But, by early 1940, the residents of Dollis Hill would’ve noticed a new squat building appear where the modern buildings are in my picture. This was a lecture and store room for the research station - planned before rumours of war started.

But things were not as they seemed. The total cost of this building was estimated at £250,000. And it was mostly funded by the British Government.

The stores and lecture rooms were demolished in the 1980s (the black and white photograph being one of the last of this structure), and a housing association built the new houses that can be seen there today.

However, they only scratched the surface.