Coordinates: 51°34′33″N 0°26′00″W / 51.5758°N 0.4333°W
| Ruislip | |
  Ruislip
Ruislip shown within Greater London |
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| OS grid reference | |
|---|---|
| London borough | Hillingdon |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | London |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | RUISLIP |
| Postcode district | HA4 |
| Dialling code | 018956 (previously 71) |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| EU Parliament | London |
| UK Parliament | Ruislip-Northwood |
| London Assembly | Ealing and Hillingdon |
| List of places: UK • England • London | |
Ruislip (pronounced RYE-slip) is a place in the London Borough of Hillingdon, in West London, England.[1]
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Etymology
Its name is created from the Old English ryse, "rush" and hlype, "leap", which is thought to refer to a spot where the River Pinn could once be crossed. Other scholars[who?] argue the second syllable is derived from "slaep" meaning "a slippery spot". Thus Ruislip means "the wet place where rushes grow". It has had various spellings until recorded as Ruislip in 1527[citation needed]
Attractions
Ruislip Lido
Nearby attractions include Ruislip Lido, a Victorian reservoir with an artificial sand beach, surrounded by woodlands through which runs the Ruislip Lido Railway, a miniature 12"-gauge railway with diesel and steam locomotives. Ruislip Lido was established as a reservoir to feed the Grand Union Canal by damming and flooding the lower part of the valley between Park Wood and Copse Wood, including the hamlet of Park Hearn. Work began in 1811; the reservoir began feeding the Canal in 1816.
Ruislip Woods
About
Four woodlands, covering a total of 295 hectares (730 acres), Park Wood, Copse Wood, Mad Bess Wood and Bayhurst Wood combine to form Ruislip woods. it is the largest block of ancient semi-natural woodland in Greater London. In 1997 it became the first National Nature Reserve in Greater London. It is protected by a number of conservation acts, helping to protect its long term future.[2]
Plant life
The woodland is predominantly hornbeam Carpinus betulus coppice with oak standards and is interesting because of the occurrence of both pedunculate oak Quercus roburand sessile oak Quercus petraea. The mixture of Hornbeam and beech Fagus sylvatica in Bayhurst Wood is also unusual and wild service trees Sorbus torminalis, although infrequent, can be found throughout the woodland. Other associations include oak/birch Betula pendulaand alder Alnus glutinosa with aspen Populus tremula. The wooded streams, scrub, ponds and an area of grass-heath mosaic contribute to the diversity of the site from which around 360 species of vascular plants have been recorded. These include a number of species that are scarce or locally rare.[2]
Sports
Ruislip is also the home of Eastcote Hockey Club, based at Kings College playing fields. The club was originally based in Eastcote, from where it took its name, but moved to its current location in 1964. The Kings College Playing fields play host to a great number of sporting events, including rugby from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, who in 2004 declared the land as varsity use.
Calum Diggins a sportsman from Ruislip represented Britain in the 2008 paraolympics coming 10th in the grade 1 special peoples swimming contest.
Land and Buildings
To the north of Ruislip High Street stand the Grade II listed Manor Farm House, a 13th-century Grade II Great Barn and the 16th-century Little Barn, which houses Ruislip library. The 20-acre (8-hectare) site includes the remains of an 11th-century fortification that is a scheduled ancient monument. A working farm until the 1930s, the farm was let by King's College, Cambridge, the owners of the land from 1500 to the mid 20th century.It is now under a large redevelopment project.
There have been several failed attempts for a large Tesco superstore around the Kings College area which have been strongly opposed by residents and local supermarkets' Waitrose and Marks & Spencer. Many residents employed in the law industry took Tesco to court after several applications to build on the field claiming it would spoil "A beautiful suburb with a hint of locality". Tesco's application was rejected, a spokeswoman for Tesco said the area was "too middle class for change".
Economy
Prior to the opening of British Airways, British Overseas Airways Corporation had its head office at Speedbird House.[3] Prior to the founding of British Airways, British European Airways had its headquarters in Ruislip.[4] BEA Helicopters also had its headquarters in Ruislip.[3]
The area is located in an affluent, yet secluded part of London, and transport and local facilities are good. Consequently, residency in the village is sought after and expensive, with the average house price soaring over the last few years to over £1.2m. Many celebrities choose to reside in the northern part of the town, in and around Ruislip woods and towards Northwood. Ruislip was voted as most exclusive Greater London suburb in November 2009.
Education
Primary schools
- Bishop Winnington-Ingram
- Lady Bankes
- Warrender
- Whiteheath
- Sacred Heart
Secondary schools
- Ruislip High
- The Bishop of Ramsey Independent School
- Haydon
In fiction
The town featured in Leslie Thomas's 1974 novel of suburbia, Tropic of Ruislip. The book was actually based on nearby Carpenders Park.
Monty Python mention Ruislip in their Lumberjack song "I'm a lumberjack". When the wannabe lumberjack is listing the great trees he could be chopping down, he mentions "the flatuent elm of West Ruislip".
The Two Ronnies made a sketch about the royal heritage of Ruislip, called "Home Rule for Ruislip".
Much of The Inbetweeners is filmed around Ruislip, and the school used for the series is Ruislip High.
Locality and services
Nearest places
Tube stations
Railway stations
References
- ^ Edward Walford, Greater London. A Narrative of Its History, Its People, and Its Places. Volume 2, Adamant Media Corporation, ISBN 0543967875
- ^ a b London Borough of Hillingdon - Background information
- ^ a b "World Airline Directory." Flight International. 28 September 1967. 530.
- ^ "World Airline Directory." Flight International. 28 September 1967. 529.
External links
- Ruislip Online, web site for Ruislip
- Ruislip, Northwood & Eastcote Local History Society
- Ruislip Residents Association
- Ruislip Lions Club
- Uxbridge & Hillingdon Times - local newspaper
- Tropic At Ruislip - live music venue
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