Grim's Ditch (Harrow)
Encyclopedia
Grim's Ditch or Grim's Dyke or Grimes Dike is an area of countryside in the London Borough of Harrow
, close to the Hertfordshire borderline. It extends about two miles from Bushey Heath to Harrow
and is most easily reached via Stanmore
. It takes its name from the pre-historic earthwork which is one of a number of Grim's Ditch
es in southern England.
The highroad Old Redding passes through the centre of the trail which can be reached either by Oxhey Lane or Bushey Heath and includes a popular viewpoint for many locals. However views are actually more extensive through the breaks in the trees a few hundred yards further up the high road. Some of these are surprising for a low hill. A vast majority of Central London can be seen in clear conditions. Beyond Harrow on the Hill to the south, Leith Hill
can be seen; its 20 metre high tower can even be seen with binoculars. To the north and west there are clear views of the Chilterns, and in particular Coombe Hill
, Buckinghamshire can be seen.
The highest point of the trail, which is close to the county top of Middlesex
, is just above the Grim's Dyke Golf
Club which can be passed using the 'Bushey Heath Walk' footpath
. The walk eventually extends through a small wood
with a BT
microwave
aerial prominent. Close to the aerial is a Stone Marker created by the Harrow Heritage Trust that reads; 'This ancient earthwork once streched through Harrow for some six miles from Cuckoo Hill, Pinner to Pear Wood, Stanmore, but now only parts remain. Named after Grim (Norse God Woden).'
In the woods stands Grim's Dyke
, a house designed by Norman Shaw for the Victorian painter Frederick Goodall
. Later, it was the country home of W. S. Gilbert
(of Savoy opera
fame) — he suffered a heart attack and drowned while trying to save a swimmer in the lake in the grounds. It is now an hotel and is often used as a film location. The house and its gatehouse are both listed buildings.
The earthwork also gave its name to the telephone exchange
serving Stanmore: GRImsdyke (as it was normally written).
London Borough of Harrow
The London Borough of Harrow is a London borough of north-west London. It borders Hertfordshire to the north and other London boroughs: Hillingdon to the west, Ealing to the south, Brent to the south-east and Barnet to the east.-History:...
, close to the Hertfordshire borderline. It extends about two miles from Bushey Heath to 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 is most easily reached via Stanmore
Stanmore
Stanmore is a suburban area of the London Borough of Harrow, in northwest London. It is situated northwest of Charing Cross. The area is home to Stanmore Hill, one of the highest points of London, high.-Toponymy:...
. It takes its name from the pre-historic earthwork which is one of a number of Grim's Ditch
Grim's Ditch
Grim's Ditch, Grim's Dyke or Grim's Bank is a name shared by a number of prehistoric bank and ditch earthworks...
es in southern England.
The highroad Old Redding passes through the centre of the trail which can be reached either by Oxhey Lane or Bushey Heath and includes a popular viewpoint for many locals. However views are actually more extensive through the breaks in the trees a few hundred yards further up the high road. Some of these are surprising for a low hill. A vast majority of Central London can be seen in clear conditions. Beyond Harrow on the Hill to the south, Leith Hill
Leith Hill
Leith Hill to the south west of Dorking, Surrey, England, reaches above sea level, the highest point on the Greensand Ridge, and is the second highest point in south-east England, after Walbury Hill near Hungerford, West Berkshire, high....
can be seen; its 20 metre high tower can even be seen with binoculars. To the north and west there are clear views of the Chilterns, and in particular Coombe Hill
Coombe Hill
Coombe Hill may refer to:* Coombe Hill, Buckinghamshire* Coombe Hill, a different hill on the flank of Haddington Hill in Buckinghamshire* Coombe Hill, East Sussex, England* Coombe Hill, Gloucestershire, England.* Coombe, Kingston upon Thames, England...
, Buckinghamshire can be seen.
The highest point of the trail, which is close to the county top 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...
, is just above the Grim's Dyke Golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
Club which can be passed using the 'Bushey Heath Walk' footpath
Trail
A trail is a path with a rough beaten or dirt/stone surface used for travel. Trails may be for use only by walkers and in some places are the main access route to remote settlements...
. The walk eventually extends through a small wood
Woodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
with a BT
BT Group
BT Group plc is a global telecommunications services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is one of the largest telecommunications services companies in the world and has operations in more than 170 countries. Through its BT Global Services division it is a major supplier of...
microwave
Microwave
Microwaves, a subset of radio waves, have wavelengths ranging from as long as one meter to as short as one millimeter, or equivalently, with frequencies between 300 MHz and 300 GHz. This broad definition includes both UHF and EHF , and various sources use different boundaries...
aerial prominent. Close to the aerial is a Stone Marker created by the Harrow Heritage Trust that reads; 'This ancient earthwork once streched through Harrow for some six miles from Cuckoo Hill, Pinner to Pear Wood, Stanmore, but now only parts remain. Named after Grim (Norse God Woden).'
In the woods stands Grim's Dyke
Grim's Dyke
Grim's Dyke is the name of a house and estate located in Harrow Weald, in Northwest London, England, built in 1872 by Norman Shaw, and named after the nearby pre-historic earthwork known as Grim's Ditch. The house is best known as the home of dramatist W.S. Gilbert, who lived there for the last...
, a house designed by Norman Shaw for the Victorian painter Frederick Goodall
Frederick Goodall
Frederick Goodall was an English artist.Goodall was born in London, England in 1822, the second son of steel line engraver Edward Goodall . He received his education at the Wellington Road Academy....
. Later, it was the country home of W. S. Gilbert
W. S. Gilbert
Sir William Schwenck Gilbert was an English dramatist, librettist, poet and illustrator best known for his fourteen comic operas produced in collaboration with the composer Sir Arthur Sullivan, of which the most famous include H.M.S...
(of Savoy opera
Savoy opera
The Savoy Operas denote a style of comic opera that developed in Victorian England in the late 19th century, with W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan as the original and most successful practitioners. The name is derived from the Savoy Theatre, which impresario Richard D'Oyly Carte built to house...
fame) — he suffered a heart attack and drowned while trying to save a swimmer in the lake in the grounds. It is now an hotel and is often used as a film location. The house and its gatehouse are both listed buildings.
The earthwork also gave its name to the telephone exchange
Telephone exchange names
During the early years of telephone service, communities that required more than 10,000 telephone numbers, whether dial service was available or not, utilized exchange names to distinguish identical numerics for different customers....
serving Stanmore: GRImsdyke (as it was normally written).