Northwick Park

Image: © Marathon Taken: 15 Jul 2015

What is now Northwick Park was the fields of Sheepcote Farm until the 20th century. The park is named after the Lord of the Manor of Harrow Lord Northwick, the largest landowner in the district in the early 19th century. He lived at Northwick Park, a mansion at Blockley in Worcestershire. Lord Northwick enclosed the commons in the Harrow area with great enthusiasm. This added to the suffering of the agricultural labourers of the area who faced a multitude of other problems. Lord Northwick was probably the most hated man in the area and it is strange that a park which is now of benefit to all commemorates somebody who tried to deny local people access to this land. Sheepcote Farm was the home of Thomas Grimwade, farmer and inventor of desiccated milk, which was shipped out to Florence Nightingale in the Crimean War. In 1905, the Harrow School Land Trust obtained most of Sheepcote Farm to prevent it being developed. In 1936, Middlesex County Council and Wembley Urban District Council purchased the Northwick Park Estate as additional open space for the people of Wembley. This view is near the south-east corner, just round the corner from South Kenton station.

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