DiCamillo Companion
England

Grim's Dyke (Grimsdyke) (Graeme's Dyke)

Harrow Weald

London

England

Historic County: Middlesex

Circa Date: 1870-72 w/1883 & 1890s additions and alterations

Status: Fully Extant

House Open to Public: By Appointment

Country House: Yes

This house has been used for TV and Film

  • Built / Designed For: Frederick Goodall

    House & Family History: Graeme's Dyke, as it was originally called, was built for the painter Frederick Goodall and named after the nearby prehistoric earthwork known as Grim's Ditch. Grim's Dyke is notable today as the home of dramatist W.S. Gilbert, who purchased the Estate in August of 1890 for £4,000 (approximately £2 million in 2019 values, using the Labour Value Commodity Index). Gilbert, part of the famous opera partnership of Gilbert & Sullivan, wrote his last 10 operettas in an armchair in Grim's Dyke's Library. The great librettist lived and farmed here for the last 20 years of his life; he died in 1911 from a heart attack while attempting to save a girl from drowning in his lake. Grim's Dyke was the home of the North West Regional Hospital Board from 1937 to 1962 (it was requisitioned by the military during World War II). Between 1963 and 1970 the House was a major location for movie and television filming. It was converted into a hotel in 1970. Productions of Gilbert & Sullivan operettas are regularly performed in the House.

    Collections: After Lady Gilbert's death in 1936, it was decided that the contents of Grim's Dyke would be sold at auction. The sale took place on March 17 and 18, 1937 and brought a total of £4,600 (approximately £810,000 in 2019 values using the Labour Value Commodity Index).

  • Garden & Outbuildings: Of the original 110-acre estate, 30 acres of gardens, designed by Lady Gilbert, remain today. Shaw built two stone bridges over the duck pond that incorporated flint from the ruined church at Stanmore.

  • Architect: Richard Norman Shaw

    Date: 1870-72
    Designed: House for Frederick Goodall

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  • House Listed: Grade II*

    Park Listed: Not Listed

  • "The Avengers" (1961 - TV series). "The Saint" (1962 - TV series). "It Happened Here" (1966). "Doctor Who" (1967 - TV series, in the episode "The Evil of the Daleks"). "The Blood Beast Terror" (1968). "Curse of the Crimson Altar" (1968). "The Champions" (1968 - TV series). "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" (1969). "Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)" (1969 - TV series, in the episode "You Can Always Find a Fall Guy"). "Zeta One" (1969). "Department S" (1969 - TV series, in the episode "Handicap Dead"). "Department S" (1970 - TV series, in the episode "The Bones of Byrom Blain"). "Futtock's End" (1970). "Cry of the Banshee" (1970). "The Adventurer" (1972–73 - TV series). "Spyder's Web" (1972 - TV series). "Endless Night" (1972). "Metro-Land" (1973 - documentary). "Sliding Doors" (1998). "EastEnders" (2003 - TV series). "Little Britain" (2004 - TV series). "One Chance" (2013).

  • Past Seat / Home of: Frederick Goodall, 1872-80. Robert Herriot, 1880-90. Sir William Schwenck Gilbert, 1890-1911.

    Current Ownership Type: Corporation

    Primary Current Ownership Use: Hotel

    Ownership Details: Harrow Council owns the House and 30 acres, which, since 1970, has been leased to Grims Dyke Hotel.

  • House Open to Public: By Appointment

    Phone: 03330-034-146

    Website: https://www.bestwestern.co.uk/

    Historic Houses Member: No

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