kids encyclopedia robot

Pinner facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Pinner
Pinner - High Street - geograph.org.uk - 81890.jpg
High Street
Pinner is located in Greater London
Pinner
Pinner
Population 38,698 2021 Census
OS grid reference TQ115895
• Charing Cross 12.2 miles (19.6 km) SE
London borough
Ceremonial county Greater London
Region
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

Pinnersign
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 - geograph.org.uk - 5967392
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.

Pinner's Diverse Community

Pinner Memorial Park - The Pond - geograph.org.uk - 81897
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

Pinner Fair (geograph 3406556)
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:

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

Elton John on stage, 2008
Sir Elton John was born and grew up in Pinner

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

Getting Around Pinner

George V Avenue
George V Avenue dual carriageway, which cuts through Pinner Park

Train and Tube Services

Bus Routes

Route Start End Operator
183 Pinner, Bridge Street Golders Green Bus Station London Sovereign
H11 Harrow Bus Station Northwood, Mount Vernon Hospital, London Sovereign
H12 South Harrow Bus Station Stanmore Station London Sovereign
H13 Ruislip Lido Northwood Hills, St Vincent's Park Metroline
398 Ruislip Station Greenford, Hemery Road London United Busways

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)

Looking west south-west down the High Street - geograph.org.uk - 5074179
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.
Gibbs Gillespie - geograph.org.uk - 6462642
Estate agent at the corner of High Street
Pinner Police Station - geograph.org.uk - 1489751
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, Pinner Hill Farm - geograph.org.uk - 6414673
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.
kids search engine
Pinner Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.