Well, it used to be a pub on Hampstead Heath.....claim to fame, hmmmm, Jack Straw hid from Tony Blair there when he got stressed out? Or something to do with the view?
I'll give you that Stan, it was a pub and it's claim to fame was it was London's highest pub (with panoramic views). Nothing to do with the dodgy politician, it's named after one of the leaders of the peasant's revolt...
Is it used for anything else now? In that position I would have thought it would do a roaring trade. Easy one for the Londonpedia known as Sooperhoop. When did Middlesex cease to exist as a unit of local government?
1971? I think it was at the same time that Slough was moved to Berkshire & sadly Rutland disappeared. Rutland, of course, was too popular to stay outlawed though! Then Greene King purchased Ruddles & so it may no longer matter if it was to go again.
Ok. Perhaps MCC went prior to that. My uncle used to supply a lot of their brushes & also got a good contract with London. Mainly paint brushes, paperhangers & schoolkeepers brooms, all hand made. Will now try '68 but I don't really have a clue!
Yes, it was built for the Festival of Britain in 1951 and was one of London's biggest attractions through the 50s and 60s, I remember going there regularly as a kid. In 1972 one of the Big Dipper cars detached from the train and five were killed in what is still the worst fairground accident in this country. The disaster led to the funfair eventually closing 1974...
