エルスツリーとボアハムウッドの天然記念物・トップ8

Also worth visiting Pear Wood, which is an extension of Stanmore Park. Full of bluebells and there is a large lake

The ghost of Geoffrey De Mandeville, Earl of Sussex and Hertfordshire and Constable of the Tower of London has been haunting the Moat since the 12th Century. He was arrested for treason and hid his treasure down  a very deep well which he guards. Many have tried to find the well but so far none have succedded

The moat’s main use was probably defensive. One use of the lodge would have been to detain individuals who had broken the harsh forest laws. The moat would also have helped to drain the site, been used for rubbish disposal and possibly for keeping fish.

Poor quality excavations in the late 1880s and again in 1923 suggested that the lodge was quite substantial, with rubble masonry walls and glazed floor tiles in some rooms. The name Camlet remains a mystery. It first appears in local records in 1440 AD. The moat was originally crossed by a wooden drawbridge, the base frame of which was lifted in 1923 and recorded in 1949. A small piece found recently was dendro-chronologically dated to c.1357.

So is this the ancient Weald Stone? Ultimately, we cannot be 100% certain that the lump of rock outside Bombay Central (the former Red Lion) is the same stone that gave Wealdstone its name. However, its location on the High Road matches up persuasively with the Tudor rolls. A 1948 study by the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society puts the connection "beyond all reasonable doubt". That's good enough for me. Despite the recognition by Historic England as a Grade II-listed "building", the stone sits on the pavement without any form of plaque or interpretation board. That's a pity, but it also adds to the enigma of this curious piece of stone.

Read all about it here: https://londonist.com/london/secret/harrow-wealdstone

The wealdstone stone, awesome to see

The ancient woodland here is the largest in Greater London. It feels like a real forest, yet within the city. It is quiet and calm, even when the lido is busy on hot summer days. There is a cafe at the lido for refreshment before, during or after your hike.