Contraptions and Connections
2025-09-21 11:00 - 16:00, 2025-09-26 11:00 - 16:00, 2025-09-27 11:00 - 16:00, 2025-09-28 11:00 - 16:00, 2025-10-03 11:00 - 16:00, 2025-10-04 11:00 - 16:00, 2025-10-05 11:00 - 16:00, 2025-10-10 11:00 - 16:00 (Europe/London) and 8 more dates | Heath Robinson Museum, 50 West End Lane, Pinner, HA5 1AE, United Kingdom
Known as the ‘Gadget King’, the contraption drawings by William Heath Robinson (1877-1944) are well known and loved around the world. His artistic vision of absurdly complicated machines fashioned out of string and everyday objects fulfilling simple tasks, have delighted audiences from the first World War to the present day. These drawings of clockwork-like contraptions have also inspired generations of ‘automata’ artists to create their own real life kinetic sculptures.
The roots of mankind’s fascination with automata stretch back over 3,000 years as evidenced by the discovery of automaton statues buried in Egyptian tombs (the wooden figure ‘Hathor’ now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art). Ever since, more elaborate and complicated automatons have evolved with the development of ‘clockwork’ devices in the 14th century. A fascination which continued through the Golden Age of 17th century automatons such as the life-like machines created by Jaquet-Droz (Switzerland) and the Silver Swan of Joseph Merlin (Bowes Museum Co Durham UK), onwards through the 1840’s fascination for travelling automata exhibitions. Continuing through to the 20th century’s love of sea-side ‘end of the pier’ automata such as the laughing sailor, penny arcades, and wind up tin toys of the type seen on the likes of ‘The Antiques Roadshow’.
‘Contraptions and Connections’ brings together 15 contemporary artists along with Heath Robinson, exploring where art, invention, and engineering collide. The UK has a glorious, unabashed history of curious creators with an infectious humorous perspective on the human condition. The automatons gathered for this show range from kinetic music playing machines made from pianos and sewing machines (Fi Henshall), hand cranked toys, swimming fish made from old plastic bottles and steel (Tim Lewis), to self-drawing chalk boards (Jim Bond) and a steam propelled bric-a-brac locomotive inspired by the Railway drawings of Heath Robinson (Tim Ellis).
This mesmerising exhibition will appeal to all ages, revealing a thriving artistic community, exploring the human condition through invention and humour.
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Harrow Gateway Table Top Sale
2025-10-04 09:30 - 12:30 | Gateway House, North Harrow Car Park, Pinner Road, Middlesex, HA2 7TA, United Kingdom
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Heath Robinson Museum - Diwali Celebraton Day
2025-10-11 11:00 - 16:00 | Heath Robinson Museum, 50 West End Lane, Pinner, HA5 1AE, United Kingdom
Diwali Celebration Day

11 October 2025
11:00 am – 1:00 pm or 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

£7 per child (accompanying adult goes free)

Booking Information
Book online or tickets are available in the Museum during normal opening hours (Thurs-Sun 11-4)
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Harrow Choral Society Concert
2025-10-11 17:30 - 18:30 | St Albans Church Hall, Norwood Drive, North Harrow, HA2 7PF

Festive lights in Bridge Street switch on for Diwali
2025-10-17 18:15 - 19:00 | Bridge Street,, Bridge Street, Pinner, United Kingdom

Harrow Apollo Male Voice Choir Autumn Concert
2025-10-19 15:00 - 17:00 | St Albans Church, The Ridgeway, North Harrow, Middlesex, HA2 7PF, United Kingdom

Heath Robinson Museum - Halloween Half Term Workshop – Junior
2025-10-30 10:00 - 11:30 | Heath Robinson Museum, 50 West End Lane, Pinner, HA5 1AE, United Kingdom
Great seasonal fun making your own spooky hat that you can wear on Halloween.
Halloween Half Term Workshop – Junior

30 October 2025 10:00 am – 11:30 am

£10 per child (accompanying adult goes free)

Age range: 5-8yrs accompanied by adult (who is free entry)
Booking Information
Book online or tickets are available in the Museum during normal opening hours (Thurs-Sun 11-4)
Book Tickets

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Heath Robinson Museum - Halloween Half Term Workshop – Senior
2025-10-31 13:00 - 15:00 | Heath Robinson Museum, 50 West End Lane, Pinner, HA5 1AE, United Kingdom
Great seasonal fun making your own wicked gargoyle decoration out of clay just in time for Halloween.
Halloween Half Term Workshop – Senior

31 October 2025 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Age range: 8-16yrs
£15 per child

Booking Information
Book online or tickets are available in the Museum during normal opening hours (Thurs-Sun 11-4)

Book Tickets

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Sublime Space
2025-11-01 11:00 - 16:00, 2025-11-02 11:00 - 16:00, 2025-11-06 11:00 - 16:00, 2025-11-07 11:00 - 16:00, 2025-11-08 11:00 - 16:00 | Heath Robinson Museum, 50 West End Lane, Pinner, HA5 1AE, United Kingdom
This exciting exhibition explores landscape as a space for creative reflection. It brings together contemporary artists alongside unseen landscapes by Heath Robinson to investigate how notions of space, landscape and the sublime can reveal emotional, physical, intellectual, social and political undertones. Artists include David Inshaw, William Scott, Ray Richardson, Jemma Powell, Jonathan McCree, Sue Arrowsmith, Daniel Sturgis, Peter Coyte, and Ralph Steadman.
The roots of mankind’s fascination with automata stretch back over 3,000 years as evidenced by the discovery of automaton statues buried in Egyptian tombs (the wooden figure ‘Hathor’ now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art). Ever since, more elaborate and complicated automatons have evolved with the development of ‘clockwork’ devices in the 14th century. A fascination which continued through the Golden Age of 17th century automatons such as the life-like machines created by Jaquet-Droz (Switzerland) and the Silver Swan of Joseph Merlin (Bowes Museum Co Durham UK), onwards through the 1840’s fascination for travelling automata exhibitions. Continuing through to the 20th century’s love of sea-side ‘end of the pier’ automata such as the laughing sailor, penny arcades, and wind up tin toys of the type seen on the likes of ‘The Antiques Roadshow’.
‘Contraptions and Connections’ brings together 15 contemporary artists along with Heath Robinson, exploring where art, invention, and engineering collide. The UK has a glorious, unabashed history of curious creators with an infectious humorous perspective on the human condition. The automatons gathered for this show range from kinetic music playing machines made from pianos and sewing machines (Fi Henshall), hand cranked toys, swimming fish made from old plastic bottles and steel (Tim Lewis), to self-drawing chalk boards (Jim Bond) and a steam propelled bric-a-brac locomotive inspired by the Railway drawings of Heath Robinson (Tim Ellis).
This mesmerising exhibition will appeal to all ages, revealing a thriving artistic community, exploring the human condition through invention and humour.
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PLHS Talk - The Story of the Guinness Park Royal Brewery
2025-11-06 20:00 - 22:00 | Pinner Village Hall, Chapel Lane, Pinner, Middlesex, HA5 1AA, United Kingdom
Pinner Local History Society Talk in November is:
The Story of the Guinness Park Royal Brewery 1936-2005
By David Hughes
Thursday 6th November, 8pm
Built in secret on the old Royal Show Ground at Park Royal, the Guinness brewery opened in 1936. It continued to brew throughout the war often using women in production roles becoming the largest brewery in the UK. It delivered by road for London and by rail for more distant places. David’s illustrated talk will cover the early history to its closure in 2005.
Visitors welcome, suggested donation £3

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Remembrance Sunday Service
2025-11-09 10:40 - 11:30 | High Street War Memorial, Pinner
