Old Redding Both Famous And Notorious !

A Memory of Hatch End.

Old Redding is a hilly rural lane connecting Hatch End with Harrow Weald. It is notorious for its connection with The Grimsdyke Hotel where Gilbert of Gilbert and Sullivan fame met his death in a drowning tragedy.
It is also famous for its reputation among local young people who congregate in the car park for different purposes by day and night. On a clear day you can look south all the way as far as Heathrow Airport and see a succession of aircraft taking off and landing. As a young boy I would enjoy picnics there and watch the planes in the distance. However, as I grew older I learned from my teenage friends that the car park was a wonderful place at night for courting!  I think most of us in the St Anselm's Church Youth Club parked there in the 1960's!