LOOKING BACK WITH DR JONATHAN OATES
George Harris
Never quite
a manor
From medieval estate,
to Victorian garden
parties and collections of
Rembrandt paintings, and
eventually a health centre…
an old home in Northolt
has had an interesting ‘life’.
T
here was an estate known
as Islips ever since the 14th
Century, named after its first
known owners Simon and
Ela Riselip, though
it was never a manor
– despite its later
name. It was owned
by numerous families
over the decades,
and was often let
to farmers.
In 1853 the
property was bought
by George Harris,
who in 1848 had
married the wealthy
Miss Elizabeth
Innes. He was a barrister and an author
but, until his marriage, he had been
financially unsuccessful.
Looking for a house near London,
Harris had written: ‘Went to Northolt
to look at Iselipps. Much pleased with
it on the whole and consider it exactly
44
around ealing
Summer 2014
Islips Manor
suitable…The village of Northolt a quiet,
retired pretty little place, and the view
from it of Harrow delightful. The house at
Iselipps small, but in a very good state…
highly desirable and suitable property.’
They decided in 1856 to have
extensions to the house built, and spent
some time having designs of house
and grounds drawn. Building did not
commence for years. In 1862, Harris
wrote: ‘Went to Iselipps to see the
progress of the building, which is most
satisfactory and well contrived…we
shall have a charming rural residence.’
Thinking the work complete, they
arrived there in 1866, but found the
furniture had not arrived and they had to
sleep on the floor, borrowing tables and
chairs from the servants.
But Harris was eventually happy,