North Harrow, The Tithe Barn, Headstone Manor c.1965

Photo ref: N177009

More about this scene

The camera looks at the early 16th-century Great Barn, which was originally one of four opening onto the farmyard; a second smaller one has quite recently been particularly well restored from a skeletal state following a fire in 1979. The scene has changed radically from this shrub-laden view of 1965; the Barn was converted to museum/community use in 1973, and sin of sins, was reclad using waney-edged elm boarding! Headstone Manor itself is sited within a square moat to the east of the barn, and dates from the mid 14th century. It is without doubt one of the most important timber-framed halls in Greater London. It is in the ownership of the local council, but instead of being open to view, it has resided under a quite spectacular plastic cover for some years awaiting sympathetic repair and restoration. One day it will happen, but it will have been a very long wait.