Harrow on the Hill is first recorded in 767, when King Offa made a grant of land, its name then was Gumeninga Hergae, but the Normans called it Harwo, although "Herga" lives on in the names of streets. The parish church of St Mary, consecrated in 1094, still dominates the skyline today.

 

Harrow school produced many famous and infamous men. You can still see the spot where the poet, Lord Byron, dreamed and wrote. His writings, however, were overshadowed by his notoriety, with numerous love affairs and huge debts. One of his lovers, Lady Caroline Lamb famously described him as "mad, bad and dangerous to know”

​

Anthony Ashley Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury, another Harrow pupil, could not have been more different. He became a noted supporter of good causes, especially children’s welfare and workers’ conditions.

​

Young Winston Churchill’s first mark at Harrow was not very auspicious.  Describing his entrance examination - "I wrote my name at the top of the page. I wrote down the number of the question '1'. After much reflection I put a bracket round it, thus (1). But thereafter I could think of nothing connected with it that was either relevant or true." The ink blot that followed is legendary.

 

‘The Coral Island’ by R. M. Ballantyne is an idyllic boys' adventure which has never been out of print since it was published in 1856. He lived in this village and is commemorated here by a blue plaque.

 

Harrow on the Hill grew around St. Mary's church, and was once the centre for Local Government. It has many beautiful old buildings, including Harrow school and some good restaurants and the Castle pub.

 

Harrow on the Hill is still a beautiful London village thanks to the school and the local conservation society. A short distance from London’s bustle and you walk through the history of England.

​