Curious about where the Saxon “Coena” once farmed? Welcome to Kenton. This district in north-west London has a fascinating history. It sits east of Harrow and was historically part of Middlesex.
Kenton blossomed as part of the Metroland suburbia movement. This occurred in the early 20th century. The London and North Western Railway and Metropolitan Railway both arrived by the 1920s. This spurred growth.
The main road through Kenton is Kenton Road. This busy east-west road connects Harrow to the Edgware Road. Kenton Road now marks the boundary between Harrow and Brent.
Kenton’s name has Saxon roots. Back in 1232 the hamlet was called “Keninton”. The name comes from “Coena”. “Tun” is Old English for farm. So Kenton means “the farm of Coena”. Coena and his family once lived near here.
Before the 20th century Kenton was small. It clustered around Kenton Lane. The easternmost part is now Old Kenton Lane. This lies east of Kingsbury station. The area now includes Woodgrange Avenue and Kenton Road.
Look around you. Imagine Kenton as a small hamlet. Picture the changes over the years. The railways shaped Kenton.
The Windermere pub is a Grade II listed building on Windermere Avenue. Built in 1938 it is on the Campaign for Real Ale’s National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors.
Did you know that Kenton had its first pub in the early 18th century? It was called The Plough. The current building is not the original. Today it is an Indo-Chinese fusion restaurant and bar.
Kenton station opened in 1912 on June 15. The London and North Western Railway built it. The Metropolitan Railway’s Northwick Park and Kenton station followed on June 28 1923. Later it was renamed Northwick Park.
After Kenton station opened in 1912 Kenton grew. It expanded toward Wealdstone Wembley and Stanmore. From the 1920s it became a London suburb.
South Kenton is distinct from Kenton. It is almost connected to North Wembley and Preston. South Kenton lies entirely within Brent.
Most of Kenton uses the HA3 postcode. But the southern part uses HA9. Northwick Park uses HA1.
The Wealdstone Brook is the only visible waterway here. It has two branches. One starts in Wealdstone. The other starts in Stanmore. They join underground near Kenton Lane and Kenton Road.
Much of Kenton was built between the wars. The coming of the railways spurred suburban development.
Thomas Francis Nash’s building companies built many Kenton estates. This happened from the 1920s onward. He built in Ruislip and other parts of Metroland. F. & C. Costin also built much of Kenton between the wars. Local estate agents still use “Nash-built” or “Costin-built” to describe these properties.
Kenton’s streets appeared in an episode of Fawlty Towers. It was the “Gourmet Night” episode. A song called “Kenton Kev” also mentions Kenton. The Magoo Brothers a Berlin punk-jazz band wrote it. The song talks about suburban boredom here.
Kenton is represented by three electoral wards. These are Kenton East and Kenton West in Harrow. Also Kenton in Brent. The total population was 35600 in 2015. Kenton has a high percentage of ethnic minorities. Over 70% of residents belong to ethnic minorities.
The female life expectancy in Brent’s Kenton ward is high. It is 91.6 years. That is the third-highest in Greater London.
Kenton Library is on Kenton Lane. Harrow Council runs it. The Kenton Ambulance Station is at the eastern end of Kenton. Northwick Park Hospital is very close.
There are three large open spaces nearby. These are Woodcock Park Kenton Recreation Ground and Northwick Park.
The Kenton Sports Club is on Kenton Lane. It offers cricket tennis and table tennis.
The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin is one of several religious institutions. Other churches include Kenton Baptist Church and Kenton Methodist Church. Also here are two Hindu mandirs.
As we conclude our visit reflect on Kenton’s journey. From a Saxon farm to a bustling London suburb. Kenton blends history community and modern life.