Eastwick (Metroland)
Encyclopedia
Eastwick was a fictional suburb on the outer reaches of the London Underground
’s Metropolitan line
in Julian Barnes
’ novel Metroland. This book, written in 1980, recalled adolescence
in the early 1960s.
" because that sounded better than Eastwick and stranger than Middlesex
(which was still an administrative county
in 1961).
Christopher noted that some of the other commuters from Eastwick – "old fuggers" as he called them – were creatures of habit (favourite compartments, favourite seats); that the orange street lights on the way home from the station made red appear brown; and that, on Sundays ("the day for which Metroland was created"), the trains appeared to clatter into Eastwick more loudly than usual.
, was probably an amalgam of Eastcote
and Northwick (as in Northwick Park
), although there is a parish of Eastwick in East Hertfordshire
, to the north-west of Harlow
. There is no connection with the town (in New England, USA) in John Updike’s novel, The Witches of Eastwick
(1984).
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...
’s 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...
in Julian Barnes
Julian Barnes
Julian Patrick Barnes is a contemporary English writer, and winner of the 2011 Man Booker Prize, for his book The Sense of an Ending...
’ novel Metroland. This book, written in 1980, recalled adolescence
Adolescence
Adolescence is a transitional stage of physical and mental human development generally occurring between puberty and legal adulthood , but largely characterized as beginning and ending with the teenage stage...
in the early 1960s.
Features of Eastwick
At school in the City, to which he travelled daily by train, Christopher Lloyd, the subject of Metroland, made it known during French lessons that he lived in "Metro-landMetro-land
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, and were served by the Metropolitan Railway, an independent company until absorbed by the London...
" because that sounded better than Eastwick and stranger than 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...
(which was still an administrative county
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
in 1961).
Christopher noted that some of the other commuters from Eastwick – "old fuggers" as he called them – were creatures of habit (favourite compartments, favourite seats); that the orange street lights on the way home from the station made red appear brown; and that, on Sundays ("the day for which Metroland was created"), the trains appeared to clatter into Eastwick more loudly than usual.
Likely etymology
"Eastwick", which was said to be about twenty minutes’ drive from CheshamChesham
Chesham is a market town in the Chiltern Hills, Buckinghamshire, England. It is located 11 miles south-east of the county town of Aylesbury. Chesham is also a civil parish designated a town council within Chiltern district. It is situated in the Chess Valley and surrounded by farmland, as well as...
, was probably an amalgam of Eastcote
Eastcote
Eastcote is a suburban area established around an old village in Greater London, and is part of the London Borough of Hillingdon.In the Middle Ages, Eastcote was one of the three areas that made up the parish of Ruislip, under the name of Ascot...
and Northwick (as in 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...
), although there is a parish of Eastwick in East Hertfordshire
East Hertfordshire
East Hertfordshire is a local government district in Hertfordshire, England. Its council has offices in Bishop's Stortford and Hertford ....
, to the north-west of Harlow
Harlow
Harlow is a new town and local government district in Essex, England. It is located in the west of the county and on the border with Hertfordshire, on the Stort Valley, The town is near the M11 motorway and forms part of the London commuter belt.The district has a current population of 78,889...
. There is no connection with the town (in New England, USA) in John Updike’s novel, The Witches of Eastwick
The Witches of Eastwick
The Witches of Eastwick is a 1984 novel by John Updike.-Plot summary:The story, set in the fictional Rhode Island town of Eastwick in the late 1960s, follows the witches Alexandra Spofford, Jane Smart, and Sukie Rougemont, who acquired their powers after leaving or being left by their husbands....
(1984).