Harrow Weald
Encyclopedia
Harrow Weald is an area in north-west London
, England. It includes a suburban development and forms part of the London Borough of Harrow
.
, Wealdstone
, Headstone
and Hatch End
. The area is separated by those parts of it that are on lower ground, the developed areas, and those on high ground, the wooded areas. It forms part of the HA postcode area.
The southern part of the area is a suburban development consisting of houses, schools, small shops, supermarkets and pubs (notably the Weald Stone Inn, formerly called the Red Lion). The area was expanded around the First World War and then again grew substantially in the following decades. By way of example, in 1901 the population of the area was 1,517 but by 1931 this figure had climbed to 10,923.
The Harrow Weald campus of Harrow College
sits at the northern edge of the built up area, having previously been a grammar school then a 16+ college, as does Harrow Weald Cemetery. The All Saints' churchyard and its extension adjoin this cemetery and their most famous interment is the Victoria Cross
awarded pilot Leefe Robinson
.
Ancient woodland on high ground fills the majority of the northern part of Harrow Weald and is the very edge of London (and Middlesex
), forming a border with Hertfordshire
. The area is one of the highest above sea level in London and the highest point in Middlesex sits nearby the woods at 502 feet (153 m). The eastern part of the woods merges into those of Stanmore
and encompasses Bentley Priory
. Along the southern edge of the high ground runs the road Old Redding and a car park situated here provides spectacular views over the whole of London. The western part of the woodland forms Harrow Weald Common and other smaller woods that surround the Grim's Dyke
Hotel, the former country house of W. S. Gilbert
. Gilbert and Sullivan
's comic opera
s are frequently performed here. The house is named after the nearby earthwork Grim's Ditch
, a 3-mile long ancient monument
that runs from Harrow Weald to Pinner Green
. The monument remains largely mysterious but was known to have been named in the Saxon
era. The ditch hints at a long history of inhabitance for the area and many artefacts have been found on the common to support this.
service (with Heathrow Airport the other end of the route) and the N18 night bus service from Trafalgar Square
. The garage serves the operator Metroline
.
Buses serving Harrow Weald:
Councillor Ramji Chauhan,
Councillor Tony Ferrari and
Councillor Stephen Greek
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England. It includes a suburban development and forms part of the London Borough of Harrow
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:...
.
Locale, geography and history
Harrow Weald is near to Bushey Heath, StanmoreStanmore
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:...
, Wealdstone
Wealdstone
Wealdstone is a largely working-class and recent immigrant district in the London Borough of Harrow, north west London.-History and name:The eponymous Weald Stone is a sarsen stone, formerly marking the boundary between the parish of Harrow and Harrow Weald...
, Headstone
Headstone, London
Headstone is an area of London, England. Postcode district: HA2 & HA3 It is located to the north-east of Harrow. Places of interest include the Headstone Manor, and the Headstone lane railway station.Geocoding info:...
and Hatch End
Hatch End
Hatch End is a place in the London Borough of Harrow, located north west of Charing Cross in Central London. The suburb is part of the Pinner post town.-Attractions:...
. The area is separated by those parts of it that are on lower ground, the developed areas, and those on high ground, the wooded areas. It forms part of the HA postcode area.
The southern part of the area is a suburban development consisting of houses, schools, small shops, supermarkets and pubs (notably the Weald Stone Inn, formerly called the Red Lion). The area was expanded around the First World War and then again grew substantially in the following decades. By way of example, in 1901 the population of the area was 1,517 but by 1931 this figure had climbed to 10,923.
The Harrow Weald campus of Harrow College
Harrow College
Harrow College is the largest college in the London Borough of Harrow. It opened in 1999 following a merger of two former local colleges, Greenhill College and Weald College .Ofsted has reported the college as Outstanding for Social and Educational Inclusion...
sits at the northern edge of the built up area, having previously been a grammar school then a 16+ college, as does Harrow Weald Cemetery. The All Saints' churchyard and its extension adjoin this cemetery and their most famous interment is the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
awarded pilot Leefe Robinson
Leefe Robinson
William Leefe Robinson VC was the first British pilot to shoot down a German airship over Britain during the First World War. For this he was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces...
.
Ancient woodland on high ground fills the majority of the northern part of Harrow Weald and is the very edge of London (and 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...
), forming a border with Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
. The area is one of the highest above sea level in London and the highest point in Middlesex sits nearby the woods at 502 feet (153 m). The eastern part of the woods merges into those of 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:...
and encompasses Bentley Priory
Bentley Priory
Bentley Priory was a medieval priory or cell of Augustinian Canons in Harrow Weald, then in Middlesex but now in the London Borough of Harrow. There are no remains of the priory, but it probably stood near Priory House, off Clamp Hill....
. Along the southern edge of the high ground runs the road Old Redding and a car park situated here provides spectacular views over the whole of London. The western part of the woodland forms Harrow Weald Common and other smaller woods that surround the 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...
Hotel, the former country house 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...
. Gilbert and Sullivan
Gilbert and Sullivan
Gilbert and Sullivan refers to the Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the librettist W. S. Gilbert and the composer Arthur Sullivan . The two men collaborated on fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which H.M.S...
's comic opera
Comic opera
Comic opera denotes a sung dramatic work of a light or comic nature, usually with a happy ending.Forms of comic opera first developed in late 17th-century Italy. By the 1730s, a new operatic genre, opera buffa, emerged as an alternative to opera seria...
s are frequently performed here. The house is named after the nearby earthwork Grim's Ditch
Grim's Ditch (Harrow)
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...
, a 3-mile long ancient monument
Ancient monument
An ancient monument is an early historical structure or monument worthy of preservation and study due to archaeological or heritage interest. In the United Kingdom it is a legal term, differing from the American term National Monument in being far more numerous and always man-made...
that runs from Harrow Weald to Pinner Green
Pinner Green
- External links :*...
. The monument remains largely mysterious but was known to have been named in the Saxon
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
era. The ditch hints at a long history of inhabitance for the area and many artefacts have been found on the common to support this.
Transport
Harrow Weald Bus Garage is located at the end of the main row of shops and was built in 1930. It is the terminus for the 24-hour 140London Buses route 140
London Buses route 140 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. The service is currently contracted to Metroline.-History:Route 140, at its inception, followed a very different route to the one it does today...
service (with Heathrow Airport the other end of the route) and the N18 night bus service from Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square is a public space and tourist attraction in central London, England, United Kingdom. At its centre is Nelson's Column, which is guarded by four lion statues at its base. There are a number of statues and sculptures in the square, with one plinth displaying changing pieces of...
. The garage serves the operator Metroline
Metroline
Metroline, owned by ComfortDelGro Corporation of Singapore, is one of many companies operating bus services in London under the management of London Buses.-Company history:...
.
Buses serving Harrow Weald:
- 140London Buses route 140London Buses route 140 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. The service is currently contracted to Metroline.-History:Route 140, at its inception, followed a very different route to the one it does today...
- 182London Buses route 182London Buses route 182 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Metroline.-History:The current route 182 was introduced on 13 June 1970...
- 258London Buses route 258London Buses route 258 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, UK. The service is currently contracted to Arriva Shires & Essex.-History:...
- 340London Buses route 340London Buses route 340 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva Shires & Essex.-History:...
- H12London Buses route H12London Buses route H12 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Metroline.-History:...
- H18/H19
- N18
Local councillors
As of May 2010, the local councillors for Harrow Weald are:Councillor Ramji Chauhan,
Councillor Tony Ferrari and
Councillor Stephen Greek