RETURN TO RUISLIP VILLAGE & LIDO

Having visited Ruislip Lido at the end of last Summer I was keen to return there this year
and explore Ruislip Village and it's surrounding areas. I was also keen to take a look around
the Village Church, St Martin's, a Church that has stood there since around the year 1245.
And so this was my first real outing to the far reaches of our Capital since the virus
lockdown in late March.
The Village has quite a history and it is mentioned in the 1086 Doomsday Book, although it
is registered as Rislepe.

And so having looked around this ancient Village exploring the old Church, the Cemetery,
the Village Pond and Manor Farm, I then moved on to Ruislip Lido.
 

Ruislip Cemetery in the grounds of St Martin's Church

History tells us that from information entered in the Doomsday Book, a wooden structured Church
had once stood on these grounds in Ruislip Village in the 11th century. And by the early 12th
century it was rebuilt in stone.
By the 14th century the Church fell into disrepair when the Duke of Bedford, Brother  of King Henry V,
became it's sole possessor. But it wasn't until the 15th century that the Church tower that we see today
was first built.
The building was first designated in 1950 by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building. And yet
when you look around the Church end of the village, very little seems to have changed since that decade.
The Church's present chancel and nave date back to the 13th century. And recorded records tell us that
the first recorded Vicar was William de Berminton in 1327.


ST MARTIN'S CHURCH WEBSITE
 

Imagine walking out of your Cottage front door and straight into a Cemetery. It certainly does seem
a bit unusual. But then common sense and intuition tells me that these cottages are probably part
of the Church Parish grounds.

Above is the Village Pond known as Horse Pond. It was once the central
hub of activity in the Village. Situated in the grounds of Manor Farm, horses
were brought here at the end of each day to quench their thirst. All though
originally a much larger pond, a Blacksmith's hut stood near the pond where
the work horses were attended to.

Above is one of several buildings that feature in the grounds of Manor Farm, a 22-acre
historic site in Ruislip Village. And this Grade II listed building above is actually now a
Public Library.
The grounds incorporate a medieval farm complex, with a main old barn dating from
the 13th century along with a farmhouse from the 16th century.

Above:  Ruislip Woods, part of the Ruislip Lido.

I suppose it was no surprise to finally arrive at the Ruislip Lido and discover that it's beaches had
been fenced off and shut down after the recent fiasco of overcrowding and a lack of social distancing
during the recent heatwave.
And any of the few visitors I did see that last Tuesday had to settle for the grassy areas for their
picnics and sunbathing.