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Coordinates: 51°34'33?N 0°25'60?W? / ?51.5758, -0.4333
Ruislip (pronounced "rice-lip" ['ra?sl?p]) is a place in the London Borough of Hillingdon, in northwest London, England[1] (formerly in the county of Middlesex).
[edit] Etymology
Its name is created from the Old English ryse, "rush" and hlype, "leap", which is thought to refer to a spot where the little River Pinn could once be crossed. Other scholars argue the second syllable is derived from "slaep" meaning "a slippery spot". Thus Ruislip means "the wet place where rushes grow". It has had various spellings until recorded as Ruislip in 1527.
[edit] Attractions
[edit] Ruislip Lido
Nearby attractions include Ruislip Lido, a converted reservoir with an artificial sand beach, surrounded by woodlands through which runs the Ruislip Lido Railway, a miniature 12"-gauge railway with diesel and steam locomotives. Ruislip Lido was established as a reservoir to feed the Grand Union Canal by damming and flooding the lower part of the valley between Park Wood and Copse Wood, including the hamlet of Park Hearn. Work began in 1811; the reservoir began feeding the Canal in 1816.
[edit] Ruislip Woods
4 woodlands, covering a total of 295ha, Park Wood, Copse Wood, Mad Bess Wood and Bayhurst Wood combine to form Ruislip woods. it is the largest block of ancient semi-natural woodland in Greater London. In 1997 it became the first National Nature Reserve[[1]] in Greater London. It is protected by a number of conservation acts, helping to protect its long term future.[2]
[edit] Plant life
The woodland is predominantly hornbeam Carpinus betulus coppice with oak standards and is interesting because of the occurrence of both pedunculate oak Quercus roburand sessile oak Quercus petraea. The mixture of Hornbeam and beech Fagus sylvatica in Bayhurst Wood is also unusual and wild service trees Sorbus torminalis, although infrequent, can be found throughout the woodland. Other associations include oak/birch Betula pendulaand alder Alnus glutinosa with aspen Populus tremula. The wooded streams, scrub, ponds and an area of grass-heath mosaic contribute to the diversity of the site from which around 360 species of vascular plants have been recorded. These include a number of species that are scarce or locally rare.[3]
[edit] Sports
Ruislip is home to the grounds of The London County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association, the Emerald GAA Grounds. Interestly Ruislip is also the home of Eastcote Hockey Club, based at Kings College playing fields. The club was originally based in Eastcote, from where it took its name, but moved to its current location in 1964.
[edit] Land and Buildings
To the north of Ruislip High Street stand the Grade II listed Manor Farm House, a 13th-century Grade II Great Barn and the 16th-century Little Barn, which houses Ruislip library. The 20-acre (8-hectare) site includes the remains of an 11th-century fortification that is a scheduled ancient monument. A working farm until the 1930s, the farm was let by King's College, Cambridge, the owners of the land from 1500 to the mid 20th century.It is now under a large redevelopment project.
Nearby is RAF Northolt, with the Northolt Aerodrome, where a Polish War Memorial commemorates the numerous Polish airmen, along with airmen of other nations, stationed in the area during World War II.
Ruislip is also home to popular pop combo Scouting For Girls. The bassist worked in Threshers of Ruislip High Street for some time.
[edit] Schools
[edit] Primary Schools
Bishop Winnington-Ingram, Bourne, Deanesfield, Field End, Lady Bankes, Newnham, Ruislip Gardens, Sacred Heart, St Swithun Wells, Warrender, Whiteheath,
[edit] Secondary Schools
Bishop Ramsey, Queensmead, Ruislip High,
[4]
[edit] In fiction
The town featured in Leslie Thomas's 1974 novel of suburbia, Tropic of Ruislip. The book was actually based on nearby Carpenders Park.
[edit] Locality and services
[edit] Nearest places
[edit] Nearest tube stations
[edit] Nearest railway stations
[edit] References
[edit] External links
(Source: Wikipedia) |