Harry Hallowes

Harry Hallowes, also known as Harry the Hermit, was an Irishman who became famous for living on Hampstead Heath.

He was born in County Sligo around 1936 and moved to London in the 1950s.[1] He was evicted from his council flat in Highgate in 1987 and then set up a makeshift camp in a corner of Hampstead Heath near Athlone House, supporting himself by doing odd jobs for locals such as the director Terry Gilliam.[2][3] When property developers tried to evict him, he successfully claimed squatter's rights to the land, having lived there for over twelve years.[4] He was awarded a deed to the half-acre plot of land in 2007 which was then worth over £2 million.[4]

Hallowes died in February 2016.[5]

In 2017, a romantic comedy called Hampstead was based on Hallowes. In the film, actor Brendan Gleeson played the part of a hermit on Hampstead Heath, who is befriended by an American widow played by Diane Keaton.[1][6][7]

References

  1. 1 2 "I just want to be alone, says Harry, the Heath hermit portrayed on big screen", Camden New Journal, p. 3, 22 October 2015
  2. ↑ Karen McVeigh (24 May 2007), "Ragged millionaire who only wanted a place to live", The Guardian
  3. ↑ Christopher Hibbert, Ben Weinreb, The London Encyclopaedia, p. 31, ISBN 0230738788
  4. 1 2 Tramp wins rights to prime land, BBC, 24 May 2007
  5. ↑ Dan Carrier (8 December 2016), "'Harry the Hermit' death: Who will get squatters rights land next to Hampstead Heath?", Camden New Journal
  6. ↑ Guy Lodge (14 June 2017), "Film Review: 'Hampstead'", Variety
  7. ↑ Charlotte O'Sullivan (23 June 2017), "Hampstead film review: North London gets its Hollywood close-up", Evening Standard


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