The development of housing in Rayners Lane was linked to the growth of the railways in the area.
The last Daniel Hill died in 1906 and his heirs sold the land (including the Rayners Fields) to Metropolitan Railways in the 1920s.
Then the house builders arrived.
The first major development in Rayners Lane became known as Harrow Garden Village, a residential project designed by E.S. Reid and planned according to garden suburb principles.
Further expansion took place around 1930, when Tithe Farm, located south of the Piccadilly Line, was sold to T.F. Nash Ltd. This became the largest development in the Pinner area, featuring predominantly affordable terraced housing. Nash was particularly effective at marketing the estate; in 1933, he even erected a temporary 35-foot illuminated wooden arch over Alexandra Avenue as part of a promotional campaign.
As these developments were driven by The Metropolitan Railways, not just in Rayners Lane but in surrounding areas, the term “Metroland” was coined to promote them. The company marketed “Metroland” as a kind of semi-rural paradise: clean air, modern homes, green spaces — all within commuting distance of central London. This was aimed at middle-class families seeking to escape the crowded, polluted inner city while still maintaining easy access to work. These brochures used idyllic imagery and persuasive language to sell a dream of modern suburban living – the picture of the cottage in Rayners Lane was used to promote this despite the fact it was bulldozed to make way for new houses!
The farm once stood on the corner of Farm Avenue where it meets Rayners Lane.
Rayners Lane 