Inventory Site Record

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.

Site location:

Marsh Lane/Honeypot Lane, Whitchurch Lane

Postcode:

HA7 2SN

What 3 Words:

nests.chins.shack

Type of site:

Public Open Land

Borough:

Harrow

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

unrestricted

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Events:

Public transport:

Tube: Canons Park (Jubilee)

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Research updated:

01/03/2010

Last minor changes:

19/07/2023

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.harrow.gov.uk

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.

Sources consulted:

Walter W Druett, 'The Stanmores and Harrow Weald Through the Ages' (Hillingdon Press, 1938); Teresa Farino, Charlotte Pagendam, Sue Swales & Mathew Frith, 'Nature Conservation in Harrow', Ecology Handbook 13 (London Ecology Unit, 1989), p55-6; LB Harrow 'Management Plan: Stanmore Marsh April 2010-March 2015', (March 2010).

Grid ref:

TQ177914 (517790,191200)

Size in hectares:

3.91

Site ownership:

LB Harrow

Site management:

Environmental Services, Parks Services

Date(s):

Designer(s):

Listed structures:

None

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 Data

The information below is taken from the relevant Local Authority's planning legislation, which was correct at the time of research but may have been amended in the interim. Please check with the Local Authority for latest planning information.

On Local List:

No

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)