Harold Hill

infobox UK place
country = England
map_type = Greater London
region= London
population=
official_name= Harold Hill
latitude= 51.6100
longitude= 0.2322
os_grid_reference= TQ545925
london_borough= Havering
postcode_area= RM
postcode_district= RM3
post_town= ROMFORD
dial_code= 01708
constituency_westminster= Upminster

Harold Hill is a place in the London Borough of Havering, East London, England. It is a suburban development situated 16.6 miles (26.7 km) east north-east of Charing Cross.

Harold Hill is a large-scale post war development and part of the New Towns movement at the end of the World War II, an attempt to move large sections of the population from poor conditions in central districts to the more pleasant surroundings of the suburbs. The success of the plan is a matter for debate.

Education

Transport and locale

Unlike the comparable Becontree development, Harold Hill was built without direct connection to the London Underground or National Rail services. Transport for London provides bus routes 174, 256, 294, 496 and 499 with connections to tube and rail and are planning that the East London Transit will serve the area.

Nearest places

* Collier Row
* Gallows Corner
* Gidea Park
* Harold Wood

Nearest stations

* Gidea Park railway station
* Harold Wood railway station

In song

Ian Dury, known for references to places in Essex and London, name-checked Harold Hill in his popular song "This Is What We Find" on his 1978 album "Do It Yourself":

cquote|Home improvement expert Harold Hill from Harold Hill
Of do it yourself dexterity and double glazing skill
Came home to find another gentlemen's kippers in the grill
so he sanded off his winkle with his Black & Decker Drill|10px|10px|Ian Dury

The song set all three of its verses in real places the others were Turnham Green and Lambeth Walk. In his 2CD "Retrospective Reasons To be Cheerful" produced by Repertoire Records Dury stated that he never wrote another verse as good as Harold Hill's verse.

External links

* [http://www.haroldhill.org Harold Hill: A People's History]

* http://www.friendsofdagnampark.org.uk/