Headstone Lane, HA2

Headstone is a residential area that lies immediately north of North Harrow. The two areas are separated by a green buffer zone that includes the Headstone Manor, a moated manor site, as well as football and rugby pitches. Despite this separation, there are some areas of overlap between the two neighbourhoods. To the west of Headstone is Pinner Park, which is predominantly an agricultural pasture

In the early 14th century, the settlement located here was called Hegeton, which probably meant ‘the farmstead enclosed by a hedge’. The land was owned by Wulfred, Archbishop of Canterbury, in AD 825. Later on, in the 1310s, a moated manor house was built, which became the main Middlesex residence of the archbishops of Canterbury in 1397. A small barn was also constructed around the same time and was rebuilt at least twice. A larger tithe barn was added in 1506.

In 1546, the estate was confiscated by the Crown, sold to a court favourite within a week, and subsequently underwent many modifications. It was later used as a farmhouse and allowed to deteriorate.

Suburban development started in the 1880s and private builders filled most of the gaps after the First World War. Hendon Council saved Headstone Manor and its 63 acres of grounds.

In 1973, the London Borough of Harrow restored the great barn of Headstone Manor and opened it as a heritage museum. The museum features a rich collection of ceramics and glass. In 1991, an 18th-century granary from Pinner Park Farm was also restored and relocated at Headstone Manor. Although the manor house itself lay semi-derelict for three decades, preservation work has been done to allow guided tours during summer weekends.





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