please empty your brain below
dg writes: 3) food, 4) garden waste
Many local residents don't touch out when alighting at West Harrow, because it isn't necessary when you have a travelcard. (It is in the Oyster terms and conditions, but there is no penalty for failing to do so.)
A pedant comments: the living are interned, the dead are interred.
dg writes: Fixed, thanks.
The north side of it is completely new to me and, so far, unexplored!
Judging by the sun, you must have been there yesterday!
Great read DG!
I remember the fall of the Shaftesbury pub - it was always doomed when it became a hungry horse, doing such bad carvery that the sat pots were regularly filled with sugar. The McDonalds was there for years without being a “drive-thru”. Residents protested that it would be redeveloped to a “drive-thru” in time; McDonalds rubbished it. Alas, it came to pass. “Maya Pub” in the row of shops opposite on Shaftesbury circle was briefly called the Shaftesbury in the last five years. It always seemed to have an edge, however. Domestics and scuffles spilled onto the circle one Christmas Eve, I recall.
West Harrow recreation ground has been smartening up in the last few years - with the cafe and refurbishment of what for years were the worst tennis courts you’d ever find in a park. In summer, there is cricket and football being played everywhere. The ridgeway crossing the line that heads from West Harrow on to Rayners Lane provides a lovely view of the railway and some delicious blackberries in late summer. Just watch the pedestrian signage if you’re over 5’10” - it really is rather low.
A great read DG. Always happy to offer you a cup of tea and locals tour if you end up with South Harrow, Northolt Park it Harrow-on-the-Hill.
I grew up in this small square of the map so particularly interesting for me.
Other points of interest include the former Vaughan School (is it now flats?), the remains of WW2 bunkers in Wilson Gdns, the now abandoned and mysterious brethren meeting hall, Roger Bannister's House on Drury Lane, the Tesco you mentioned (formerly the Apollo pub, as featured in the film Mike Basset: England Manager).
The old Whitmore High buildings were apparenly previously a hospital ( I cannot find any source for this). As a former pupil this makes sense, it was a building of long corridors and could easily be imagined as such.
Both rec grounds mentioned have undergone a bit of a revival in the last few years after a long period of decline which is good to see. I still miss the crazy golf though!
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