Grim's Dyke is the name of a house and estate located in Harrow, England. Harrow is a town in the London Borough of Harrow, North West London. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland
The house was designed in 1870 by Norman Shaw for the Victorian era painter Frederick Goodall, who had purchased 100 acres of land at Harrow Weald in 1856, but he did not begin to build until a lease on the property expired. Year 1870 ( MDCCCLXX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Richard Norman Shaw RA ( Edinburgh, 7 May 1831 &ndash London, 17 November 1912) was the most influential British architect Culture The Victorian fascination with novelty resulted in a deep interest in the relationship between modernity and cultural continuities Frederick Goodall ( March 17 1822 &ndash July 29 1904) was an English artist Harrow Weald is an area in London, England. It includes a suburban development and forms part of the London Borough of Harrow. Construction on the house was completed in 1872. Goodall sold the property in 1880 to Robert Heriot. Dramatist W. S. Gilbert purchased the property in 1890. Sir William Schwenck Gilbert (18 November 1836 &ndash 29 May 1911 was an English Dramatist, librettist, poet and illustrator best known for his fourteen [1] Gilbert continued to live at Grim's Dyke till his death (while trying to rescue a woman drowning in the pond) in 1911. There he kept a variety of animals including monkeys, lemurs, a lynx and many others. Thereafter, Lady Gilbert and the Gilbert's ward, Nancy McIntosh, lived there until Lady Gilbert's death in 1936. NancyMc as Princess Zarajpg|right|frame|with Charles Kenningham in Utopia Limited ]] Nancy McIntosh (1874 &ndash February 20, 1954
A statue of Charles II was carved by Danish sculptor Caius Gabriel Cibber in 1681 and placed at the center of Soho Square in London. Charles II (Charles Stuart 29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685 was the King of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Caius Gabriel Cibber (1630-1700 was a Danish sculptor, who enjoyed great success in England and was the father of the actor and author Colley Cibber. Soho Square is a square in Soho, London, England, with a park and garden area at its centre that dates back to 1681. By the early 19th century, the statue was described as being 'in a most wretched mutilated state; and the inscriptions on the base of the pedestal quite illegible'. [2] In 1875, it was removed during alterations in the square by T. Blackwell, of Crosse and Blackwell, the venerable jam firm, who gave it for safekeeping to his friend, Goodall, with the intention that it might be restored. Crosse & Blackwell is a food production brand which has been in existence since 1706 [2] Goodall placed the statue on an island in his lake at Grim's Dyke, where it remained when Gilbert purchased the property. In her will, Lady Gilbert directed that the statue be returned, and it was restored to Soho Square in 1938. [3]
From 1963 to 1968, the house was used as a location for films and television including Futtock's End with Ronnie Barker. Futtocks End is a British comedy Film released in 1970, directed by Bob Kellett. Ronald William George Barker, OBE (25 September 1929 &ndash 3 October 2005 was an English actor and Comedian, best known for his roles as Norman Stanley Fletcher It was converted into a hotel in 1970. The hotel was seen in an off set episode of EastEnders. EastEnders off set episodes are special episodes of the popular BBC Soap opera EastEnders that have not been filmed on the usual The house and its gatehouse are both listed buildings. A listed building in the United Kingdom is a building or other structure officially designated as being of special architectural historical or cultural significance The current owners purchased the property in 1996 and features presentations of Gilbert and Sullivan operas and other entertainments. Gilbert and Sullivan refers to the Victorian era partnership of Librettist W
Grim's Dyke is sometimes used to refer to a nearby earthwork known as Grim's Ditch which runs from Pinner Hill to Bentley Priory. Grim's Ditch or Grim's Dyke (also Grimsdyke in derivative names is a name shared by a number of bank and ditch earthworks. RAF Bentley Priory was a non-flying Royal Air Force station near Stanmore in the London Borough of Harrow.
See also
Notes
- ^ Stedman, p. Grim's Ditch or Grim's Dyke is an area of Countryside in the London Borough of Harrow, close to the Hertfordshire borderline 278.
- ^ a b "Soho Square Area: Portland Estate: Soho Square Garden" in Survey of London volumes 33 and 34 (1966) St Anne Soho, pp. 51-53. Date accessed: 12 January 2008.
- ^ Photo of the statue
References
- Stedman, Jane W. (1996). W. S. Gilbert, A Classic Victorian & His Theatre. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-816174-3.
- History page on the Grim's Dyke Hotel website
- Listed building entries at Images of England for:
- Grims Dyke House (Grade II*)
- The gatehouse of the above (Grade II)
- Statue (Grade II) of Charles II
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