Rayners Lane

Rayners Lane is the 16th station that I've visited on the Metropolitan Line. The station services both the Metropolitan and the Piccadilly Line. 

The Metropolitan Railway constructed and began services on the line between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Uxbridge in 1904. The first services were operated by steam but electrification of the track happened soon afterwards and by the following year electric trains began to operate on the line. This station opened as Rayners Lane Holt in 1906 and soon became known as Pneumonia Junction because of its exposed location.
 

The station was rebuilt in 1938. It was designed by Charles Holden and was typical of stations built by him during that period. The station, now Grade II listed, features a cube shaped brick and glass ticket hall.

The Metropolitan Railway saw an opportunity to increase their profits by buying up land alongside the railway lines and  turning the farms and meadows into housing estates. It became known as 'Metroland'. Each year the Metropolitan Railway produced a booklet of walks in the areas that the trains passed through, hoping it would encourage people to want to live in those areas. The railway started selling the idea of the country life. Throughout the 1920s the railway developed a series of housing estates all the way along the line. After the war the government helped by providing money for companies to build 'houses fit for heroes'. Pre war not many people owned their own homes but then mortgages became available allowing more people the opportunity to buy their own home. Rayners Lane was one such place. What had once been nothing but farmland and meadows became a thriving suburb. By 1934 all the medieval fields had gone, the railways had changed where people lived. No longer did they have to live close to where they worked. The railways made it possible to live in the country and be in London within the hour. 

The name of the station is taken from a local road, Rayners Lane. In the Middle Ages the road was used to transport grain to the mill on Pinner Green.

Rayners Lane is a wide road with green verges and mature trees. All the houses have good sized gardens. 

Also on Rayners Lane is the Quaker Meeting House. Quakerism was founded in England in 1652.

There is a much larger parade of shops here than there was at the previous station but definitely not part of the coffee bar culture.

I was surprised that I had to walk so far to find a cafe where I could get lunch.

It was very much a builders/workmen's cafe with large meals mainly accompanied by chips. 

 I was surprised to be offered salad as an alternative to chips with my omelette. It was a very friendly cafe with the owner greeting many of his customers by name. 

As with the previous station there wasn't much more to see so, after another hour of aimless wandering around I decided to call it a day and make my way home.