Metro-land is a name given to the suburban areas that were built to the north-west of London in the counties of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Middlesex in the early part of the 20th century that were served by the Metropolitan Railway. The railway company was in the privileged position of being allowed to retain surplus land; from 1919 this was developed for housing by the nominally independent Metropolitan Railway Country Estates Limited (MRCE). The term "Metro-land" was coined by the Met's marketing department in 1915 when the Guide to the Extension Line became the Metro-land guide. It promoted a dream of a modern home in beautiful countryside with a fast railway service to central London until the Met was absorbed into the London Passenger Transport Board in 1933.
Metropolitan Railway electric locomotive and train (c.1928)
The town of Harrow, referred to as the "capital city" of Metro-land
Croxley Green (now Croxley) station (C. W. Clark, 1925)
Betjeman centenary: commemorative plaque unveiled by Candida Lycett Green, Marylebone station, 2 September 2006
Rickmansworth, a town in south-west Hertfordshire, England, is located approximatly 17 miles (27 km) north-west of central London, 5 miles (8 km) south-west of Watford and inside the perimeter of the M25 motorway. The town is mainly to the north of the Grand Union Canal and the River Colne.
View from St Mary's Church tower
Basing House, 46 High Street, Rickmansworth
Image: Rickmansworth Urban District Council coat of arms