Community

The Village of Harefield

Harefield is an historic village in a rural setting in the west London Borough of Hillingdon. Situated on a hill, Harefield is just inside the M25 Motorway.

The village is famous for its hospital which treated soldiers during the First World War, many of whom were Anzacs (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps). Harefield has strong links with Australia and New Zealand and the hospital was in fact set up to provide medical help for the wounded ANZAC soldiers. The hospital has created a centre that has been been dedicated to the brave men who were treated there and their pictures adorn the walls

The graveyard of St. Mary the Virgin, on Church Hill is the largest Anzac graveyard outside of New Zealand and Australia. ANZAC day is marked each year with a service at St Mary's Church, which is attended by the Australian and New Zealand High Commissions.

The hospital is also famous for being where pioneering heart surgery techniques were developed under eminent cardiac transplant surgeon Sir Magdi Yacoub. Nearby is Mount Vernon Hospital, known for its plastic surgery and oncology departments amongst others.

Harefield is also famous because tradition has it that Nicholas Breakspear, the only English Pope, Adrian IV ( 1154 - 1159 ) came from the village. Also Lady Dorothy Whittle wife of Frank Whittle, inventor of the jet engine and Danny Morrison the ex-New Zealand test cricketeer used to live in the village.