|
Coordinates: 51°35'36?N 0°23'22?W? / ?51.5932, -0.3894
Pinner is a suburb in Greater London, UK. Located 12.5 miles (20.1 km) north-west of Charing Cross, it is mostly situated in the London Borough of Harrow, with its western edge in the London Borough of Hillingdon. The area was in the county of Middlesex until 1965, when it was absorbed by the London Government Act 1963 into Greater London.
[edit] History
Pinner was originally a hamlet, being recorded from medieval times. The oldest part of the town including the High Street has a number of Tudor buildings, and the parish church of St John the Baptist dates from at least the early 1200s (having originated as a chapel in the parish of Harrow on the Hill).
Pinner has had an annual street fair since 1336, when it was granted by Royal Charter by Edward III. It remains popular today, being the last of its kind in Middlesex. The fair started as market-style affair and has over time evolved in to a funfair. It was featured in Sir John Betjeman's BBC TV documentary Metro-land (1973).
[edit] Attractions
Pinner has three main shopping areas; Bridge Street, High Street and Marsh Road. Bridge Street (the central business district) has the majority of the shops and is far more urban in its character. Its popularity is partly because the H11, H12 and H13 bus routes run the length of the shopping area and the 183 bus route starts off here on its run to Golders Green.
In recent years many chain stores have opened up on Bridge Street, making the suburb less 'village like' and more in line with other suburban shopping developments. The chain stores themselves have created a fair amount of retail competition, especially as almost all the stores have equivalents run by independent owners that are nearby.
Rents are high in Bridge Street and consequently many banks are located here. Charity shops also line the road.
The High Street in contrast, is mostly made up of mock tudor and 18th century buildings and has a distinctly rural character. It is quieter and more attractive than Bridge Street containing numerous estate agents, several restaurants and locally-owned businesses. Barters Walk runs off the High Street leading to the main supermarket in the village.
Marsh Road runs south from the main village centre and has a variety of other retail outlets, including a DIY store, restaurants, cafes and off-licences, as well as Pinner Library and the Pinn Medical Centre.
Pinner has a range of sport clubs including football, tennis, running, rugby union etc. Pinner has some Fitness clubs in the area such as Fitness First.
[edit] Individuals associated with Pinner
The following people have an association with Pinner:
- The playwright W. S. Gilbert was a magistrate in Pinner from 1893.[1]
- The singer Sir Elton John was born in Pinner in 1947
- Simon LeBon of the band Duran Duran lived in Pinner and attended Pinner County Grammar School in the 1970s
- The astronomer Sir Patrick Moore was born in Pinner in 1923.
- Horatia Nelson, daughter of Lord Nelson and Lady Emma Hamilton, is buried in Pinner Parish old cemetery
- The cartoonist Heath Robinson was from Pinner, and West House in Pinner Memorial Park has a museum dedicated to him
- The actor David Suchet, most famous for his many portrayals of Hercule Poirot on TV, lived for many years in Pinner
- Bob Holness, famous for hosting the TV game show Blockbusters, also lives in Pinner
- The actress Jane March grew up in Pinner; well known for the film The Lover, she was dubbed the "Sinner from Pinner"
- The fictional BBC series One Foot In The Grave starring Richard Wilson and Annette Crosbie centred around a retired Scottish couple living in Pinner in the 1990s
- Lee Latchford Evans and Faye Tozer from the pop group Steps live in Pinner
- The Minpins (Band) all live in and around Pinner, all attending Nower Hill High School
- Comedian Jeff Stevenson lives in Pinner
- The late comedian Ronnie Barker lived in Waxwell Lane
- The Monster Raving Loony Party leader Screaming Lord Sutch lived and was buried in Pinner
- Pink Floyd's keyboard player Rick Wright lived as a child in Hatch End, Pinner and attended St John's Primary School
Sam and Isabella Beeton were residents of Pinner when both were involved in the publishing business and editing the Englishwoman's Domestic Magazine
- Michael Rosen, Children's Laureate 2007-2009, lived in Pinner from the time he was born in 1946 until 1962
- Bid tv's Adam Heppenstall and Price-drop tv's Steve Macdonald currently reside in Pinner
- The BBC comedy series May To December was about a middle-aged lawyer living in Pinner.
[edit] Transport and locale
[edit] Nearby places
[edit] Nearby stations
Pinner tube station on the London Underground's Metropolitan Line is situated in the centre of Pinner. Hatch End (main line) railway station is nearby and was formerly named "Hatch End (for Pinner)". Other nearby stations are: Rayners Lane tube station and Eastcote tube station
[edit] Bus routes
The following London Bus routes operate through Pinner to surrounding towns:
- 183 (Towards Golders Green)
- H11 (Towards Harrow and Mount Vernon Hospital Northwood.)
- H12 (Towards South Harrow and Stanmore)
- H13 (Towards Ruislip Lido and Mount Vernon Hospital)
[edit] References
[edit] External links
(Source: Wikipedia) |