Description
Stanmore Marsh is former commonland that is shown on maps from the late C16th onwards, although Marsh Farm to the east is marked in 1520. Today what remains of the marsh as open land is on the east of where Marsh Lane becomes Honeypot Lane, divided into two sections by Whitchurch Lane. It appears that it was once at the boundary of the adjoining parishes of Great Stanmore and Little Stanmore and was grazed by the livestock of commoners from both parishes. It is an important site for nature conservation.
Practical Information
| Site location | Marsh Lane/Honeypot Lane, Whitchurch Lane |
|---|---|
| Postcode | HA7 2SN |
| What3Words | ///nests.chins.shack |
| Type of Site | Public Open Land |
| Borough | Harrow |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Public Transport | Tube: Canons Park (Jubilee) |
| Research Updated | 1 March 2010 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Honeypot Lane was an ancient track that existed in pre-Roman times, becoming part of the main route north out of London. Much of the land south of Great Stanmore village was in agricultural use and Marsh Farm was a going concern until the early 1930s. Then owned by St Bartholomew's Hospital, 96 acres of Marsh Farm were among former fields that were sold when housing development began in earnest in the area. The larger area of Stanmore Marsh is to the north of Whitchurch Lane and contains grassland and woodland, at one point partly separated by an old ditch. The northern part of this area has mown grass and some planting of shrubs. South of the main woodland in this section is a small copse surrounding an old pond that periodically dries out. Stanmore Gas Works at the north of the public open space was started as a private enterprise by John Chapman, who started gasworks in Harrow and then at Stanmore in the mid C19th, the latter supplied from Harrow, amalgamating the two operations as the Harrow and Stanmore Gas Company in 1894. The smaller area of Stanmore Marsh to the south of Whitchurch Lane contains a tributary of the Stanburn Brook that has been canalised, which becomes Edgware Brook after it leaves the south end of the marsh.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ177914 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 3.91 |
| Site Ownership | LB Harrow |
| Site Management | Environmental Services, Parks Services |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | Yes: Common (CL52) |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Harrow |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes - Borough Importance II |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Local Wildlife Site |
| Other LA Designation | Open Space; Flood Plain (area south of Whitchurch Lane) |
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.
Nearby parks and gardens
In Roman times tile-making was carried out in Stanmore and there are Roman tiles in the fabric of St Lawrence Whitchurch. The C12th church was rebuilt in 1715 by John James for the Duke of Chandos, owner of the Canons estate, although the early C16th west tower remains. It has a fine early C18th baroque interior. Handel was appointed music master at Canons in 1718 and played the church organ. The rustic lych-gate at the entrance of the churchyard was erected to the memory of Dr Findlater and there are some good chest tombs and monuments particularly near the church; the churchyard to the north is open with a few scattered trees.
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
Canons Park is a fragment of the great C18th landscape garden laid out for the Duke and Duchess of Chandos. The estate is so-called after the Augustinian canons of St Bartholomew in Smithfield, who owned the Manor of Stanmore in 1086. The estate had various subsequent owners, notably William Hallett who rebuilt the house in 1760, and Sir Thomas Plummer, who may have sought Humphry Repton's advice on the landscape. The last private owner was Sir Arthur du Cros, for whom formal Arts & Crafts style gardens were laid out by Charles Mallows. The estate was eventually broken up in the early C20th, the house and 10 acres of land purchased for North London Collegiate School in 1929. Part of the remainder of the estate was acquired by Harrow Council and became the public park, although land to the east and west was also sold off for building. 85 acres were sold for the Canons Park Estate, which retained features of the earlier landscape, mature trees and two lakes. In the late 1930s the George V Memorial Garden was laid out within the old walled kitchen garden.
Canons Park is a fragment of the great C18th landscape garden laid out for the Duke and Duchess of Chandos. The estate is so-called after the Augustinian canons of St Bartholomew in Smithfield, who owned the Manor of Stanmore in 1086. The estate had various subsequent owners, notably William Hallett who rebuilt the house in 1760, and Sir Thomas Plummer, who may have sought Humphry Repton's advice on the landscape. The last private owner was Sir Arthur du Cros, for whom formal Arts & Crafts style gardens were laid out by Charles Mallows. The estate was eventually broken up in the early C20th, the house and 10 acres of land purchased for North London Collegiate School in 1929. Part of the remainder of the estate was acquired by Harrow Council and became the public park, although land to the east and west was also sold off for building. 85 acres were sold for the Canons Park Estate, which retained features of the earlier landscape, mature trees and two lakes. In the late 1930s the George V Memorial Garden was laid out within the old walled kitchen garden.
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
With the adjacent Canons Park, the grounds of North London Collegiate School are a fragment of the grand early C18th landscape of Canons laid out for the Duke and Duchess of Chandos. The estate is so-called after the Augustinian canons of St Bartholomew in Smithfield, who owned the Manor of Stanmore in 1086. The estate had various subsequent owners, notably William Hallett who rebuilt the house in 1760, and Sir Thomas Plumer, who may have sought Humphry Repton's advice on the landscape. The last private owner was Sir Arthur du Cros, for whom formal Arts & Crafts style gardens were laid out in 1910 by Charles Mallows, and were highly regarded. The estate was eventually broken up in the early C20th, the house and 10 acres of land purchased for the school in 1929. In addition to remnants of the C18th and C19th landscaping, the school grounds retain Mallows' formal gardens, particularly south-east of the main building, which is the core of Hallett's villa.
With the adjacent Canons Park, the grounds of North London Collegiate School are a fragment of the grand early C18th landscape of Canons laid out for the Duke and Duchess of Chandos. The estate is so-called after the Augustinian canons of St Bartholomew in Smithfield, who owned the Manor of Stanmore in 1086. The estate had various subsequent owners, notably William Hallett who rebuilt the house in 1760, and Sir Thomas Plumer, who may have sought Humphry Repton's advice on the landscape. The last private owner was Sir Arthur du Cros, for whom formal Arts & Crafts style gardens were laid out in 1910 by Charles Mallows, and were highly regarded. The estate was eventually broken up in the early C20th, the house and 10 acres of land purchased for the school in 1929. In addition to remnants of the C18th and C19th landscaping, the school grounds retain Mallows' formal gardens, particularly south-east of the main building, which is the core of Hallett's villa.
