# Harrow Weald Common

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Nature reserve in Harrow Weald, Greater London, England

Path in Harrow Weald Common

Pasture area south of the road called 'Old Redding'

**Harrow Weald Common** is an 18-hectare area of woodland, heath and pasture in [Harrow Weald](/source/Harrow_Weald) in the [London Borough of Harrow](/source/London_Borough_of_Harrow). It is considered of considerable importance for wildlife, and it was formerly part of the *Stanmore and Harrow Weald Commons and Bentley Priory* [Site of Special Scientific Interest](/source/Site_of_Special_Scientific_Interest), but in 1987 the boundaries of the SSSI were revised to exclude the Common.[1][2] It has been designated by the [Mayor of London](/source/Mayor_of_London) as a [Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation](/source/Site_of_Metropolitan_Importance_for_Nature_Conservation).

## History

Metropolitan Commons (Harrow Weald) Supplemental Act 1899 Act of Parliament Parliament of the United Kingdom Long title An Act to confirm a Scheme relating to Harrow Weald Common in the Parish of Harrow Weald in the County of Middlesex. Citation 62 & 63 Vict. c. xxxvii Dates Royal assent 20 June 1899 Text of statute as originally enacted

The word *weald* is derived from [Old English](/source/Old_English) *wald*, a wooded upland. Harrow Weald Common is one of the remnants of the once extensive [Forest of Middlesex](/source/Forest_of_Middlesex). In the 18th century it was a haunt of highwaymen. Following the [inclosure acts](/source/Inclosure_act), one of the rights granted to the commoners was gravel extraction, and this took place on a large scale in the 19th century. In the 1880s there was an attempt to get government agreement to the sale of the Common, but a successful campaign to oppose this was supported by [W. S. Gilbert](/source/W._S._Gilbert), who lived locally at a house called [Grim's Dyke](/source/Grim's_Dyke). The **Metropolitan Commons (Harrow Weald) Supplemental Act 1899** ([62 & 63 Vict.](/source/62_%26_63_Vict.) c. xxxvii) revoked most of the rights of the commoners and a board of Conservators was set up to manage the Common. [3]

Harrow Weald Common is [common land](/source/Common_land), and in 1965 it was placed under the protection of Harrow Council.[4][5] In 1973, the Chief Commons Commissioner determined that there was no known owner of the land.[6] The Harrow Weald Common Conservators are now a [friends group](/source/Cooperating_association#Friends_groups) which manage the site.[7]

## The site

The site includes Grims' Dyke Open Space. [Grim's Dyke or Grim's Ditch](/source/Grim's_Ditch_(Harrow)) is an ancient earthwork which runs for three miles between Harrow Weald Common and [Pinner Green](/source/Pinner_Green). Its purpose is unknown, and it may date from the fifth or sixth centuries.[3] Adjacent to the site are the City Open Space, [Harrow Weald SSSI](/source/Harrow_Weald_SSSI), a geological [Site of Special Scientific Interest](/source/Site_of_Special_Scientific_Interest), and [Bentley Priory Nature Reserve](/source/Bentley_Priory_Nature_Reserve), a biological SSSI.

There is access from Common Road and Old Redding.

## See also

- [Harrow parks and open spaces](/source/Harrow_parks_and_open_spaces)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [London Borough of Harrow, Management Plan: Old Redding Complex, 2010, p. 18](http://www.harrow.gov.uk/download/10370/old_redding_complex) [Archived](http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120914205953/http%3A//www.harrow.gov.uk/download/10370/old_redding_complex) 2012-09-14 at the [UK Government Web Archive](/source/UK_Government_Web_Archive)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Natural England, Harrow Weald citation"](https://web.archive.org/web/20121024045225/http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1003687.pdf) (PDF). Archived from [the original](http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1003687.pdf) (PDF) on 2012-10-24. Retrieved 2012-06-23.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-LGO_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-LGO_3-1) ["London Gardens Online, Harrow Weald Common, Grim's Dyke Open Space, The City Open Space"](https://londongardenstrust.org/conservation/inventory/site-record/?ID=HRW020). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060004/http://www.londongardensonline.org.uk/gardens-online-record.asp?ID=HRW020) from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-06-24.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [London Borough of Harrow, Management Plan: Old Redding Complex, 2010, p. 1](http://www.harrow.gov.uk/download/10370/old_redding_complex) [Archived](http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120914205953/http%3A//www.harrow.gov.uk/download/10370/old_redding_complex) 2012-09-14 at the [UK Government Web Archive](/source/UK_Government_Web_Archive)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [Common Land in England, Harrow Weald Common](https://common-land.com/lands/view/2227)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["In the Matter of Harrow Weald Common"](https://acraew.org.uk/sites/default/files/uploads/Greater%20London/HARROW%20WEALD%20COMMON%20-%20HARROW%20NO.CL.36.pdf) (PDF).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Harrow Council, Harrow Weald Common"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120819163302/http://www.harrow.gov.uk/info/200073/parks_and_open_spaces/2230/parks_in_harrow/13). Archived from [the original](http://www.harrow.gov.uk/info/200073/parks_and_open_spaces/2230/parks_in_harrow/13) on 2012-08-19. Retrieved 2012-06-24.

## External links

- [VisitWoods, Harrow Weald Common and Weald Wood, a London Borough of Harrow wood](https://archive.today/20121224100027/http://visitwoods.org.uk/en/visit-woods/Pages/wood-details.aspx?wood=24590&site=Harrow-Weald-Common-and-Weald-Wood%23.T8LEfpH2Ir0)

- [BBC, Domesday Reloaded, Harrow Weald Common](https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/domesday/dblock/GB-512000-192000/page/12)

- [Harrow Council, Harrow Weald Common](https://web.archive.org/web/20120819163302/http://www.harrow.gov.uk/info/200073/parks_and_open_spaces/2230/parks_in_harrow/13)

- [London Gardens Online, Harrow Weald Common, Grim's Dyke Open Space, The City Open Space](https://londongardenstrust.org/conservation/inventory/site-record/?ID=HRW020)

[51°37′26″N 0°20′46″W / 51.624°N 0.346°W / 51.624; -0.346](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Harrow_Weald_Common&params=51.624_N_0.346_W_dim:2000_region:GB)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Harrow Weald Common](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrow_Weald_Common) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrow_Weald_Common?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.