Kingsbury
Coordinates: 51°34′57″N 0°16′27″W / 51.5826°N 0.2743°W
Kingsbury is an area in the London Borough of Brent, northwest London. The name Kingsbury means "The King's Manor".
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History [edit]
Kingsbury was historically a small parish in the Hundred of Gore and county of Middlesex. Until the nineteenth century it was largely rural with only scattered settlements. Oliver Goldsmith lived at Hyde Farm in Kingsbury from 1771 to 1774. David William Murray, 3rd Earl of Mansfield was buried at St. Andrew's churchyard in 1840.
Although it lay close to London, development started slowly, and it was not until after World War I that the district became built up. An aircraft industry was established in the part of Kingsbury adjacent to Hendon aerdrome during the war, while the road network was improved to cater for the British Empire Exhibition in nearby Wembley in 1924.[1] The number of inhabited houses in the civil parish increased from just 140 in 1901 to 3,937 in 1931. By 1951 this had risen to 11,776.[2] Between 1921 and 1931 Kingsbury's population increased by 796%.[1]
John Logie Baird's experimental transmissions from UK to Berlin, Germany were transmitted from the stable block of Kingsbury Manor, now the Veterans Club in Roe Green Park.
From 1923 to 1979 Kingsbury Road was the location of the Vanden Plas specialist motor body works, body makers for Bentley and later part of Austin, BMC, and British Leyland. The site is now Kingsbury Trading Estate.
In 1894 Kingsbury was included in the urban district of Wembley. However as Kingsbury had only three councillors on the urban district council to Wembley's nine, Kingsbury's councillors felt the needs of the area were not well-served. In 1900 Kingsbury became a separate urban district with six councillors. The new council was immediately involved in controversy and in 1906 it failed to make a rate or meet its financial commitments. Following an inquiry initiated by ratepayers the council was increased to nine councillors, although personal difficulties between councillors continued for some years.[3]
In 1934 the Kingsbury Urban District was abolished and merged once more in Wembley Urban District. The urban district became a municipal borough in 1937 and in 1965 the area became part of the London Borough of Brent.[3]
The first series of BBC children's drama Grange hill was filmed at Kingsbury high.
The BBC play Bar Mitzvah Boy is a British television play, written by Jack Rosenthal and originally transmitted in the Play for Today anthology series on BBC1. Broadcast on 14 September 1976, the 75-minute production was directed by Michael Tuchner and produced by Graeme MacDonald. This was filmed in a house in Valley Drive Kingsbury.
Today, Kingsbury is an important settlement for Indian and Romanian communities due to the affordable renting prices.
Notable people [edit]
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This section does not cite any references or sources. (June 2010) |
- Jazz saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist and composer Courtney Pine moved to Kingsbury at age 14 and attended Kingsbury High School [4]
- Birthplace of Yes bassist Chris Squire
- No Doubt bassist Tony Kanal
- England cricketer Mike Gatting went to Fryent Primary School
- Singer and songwriters Mutya Buena and Keisha Buchanan, who both rose to fame as original members of pop group, Sugababes, were born and raised in Kingsbury and attended Kingsbury High School.
- Footballer Stuart Pearce, although born in Shepherds Bush, grew up in Kingsbury before he signed professional terms with Coventry City
- Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts and James Hanratty who was hanged for murder both lived in Kingsbury and attended Tylers Croft School.
- Jet Harris who played with Tony Meehan and The Shadows was born in Kingsbury.
- George Michael went to Roe Green Primary, and spent the first year at Kingsbury High School, before moving to Bushey and fame. His video for Round Here (George Michael song), about his childhood, features Roe Green Park, Roe Green Primary School, Colindale Snooker Club and other flashes of Kingsbury and Colindale.
- Julie Rogers of The Wedding (song) fame also lived in Kingsbury, as did Goldfinger actress Shirley Eaton. Julie Rogers attended Tylers Croft Secondary Modern.
- John Lingwood (drummer in assorted bands) went to Kingsbury County Grammar School
- Dhiren Barot (a convicted terrorist) lived in Kingsbury and attended Kingsbury High School.
- Birthplace of Wycombe Wanderers manager, Gary Waddock.
- Actress Jasmyn Banks who plays Alice Branning in soap opera Eastenders, attended Kingsbury High School.
Geography [edit]
Neighbouring Areas [edit]
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Wealdstone | Queensbury | Colindale | |
| Kenton |  |
Hendon | ||
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| Preston | Wembley Park | Welsh Harp |
Transport [edit]
Roads [edit]
Kingsbury Road A4006 runs though Kinsbury.
Buses [edit]
London Buses serving Kingsbury are:
| Route | Start | End | Operator |
| 79 | Alperton Sainsburys | Edgware | Metroline |
| 83 | Ealing Hospital | Golders Green | First Centrewest |
| 183 | Pinner | Golders Green | London Sovereign |
| 204 | Sudbury | Edgware | Metroline |
| 302 | Mill Hill Broadway | Kensal Rise | Metroline |
| 305 | Kingsbury Circle | Edgware | Arriva Shires & Essex |
| 324 | Brent Cross Tesco | Stanmore | London Sovereign |
| 628 | Southgate | Kingsbury JFS | Sullivan Buses |
| 653 | Muswell Hill | Kingsbury JFS | Sullivan Buses |
| 683 | Friern Barnet | Kingsbury JFS | Sullivan Buses |
| 688 | Kingsbury JFS | Southgate | Sullivan Buses |
| N98 | Holborn | Stanmore | Metroline |
Tube [edit]
Stations in the area are:
Local parks [edit]
- Barn Hill Open Space
- Fryent Country Park
- Kingsbury Green Recreation Ground
- Roe Green Park
- Silver Jubilee Park
- Grove Park Open Space
Schools [edit]
- Kingsbury High School
- Jewish Free School (JFS)
- Fryent Primary School
- Oliver Goldsmith Primary School
- Kingsbury Green Primary School
- Roe Green Primary School
- St Robert Southwell Primary School
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ a b Places in Brent: Kingsbury, Grange Museum of Community History and Brent Archive, accessed January 28, 2008
- ^ Kingsbury: Introduction, Victoria County History of Middlesex, Volume 5 (British History Online), accessed January 28, 2008
- ^ a b Kingsbury: Local Government, Victoria County History of Middlesex, Vol.5, (British History Online), accessed January 28, 2008
- ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2000/sep/30/jazz1
External links [edit]
- Kingsbury heritage
- Kingsbury history
- Highfort Court, Buck Lane. Designed in the style of a fortified castle by local architect E. G. Trobridge
- Vanden Plas Kingsbury Works - A Potted History
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