From the sixteenth century, wheat was the main crop of Perivale, a crop for which it gained a high reputation. With industrialisation, much of Perivale's land began to be used to grow grass for hay to feed London's horses. The building of the Paddington Branch of the Grand Union Canal in 1801 (which still runs through Perivale today) led to a high demand for Perivale's hay.
By 1839, almost all of Perivale's land grew hay for the London market, a scene described in the ending of John Betjeman’s poem Return to Ealing:
"...And a gentle gale from Perivale/blows up the hayfield scent."
The pre-twentieth-century population of Perivale remained low. Just 28 people lived in Perivale in 1801. An 1841 census recorded just five inhabited residential buildings, all farm houses; Horsenden Farm to the northwest, Grange Farm and Church Farm in the southwest, Manor Farm to the east and Alperton Farm to the north. By 1901, the population remained tiny at just 60 people.
Development and urbanisation, 1930s onwards
Things changed with transportation developments in an increasingly urban and expanding London. The A40 Western Avenue was built, running east–west across central and west London, cutting right through Perivale. Perivale was also connected to central London via both Perivale train and the then named Alperton-Perivale Station (now Alperton Underground Station). Perivale's close proximity to central London and excellent transport links led to its rapid expansion.
Sanderson Wallpapers Ltd was built in 1929 and by 1963 they employed almost 2,000 people. The iconic Hoover Building was opened in 1932 by Hoover Limited. Located on the northern face of the Western Avenue, the factory employed more than 3,000 people at its height of production in the 1960s, making vacuum cleaners and other household appliances. Sanderson's and Hoover were hailed as model factories, with workers enjoying enviable working conditions. By 1951, Perivale's population had jumped to 9,979.
