HARROW-ON-THE-HILL, a village of Middlesex, England, 10 miles N.W. of London, derives the latter part of its name from its position on a hill which rises from the surrounding plain to the height of about 200 feet. On the summit, and forming a conspicuous landmark, is the church of St Mary, said to have been founded by Lanfranc, archbishop of Canterbury, in the reign of William I., but of the original building very little is now left. Harrow is chiefly celebrated for its school, founded in 1571 by John Lyon, a yeoman of the neighbouring village of Preston who had yearly during his life set aside 20 marks for the education of poor children of Harrow. Though the charter was granted by Queen Elizabeth in 1571, and the statutes drawn up by the founder in 1590, two years before his death, it was not till 1611 that the first building was opened for scholars. Lyon originally settled about two-thirds of his property on the school, leaving the remainder for the maintenance of the highway between London and Harrow, but in the course of time the values of the respective endowments have changed, and while the road commissioners receive about £3500, the school’s share is only about £1600. In 1660 the headmaster, taking advantage of a concession in Lyon’s statutes, began to receive “foreigners,” t.e., boys from other parishes, who were to pay for their education. From this time the prosperity of the school may be dated. In 1809 the parishioners of Harrow appealed to the Court of Chancery against the manner in which the school was conducted, but the decision, while it recognized their privileges, confirmed the right of admission to foreigners. At present foundationers receive their education at a slightly cheaper rate than foreigners; there are none who are taught gratis. The ...