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Towards the end of the 17th century several springs were found on the north-east side of Acton and, for a time, they became health spas. As a result of the local soft water Acton became famous for its laundries and at the end of the 19th century there were around 170 establishments in South Acton. These laundries would serve hotels and the rich in London's West End, leading to the nickname "soapsuds island". During the 20th Century Acton was a major industrial centre employing tens of thousands of people, particularly in the motor vehicles and components industries. The presence of these service industries drew in large numbers of lower and middle class families. Now Acton has a high socio-economic diversity with very little interaction between classes. The majority of low socioeconomic families now live on the South Acton Estate - the largest housing estate in West London with approximately 2,000 homes and 5,800 residents.