IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
High Street, PINNER, HA5 5PZ

The Queen's Head in Pinner was once a plastered building dated 1705, though the origins were much earlier. It bears the date 1580. It used to have railings and a porch with seats, altered in the early 1930s. The London coach used to leave here in the 19th century at 7:30 am for The Bull, Holborn, returning at 3:30, and arriving back in Pinner around 6pm. Early in the 20th century the licensee Dawson Billows kept a bear in the stables, sometimes he was seen taking it out for a walk.

The church, showing the churchyard. The bizarre structure is the Loudon monument, better known as "The coffin in the air."

This view at the top of the High Street looks across to the Church of St John the Baptist, Pinner. The battlemented west tower dates from the 15th century, while the body of the church dates from 1321 when it was consecrated by Bishop Petrus of Corbaria. The plan though goes back to the 13th century. The church was restored in 1880. The obelisk on the far side of the churchyard was erected by John Claudius Loudon in 1843 to his parents. It consists of an arch cut in on each side at the foot, and higher up two ends of a fake coffin sticking out at the front and back. For more about the church and the churchyard see http://www.pinnerparishchurch.org.uk/67.php

Pinner Parish Church is dedicated to St John the Baptist. The first known reference to Pinner dates from 1232 but it was not until 1766 that it became an independent parish; prior to that this largely 14th century church was a chapel subordinate to St Mary's, Harrow on the Hill. As Pinner's population dramatically increased in the 20th century so did the importance of its church which is now the mother church of several neighbouring parishes. In this view taken on a bright Autumn day the clock on the 15th century tower is showing the correct time (properly reflecting the end of British summer time the previous day).

The battlemented west tower dates from the 15th century, while the body of the church dates from 1321 when it was consecrated by Bishop Petrus of Corbaria. The plan though goes back to the 13th century. The church was restored in 1880. This view looks across Church Lane. The obelisk behind the lych gate was erected by John Claudius Loudon in 1843 to his parents. It consists of an arch cut in on each side at the foot, and higher up two ends of a fake coffin sticking out at the front and back. The tomb is known as “the coffin above the ground”. Loudon was a Victorian horticulturalist who came down from Scotland. He brought his parents from Scotland to help him manage Wood Hall Farm which he had bought in 1807. Loudon wrote 32 books and over four million words on horticulture and architecture. He introduced the plane tree to London squares, suggested green belts around towns, and laid out cemeteries and public parks. He made a fortune and lost it, dying “harassed by creditors”. His wife Amelia was the author of ‘The Ladies Flower Garden’. For more about the church and the churchyard see http://www.pinnerparishchurch.org.uk/67.php

The battlemented west tower of St John the Baptist Church dates from the 15th century, while the body of the church dates from 1321 when it was consecrated by Bishop Petrus of Corbaria. The plan though goes back to the 13th century. The church was restored in 1880. The obelisk to the left of the lych gate was erected by John Claudius Loudon in 1843 to his parents. It consists of an arch cut in on each side at the foot, and higher up two ends of a fake coffin sticking out at the front and back. The tomb is known as “the coffin above the ground”. Loudon was a Victorian horticulturalist who came down from Scotland. He brought his parents from Scotland to help him manage Wood Hall Farm which he had bought in 1807. Loudon wrote 32 books and over four million words on horticulture and architecture. He introduced the plane tree to London squares, suggested green belts around towns, and laid out cemeteries and public parks. He made a fortune and lost it, dying “harassed by creditors”. His wife Amelia was the author of ‘The Ladies Flower Garden’. For more about the church and the churchyard see https://www.pinnerparishchurch.org.uk/

Night view of the High Street, the illuminated tower of Pinner Church in the background.

The church tower overlooking wine bar, taken from the High Street

The battlemented west tower of St John the Baptist Church dates from the 15th century, while the body of the church dates from 1321 when it was consecrated by Bishop Petrus of Corbaria. The plan though goes back to the 13th century. The church was restored in 1880. The obelisk seen here is the best-known and most prominent object in the attractive churchyard. It was erected by John Claudius Loudon in 1843 to his parents. It consists of an arch cut in on each side at the foot, and higher up two ends of a fake coffin sticking out at the front and back. The tomb is known as “the coffin above the ground”. Loudon was a Victorian horticulturalist who came down from Scotland. He brought his parents from Scotland to help him manage Wood Hall Farm which he had bought in 1807. Loudon wrote 32 books and over four million words on horticulture and architecture. He introduced the plane tree to London squares, suggested green belts around towns, and laid out cemeteries and public parks. He made a fortune and lost it, dying “harassed by creditors”. His wife Amelia was the author of ‘The Ladies Flower Garden’. For more about the church and the churchyard see https://www.pinnerparishchurch.org.uk/