My Review

8 out of 10 stars
This must be the site of the old Shandon which burnt down. The Shandon was an Irish dance hall drawing its clientele mainly from the Irish staff at the nearby St Bernards Hospital which, at the time, housed the insane. This was the era when most of the hospital staff in the UK were Irish immigrants. As an Anglo it was amazing, at half time, to listen to the cheers when the Irish hurling results were announced. All Irish dancing. Quite a revelation. My Irish girl friend from St Bernards, Theresa Burke, had an allure that led me from the wilds of Essex across all of London to spend a Saturday evening at the Shandon. Then, to sleep in my friend George's room at St Bernards (one did not stay with the girls in that era--- not from want of trying, then using sheets tied together, to shimmy down from his window onto the surrounding wall (St Bernards was built like a mediaeval castle) and then a jump down onto the canal path. A walk back to Ealing underground and then the journey back to Essex. Happy days. What an innocent time. Great place---- the Shandon. Not to mention the Three Feathers pub next to Ealing underground. I hope it is still there.