Harrow on the Hill.

St Marys church was having an open day of their roof and bellfry  before the church is covered in scaffolding for the roof lead to be replaced. Tara found out about this so off we went. Tara of course has very many memories of living on the hill, I know it less but I do have ancestors buried in the graveyard there. No graves marked as far as I know, I think the earliest is my Grt Grt Grt Grandmother Dorcas Bodimeade buried there in 1841.  
We both remember trying to walk up the steep path up to the church en-route to the Kings Head I think, one snowy night. One step forward and then slid back two, I seem to remember it was hilarious!
The church has an excellent café  for these events as well with proper home made cakes that stick your ribs together, no airy fairy Mr Kipling nonsense here! We took Ida as well & were pleasantly surprised when she could go into the café (well church hall really) as well.
Had a walk around to some fields overlooking West Street to give Ida bit of a run, it was nice for Tara to be able to reminisce for a while as well.

 

Peachy's Tomb where Byron sat to write.

 

 

 

 

 

 



Oldest bell in the belfry, cast in 1650.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I did the tower tour, this was fascinating. Only six were allowed on the roof at any one time so our group was split. Half going on the roof the other half going up into the belfry above the ringing room. The oldest bell hung there has been in situ since 1650.Oliver Cromwell was still Lord Protector! Remarkable to think that my ancestors would have heard the same bell that I was standing next to. If I remember rightly this bell was made by an itinerant bell maker called Whitmore and was cast in a field in Northolt.
Out onto the roof next for brilliant views of all around, including as you can see Wembley Stadium and further into central London.
It was a really nice outing luckily the weather was good too!