The most Village-ish so far

Yesterday another Citylit  London Villages outing and  we hit luck again with the weather.

So far the most like a village Harrow on the Hill is almost preserved in Aspic largely as a result of the domination of the school (annual fees we were told about £34,000 per year).

A view from the Hill 

The first point of interest was the station - it's actually more Harrow (away from the hill) - although something of the classic Art Deco design (albeit a basic one)   is at a different location from the original making the nearby Station approach road something of a misnomer.

A somewhat generic station building

Harrow station was as part of the Metropolitan line a journey from Marylebone (when it was known as Great Central Main Line).

One of the things I'm finding around looking at 'History' (whether it's Art or Social) is how often there are perspectives revealed and here the intriguing area of interest was the 1882 act to stop Edward Watkin MP building a Channel Tunnel because of the risk of the French.

Some lovely houses

Walking up the Hill to the area of the school we saw many buildings were the 'boys' have stayed for many years and I got to talking to another member of the group about how uncertainty about the UK's relationship with Europe was affecting his nephew who works in International education in Virginia Waters.

The continuity in the School Uniform

Harrow is well served by War Memorials - a disproportionate number   of the Boys were lost in the Boer and World wars  as they served often as officers.

And the inscription

The First war Memorial we saw

The War though was not the only risk - a plaque to an early car accident was seen too.

As with many Schools (past and present)  there was some controversy regarding pupils and teachers -The Reverend Charles John Vaughan left the school as Headmaster to avoid a potential scandal regarding allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a pupil - but it seems on reflection the 'powers that be' decided a library should be named after him.

Harrow School was founded by Sir John Lyon in 1572 and there's another school - which was originally for poorer folk in Harrow which is now fee paying (but cheaper and less prestigious).

The Vaughn Library

A few years back we used to visit Harrow for a pub (King's Head Hotel - no longer operating as such) and an Indian restaurant that did a fair buffet.

Thanks to the Trust

King's Head - lively in the past

Nearby there's a recreation of where convicted criminal would be hanged.

Hanging offences

 

AStained Glass Window

Much of harrow on the Hill remains un-spoilt and John (course leader)  told us about how the Church support for the poor was replaced by the 'workhouse' - and Harrow had one near the site below

Nearby 'work  house' 

Harrow Old Boys

As we can imagine and expect the pupils of Harrow have been a mixture of good and bad characters - from the 'Dangerous to Know' Lord Byron -

A stone commemorating the nearby burial of his illegitimate daughter Allegra by Claire Clairmont   is at the entrance to St Mary's Church - tragically Allegra died at the age of 5. 

A sad story

Another Byron Memorial 

St Mary's Church - having some work done.

On a more positive note there's a commemoration to an exemplar of 'Noblesse Oblige'  - Anthony Ashley Cooper (Lord Shaftesbury)  -Many of his descendants also helped the poor.

Lord Shaftesbury - a great Man