse, when the savage three-hour battle which became known as the ‘Round House Riot’ took place between English and Irish navies employed by the contractors. An interesting account of the riot and aftermath can be found in ‘In Camden Town’ by BBC writer/producer David Thomson (Hutchinson, 1983 & Penguin 1985), which also refers to Messrs Pickford’s canal boat activities in the area.

Another quote on the LNWR’s association with W.&A. Gilbey is contained in Alec Waugh’s book ‘Merchants of Wine’ (Cassell, 1957).

‘By 1914 … The volume of business had become so great that the London and North Western Railway constructed a whole network of rails to reach the export department. Every day a train known as “Gilbey’s Special” left (Camden) for the London Docks’.

Incidentally, this book contains two illustrations of interest to us: One is a sunny view of the Roundhouse, taken from Chalk Farm platform as an Oerlikon set departs for Broad Street, with LNWR type signals in view. The second is of a small Gilbey four-horse team in Oval Road, with ‘A’ shed and square chimney in the background.