Wembley
Encyclopedia
Wembley is an area of northwest London
, England, and part of the London Borough of Brent
. It is home to the famous Wembley Stadium
and Wembley Arena
. Anciently part of the parish of Harrow on the Hill in the county of Middlesex
, Wembley formed a separate civil parish from 1894 and was incorporated as a municipal borough
in 1937.
of King Beornwulf
.
south of it. Much of the surrounding area remained wooded. In 1547 there were but six houses in Wembley. Though small, it was one of the wealthiest parts of Harrow. At the dissolution of the monasteries, the manor of Wembley fell to Richard Andrews and Leonard Chamberlayne in 1543, who sold it to Richard Page Esq. of Harrow on the Hill the same year.
The Page family continued as lords of the manor of Wembley for several centuries.
There was a mill on Wembley Hill by 1673. In 1837, the London and Birmingham Railway
(now part of the West Coast Main Line
) was opened from London Euston, through Wembley, to Hemel Hempstead
, and completed to Birmingham the following year. The changing names of the local station demonstrated the increasing importance of the 'Wembley' name. 'Sudbury' station opened in 1845, renamed as 'Sudbury and Wembley' in 1882, renamed as 'Wembley for Sudbury' in 1910, renamed as 'Wembley Central' in 1948, at the time of the Olympic Games
.
To modernise the service, a new Watford DC Line
was built alongside the main lines, and Bakerloo line
trains, and electric trains to Broad Street started in 1917. Electric trains to Euston began running in 1922. (Since 1917 there have been six platforms at what is now Wembley Central station.) In 1880, the Metropolitan Railway
opened its line from Baker Street
through the eastern side of Wembley, but only built a station, Wembley Park
, in 1894. (There are now three physically separate services, the London to Aylesbury Line
, the Metropolitan line
, and the Jubilee line
. Only the latter two services have platforms at Wembley Park station.)
In November 1905, the Great Central Railway
(now, in this section, part of the Chiltern Main Line
) opened a new route for fast expresses that by-passed the congested Metropolitan Railway tracks. It ran between Neasden Junction
, south of Wembley, and Northolt Junction, west of London, where a new joint main line with the Great Western Railway
began. Local passenger services from Marylebone
were added from March 1906, when new stations were opened, including 'Wembley Hill', next to what later became the site of Wembley Stadium - the national stadium of English sport - which opened for the FA Cup Final
of April 1923, remaining open for 77 years until it closed for reconstruction in October 2000. After a long planning and redevelopment process dogged by a series of funding problems and construction delays, the new stadium finally opened its doors in March 2007.
Wembley Hill station was renamed 'Wembley Complex' in May 1978, before getting its present name of 'Wembley Stadium
' in May 1987.
The area around the current Wembley Stadium was the location of the British Empire Exhibition
of 1924-1925. Until the 2000s, remnants of the many reinforced concrete
buildings, including the original Wembley Stadium, remained, but nearly all have now been removed, to make way for redevelopment.
Wembley, in common with much of northwest London, has had an extensive manufacturing industry, but much of it closed in the 1980s. Factories in the area included Glacier Metals (bearings), Wolf Power Tools, Sunbeam Electrical Appliances, Griffin & George (laboratory equipment) and GEC (whose research plant was one of the first of its type in the UK). The retail centre of Wembley (the High Road and Ealing Road) has suffered from chronic traffic congestion, and from the opening of neighbouring purpose-built shopping centres, first Brent Cross
in the early 1970s, and later the Harrow
and Ealing Broadway Shopping Centres. During the 1960s rebuilding of Wembley Central station, a block of flats, an open-plan shopping plaza and a car park were constructed, on a concrete raft over the railway.
The shopping plaza suffered a slow decline and was therefore poorly maintained but is being redeveloped as Central Square
. The first phase of including 85 homes and reconstruction of the plaza, has been completed.
Wembley City
, which includes a new Civic Centre for the borough, is being constructed around the junction of Engineers Way and Empire Way, near the stadium. A new Ark Academy in Wembley Park
is due to open by December 2010.
Most of Wembley's housing consists of inter-war semi-detached houses and terraces and of modern apartment blocks, with a significant minority of detached housing.
hundred of Middlesex
. In 1894 Wembley was split from Harrow, creating a new parish and urban district
. It included Alperton
, Preston
, North Wembley
, South Kenton, Tokyngton
, Sudbury
, Wembley Park
and Northwick Park
. The urban district included the neighbouring parish of Kingsbury
until 1901 and again from 1934.
In 1937 it was incorporated as the Municipal Borough of Wembley
. The fire brigade headquarters of Middlesex County Council
were located on Harrow Road and is now a fire station of the London Fire Brigade
. Wembley Town Hall
on Forty Lane, built in 1938, became Brent Town Hall
when the municipal boroughs of Wembley and Willesden
were amalgamated in 1965 to form the London Borough of Brent
and transferred to Greater London
. Since the 2010 elections, Brent Council has been controlled by the Labour Party.
Wembley falls within the UK Parliament constituency of Brent North, and the London Assembly constituency of Brent and Harrow
.
Nearby Sudbury Golf Course backs onto the Grand Union Canal
with its towpath running into central London. Sudbury Squash and Tennis Club has outdoor tennis courts, an indoor squash court and a clubhouse. Wembley is a short distance away from the Welsh Harp
reservoir and open space, created in the early 19th century by damming the River Brent
to provide water for the Grand Union Canal
.
The area is identified in the Mayor of London
's London Plan
as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.
, Preston
, North Wembley
, South Kenton, Tokyngton
, Wembley Park
and partly of Sudbury
and Northwick Park
.
North Circular Road, there is a large Ikea Store, Tesco, other stores and industrial units. A large market is held on most Sundays in the car park in front of Wembley Stadium, continuing a long tradition.
The 'Wembley City' development in the area of Wembley Stadium has a number of stakeholders, in particular Quintain Estates and Development
, which owns much of the proposed site. It is to include new leisure facilities (e.g. the first new swimming baths being built in the borough in 60 years, and a multiplex cinema), residential and retail units and a new Civic Centre, incorporating council offices and assembly hall, a library and other community facilities and some retail space, and is due to be completed by 2013.
'Wembley Central Square' is being redeveloped with new leisure and retail facilities and residential units by St. Modwen Properties
. The first two phases of the development were completed by July 2009, and the final phase will see the replacement of the old central square by an improved Wembley Central station and new shops.
The Air France-KLM
European Sales and Service Centre, which is a sales channel for 15 European countries, is located in Wembley.
The prime landmark is Wembley Stadium
, rebuilt 2003-2007 at a cost of £827 million, which is approached via the White Horse Bridge
designed by the London Eye
architects. Nearby are Wembley Arena
, a concert venue built in 1934 as the Empire Pool, a swimming pool for the Empire Games, and Fountain Studios, one of the country's largest purpose built television studios and host to X Factor, Bremner, Bird and Fortune and Britain's Got Talent. Brent Town Hall is a Grade-2-listed building located on Barn Hill facing Wembley Stadium; its future is uncertain due to plans to move the town hall function, including council chamber, to a new civic centre as part of the Wembley redevelopment.
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in the centre of Wembley was built in 1904, designed by Thomas Collcutt
and Stanley Hemp. Construction was of brick and the design was influenced by the Arts and Crafts Movement
. It was listed as a Grade II building in 1993. The church was converted into the Central Mosque Wembley
in the late 1990's.
services are provided at Wembley Stadium railway station
. London Underground
services are provided on the Metropolitan line
and Jubilee line
at Wembley Park tube station
. London Midland
, London Overground
and London Underground Bakerloo line
services are available at Wembley Central railway station. Southern
trains also pick up here, but are deliberately not advertised, for contractual financial reasons.
running in Wembley Central, including its destinations and operator.
and A406 North Circular Road
. Wembley town centre is served by three pay-and-display car parks. The largest in Montrose Crescent, located off High Road, at a lower level. The second is accessed from London Road and is beneath the Central Square, and the third and smallest is located at St John's Road.
and the North and West London Light railway
.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England, and part of the London Borough of Brent
London Borough of Brent
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough had a total population of 2,022. This rose slowly throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 5,646 in the middle of the century. When the railways arrived the rate of population growth increased...
. It is home to the famous Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
and Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena is an indoor arena, at Wembley, in the London Borough of Brent. The building is opposite Wembley Stadium.-History:...
. Anciently part of the parish of Harrow on the Hill in the county of Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
, Wembley formed a separate civil parish from 1894 and was incorporated as a municipal borough
Municipal Borough of Wembley
Wembley was an urban district and later a municipal borough in Middlesex, England from 1894 to 1965.Wembley Urban District was created by the Local Government Act 1894 from part of the existing Hendon Rural Sanitary District, and originally consisted of two civil parishes: Kingsbury and Wembley...
in 1937.
History
| ◄ Split from Harrow on the Hill | |
| 1901 | 4,519 |
|---|---|
| 1911 | 10,696 |
| 1921 | 16,187 |
| 1931 | 48,561 |
| ◄ Kingsbury Kingsbury is an area in the London Borough of Brent, northwest London. The name Kingsbury means "The King's Manor".-History:Kingsbury was historically a small parish in the Hundred of Gore and county of Middlesex. Until the nineteenth century it was largely rural with only scattered settlements.... Kingsbury parish absorbed |
|
| 1941 | war # |
| 1951 | 131,384 |
| 1961 | 124,892 |
| # no census was held due to war | |
| source: UK census | |
Toponomy
Wembley is derived from the Old English proper name "Wemba" and the Old English "Lea" for meadow or clearing. The name was first mentioned in the charter of 825825
Year 825 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Egbert of Wessex defeats Beornwulf of Mercia at Ellandun. Kent, Surrey, Sussex and Essex submit to Wessex and East Anglia acknowledges Egbert as overlord.* Emperor Louis the Pious of the Franks wars against the Wends...
of King Beornwulf
Beornwulf of Mercia
Beornwulf was King of Mercia from 823 to 825. His short reign saw the collapse of the Mercia's supremacy over the kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy....
.
Development
The village of Wemba Lea grew up on the hill by the clearing with the Harrow RoadHarrow Road
The Harrow Road is an ancient route in Greater London which runs from Paddington in a northwesterly direction to Harrow. With minor deviations in the 19th and 20th centuries, the route remains otherwise unaltered...
south of it. Much of the surrounding area remained wooded. In 1547 there were but six houses in Wembley. Though small, it was one of the wealthiest parts of Harrow. At the dissolution of the monasteries, the manor of Wembley fell to Richard Andrews and Leonard Chamberlayne in 1543, who sold it to Richard Page Esq. of Harrow on the Hill the same year.
The Page family continued as lords of the manor of Wembley for several centuries.
There was a mill on Wembley Hill by 1673. In 1837, the London and Birmingham Railway
London and Birmingham Railway
The London and Birmingham Railway was an early railway company in the United Kingdom from 1833 to 1846, when it became part of the London and North Western Railway ....
(now part of the West Coast Main Line
West Coast Main Line
The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the...
) was opened from London Euston, through Wembley, to Hemel Hempstead
Hemel Hempstead railway station
Hemel Hempstead railway station is on the West Coast Main Line, on the western edge of the town of Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England. The station is 39 km north-west of London Euston on the West Coast Main Line...
, and completed to Birmingham the following year. The changing names of the local station demonstrated the increasing importance of the 'Wembley' name. 'Sudbury' station opened in 1845, renamed as 'Sudbury and Wembley' in 1882, renamed as 'Wembley for Sudbury' in 1910, renamed as 'Wembley Central' in 1948, at the time of the Olympic Games
1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
.
To modernise the service, a new Watford DC Line
Watford DC Line
The Watford DC Line is a commuter railway line from London Euston to Watford Junction. Services on the line are operated by London Overground....
was built alongside the main lines, and Bakerloo line
Bakerloo Line
The Bakerloo line is a line of the London Underground, coloured brown on the Tube map. It runs partly on the surface and partly at deep level, from Elephant and Castle in the south-east to Harrow & Wealdstone in the north-west of London. The line serves 25 stations, of which 15 are underground...
trains, and electric trains to Broad Street started in 1917. Electric trains to Euston began running in 1922. (Since 1917 there have been six platforms at what is now Wembley Central station.) In 1880, the Metropolitan Railway
Metropolitan railway
Metropolitan Railway can refer to:* Metropolitan line, part of the London Underground* Metropolitan Railway, the first underground railway to be built in London...
opened its line from Baker Street
Baker Street tube station
Baker Street tube station is a station on the London Underground at the junction of Baker Street and the Marylebone Road. The station lies in Travelcard Zone 1 and is served by five different lines...
through the eastern side of Wembley, but only built a station, Wembley Park
Wembley Park tube station
Wembley Park tube station is a London Underground station in Wembley Park, north west London. The station is served by the Underground's Metropolitan and Jubilee Lines and is in Travelcard Zone 4...
, in 1894. (There are now three physically separate services, the London to Aylesbury Line
London to Aylesbury Line
The London to Aylesbury Line is the main railway line between London and Aylesbury, going via the Chiltern Hills; it is operated by Chiltern Railways. The line includes the only route where National Rail trains use track that is utilized by London Underground services...
, the Metropolitan line
Metropolitan Line
The Metropolitan line is part of the London Underground. It is coloured in Transport for London's Corporate Magenta on the Tube map and in other branding. It was the first underground railway in the world, opening as the Metropolitan Railway on 10 January 1863...
, and the Jubilee line
Jubilee Line
The Jubilee line is a line on the London Underground , in the United Kingdom. It was built in two major sections—initially to Charing Cross, in central London, and later extended, in 1999, to Stratford, in east London. The later stations are larger and have special safety features, both aspects...
. Only the latter two services have platforms at Wembley Park station.)
In November 1905, the Great Central Railway
Great Central Railway
The Great Central Railway was a railway company in England which came into being when the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway changed its name in 1897 in anticipation of the opening in 1899 of its London Extension . On 1 January 1923, it was grouped into the London and North Eastern...
(now, in this section, part of the Chiltern Main Line
Chiltern Main Line
The Chiltern Main Line is an inter-urban, regional and commuter railway, part of the British railway system. It links London and Birmingham on a 112-mile route via the towns of High Wycombe, Banbury, and Leamington Spa...
) opened a new route for fast expresses that by-passed the congested Metropolitan Railway tracks. It ran between Neasden Junction
Neasden Junction
Neasden Junction is a railway junction in Neasden, London. This is where the mainline from Marylebone diverges into two main lines: the Chiltern Main Line, which runs towards and Birmingham, and the London to Aylesbury Line....
, south of Wembley, and Northolt Junction, west of London, where a new joint main line with the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
began. Local passenger services from Marylebone
Marylebone station
Marylebone station , also known as London Marylebone, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex. It stands midway between the mainline stations at Euston and Paddington, about 1 mile from each...
were added from March 1906, when new stations were opened, including 'Wembley Hill', next to what later became the site of Wembley Stadium - the national stadium of English sport - which opened for the FA Cup Final
1923 FA Cup Final
The 1923 FA Cup Final was a football match between Bolton Wanderers and West Ham United on 28 April 1923 at the original Wembley Stadium in London. The showpiece match of English football's primary cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup , it was the first football match to be...
of April 1923, remaining open for 77 years until it closed for reconstruction in October 2000. After a long planning and redevelopment process dogged by a series of funding problems and construction delays, the new stadium finally opened its doors in March 2007.
Wembley Hill station was renamed 'Wembley Complex' in May 1978, before getting its present name of 'Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium railway station
Wembley Stadium railway station is a Network Rail station in Wembley, Greater London on the Chiltern Main Line. At a quarter of a mile south west of the sports venue it is the nearest station to Wembley Stadium.- First Wembley Stadium station:...
' in May 1987.
British Empire Exhibition
The British Empire Exhibition was a colonial exhibition held at Wembley, Middlesex in 1924 and 1925.-History:It was opened by King George V on St George's Day, 23 April 1924. The British Empire contained 58 countries at that time, and only Gambia and Gibraltar did not take part...
of 1924-1925. Until the 2000s, remnants of the many reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete is concrete in which reinforcement bars , reinforcement grids, plates or fibers have been incorporated to strengthen the concrete in tension. It was invented by French gardener Joseph Monier in 1849 and patented in 1867. The term Ferro Concrete refers only to concrete that is...
buildings, including the original Wembley Stadium, remained, but nearly all have now been removed, to make way for redevelopment.
Wembley, in common with much of northwest London, has had an extensive manufacturing industry, but much of it closed in the 1980s. Factories in the area included Glacier Metals (bearings), Wolf Power Tools, Sunbeam Electrical Appliances, Griffin & George (laboratory equipment) and GEC (whose research plant was one of the first of its type in the UK). The retail centre of Wembley (the High Road and Ealing Road) has suffered from chronic traffic congestion, and from the opening of neighbouring purpose-built shopping centres, first Brent Cross
Brent Cross
Brent Cross is an area of north London, in the London Borough of Barnet. It is located near the A41 Brent Cross Flyover over the A406 North Circular Road. Brent Cross is best known for its shopping centre and the proposed Brent Cross Cricklewood development....
in the early 1970s, and later the Harrow
Harrow, London
Harrow is an area in the London Borough of Harrow, northwest London, United Kingdom. It is a suburban area and is situated 12.2 miles northwest of Charing Cross...
and Ealing Broadway Shopping Centres. During the 1960s rebuilding of Wembley Central station, a block of flats, an open-plan shopping plaza and a car park were constructed, on a concrete raft over the railway.
The shopping plaza suffered a slow decline and was therefore poorly maintained but is being redeveloped as Central Square
Wembley Central Square
Wembley Central Square is a finished re-development plan by the London Borough of Brent, which took place in Wembley, in northwest London, England.The square was redeveloped by St. Modwen construction company...
. The first phase of including 85 homes and reconstruction of the plaza, has been completed.
Wembley City
Wembley City
Wembley City is a development plan by Quintain and Family Mosaic that takes place in Wembley Park, northwest London, UK. There are many new apartments built as part of the project. Quadrant Court was completed in March 2010. Demolition of Malcolm and Fulton House also took place in March 2010 for...
, which includes a new Civic Centre for the borough, is being constructed around the junction of Engineers Way and Empire Way, near the stadium. A new Ark Academy in Wembley Park
Wembley Park
Wembley Park is an area of northwest London, UK. It is part of Wembley, and located in the London Borough of Brent. It includes Wembley Stadium, England's primary football stadium and a major sports and entertainment venue, and Wembley Arena, a concert venue...
is due to open by December 2010.
Most of Wembley's housing consists of inter-war semi-detached houses and terraces and of modern apartment blocks, with a significant minority of detached housing.
Ethnic diversity
Wembley has a high degree of ethnic diversity, as illustrated by the accompanying pie chart for Wembley Central (ward) in 2001.Governance
Wembley formed part of the large ancient parish of Harrow on the Hill in the GoreGore (hundred)
Gore was a hundred of the ancient county of Middlesex, England. It covered an area in the north of the county. According to it contained the following parishes and settlements*Edgware*Great Stanmore*Harrow on the Hill*Hendon*Kingsbury*Little Stanmore...
hundred of Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
. In 1894 Wembley was split from Harrow, creating a new parish and urban district
Urban district
In the England, Wales and Ireland, an urban district was a type of local government district that covered an urbanised area. Urban districts had an elected Urban District Council , which shared local government responsibilities with a county council....
. It included Alperton
Alperton
Alperton is a district in the London Borough of Brent in northwest London.There is a high incidence of Indians living in Alperton . There is also a small Sri Lankan community in Alperton , and 10% stated as others....
, Preston
Preston, London
Preston is an area of northwest London, UK. It forms part of the London Borough of Brent. The area has a mid-sized park called Preston Park. The Preston Manor High School is located in the area.-Buses:...
, North Wembley
North Wembley
North Wembley is a district of North-West London, England. It is located in the London Borough of Brent, and is the location of the Sudbury Court Estate.-Nearby Places:*Wembley Park*South Kenton*Wembley*Kenton*Sudbury*Harrow-Stations:...
, South Kenton, Tokyngton
Tokyngton
Tokyngton commonly known as 'Monks Park' is a suburb located in northwest London, UK, and is part of the London Borough of Brent and the Wembley post town. Tokyngton means "the farm of the sons of Toca". -Location:...
, Sudbury
Sudbury, London
Sudbury is a suburb in the London Boroughs of Brent and Harrow, located in northwest London, UK.Sudbury is an historical area having once extended from the 'South Manor- Sudbury' to the area that is now known as Wembley Central...
, Wembley Park
Wembley Park
Wembley Park is an area of northwest London, UK. It is part of Wembley, and located in the London Borough of Brent. It includes Wembley Stadium, England's primary football stadium and a major sports and entertainment venue, and Wembley Arena, a concert venue...
and Northwick Park
Northwick Park
Northwick Park is an area in northwest London, which forms part in the London Borough of Brent and London Borough of Harrow.The area is most notable for Northwick Park Hospital, a major NHS hospital. This hospital featured as the outdoor location for the hospital in which Sybil Fawlty was admitted...
. The urban district included the neighbouring parish of Kingsbury
Kingsbury
Kingsbury is an area in the London Borough of Brent, northwest London. The name Kingsbury means "The King's Manor".-History:Kingsbury was historically a small parish in the Hundred of Gore and county of Middlesex. Until the nineteenth century it was largely rural with only scattered settlements....
until 1901 and again from 1934.
In 1937 it was incorporated as the Municipal Borough of Wembley
Municipal Borough of Wembley
Wembley was an urban district and later a municipal borough in Middlesex, England from 1894 to 1965.Wembley Urban District was created by the Local Government Act 1894 from part of the existing Hendon Rural Sanitary District, and originally consisted of two civil parishes: Kingsbury and Wembley...
. The fire brigade headquarters of Middlesex County Council
Middlesex County Council
Middlesex County Council was the principal local government body in the administrative county of Middlesex from 1889 to 1965.The county council was created by the Local Government Act 1888, which also removed the most populous part of the county to constitute the County of London...
were located on Harrow Road and is now a fire station of the London Fire Brigade
London Fire Brigade
The London Fire Brigade is the statutory fire and rescue service for London.Founded in 1865, it is the largest of the fire services in the United Kingdom and the fourth-largest in the world with nearly 7,000 staff, including 5,800 operational firefighters based in 112 fire...
. Wembley Town Hall
Brent Town Hall
Brent Town Hall is a landmark in Brent, a borough in northwest London, England. Pevsner described it as "the best of the modern town halls around London, neither fanciful nor drab".-History:The building was completed in 1940...
on Forty Lane, built in 1938, became Brent Town Hall
Brent Town Hall
Brent Town Hall is a landmark in Brent, a borough in northwest London, England. Pevsner described it as "the best of the modern town halls around London, neither fanciful nor drab".-History:The building was completed in 1940...
when the municipal boroughs of Wembley and Willesden
Municipal Borough of Willesden
Willesden was a local government district in the county of Middlesex, England from 1874 to 1965. It formed part of the Metropolitan Police District and London postal district...
were amalgamated in 1965 to form the London Borough of Brent
London Borough of Brent
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough had a total population of 2,022. This rose slowly throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 5,646 in the middle of the century. When the railways arrived the rate of population growth increased...
and transferred to Greater London
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
. Since the 2010 elections, Brent Council has been controlled by the Labour Party.
Wembley falls within the UK Parliament constituency of Brent North, and the London Assembly constituency of Brent and Harrow
Brent and Harrow (London Assembly constituency)
Brent and Harrow is a constituency represented in the London Assembly.It consists of the combined area of the London Borough of Brent and the London Borough of Harrow. In the 2010 General Election to Westminster the London Borough of Brent had two Labour MPs, one Conservative and one Liberal...
.
Geography
Up to the nineteenth century Wembley was rural and it has retained a number of green spaces. These include Barham Park (10.5 hectares) in Sudbury Town, King Edward VII Park, established in 1914 behind the High Road (10.5 hectares) and Sudbury Green. Less managed spaces include Fryent Country Park, Barn Hill (19.87 hectares) and Vale Farm sports ground (30 hectares). Brent River Park / Tokyngton Recreation Ground (20.26 hectares) has recently been restored returning the river to a more natural course.Nearby Sudbury Golf Course backs onto the Grand Union Canal
Grand Union Canal
The Grand Union Canal in England is part of the British canal system. Its main line connects London and Birmingham, stretching for 137 miles with 166 locks...
with its towpath running into central London. Sudbury Squash and Tennis Club has outdoor tennis courts, an indoor squash court and a clubhouse. Wembley is a short distance away from the Welsh Harp
Brent Reservoir
The Brent Reservoir is a reservoir which straddles the boundary between the London boroughs of Brent and Barnet and is owned by British Waterways...
reservoir and open space, created in the early 19th century by damming the River Brent
River Brent
The Brent is a river within Greater London which is a tributary of the River Thames. It is 17.9 miles long, running north-east to south-west, and it joins the Thames on the Tideway at Brentford, Hounslow.- Hydronymy and etymology :...
to provide water for the Grand Union Canal
Grand Union Canal
The Grand Union Canal in England is part of the British canal system. Its main line connects London and Birmingham, stretching for 137 miles with 166 locks...
.
The area is identified in the Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
's London Plan
London Plan
The London Plan is a planning document written by the Mayor of London, England in the United Kingdom and published by the Greater London Authority. The plan was first published in final form on 10 February 2004 and has since been amended. The current version was published in February 2008...
as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.
Post district
Wembley is part of both HA0 and HA9 post codes, and has a own post town. It includes AlpertonAlperton
Alperton is a district in the London Borough of Brent in northwest London.There is a high incidence of Indians living in Alperton . There is also a small Sri Lankan community in Alperton , and 10% stated as others....
, Preston
Preston, London
Preston is an area of northwest London, UK. It forms part of the London Borough of Brent. The area has a mid-sized park called Preston Park. The Preston Manor High School is located in the area.-Buses:...
, North Wembley
North Wembley
North Wembley is a district of North-West London, England. It is located in the London Borough of Brent, and is the location of the Sudbury Court Estate.-Nearby Places:*Wembley Park*South Kenton*Wembley*Kenton*Sudbury*Harrow-Stations:...
, South Kenton, Tokyngton
Tokyngton
Tokyngton commonly known as 'Monks Park' is a suburb located in northwest London, UK, and is part of the London Borough of Brent and the Wembley post town. Tokyngton means "the farm of the sons of Toca". -Location:...
, Wembley Park
Wembley Park
Wembley Park is an area of northwest London, UK. It is part of Wembley, and located in the London Borough of Brent. It includes Wembley Stadium, England's primary football stadium and a major sports and entertainment venue, and Wembley Arena, a concert venue...
and partly of Sudbury
Sudbury, London
Sudbury is a suburb in the London Boroughs of Brent and Harrow, located in northwest London, UK.Sudbury is an historical area having once extended from the 'South Manor- Sudbury' to the area that is now known as Wembley Central...
and Northwick Park
Northwick Park
Northwick Park is an area in northwest London, which forms part in the London Borough of Brent and London Borough of Harrow.The area is most notable for Northwick Park Hospital, a major NHS hospital. This hospital featured as the outdoor location for the hospital in which Sybil Fawlty was admitted...
.
Economy
The main shopping area is centred on Wembley High Road, Central Square, which is also undergoing redevelopment, and Ealing Road. The industrial and commercial estate close to Wembley Stadium includes warehouse-style outlets and retail sheds, and at 'Brent Park' further south on the A406A406 road
The A406 or the North Circular Road is a road which crosses North London, UK, linking West and East London. It, together with the South Circular Road, forms a ring road through the inner part of Outer London...
North Circular Road, there is a large Ikea Store, Tesco, other stores and industrial units. A large market is held on most Sundays in the car park in front of Wembley Stadium, continuing a long tradition.
The 'Wembley City' development in the area of Wembley Stadium has a number of stakeholders, in particular Quintain Estates and Development
Quintain Estates and Development
Quintain Estates and Development is a leading British-based property investment and development business. It is headquartered in London and is a constituent of the FTSE SmallCap Index.-History:...
, which owns much of the proposed site. It is to include new leisure facilities (e.g. the first new swimming baths being built in the borough in 60 years, and a multiplex cinema), residential and retail units and a new Civic Centre, incorporating council offices and assembly hall, a library and other community facilities and some retail space, and is due to be completed by 2013.
'Wembley Central Square' is being redeveloped with new leisure and retail facilities and residential units by St. Modwen Properties
St. Modwen Properties
St. Modwen Properties plc is a British-based property investment and development business specialising in the regeneration and remediation of brownfield land and urban environments...
. The first two phases of the development were completed by July 2009, and the final phase will see the replacement of the old central square by an improved Wembley Central station and new shops.
The Air France-KLM
Air France-KLM
Air France-KLM is a European airline holding company incorporated under French law with its headquarters at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport in Tremblay-en-France, Paris...
European Sales and Service Centre, which is a sales channel for 15 European countries, is located in Wembley.
Landmarks
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
, rebuilt 2003-2007 at a cost of £827 million, which is approached via the White Horse Bridge
White Horse Bridge
The White Horse Bridge is the name of the new footbridge that crosses Wembley Stadium railway station leading up to Wembley Stadium in England...
designed by the London Eye
London Eye
The London Eye is a tall giant Ferris wheel situated on the banks of the River Thames, in London, England.It is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe, and the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom, visited by over 3.5 million people annually...
architects. Nearby are Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena is an indoor arena, at Wembley, in the London Borough of Brent. The building is opposite Wembley Stadium.-History:...
, a concert venue built in 1934 as the Empire Pool, a swimming pool for the Empire Games, and Fountain Studios, one of the country's largest purpose built television studios and host to X Factor, Bremner, Bird and Fortune and Britain's Got Talent. Brent Town Hall is a Grade-2-listed building located on Barn Hill facing Wembley Stadium; its future is uncertain due to plans to move the town hall function, including council chamber, to a new civic centre as part of the Wembley redevelopment.
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in the centre of Wembley was built in 1904, designed by Thomas Collcutt
Thomas Edward Collcutt
Thomas Edward Collcutt was an English architect in the Victorian era who designed several important buildings in London.-Biography:...
and Stanley Hemp. Construction was of brick and the design was influenced by the Arts and Crafts Movement
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
. It was listed as a Grade II building in 1993. The church was converted into the Central Mosque Wembley
Central Mosque Wembley
The Central Mosque Wembley is situated in the inner London Borough of Brent. It is located on Ealing Road, London. It serves the fifth UK’s largest community who are predominantly Asian. The mosque is in the heart of Wembley. Wembley Central Mosque is the main mosque in North West London...
in the late 1990's.
Transport
Chiltern RailwaysChiltern Railways
Chiltern Railways is a British train operating company. It was set up at the privatisation of British Rail in 1996, and operates local passenger trains from Marylebone station in London to Aylesbury and main-line trains on the Chiltern Main Line to Birmingham Snow Hill with its associated branches...
services are provided at Wembley Stadium railway station
Wembley Stadium railway station
Wembley Stadium railway station is a Network Rail station in Wembley, Greater London on the Chiltern Main Line. At a quarter of a mile south west of the sports venue it is the nearest station to Wembley Stadium.- First Wembley Stadium station:...
. London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
services are provided on the Metropolitan line
Metropolitan Line
The Metropolitan line is part of the London Underground. It is coloured in Transport for London's Corporate Magenta on the Tube map and in other branding. It was the first underground railway in the world, opening as the Metropolitan Railway on 10 January 1863...
and Jubilee line
Jubilee Line
The Jubilee line is a line on the London Underground , in the United Kingdom. It was built in two major sections—initially to Charing Cross, in central London, and later extended, in 1999, to Stratford, in east London. The later stations are larger and have special safety features, both aspects...
at Wembley Park tube station
Wembley Park tube station
Wembley Park tube station is a London Underground station in Wembley Park, north west London. The station is served by the Underground's Metropolitan and Jubilee Lines and is in Travelcard Zone 4...
. London Midland
London Midland
London Midland is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Legally named London and Birmingham Railway Ltd, it is a subsidiary of Govia, and has operated the West Midlands franchise since 11 November 2007....
, London Overground
London Overground
London Overground is a suburban rail network in London and Hertfordshire. It has been operated by London Overground Rail Operations since 2007 as part of the National Rail network, under the franchise control and branding of Transport for London...
and London Underground Bakerloo line
Bakerloo Line
The Bakerloo line is a line of the London Underground, coloured brown on the Tube map. It runs partly on the surface and partly at deep level, from Elephant and Castle in the south-east to Harrow & Wealdstone in the north-west of London. The line serves 25 stations, of which 15 are underground...
services are available at Wembley Central railway station. Southern
Southern (train operating company)
Southern is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Officially named Southern Railway Ltd., it is a subsidiary of Govia, a joint venture between transport groups Go-Ahead Group and Keolis, and has operated the South Central rail franchise since October 2000 and the Gatwick Express service...
trains also pick up here, but are deliberately not advertised, for contractual financial reasons.
Buses
The following table shows all the London BusesLondon Buses
London Buses is the subsidiary of Transport for London that manages bus services within Greater London, UK. Buses are required to carry similar red colour schemes and conform to the same fare scheme...
running in Wembley Central, including its destinations and operator.
| 18 London Buses route 18 London Buses route 18 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest.-History:... |
Euston Euston railway station Euston railway station, also known as London Euston, is a central London railway terminus in the London Borough of Camden. It is the sixth busiest rail terminal in London . It is one of 18 railway stations managed by Network Rail, and is the southern terminus of the West Coast Main Line... |
Sudbury Sudbury, London Sudbury is a suburb in the London Boroughs of Brent and Harrow, located in northwest London, UK.Sudbury is an historical area having once extended from the 'South Manor- Sudbury' to the area that is now known as Wembley Central... Swan |
First Centrewest |
| 79 | Alperton Alperton Alperton is a district in the London Borough of Brent in northwest London.There is a high incidence of Indians living in Alperton . There is also a small Sri Lankan community in Alperton , and 10% stated as others.... Sainsburys |
Edgware Edgware Edgware is an area in London, situated north-northwest of Charing Cross. It forms part of both the London Borough of Barnet and the London Borough of Harrow. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.... |
First Centrewest |
| 83 London Buses route 83 London Buses route 83 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest.-History:... |
Ealing Hospital Ealing Hospital Ealing Hospital, officially called Ealing Hospital NHS Trust, is a general NHS hospital in the Southall district of the London Borough of Ealing, Greater London, England.... |
Golders Green Golders Green Golders Green is an area in the London Borough of Barnet in London, England. Although having some earlier history, it is essentially a 19th century suburban development situated about 5.3 miles north west of Charing Cross and centred on the crossroads of Golders Green Road and Finchley Road.In the... |
First Centrewest |
| 92 | St Raphael's North | Ealing Hospital Ealing Hospital Ealing Hospital, officially called Ealing Hospital NHS Trust, is a general NHS hospital in the Southall district of the London Borough of Ealing, Greater London, England.... |
First Centrewest |
| 182 London Buses route 182 London Buses route 182 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Metroline.-History:The current route 182 was introduced on 13 June 1970... |
Harrow Weald Harrow Weald Harrow Weald is an area in north-west London, England. It includes a suburban development and forms part of the London Borough of Harrow.-Locale, geography and history:... Oxhey Lane |
Brent Cross Brent Cross Brent Cross is an area of north London, in the London Borough of Barnet. It is located near the A41 Brent Cross Flyover over the A406 North Circular Road. Brent Cross is best known for its shopping centre and the proposed Brent Cross Cricklewood development.... |
Metroline Metroline Metroline, owned by ComfortDelGro Corporation of Singapore, is one of many companies operating bus services in London under the management of London Buses.-Company history:... |
| 204 London Buses route 204 London Buses route 204 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. This service is currently contracted to Metroline.-History:... |
Sudbury Town | Edgware Edgware Edgware is an area in London, situated north-northwest of Charing Cross. It forms part of both the London Borough of Barnet and the London Borough of Harrow. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.... |
Metroline Metroline Metroline, owned by ComfortDelGro Corporation of Singapore, is one of many companies operating bus services in London under the management of London Buses.-Company history:... |
| 223 | Wembley Central Wembley Central station Wembley Central is a Network Rail station served by London Underground Bakerloo Line, London Overground , Southern and a few London Midland services. It is located in the High Road of Wembley, northwest London... |
Harrow Harrow, London Harrow is an area in the London Borough of Harrow, northwest London, United Kingdom. It is a suburban area and is situated 12.2 miles northwest of Charing Cross... |
First Centrewest |
| 224 London Buses route 224 London Buses route 224 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, UK. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest.-History:Route 224 was introduced on 24 February 1990 using MCW Metrobus double-deckers... |
Wembley Stadium Wembley Stadium railway station Wembley Stadium railway station is a Network Rail station in Wembley, Greater London on the Chiltern Main Line. At a quarter of a mile south west of the sports venue it is the nearest station to Wembley Stadium.- First Wembley Stadium station:... |
Harlesden Harlesden Harlesden is an area in the London Borough of Brent, northwest London, UK. Its main focal point is the Jubilee Clock which commemorates Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee.... Willesden Junction |
First Centrewest |
| 297 London Buses route 297 London Buses route 297 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Metroline.-History:... |
Willesden Willesden Willesden is an area in North West London which forms part of the London Borough of Brent. It is situated 5 miles north west of Charing Cross... Bus Garage |
Ealing Broadway | Metroline Metroline Metroline, owned by ComfortDelGro Corporation of Singapore, is one of many companies operating bus services in London under the management of London Buses.-Company history:... |
| H17 | Wembley Central Wembley Central station Wembley Central is a Network Rail station served by London Underground Bakerloo Line, London Overground , Southern and a few London Midland services. It is located in the High Road of Wembley, northwest London... |
Harrow Harrow, London Harrow is an area in the London Borough of Harrow, northwest London, United Kingdom. It is a suburban area and is situated 12.2 miles northwest of Charing Cross... |
Transdev London Transdev London London United is one of many operators of London Buses and is owned by the RATP Group, an international public transport operator owned by the government of France... |
| N18 | Trafalgar Square Trafalgar Square Trafalgar Square is a public space and tourist attraction in central London, England, United Kingdom. At its centre is Nelson's Column, which is guarded by four lion statues at its base. There are a number of statues and sculptures in the square, with one plinth displaying changing pieces of... |
Harrow Weald Harrow Weald Harrow Weald is an area in north-west London, England. It includes a suburban development and forms part of the London Borough of Harrow.-Locale, geography and history:... Bus Garage |
First Centrewest |
Road
Wembley lies near to the A40 Western AvenueA40 road
The A40 is a major trunk road connecting London to Fishguard, Wales and officially called The London to Fishguard Trunk Road in all legal documents and Acts...
and A406 North Circular Road
A406 road
The A406 or the North Circular Road is a road which crosses North London, UK, linking West and East London. It, together with the South Circular Road, forms a ring road through the inner part of Outer London...
. Wembley town centre is served by three pay-and-display car parks. The largest in Montrose Crescent, located off High Road, at a lower level. The second is accessed from London Road and is beneath the Central Square, and the third and smallest is located at St John's Road.
Transport proposals
Three possible transport services have been proposed for the area; the West London Orbital, FastbusFASTBUS
FASTBUS is a computer bus standard, originally intended to replace CAMAC in high-speed, large-scale data acquisition.- Description :...
and the North and West London Light railway
North and West London Light Railway
The North and West London Light Railway , formerly proposed-named as Brent Cross Railway, is a potential light rail service proposed by the London group of the Campaign for Better Transport, intended to serve parts of north, northwest and west London, being similar to the Docklands Light Railway...
.
Notable people
- RockRock musicRock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
legend Keith MoonKeith MoonKeith John Moon was an English musician, best known for being the drummer of the English rock group The Who. He gained acclaim for his exuberant and innovative drumming style, and notoriety for his eccentric and often self-destructive behaviour, earning him the nickname "Moon the Loon". Moon...
(1946-1978), powerhouse drummer of The WhoThe WhoThe Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
, was born in Wembley
- Actor and musician Gary HoltonGary HoltonGary Frederick Holton was an English singer-songwriter, musician and actor from London. He was the frontman of the band Heavy Metal Kids, for whom he played lead vocals, guitar, rhythm guitar, keyboards and harmonica, and played the part of Wayne in the UK television comedy Auf Wiedersehen, Pet...
(1952-1985), Wayne in Auf Wiedersehen, PetAuf Wiedersehen, PetAuf Wiedersehen, Pet is a British comedy-drama television programme about seven English migrant construction workers. In the first series, the men live and work on a building site in Düsseldorf....
and frontman of Heavy Metal KidsHeavy Metal KidsThe Heavy Metal Kids are a British hard rock band, formed in 1972 in London. The band's former frontman Gary Holton and their core founding member Dave Dee are both deceased.-Early years:...
, lived in Wembley at the time of his death
- Composer John TavenerJohn TavenerSir John Tavener is a British composer, best known for such religious, minimal works as "The Whale", and "Funeral Ikos"...
was born in Wembley
- Actor Riz AhmedRiz AhmedRizwan Ahmed , also known as Riz Ahmed, the Rizmeister General, or Riz MC, is a British MC, musician and actor. He is noted for his lead performances in The Road to Guantanamo, Shifty, Britz, and Four Lions.-Ethnic background:Ahmed is a British Pakistani...
, star of satirist Chris MorrisChris MorrisChris Morris may refer to:* Chris Morris , gay rights activist* Chris Morris , American football player for the Detroit Lions...
's black comedy Four LionsFour LionsFour Lions is a 2010 British satirical comedy film. It is the debut feature from director Chris Morris, written by Morris, Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong. The film is a jihad satire following a group of homegrown Islamist terrorist jihadis from Sheffield, England.-Plot:A group of young Muslim men...
(2010), was born in Wembley
- Singer Maxine NightingaleMaxine NightingaleMaxine Nightingale is a British R&B and soul music singer. She is best known for her hits in the 1970s, with the million seller "Right Back Where We Started From" Maxine Nightingale (born 2 November 1952; Wembley, London) is a British R&B and soul music singer. She is best known for her hits in...
, best known for her soul hit records in the 1970s, was born in Wembley
- Actor Robert McBainRobert McBainRobert McBain was an English actor, photographer and artist.He was born Robert Digby Bosher, in Wembley, Middlesex...
(1932-2004), who appeared in Fawlty TowersFawlty TowersFawlty Towers is a British sitcom produced by BBC Television and first broadcast on BBC2 in 1975. Twelve television program episodes were produced . The show was written by John Cleese and his then wife Connie Booth, both of whom played major characters...
and A Fish Called WandaA Fish Called WandaA Fish Called Wanda is a 1988 crime-comedy film written by John Cleese and Charles Crichton. It was directed by Crichton and an uncredited Cleese, and stars Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline and Michael Palin. The film is about a jewel heist and its aftermath...
, was born in Wembley
- Musician John LingwoodJohn LingwoodJohn Lingwood is an English drummer.John has played with many top people over the years Stomo Yamashta, Leo Sayer, Roger Chapman , Maddy Prior, Elkie Brooks...
, drummer of Manfred Mann's Earth BandManfred Mann's Earth BandManfred Mann's Earth Band is a British progressive rock group formed in 1971 by Manfred Mann.-Formation:Having started in the 1960s with a British band that had such hits as "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" and "The Mighty Quinn", then moving on to Jazz Fusion with Manfred Mann's Chapter Three, Manfred's third...
, was born in Wembley
- Scholar Vivian H. H. GreenVivian H. H. GreenVivian Hubert Howard Green was a Fellow and Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford, a priest, author, teacher, and historian....
(1915-2005), the model for author John le CarréJohn le CarréDavid John Moore Cornwell , who writes under the name John le Carré, is an author of espionage novels. During the 1950s and the 1960s, Cornwell worked for MI5 and MI6, and began writing novels under the pseudonym "John le Carré"...
's spymaster character George SmileyGeorge SmileyGeorge Smiley is a fictional character created by John le Carré. Smiley is an intelligence officer working for MI6 , the British overseas intelligence agency...
, was born in Wembley
- Figure-skater Valda OsbornValda OsbornValda Rosemary Osborn was a British figure skater. She was the 1953 European champion and World bronze medalist. She represented Great Britain at the 1952 Winter Olympics where she placed 11th.- Personal life:Valda Osborn was born in Wembley, England in 1934 and started skating at age 2 1/2 at...
was born in Wembley
- Footballers Jerel IfilJerel IfilJerel Christopher Ifil is an English footballer who plays for Kettering Town as a defender. He is the elder brother of defender Philip Ifil, who also plays for Kettering Town.-Career:...
and Jerome ThomasJerome ThomasJerome William Thomas is an English footballer who plays for West Bromwich Albion predominantly as a left winger, but can also operate centrally...
were born in Wembley
- British ambassadorAmbassadorAn ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to IsraelIsraelThe State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
Matthew GouldMatthew GouldMatthew Steven Gould MBE is the current British Ambassador to Israel.-Early life:Gould is descended from Polish Jews who immigrated to the UK...
grew up in Wembley