Pinner facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pinner
High Street
Pinner
Population	38,698 2021 Census
OS grid reference	TQ115895
• Charing Cross	12.2 miles (19.6 km) SE
London borough	Harrow
Ceremonial county	Greater London
Region	London
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	PINNER
Postcode district	HA5
Dialling code	020
Police	Metropolitan
Fire	London
Ambulance	London
EU Parliament	London
UK Parliament	Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner Harrow West
London Assembly	Brent and Harrow
List of places UK England London 51°35′36″N 0°23′22″W / 51.5932°N 0.3894°W / 51.5932; -0.3894

Pinner is a lively suburb located in northwest London, England. It's part of the London Borough of Harrow and is about 12 miles (19 km) northwest of Charing Cross, near the border with Hillingdon. In 2021, about 38,698 people lived here.

Pinner started as a small village, or 'hamlet', a long time ago in the Middle Ages. The historic St John the Baptist church was built in the 1300s. You can still see old Tudor buildings in the village. The High Street has many buildings from the 1700s, while Bridge Street feels more like a modern town with lots of shops.

Discovering Pinner's Past

Street sign for Pinner

Pinner was first mentioned in records in 1231 as Pinnora. The name might come from an old word meaning 'hill'. It could also mean 'hill-slope shaped like a pin'. The River Pinn flows through the area and shares its name.

The oldest part of Pinner is around the parish church of St. John the Baptist. This church was first mentioned in 1234. It was rebuilt in the early 1300s and officially opened again in 1321. The oldest house still standing, East End Farm Cottage, is from the late 1400s.

Pinner grew a lot between 1923 and 1939. New housing areas were built, partly because of the Metropolitan Railway. This is when Pinner, including Hatch End, became the suburban area we see today. It now connects with nearby places like Rayners Lane and Eastcote.

Pinner has many homes built in the 1930s in the cool Art Deco style. Elm Park Court is a great example. Pinner also hosts one of the UK's oldest fairs, which has been held every year since 1336!

Pinner used to be in the historic county of Middlesex. In 1965, it became part of the London Borough of Harrow in Greater London.

Pinner's Historic Church

Pinner's St John the Baptist parish church was officially opened in 1321. It was built where an even older church once stood. Parts of the church, like the west tower, are from the 1400s.

How Pinner is Governed

The local government, Harrow Council, has been led by the Conservative Party since 2022. Pinner is divided into two areas, Pinner and Pinner South. Each area has three local councillors who represent the community.

For the London Assembly, Pinner is part of the Brent and Harrow area. Since 2008, Navin Shah from the Labour Party has represented this area. For the UK Parliament, Pinner is in the Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner area. David Simmonds is the current Member of Parliament for this area.

Exploring Pinner's Geography

Farmland near Pinner

Pinner includes Pinner Village in the middle, plus areas like Pinner Green and Pinnerwood Park. To the northeast is Hatch End, which has its own railway station.

The River Pinn flows through Pinner. There are also many large parks and open spaces. These include Pinner Memorial Park, Pinner Village Gardens, Pinner Wood, and Pinner Park.

Most of Pinner is about 45 to 60 meters (148 to 197 feet) above sea level. Nower Hill is higher, reaching about 80 meters (262 feet). The Pinnerwood area is quite steep, rising to over 120 meters (394 feet) near Pinner Hill Golf Course.

Neighbouring communities

	Northwood	Oxhey	Hatch End
	Ruislip		Headstone
		Pinner
	Eastcote	Rayners Lane	North Harrow

Pinner's Diverse Community

The lake at Pinner Memorial Park

Pinner is a place where many different cultures and religions live together. The number of people from ethnic minority groups has grown a lot since the 1970s. However, Pinner ward still has a high percentage of white residents compared to other parts of Harrow. The community is served by various churches, a synagogue, and other places of worship.

Fun Fairs and Fetes in Pinner

Crowds at Pinner Fair, 1988

Pinner is famous in North West London for its fun fairs and fetes. These events bring together the diverse community.

• Pinner Fair has been held every year since 1336. King Edward III first allowed this fair. It still attracts thousands of people from Pinner and nearby areas. The fair was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, a small event was held to keep the tradition alive.
• Pinner Donkey Derby and Fete was a charity event held between 1925 and 1939. It was organized by a local priest and a famous jockey. Large crowds came to see the donkey races and spot celebrities.
• St. George's Day celebrations are organized by the Rotary Club of Pinner. A unique event is the "Ye Olde Wheelbarrow Race." Teams race around Pinner, pushing each other in wheelbarrows.

Sports and Leisure Activities

Pinner has a rugby team called Pinner and Grammarians RFC. There is also a cricket team, Pinner Cricket Club. Young football players can join Pinner United FC. The area also has a golf course, Pinner Golf course.

Besides many restaurants and pubs, Pinner has an amateur theatre group, Pinner Players. They have been performing since 1936 at Pinner Village Hall.

The Heath Robinson Museum opened in Pinner Memorial Park in 2016. It celebrates the work of the famous cartoonist William Heath Robinson.

Pinner in Books and on Screen

Pinner in Literature

Pinner is mentioned in some famous books:

• Edward Lear wrote a funny poem about Pinner in More Nonsense Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, etc.
• H. G. Wells included Pinner in his science fiction classic The War of the Worlds.

Pinner in TV and Movies

Pinner has been a filming location for many TV shows and movies:

• The Pinner Fair was shown in Sir John Betjeman's 1973 BBC film Metro-Land.
• The BBC sitcom May to December (1989–1994) was set in Pinner.
• Children's TV series like Aquila and Chucklevision filmed scenes in Pinner.
• The BBC sitcom My Hero used Pinner for location shots between 2000 and 2006.
• A scene from The Inbetweeners (2008) was filmed on Pinner High Street.
• The 2009 film Nowhere Boy and the 2012 film May I Kill U? also filmed scenes in Pinner.
• Michael Portillo visited Pinner in Great British Railway Journeys (2015).
• BBC Radio 1's 24 Years at the Tap End is Chris Stark's story of growing up in Pinner.
• BBC Radio 5 Live's That Peter Crouch Podcast often mentions Pinner.
• Scenes for the movie Rocketman (2019), about Elton John's life, were filmed in Pinner.
• An episode of Killing Eve (2020) is titled "Are You from Pinner?".

Famous People from Pinner

Sir Elton John was born and grew up in Pinner

Many well-known people have lived in or have connections to Pinner:

• Ronnie Barker and David Suchet, famous actors.
• Samuel and Isabella Beeton, who published Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management.
• Derek Bell, a motor racing driver.
• Leslie Bricusse, a well-known composer.
• Ivy Compton-Burnett, a novelist.
• Daniel Dancer, a famous miser.
• Charlie Dore, a singer.
• Daniel Finkelstein, a politician.
• W. S. Gilbert, a famous writer.
• Martin Gould, a professional snooker player.
• Mehdi Hasan, a journalist.
• Tony Hatch, a composer.
• Bob Holness, former host of Blockbusters.
• Peter Jacobs, an Olympic fencer.
• Elton John, the famous singer and songwriter, grew up in Pinner Green.
• Norman Kember, a peace activist.
• Lee Latchford-Evans, from the pop group Steps.
• Simon Le Bon, lead singer of Duran Duran.
• Liza Lehmann, a composer.
• Jane March, an actress.
• Agnes Marshall, who helped invent edible ice cream cones.
• Patrick Moore, the TV presenter and astronomer.
• Horatia Nelson, daughter of Lord Nelson.
• Lucy Porter, a comedian.
• Henry James Pye, a poet laureate.
• Joseph Raphson, a mathematician.
• Heath Robinson, a cartoonist, who has a museum in Pinner.
• Michael Rosen, a poet and children's author.
• Chris Stark, a BBC Radio presenter.
• David "Screaming Lord" Sutch, a musician and politician, is buried here.
• Matt Wallace, a professional golfer.
• Gordon Waller, from the music duo Peter and Gordon.
• Molly Weir, an actress.
• Bruce Welch, guitarist in The Shadows.
• Maude Valerie White, a composer.

Getting Around Pinner

George V Avenue dual carriageway, which cuts through Pinner Park

Train and Tube Services

• Pinner Underground station opened in 1885. It's on the Metropolitan line in London fare zone 5. A train ride to Baker Street takes about 30 minutes.
• Hatch End railway station opened in 1842. It's on the London Overground Watford DC line in London fare zone 6. It takes about 45 minutes to reach Euston railway station.

Bus Routes

Transport for London manages public transport in Pinner.

Cycling and Walking

• The Metropolitan Quietway Cycle Route runs through Pinner. There are also cycle lanes on Pinner Road and Eastcote Road.
• The Celandine Route is a walking trail that ends at Pinner Memorial Park.

Pinner's Rich Heritage

Harrow Heritage Plaques

The Harrow Heritage Trust places brown plaques to mark important places. These plaques show the history of the London Borough of Harrow.

• Queen's Head Public House on the High Street.
• Wax Well on Waxwell Lane.
• Elthorne Gate on the High Street.
• Grim's Dyke on Montesole Playing Fields.
• Pinner House on Church Lane.
• Pinner Hill Farm on Pinner Hill Road.

English Heritage Plaques

London's blue plaques scheme, run by English Heritage, connects famous people to the buildings where they lived.

• Sir Ambrose Heal (1872–1959), a furniture designer, lived at The Fives Court, Moss Lane from 1901–1917.
• W. Heath Robinson (1872–1944), an illustrator, lived at 75 Moss Lane from 1913–1918.

Pinner's Architecture Through Time

Pinner's buildings show how architecture has changed over many centuries. Much of it is protected by residents or the Harrow council.

Oldest Buildings (1066–1603)

• Church of St John the Baptist on Church Lane.

High Street

• Shops and Restaurants on the High Street.
• Cottages and Farmhouse on Waxwell Lane.
• Homes on Moss Lane.

Georgian Style (1714–1811)

• Pinner House on Church Lane.

Estate agent at the corner of High Street

Pinner Police Station, Waxwell Lane

• Shops, Restaurants, and Pubs on the High Street.
• Pinner Park Farm House on George V Avenue.
• Former Granary at Harrow Museum.

Victorian Era Buildings (1837–1901)

• Pinner Station on Station Approach.
• Pinner Police Station on Elm Park Road.

Tooke's Folly at Pinner Hill Farm, c. 1862

• Pinner Hill Farm on Pinner Hill Road.
• Pinner Hill Golf Club House on South View Road.

Metro-land Style (1903–1939)

• Suburban homes on Cecil Park Estate.
• Tudor revival homes on Grange Estate.
• Arts and Crafts homes on Pinnerwood Park Estate.
• Cottages on Elm Park Road.

Art Deco Style (1919–1939)

• Elm Park Court on Elm Park Road.
• Pinner Court on Pinner Road.
• Harrow Fire Station on Pinner Road.
• Pinner Wood School on Latimer Gardens.

Modern Buildings (1945–1980)

• Roman Catholic Church of St Luke on Love Lane.
• Shops on Bishops Walk.
• Shops on Barters Walk.
• Homes on Nursery Road.

Postmodern Buildings (1980–present)

• Heath Robinson Museum in Pinner Memorial Park.
• Homes on Caulfield Gardens.
• Nursery in Montesole Playing Fields.
• Flats on Marsh Road.