3 Historical Outings in Ruislip & Harrow
Today we will list what to see and do if you plan a quick outing in the Harrow & Ruislip areas.
One can give their parents no finer gift than their own company, which becomes especially true as they grow older. Whether your parents are still independent, in a retirement home, or are looked after by a care professional in their home, there are lots of options available when choosing a destination for a day out together. It requires forethought and planning; this is where we can help.
Headstone Manor Museum
The Headstone Museum, widely known as Harrow Museum, is the local history museum for the London Borough of Harrow. Roughly 100m from the entrance gate of Headstone Manor Museum, there is a free car park in Pinner View.
Built-in 1310, the moated manor house, Headstone Manor, is Middlesex’s earliest surviving timber-framed building. Defined as “one of the most interesting domestic complexes in the country,” The fabric of Headstone Manor includes models of work dating from the 14th, 17th, and 18th centuries.
The building of Headstone Manor in Pinner commenced in 1310, as revealed by the dating of the most aged timbers. John de Stratford, Archbishop of Canterbury, purchased additional land near the site in 1344 Harrow and utilized the area as his primary abode in Middlesex. Headstone Manor stayed in the ownership of the Archbishops of Canterbury until 1546 and was ceded to Henry VIII. Soon after, Henry VIII bartered it to one of his court favourites, Edward North. It remained in private ownership for nearly four centuries.
The multiple owners of Headstone Manor made histrionic extensions and modifications to the building, such as adding additional wings and changing the formation of the interior and the exterior of the house. Examples include the panelling of the great hall in 1631 and the upsurge of a modern brick façade in the 1770s, which presents Headstone Manor with the appearance it has in the present day.
Near The Small Barn, The Moat Café and Visitor Centre are where freshly ground coffee, cakes, paninis, and other hot snacks are available. The Visitor Centre also houses a gift shop with various handcrafted pieces, including jewellery, books, and children’s gifts. The Visitor Centre also contains an accessible toilet and baby changing facilities.
The Moat café and visitor center are open every day except Mondays.
Heath Robinson Museum
Heath Robinson Museum in Pinner is dedicated to the illustrator, cartoonist, and artist. Born in 1872, William Heath Robinson was famous for his humorous cartoons displaying whimsical contraptions for day-to-day tasks and more elaborate and detailed illustrations for the works of Shakespeare and Kipling. The Museum dedicated to his memory holds some of his most celebrated pieces and has regular exhibitions showcasing the works of artists inspired by his legacy.
The Museum is found by Pinner Memorial Park on West End Lane and contains a café if you’d like to get a cup of tea and a sandwich while visiting. It’s fully accessible, offering services such as passenger lifts, large print information, wheelchair access, a concessionary rate for those with disabilities, and free admission for carers!
Make sure to check their website for various events and exhibitions!
Pinner Memorial Park
Whether you’re passing through to reach the Heath Robinson Museum or have just left it and are looking for somewhere to enjoy some fresh air, the Pinner Memorial Park is just adjacent to West End Lane. Pinner Memorial Park is on land that was part of the West House estate, at one time the home of Lord Nelson’s daughter Horatia. The last owners left in 1933, and in 1934 part of the grounds were acquired by Harrow UDC for public open space, initially known as Bennett’s Park. Additional land was acquired in 1949 after a public campaign for a memorial to those who died in both world wars, at which time West House was also developed, and the park opened as Pinner Memorial Park in 1950.
It features many amenities, including a duck pond, an aviary, a bowling green, and a small
on-site cafe. Being outdoors, there may be parts where the ground can be tough to walk on; however, there are numerous pathways across the park made of tarmac, paving stone, and loose chippings. Much of the path is level; however, some also go over gentle slopes. There is plenty of park seating across the site, and the park is just a few minutes from Hatch End Station and a bus stop.
Parking at the on-site car park is free for blue badge holders, with numerous disabled parking bays.
