This page has been developed to support an article in the 2023 Spring issue of the Hatch End Bulletin. All of these 'creatives' spent part of their lives in Hatch End, which is part of the London Borough of Harrow.
Isabella Beeton (1836-1865) lived at 2 Chandos Villas (Uxbridge Road close to corner of Wellington Road) between 1855 and 1862. Whilst there she wrote her famous book on household management. Wikipedia page
Alfred Edward Housman (1859 – 1936) was an English classical scholar and poet. He is acknowledged as one of the foremost classicists of his age. In 1896 he published a poetry cycle called A Shropshire Lad, which was splendidly set to music by the English composer George Butterworth. In 1905 Housman moved to 1 Yarborough Villas, Devonshire Road and stayed until 1911. Wikipedia page Interesting article The lads in their hundreds (song from from A Shropshire lad)
Liza Lehmann (1862-1918) was an English operatic soprano and composer. In her time she was one of a very small number of successful and well known women composers. After her marriage she lived in Hatch End for a few years. During this period she wrote the song cycle for which she is best known, In a Persian Garden, a setting of the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám. Towards the end of her life, Lehmann returned to Hatch End and lived in Cornwall Road in a property called The End House. This was where she died in 1918. Wikipedia page Extracts from In a Persian Garden: Ah moon of my delight sung by Irish tenor John McCormack Myself When Young sung by David Shipley of the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme (Royal Opera)
William Heath Robinson (1872 –1944) cartoonist and illustrator lived at ‘Alfriston’ in Wellington Avenue from 1908-1913 before moving to Pinner. Wikipedia page
Ivy Compton-Burnett (1884 – 1969) was an English novelist. Her works mainly focus on family life among the late Victorian or Edwardian upper middle class. She lived her early life at Onslow Villas, Wellington Road, Wikipedia page
Jessie Margaret Matthews (1907 – 1981) was an English actress, dancer and singer of the 1920s and 1930s. After the decline of her film career, Matthews achieved a comeback when she took over the role of Mary Dale in the popular BBC Radio serial The Dales (previously known as Mrs Dale's Diary). She lived at 154 Uxbridge Road from 1975 until her death. Wikipedia page
Leslie Bricusse (1931 - 2021) was an English composer, lyricist, and playwright. Bricusse wrote music and lyrics for many films including Doctor Dolittle, Scrooge and Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. He also wrote the songs Goldfinger and You Only Live Twice. I claim Bricusse for Hatch End even though he was born in Pinner as there is evidence that in 1967 he built and lived in 'Melodies', an extant house on Oxhey Lane. Wikipedia page Although not as well known, I have always enjoyed the film of Bricusse's musical Scrooge. Video of song from Scrooge The Ghost of the Christmas Yet To Come shows Scrooge the future.
Barry Cryer (1935-2022) was an English writer, comedian, and actor, covered in some detail in the Summer 2022 Bulletin. He lived in The Avenue. Wikipedia page
Colin Satchell (stage name: Colin Copperfield) (born 1950) lives today in Hillview Road. He was a member of Wall Street Crash, a popular English vocal group. They appeared regularly on British television including three Royal Variety Performances. Wikipedia page Interview with Colin