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Harrow High Street meets West Street
Sketch by
Madeleine Brennan
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In September we will draw Harrow-on-the-Hill, a charming historic village in West London best known for the
prestigious Harrow School.
[Madeleine Brennan writes]
Harrow-on-the-Hill is a charming and historic area located in West London. Perched atop a prominent hill, it offers stunning views of the surrounding areas and the City in the far distance. Known for its rich heritage and architectural beauty, Harrow-on-the-Hill boasts a mix of quaint cottages, grand Georgian houses and impressive landmarks.
The area is known for its prestigious Harrow School, with 450 years of history, one of the most renowned boarding schools in the country, which adds to the cultural and academic richness of the neighbourhood. Visitors can explore the beautiful architecture of the old buildings, stroll along the quaint streets, and enjoy the tranquil green spaces, such as the Harrow Hill Park and Churchfields.
With its vibrant history and rich architectural importance, Harrow-on-the-Hill promises to be an adventurous destination for USK London, one that shouldn't be missed.
The day is run by Madeleine Brennan, Sue Woodisse and Zane Karklina.
If this is your first sketchwalk with us, welcome
to Urban Sketchers London!
Every sketchwalk has a leader, a meeting point at the
beginning, a gathering place in the middle and another one
at the end, when we ‘throw down’ our sketchbooks and pose
for a group photo. Sketchwalk leaders know the area
and are there to help you feel at ease and give you some
ideas about what to sketch. Please note there is no
tuition during the sketchwalks. We all draw what we wish,
following the
Urban Sketchers manifesto and sharing our drawings at the end.
We look forward to seeing you!
Key times and meeting points
11 am
Join us at 11am on the steps of the Harrow School War Memorial, a Neo
Jacobean building with a shrine honouring former pupils of Harrow School who
died in the First World War. Decades later the same building served as a
bomb shelter for the school during WWII. We will meet near the bus stop for Harrow School, between High Street and
Church Street.
You will find all of our meeting points and key features of the sketchwalk
in the location map at the end of this post.
There aren't many options for shelter in the village if it's wet on
the day, so we will keep an eye on the weather and be prepared!
1 pm
We will return to the war memorial building for our first throwdown and
group photo.
3.30 pm
For our final throwdown and group photo we will gather at the Henry VIII
gantry on the village green.
Afterwards
After our sketchwalk we will go for drinks -- and perhaps even a bit more
sketching! -- to
The Castle at no. 30 West Street,
an authentic Victorian pub with original features and a large garden.
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St Mary's Church
Sketch by Madeleine Brennan
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Harrow School
- The school offers numerous historic buildings on the High Street and Church Hill that are delight to sketching. From the Gothic Revival charm of the Harrow School Chapel and the neo-Gothic facade of the Old Speech Room Gallery to the eclectic style of the Vaughan Library, each structure presents its own architectural interest.
St Mary’s Church
- Consecrated by St. Anselm in 1094 with a notable 12th-century tower, the church holds a fascinating history within its graveyard, featuring tombstones of interest, including the Leighton family's mosaic-adorned monument and a diverse array of crosses, while also being renowned as a place where the poet Lord Byron would sit and compose verse atop a tomb beside an elm tree, reflecting on the surrounding countryside that he affectionately called the "spot of my youth". Tragically, it is also the final resting place of Byron's daughter Allegra, who passed away at a young age and was buried in an unmarked grave on the churchyard grounds, marking a poignant connection to the poet's own eventual demise.
High Street
- One of the most iconic views in Harrow-on-the-Hill is found at the junction where West Street and High Street meet, where a charming fountain, accompanied by a Hill Shop’s clock, serves as a focus. This location captures the essence of Harrow's unique character, with its hilly terrain causing the roads to split and meander. The scene offers a picturesque glimpse into the town's history and charm, allowing visitors to enjoy the vibrant atmosphere and appreciate the architectural beauty that surrounds this notable intersection. Exploring the surrounding streets reveals a captivating array of architectural delights, ranging from Georgian townhouses to Victorian-era structures, providing a diverse and inspiring urban landscape for sketchers.
The King's Head gantry
- At the southern edge of the hill, you'll find a small green adorned with a hanging gantry and a portrait of Henry VIII. This green is home to the King's Head Hotel (now flats), constructed in 1770 on the site where Henry VIII's hunting lodge once stood. The combination of historical significance, the unique hanging gantry, and the green surroundings make this area an intriguing subject for further sketching.
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Battels Arts Cafe
Sketch by Madeleine Brennan
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Practical information
By public transport
Harrow-on-the-Hill is easily accessible by mainline trains (Chiltern
Railways), London Underground via the Metropolitan Line (Harrow-on-the-Hill
Station) or the Piccadilly Line (South Harrow Station and Sudbury Hill
Station), and by bus (routes 258 and H17). Harrow School and the village are a steep uphill walk from local
stations, so whether you travel by train, Tube or car, we urge you
to save your energy for sketching, and take a short bus ride to our meeting
point at the war memorial.
From Harrow-on-the-Hill station (7 minutes)
To find the bus station, turn right after you come through the ticket barriers and go down the steps -- the bus station will be on your left. Go to bus stop C, take the 258 or H17 bus towards
Wembley Central, and alight at Harrow School. From there the war memorial
building is a one minute walk.
From South Harrow station (8 minutes)
Go to bus stop B, take the 258 bus towards Watford, alight at Harrow School
and walk to the memorial building.
From Sudbury Hill station (8 minutes)
Go to bus stop V, take the H17 bus to Harrow, alight at Harrow School and
walk to the war memorial building.
By car
The village streets are narrow, and parking on the hill is limited.
But there is parking at Harrow-on-the-Hill station (Saturdays £3) and at the
St George and St Ann shopping centres nearby, where food and toilet
facilities are also available.
Even if you arrive by car, it is advisable to take the H17 or 258 bus from
stop C at the bus station as the hill is VERY steep. If you prefer to go on
foot, please allow 15 minutes to reach the meeting point, but be aware that
it is a steep uphill climb. After passing through the ticket barriers at the
station, take the exit on the left. At the end of the service road, make
another left turn, and then take the first right to go up Grove Hill.
Accessibility
Please let us know if you will need accessibility support on the
day. There is step-free access at Harrow-on-the-Hill station, but there are no
accessible toilets. Sudbury Hill station is also step-free. For more
information on accessibility in general across London Underground, there
is a downloadable Transport for London Step-free Tube Guide. Accessibility information for specific locations in our Harrow sketchwalk
may be available at AccessAble.
Health and safety
Urban Sketchers London follow current health and safety guidelines,
and we count on all our sketchers to do the same. As always, we keep an eye on
developments concerning Covid, and even though restrictions have been
lifted, we think it's sensible to do everything we can to keep
ourselves and fellow sketchers safe when we're together. The risk of
infection for outdoor events is low, but basic guidance still applies:
- Please do not attend if you feel unwell
- Wear a face covering when you're close to others
- Give people space
- Practise good hand hygiene.
Hashtags
Remember to tag us when you post your sketches on social media! And do be polite when posting online. We may be biased, but we think kindness comes naturally to urban sketchers -- so go on, show your social media politesse at its best.
#urbansketcherslondon #usklondon
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St Mary's Church
Sketch by Madeleine Brennan |
Location map
See you at Harrow-on-the-Hill!
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Let's draw Harrow-on-the-Hill -- Saturday 23 September 2023
