RAYNERS LANE Met.line (Uxbridge)/ Picc. line
LONDON TUBE RAMBLES
Metroland. . ‘Rural tradition with civilised progress’
Although the railway came to this area in 1906, it was not until the 1930’s that building development changed its character from thinly populated rural parish to modern suburb. Metropolitan Railway County Estates (hence ‘Metro-land’) advertised the new houses in colourful brochures with uplifting slogans extolling the benefits of living within commuting distance of London while being surrounded by healthy countryside.A fine example of ‘civilised progress’ is the triple fronted former Ace cinema in Alexander Avenue. This is a perfectly proportioned Art Deco building (1936 F.E. Bromige) with a stylised elephant’s trunk down the middle. It is now a Zoroastrian Centre, and happily in good condition. The striking International style brick-built shopping parades just before the Centre are interesting rather than beautiful.
As for 'rural tradition’, the nearest to that is provided by a half-hour stroll by the Yeading Brook which is less than ten minutes from the Underground. To get to this stream turn right as you come out of the station (you will see the former cinema on the other side of road). Then take the first right, High Worple. Walk to the end of this not very inspiring residential road. At the roundabout go straight ahead past some metal fencing and then through a gate. Almost immediately there is a sign for Roxbourne Park. Go left here. There’s a steep slope for a couple of metres and it might be muddy. (To avoid the slope, instead of turning left, go straight ahead up the tarmac path which follows the brook at a higher level.)
A meandering walk through woodland brings you to a field with a children’s playground (all concrete – rather uninviting) at the end. The path then crosses the brook. It continues west for some time, but then the poor thing does get rather suburbanised, so take the route that goes ahead until a T junction. Turn right and into a car park. Here there is a metal gate near a sports pavilion. Go through the gate and turn right, passing the pavilion. Follow the path round and soon you will be walking by the stream once more. Now, however, the banks slope steeply so you are looking down at the water. At a conventional playground the path forks. Go right here, over the brook again and retrace your steps to the Tube.
MAP
www.londontuberambles.co.uk
Rayners Lane is just one walk from the many to be found at London Tube Rambles. There are architectural gems, beautiful country views, historic places and quirky buildings even in the most unpromising areas covered by the outer London Underground stations. Usually the discoveries are within a mile of the Tube - often only five minutes walk away. If you reached this as an individual page via a search engine, you might like to click on the link above see the other destinations explored. You'll be amazed at what's out there!
© DR
