View source for Harlow

{{short description|Town and non-metropolitan district in Essex, England}}
{{Other uses| Harlow (disambiguation)}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2016}}
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 | 44.7% [[Religion in England#Christianity|Christianity]]
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'''Harlow''' is a town and local government district located in the west of [[Essex]], England. Founded as a [[Planned community|new town]] in 1947, it is situated on the border with [[Hertfordshire]], and occupies a large area of land on the south bank of the upper [[River Stort|Stort Valley]], which has been made navigable through other towns and features a canal section near its [[watermill]].

[[Old Harlow]] is a historic village founded by the early medieval age and most of its [[high street]] buildings are early Victorian and residential, mostly protected by one of the Conservation Areas in the district. In Old Harlow is a field named [[Harlowbury]], a de-settled monastic area which has the remains of a chapel, a [[scheduled ancient monument]]. The [[M11 motorway]] passes through to the east of the town. Harlow has its own commercial and leisure economy. It is also an outer part of the [[London commuter belt]] and employment centre of the M11 corridor which includes [[Cambridge]] and [[London Stansted Airport]] to the north.

At the time of the 2011 Census, Harlow's population was recorded at 81,944 and its district had the third-highest proportion of [[social housing]] in England, 26.9%,<ref>{{https://moderngov.harlow.gov.uk/documents/s1210/Census%20analysis%20report.pdf}}</ref> a legacy of the 1947 commitment to re-house [[The Blitz|blitzed]] London families after World War II and provide a percentage of homes for other needy families who cannot afford [[renting|market rent]]s.

==Etymology==

There is some dispute as to where the [[placename|place name]] Harlow derives from. One theory is that it derives from the [[Old English|Anglo-Saxon]] words 'here' and 'hlaw', meaning "army hill", probably to be identified with Mulberry Hill, which was used as the [[wikt:moot|moot]] or meeting place for the district.

The other theory is that it derives from the words 'here' and 'hearg', meaning "temple hill/mound", probably to be identified with an [[British Iron Age|Iron Age]] burial mound, later a [[Roman Britain|Roman temple]] site on River Way.

==History==

===Early history===
The earliest deposits are of a Mesolithic (circa 10,000 BC) hunting camp excavated by Davey in Northbrooks in the 1970s (Unpublished) closely followed by the large and unexcavated deposits of Neolithic flint beside Gilden Way. These deposits are mostly known because of the large numbers of surface-bound, worked flint. Substantial amounts of worked flint suggest an organised working of flint in the area. Large amounts of [[debitage]] litter the area and tools found include axe heads, hammers, blades, dowels and other boring tools and multipurpose flints such as scrapers. An organised field walk in the late 1990s by Bartlett (unpublished) indicates that most of the area, some 80 hectares, produced worked flint from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age with a smattering of Mesolithic. This indicates organised industry existed from 5000 BC to 2000 BC.<ref>{{citation|last=Medlycott|first=Maria|title=Harlow Temple: Bartlett excavation archive|date=2016|url=http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archives/view/harlow_hm_2016|others=Essex Heritage Trust, Essex Society For Archaeology And History, Harlow Museum|publisher=Archaeology Data Service|language=en|doi=10.5284/1040799}}</ref> The deposits are so large and dispersed that any major archaeological work in the area will have to take this into consideration before any ground work is started. Harlow was in Roman times the site of a small town (around [[Harlow Mill railway station]]) with a substantial stone built temple.<ref>Barry C. Burnham, J. S. Wacher: ''The Small Towns of Roman Britain'', Berkeley, Los Angeles, 1990, pp. 186–187.</ref>

===Later history===
[[File:St Mary's Church, Churchgate Street - geograph.org.uk - 1576708.jpg|thumb|[[St Mary & St Hugh, Old Harlow|St Mary's Church]], Churchgate Street]]

The entry in  [[Normans|Norman]] [[Domesday Book]] reads: ''Herlaua: St Edmunds Abbey before and after 1066; Geoffrey from Count Eustace; Thorgils from Eudo the Steward; Richard from Ranulf, brother of Ilger. Mill, 7 beehives, 8 cobs, 43 cattle, 3 foals.''<ref>[https://opendomesday.org/place/TL4711/harlow/ Open Domesday: Harlow]. Accessed 10 June 2023.</ref> The mill is now a 300-year-old listed building and restaurant.<ref>{{National Heritage List for England|num=1111737|desc=Harlow Mill Restaurant|grade=II|access-date=30 January 2015}}</ref>

The original village, mentioned in the [[Domesday Book]], developed as a typical rural community around what is now known as [[Old Harlow]], with many of its buildings still standing. This includes for instance the Grade II listed [[St Mary & St Hugh, Old Harlow|St Mary's Church]] in Churchgate Street.  Its former Chapel is in a ruinous state in a field which was once the '''Harlowbury Abbey''' part of Old Harlow, is Grade I listed and is a [[scheduled ancient monument]].<ref>{{National Heritage List for England|num=1111694|desc=Chapel south-west of Harlowbury in grounds|grade=I|access-date=30 January 2015}}</ref>

Kingsmoor House on Paringdon Road is a Grade II* listed building and dates from the 18th century. It was built as a gentleman's residence and owned by local families including the [[Harlow Woods|Risden]], [[John Archer-Houblon|Houblon]] and [[Edward Joseph Todhunter|Todhunter]] families. It was later used as a private school and council offices before falling derelict.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kingsmoor House - Harlow - May 2011 |url=https://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/residential-sites/18970-kingsmoor-house-harlow-2011-a.html |website=Derelict Places|date=25 May 2011 }}</ref> It has since been restored and converted into residential apartments.

===The New Town===
Harlow was one of several towns to be built around a pre existing village; it was designated a [[New towns in the United Kingdom|new town]] on 25 March 1947.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=37918|page=1451|date=28 March 1947}}</ref> It was one of several new towns built under the New Towns Act of 1946, passed after [[World War II]] to ease overcrowding in London and the surrounding areas due to the devastation caused by the bombing during the Blitz. Other post-war new towns included [[Basildon]], [[Stevenage]] and [[Hemel Hempstead]]. The master plan for Harlow was drawn up in 1947 by Sir [[Frederick Gibberd]].<ref>[http://www.gardenvisit.com/b/gibberd.htm Gardens Guide] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041020033303/http://www.gardenvisit.com/b/gibberd.htm |date=20 October 2004 }} – Frederick Gibberd</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8603701.stm New town, a name change and all the jazz] BBC News web site</ref> The town was planned from the outset and was designed to respect the existing landscape. [[Sylvia Crowe]], the landscape architect, worked on Harlow New Town between 1948 and 1958. A number of landscape wedges - which later became known as Green Wedges - were designed to cut through the town and separate the neighbourhoods of the town. The development incorporated the [[market town]] of Harlow, now a neighbourhood known as [[Old Harlow]], and the villages of [[Great Parndon]], [[Latton, Essex|Latton]], Tye Green, Potter Street, Churchgate Street, [[Little Parndon]], and Netteswell. Each of the town's neighbourhoods is self-supporting with its own shopping precincts, community facilities and [[public house|pubs]]. Gibberd invited many of the country's leading post-war architects to design buildings in the town, including [[Philip Powell (architect)|Philip Powell]] and [[Hidalgo Moya]], [[Leonard Manasseh]], Michael Neylan, E C P Monson, William Crabtree, [[Maxwell Fry]], [[Jane Drew]], Graham Dawbarn, [[H. T. Cadbury-Brown]] and [[Gerard Goalen]]. Goalen designed his first church in the town, [[Our Lady of Fatima Church, Harlow|Our Lady of Fatima]], which is a Grade II* [[listed building]].<ref>{{NHLE|num=1246733|desc=Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of Fatima|grade=II*|access-date=3 August 2023}}</ref>
[[File:Harlow shopping centre June 1963 01.jpg|alt=Pedestrians walking through a wide area between shop fronts|thumb|Harlow shopping centre in June 1963]]
Harlow has one of the most extensive cycle track networks in the country, connecting all areas of the town to the town centre and industrial areas.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Harlow Cycle Map |url=https://www.harlow.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/Harlow%20cycle%20track%20map.pdf |website=Harlow Council |access-date=17 July 2020 |archive-date=12 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221012074648/https://www.harlow.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/Harlow%20cycle%20track%20map.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>  The cycle network is composed mostly of the original old town roads. The town's authorities built Britain's first pedestrian precinct,<ref>[https://www.mun.ca/geog/interdisiplinary/harlow/harlow1.php Memorial University – Department of Geography] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080121041144/http://www.mun.ca/geog/interdisiplinary/harlow/harlow1.php |date=21 January 2008 }} – Harlow's History and Geography</ref> and first modern-style residential [[tower block]], The Lawn,<ref>[https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1271496 English Heritage] – The Lawn</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6264579.stm BBC News] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070907002448/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6264579.stm |date=7 September 2007 }} – ''Redeveloping Essex's fallen utopia ''</ref> constructed in 1951; it is now a Grade II listed building. Gibberd's tromp-l'oeil terrace in Orchard Croft and Dawbarn's maisonette blocks at Pennymead are also notable, as is Michael Neylan's pioneering development at Bishopsfield. The first neighbourhood, Mark Hall, is a conservation area. From 1894 to 1955 the Harlow parish formed part of the [[Epping Rural District]] of Essex.<ref>[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10241649 Vision of Britain] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070309114818/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10241649 |date=9 March 2007 }} – Harlow parish</ref> From 1955 to 1974, Harlow was an [[Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland)|urban district]].<ref>[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit_page.jsp?u_id=10241649 Vision of Britain] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070309114838/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit_page.jsp?u_id=10241649 |date=9 March 2007 }} – Harlow UD</ref> On 1 April 1974 the parish and urban district was abolished and it became an [[unparished area]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/harlow.html|title=Harlow Registration District|publisher=UKBMD|accessdate=27 December 2021}}</ref>

[[file: Piper mosaic, St Paul's Church, Harlow.jpg|thumb|right|175px|Mosaic by [[John Piper (artist)|John Piper]] in [[St Paul's Church, Harlow|St Paul's Church]]]]
The town centre, and many of its neighbourhood shopping facilities have undergone major redevelopment, along with many of the town's original buildings. Subsequently, many of the original town buildings, including most of its health centres, the Staple Tye shopping centre and many industrial units have been rebuilt. Gibberd's original town hall, a landmark in the town built in 1958, was demolished and replaced by [[Harlow Civic Centre]] and The Water Gardens shopping area in the 2000s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://c20society.org.uk/building-of-the-month/harlow-water-gardens|title=Harlow Water Gardens|publisher=20th Century Society|access-date=8 February 2021}}</ref> One significant survivor from the initial development of Harlow New Town is the [[Church of England]] [[St Paul's Church, Harlow|Church of St Paul]] situated in the town centre. Built between 1957 and 1959 by Derrick Humphrys and Reginald Hurst in a modernist style, it is now a [[Listed building|Grade II listed building]].<ref name="HE">{{cite web |title=Church of St Paul, including attached bell tower, church hall, flat, raised pavement and steps, Harlow |url=https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101392352-church-of-st-paul-including-attached-bell-tower-church-hall-flat-raised-pavement-and-steps-harlow-toddbrook-ward |website=British Listed Buildings |publisher=Historic England |access-date=5 September 2025}}</ref> Inside it preserves a large mosaic made by [[John Piper (artist)|John Piper]] in 1960-61 depicting [[Road to Emmaus appearance|Jesus at Emmaus]].<ref name="C20" /><ref name="Piper">{{cite web |title=John Piper, Road to Emmaus |url=https://artandchristianity.org/ecclesiart-listings/john-piper-road-to-emmaus |website=Art and Christianity |access-date=5 September 2025}}</ref>

===Redevelopment===
[[File:The Chase - geograph.org.uk - 400869.jpg|thumb|The Newhall housing development built circa 2007 between Old Harlow and Church Langley]]

Since becoming a new town, Harlow has undergone several stages of expansion, the first of which was the "mini expansion" that was created by the building of the Sumners and Katherines estates in the mid-to-late seventies to the west of the existing town. Since then Harlow has further expanded with the Church Langley estate completed in 2005, and its newest neighbourhood [[Newhall, Essex|Newhall]] has completed the first stage of its development, with the second stage underway in 2013. The Harlow Gateway Scheme, also completed, first involved the relocation of the Harlow Football Stadium and the building of a new hotel, apartments and a restaurant adjacent to [[Harlow Town railway station]]. Phase 2 of this scheme involved the construction of 530 eco-homes on the former sports centre site and the building of the Harlow Leizurezone adjacent to the town's college in the early 2010s.

Other major developments under consideration include both a northern and southern bypass of the town, and significant expansion to the north, following the completed expansion to the east. The Harlow North<ref>[http://www.harlownorth.com Ropemaker Properties Limited] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070305002149/http://www.harlownorth.com/ |date=5 March 2007 }} – Harlow North</ref> plans, currently awaiting permission, involve an extension of the town across the floodplains on the town's northern border, into neighbouring [[Hertfordshire]]. The plan was supported by former MP [[Bill Rammell]], all three political groups on Harlow Council, and the [[East of England Regional Assembly]]. It is opposed by Hertfordshire County Council, East Herts Council, [[Mark Prisk]], MP for Hertford and Stortford in whose constituency the development would be, and all the parishes concerned. The opposition is coordinated by a local group based in neighbouring East Hertfordshire.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Page Redirection |url=http://www.stopharlownorth.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070105135104/http://www.stopharlownorth.com/ |archive-date=5 January 2007 |access-date=29 April 2018 |website=www.stopharlownorth.com |df=dmy-all}}</ref> An attempt to have Harlow North designated an "Eco Town" was rejected by the Minister for Housing, [[Caroline Flint]] MP, in April 2008.

The south of the town centre also underwent major regeneration, with the new Civic Centre being built and the town's famous Water Gardens being redeveloped in the 2000s, a landscape listed by [[English Heritage]]. Despite this development, the main shopping area of the town has been stagnating for some time, not helped by the closure of two of the Harvey Centre's anchor tenants – BHS and M&S.

In 2004, Harlow businessman [[Mohammad Ghadami|Mo Ghadami]] won his High Court case to block a multimillion-pound extension of the town's Harvey Centre. The Iranian-born entrepreneur, who presented his case in person, persuaded Mr Justice Richards to quash Harlow DC's grant of planning permission for the development. In his judgment he backed Mr Ghadami's claim of 'apparent bias or predetermination' in the decision, as a result of the continued participation of Michael Garnett, the chairman of the planning committee, in the planning process after he had attempted in telephone calls to persuade Mr Ghadami to consent to the scheme.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HARLOW PLANNING COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN'S CALLS TO OBJECTOR UNDER SCRUTINY |url=http://www.lgcplus.com/harlow-planning-committee-chairmans-calls-to-objector-under-scrutiny/1231710.article |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160327014905/http://www.lgcplus.com/harlow-planning-committee-chairmans-calls-to-objector-under-scrutiny/1231710.article |archive-date=27 March 2016 |access-date=29 April 2018 |website=lgcplus.com |date=3 August 2004 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In 2011, the government announced the creation of an [[enterprise zone]] in the town.<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 August 2011 |title=New 'enterprise zones' announced around England |publisher=[[BBC News Online]] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-14552193 |url-status=live |access-date=10 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140922152626/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-14552193 |archive-date=22 September 2014 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Harlow Enterprise Zone consists of two separate sites under development, at Templefields and London Road, with the London Road site divided into north and south business parks.<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 January 2015 |title=Essex County Council get first hand experience of Harlow Enterprise Zone |publisher=Harlow Star |url=http://www.harlowstar.co.uk/Essex-County-Council-hand-experience-Harlow/story-25881332-detail/story.html |url-status=live |access-date=10 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402091437/http://www.harlowstar.co.uk/Essex-County-Council-hand-experience-Harlow/story-25881332-detail/story.html |archive-date=2 April 2015 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In 2022, Harlow Council was awarded £23.7 million from the government's Towns Fund to be used for several large investments in the town. These include the development of a new bus station and transport hub, regeneration of Broad Walk in the town and a new sustainable transport corridor between the town centre and Harlow Town station. The majority of these works are underway as of mid 2024, with completion of the programme expected by March 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Towns Fund {{!}} Harlow Council |url=https://www.harlow.gov.uk/business/regeneration/towns-fund |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=www.harlow.gov.uk}}</ref>

===Permitted development (office to residential) flats===
A government policy to allow developers to convert office space to residential has led to a proliferation of new 'rabbit hutch'-sized flats,<ref name="Jones2017">{{Cite news |last=Jones |first=Rupert |date=11 February 2017 |title=Welcome to rabbit-hutch Britain, land of the ever-shrinking home |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2017/feb/11/welcome-rabbit-hutch-britain-land-ever-shrinking-home |access-date=16 March 2019}}</ref><ref name="Jones08">{{Cite news |last=Jones |first=Rupert |date=25 August 2018 |title=As small as 13 sq metres: are these the worst new flats in Britain? |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2018/aug/25/flats-block-converting-offices-living-space |access-date=16 March 2019}}</ref> which are then let to London-borough waiting-list families. These are erected under [[permitted development]] rights which mean the local authority cannot refuse [[planning permission]].<ref name="Jones">{{Cite news |last=Jones |first=Rupert |date=16 March 2019 |title=Is Harlow being used to 'socially cleanse' London? |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/mar/16/is-harlow-being-used-to-socially-cleanse-london |access-date=16 March 2019}}</ref>

==Environment==

A major feature of Harlow New Town is its green spaces; over one third of the district is parkland or fields containing public footpaths. One of the original design features of Gibberd's masterplan is the Green Wedges in the town, designed to provide open space for wildlife and recreation and to separate neighbourhoods. 23% of the district is designated as Green Wedge. The Green Wedges are protected from inappropriate development, through the Local Plan.<ref name="gwreview">Harlow Council. [http://www.harlow.gov.uk/sites/harlow/files/Green%20Wedge%20Review.pdf "Green Wedge Review"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007062254/http://www.harlow.gov.uk/sites/harlow/files/Green%20Wedge%20Review.pdf |date=7 October 2016 }}, April 2014.</ref>

The town is entirely surrounded by Green Belt land, a land designation which originated in London to prevent the city sprawling, and 21% of the district is allocated as Green Belt.<ref name=gwreview /> The National Planning Policy Framework states that one of the purposes of Green Belt land is to protect unrestricted sprawl from large built-up areas.<ref name="nppf">DCLG. [https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/6077/2116950.pdf "National Planning Policy Framework"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130310161751/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/6077/2116950.pdf |date=10 March 2013 }}, March 2012.</ref>

[[Harlow Town Park]], at a size of 71.6-hectares (just under 1&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>), is one of the largest urban parks in the country. The multi-functional park has been used for recreation and enjoyment for over 50 years.  This park is in the centre Netteswell [[wards of the United Kingdom|ward]] and is between the town centre and the railway station, both of which are within walking distance of the park, which is a natural thoroughfare from the station to the town centre.

There are only 12 parks with significant post-war element on the English Heritage 'Register of Parks'. With these Harlow is seen as one of the first examples of a civic scheme to marry the modern science of town and country planning.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

==Economy==
Harlow was originally expected to provide a majority of employment opportunities in manufacturing,{{Citation needed|date=March 2016}} with two major developments of The Pinnacles and Templefields providing the biggest employers in the region; as with the rest of the country, this manufacturing base has declined and Harlow has had to adjust.

The original manufacturing took the form of a biscuit factory, on the Pinnacles. Owned and run as a co-op, it provided employment to the town for over 50 years, before closing in 2002. It has since been demolished and the site now has small industrial units. At its peak, the factory employed over 500 people.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

[[Raytheon]] and [[GlaxoSmithKline]] both have large premises within the town. 
In July 2017 [[Public Health England]] had bought the vacant site from GSK (GlaxoSmithKline) hoping to move altogether 2,745 jobs there, of which about 500 are from [[Porton Down]].<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-40547531 Harlow site to be home to government's public health arm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216084353/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-40547531 |date=16 February 2018 }} BBC News,9 July 2017</ref>

[[Nortel]] had a large site on the eastern edge of the town, acquired when [[Standard Telephones and Cables|STC]] was bought in 1991, and it was here that [[Charles K. Kao]] developed [[optical fibre]] data transmission. Nortel had a much reduced presence prior to the firm's closure in 2013. The site now is host to electronics, education and housing companies.  

One of Europe's leading online golf stores, Onlinegolf, is based in Harlow.

Unemployment is frequently around 10%,{{Citation needed|date=March 2016}} higher than the national average in the UK. Harlow also has a large number of people in social housing, almost 30%<ref name="census">[http://www.harlow.gov.uk/about_the_council/council_services/business_services/regeneration_unit/key_statistics_and_data/harlow_comparison_with_essex.aspx Harlow District Council] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081023055606/http://www.harlow.gov.uk/about_the_council/council_services/business_services/regeneration_unit/key_statistics_and_data/harlow_comparison_with_essex.aspx |date=23 October 2008 }} – Harlow: A Comparison with Essex 2001 Census</ref> of dwellings being housing association and local authority owned, and many more privately rented.

==Governance==
{{main|Harlow District Council}}
{{See also|Harlow (UK Parliament constituency)|Harlow District Council elections}}
[[File:The Water Gardens, Harlow (geograph 5164305).jpg|thumb|[[Harlow Civic Centre]], The Water Gardens]]
There are two tiers of local government covering Harlow, at [[non-metropolitan district|district]] and [[non-metropolitan county|county]] level: [[Harlow District Council|Harlow Council]] and [[Essex County Council]]. The district council has been controlled by the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] since 2021. It is based at Harlow Civic Centre at the Water Gardens in the town centre.<ref>{{cite web |title=Contact us |url=https://www.harlow.gov.uk/form/contacting-us |website=Harlow Council |access-date=6 June 2023}}</ref>

The Member of Parliament (MP) for [[Harlow (UK Parliament constituency)|Harlow]] since the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 general election]] is [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] [[Chris Vince]]. He defeated [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] candidate Hannah Ellis with a majority of 2,504 (5.8%).

In 2015 Harlow was the first town in Britain to take out a district wide injunction against unauthorised encampments by Travellers.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Le Bas |first1=Damian |title=The Stopping Places: A journey through Gypsy Britain |date=2018 |publisher=[[Chatto & Windus]] |isbn=9781784741037 |page=158}}</ref> However following a court hearing in July 2020 Harlow Council withdrew the injunction.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Lewis Berrill |title=Traveller campaigners welcome withdrawal Harlow's injunction |url=https://www.eppingforestguardian.co.uk/news/18590299.traveller-campaigners-welcome-withdrawal-harlows-injunction/ |website=[[Epping Forest Guardian]] |access-date=11 April 2024 |date=18 July 2020}}</ref>

==Transport==

===Railway===
Harlow is served by two [[train station|railway station]]s: [[Harlow Town railway station|Harlow Town]] and [[Harlow Mill railway station|Harlow Mill]]; both are served by trains between [[Liverpool Street railway station|London Liverpool Street]] and [[Cambridge railway station|Cambridge]]. Harlow Town is also a stop on the [[Stansted Express]], providing frequent services between London and Stansted Airport. All trains serving both stations are operated by [[Greater Anglia]].

There are also frequent bus services from the town centre to [[Epping tube station]], which is on [[London Underground]]'s [[Central line (London Underground)|Central line]].

In 2021, Harlow District Council proposed extending the Central line from its eastern terminus at Epping to Harlow. It argued this would reduce travel times to Epping and London, and help with efforts add 19,000 new homes to the town and expand the population to 130,000. However, no funding has been allocated for this proposed extension.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-08-11 |title=Harlow's addition to London Underground proposed by council |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-58172373 |access-date=2023-03-26}}</ref>

===Road===
Harlow can be accessed from junctions 7 and 7a of the [[M11 motorway]], which runs from [[London]] to [[Cambridge]]. Junction 7 provides links to the southern areas of town, such as Church Langley and Potter Street. Junction 7a, located close to Old Harlow, began construction in 2020 and opened in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=M11 Junction 7a {{!}} Essex County Council |url=https://www.essexhighways.org/highway-schemes-and-developments/highway-schemes/multi-district-schemes/m11-junction-7a |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=www.essexhighways.org}}</ref> The M11 motorway was planned originally to run to the west of Harlow, not to the east as it does today. Having planned for one of the two big industrial estates to be built to the west of the town for easy motorway access, Sir Fredrick Gibberd was appalled when the motorway was eventually built to the east of the town instead, describing it as "just about the most monstrous thing to ever happen to me as a planner" during a 1982 interview.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gibberd |first=Fredrick |title=Sir Fredrick Gibberd's - Harlow New Town 1982 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB3T5Gnfcu0&t=140s |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429145044/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB3T5Gnfcu0&t=140s |archive-date=29 April 2018 |website=Youtube |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The M11 motorway places the town within a short distance of [[Stansted Airport]], the [[A120 road|A120]] to [[Braintree, Essex|Braintree]] via [[Great Dunmow]], and the orbital [[M25 motorway]].

Running through the town is the [[A414 road|A414]], a major road between [[Hemel Hempstead]] and [[Maldon, Essex|Maldon]]; it links the town with the [[A10 road (England)|A10]] to the west, which runs between London and [[King's Lynn]]. Another major road running from Harlow is the A1184, which leads to the nearby town of [[Bishop's Stortford]] via [[Sawbridgeworth]].

===Air===
Bishop's Stortford is the closest large town to [[Stansted Airport]], though Harlow is only {{convert|10|mi|km|0|abbr=off}} from this major transport hub and therefore provides several hundred airport employees. The airport operator withdrew a planning application for a second runway after the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|General Election of 2010]], when all major political parties opposed it. Further plans to expand the airport to boost capacity were proposed in 2020, but were rejected by [[Uttlesford District Council]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-07-15 |title=Stansted Airport: Council criticised for rejecting expansion plan |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-62180461 |access-date=2024-08-06 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

===Bus===
[[File:Harlow bus station (geograph 3445799).jpg|thumb|right|Harlow bus station]]

Harlow bus station provides a focal point for the town's extensive bus network and serves as a regional hub for the local area. The current site was constructed between 2001 and 2003, containing 15 stands and a small visitor information centre.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bus station {{!}} Harlow Council |url=https://www.harlow.gov.uk/streets-and-travel/travel/bus-station |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=www.harlow.gov.uk}}</ref>

In July 2022, Harlow Council unveiled plans to completely rebuild the bus station at a cost of £15M, along with the construction of a brand new integrated transport and cycle hub.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Staff Reporter |date=2022-07-04 |title=Plans for redevelopment of Harlow bus station unveiled |url=https://www.yourharlow.com/2022/07/04/plans-for-redevelopment-of-harlow-bus-station-unveiled/ |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=Your Harlow}}</ref> Planning permission for the project was granted in January 2023, with construction beginning in May 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-13 |title=Harlow £15m bus station redevelopment plans approved |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn0dk2lmx35o |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Staff Reporter |date=2024-05-08 |title=Works start on rebuild of Harlow Bus Station and Terminus Street |url=https://www.yourharlow.com/2024/05/08/works-start-on-rebuild-of-harlow-bus-station-and-terminus-street/ |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=Your Harlow}}</ref>

[[Arriva Herts & Essex]] operate a large number of local routes within the town. key destinations outside of Harlow include [[Bishop's Stortford]], [[London Stansted Airport|Stansted Airport]] and [[Chelmsford]]. Arriva also operate the [[Green Line bus route 724|Greenline 724]] route, providing a service between Harlow and [[Heathrow Airport]] via [[Hertford]] and [[Watford]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=mbH |first=HaCon Ingenieurges |title=Harlow to London Heathrow Airport |url=https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/herts-and-essex/services/724---harlow-to-london-heathrow-airport/?direction=outbound |access-date=2020-07-17 |website=[[Arriva Shires & Essex]]|language=en}}</ref>

[[Vectare|Central Connect]] also operate several local services within Harlow, as well as connections to other nearby towns, such as [[Epping, Essex|Epping]], [[Ongar, Essex|Ongar]], [[Cheshunt]] and [[Waltham Abbey]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vectare - Local and School Bus Services |url=https://localbus.vectare.co.uk/ |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=localbus.vectare.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> [[First Essex]] operate a small number of routes. There is also a [[National Express Coaches|National Express]] coach service between [[London Stansted Airport|Stansted Airport]] and [[Oxford]] via [[Luton]] and [[Milton Keynes]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-06 |title=National Express Route 737, Oxford to Stansted Airport — National Express Timetables |url=https://timetables.nationalexpress.com/routes/NX/737/Cambridge-Oxford/O |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=timetables.nationalexpress.com |language=en}}</ref>

====Harlow First Avenue Multi-Modal Corridor====
{{Infobox Future Infrastructure Project
|property_name = Harlow First Avenue Multi-Modal Corridor
|image_name = Harlow_developments.png
|image_size = 200px
|caption = Developments in and around Harlow.
|location = Essex
|proposer = Essex County Council
|estimated cost = £4.4&nbsp;million (2008)
|planned start = 
|planned finish = February 2010
|stakeholders = 
|geometry = [http://umapper.s3.amazonaws.com/maps/kml/45876.kml KML]
}}
Essex County Council was involved in development to Harlow's First Avenue, which was intended to reduce congestion and create better transport connections between the Newhall housing developments. The scheme was implemented in two phases, each phase focusing on developing First Avenue on either side of Howard Way. Phase two had an estimated cost of £4.4&nbsp;million and was due to be completed in early 2010, phase one is already complete and is listed as having had £3.6&nbsp;million of funding from the [[Community Infrastructure Fund]] (CIF).<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 2008 |title=Harlow, First Avenue, Multi-Modal Corridor, Phase 2 |url=http://www.essexcc.gov.uk/vip8/ecc/ECCWebsite/content/binaries/documents/Transportation_and_Road_Planning/Harlow_First_Avenue_-_CIF2_Business_Case_-_Nov_2008_-_Full_Final_Report_-_website_version.pdf?channelOid=null |access-date=14 October 2009 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The scheme includes construction of a shared use cycleway and development to the bus service along First Avenue and into the Newhall development site where 'high quality bus' services between Harlow town centre and Harlow Town railway station are listed as part of the intentions of the development.

==Healthcare==
Harlow is served by the NHS [[Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow|Princess Alexandra Hospital]], situated on the edge of The High, which is the main Town Centre area of Harlow. This hospital has a 24-hour Accident & Emergency and Urgent Care Centre.

Plans for the hospital to be rebuilt were first put in place in 2019. In May 2023, it was announced that the facility would be rebuilt by 2030 as part of a £20bn pledge by the government.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-25 |title='Ageing' Harlow hospital to be rebuilt by 2030 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c721pvd217qo |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> Following Labour's victory at the [[2024 United Kingdom general election]], these plans have currently been placed under review.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MSN |url=https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/princess-alexandra-hospital-fears-new-harlow-hospital-could-be-scrapped-as-mp-vows-to-fight-own-government/ar-BB1r11Kr |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=www.msn.com}}</ref>

==Education==
Harlow contains seven state-funded secondary schools:

*[[Stewards Academy]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=200 invalid-request |url=http://www.stewardsschool.co.uk/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061213133839/http://www.stewardsschool.co.uk/ |archive-date=13 December 2006 |access-date=29 April 2018 |website=www.stewardsschool.co.uk |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
*[[Mark Hall Academy]]<ref>[http://www.markhall.essex.sch.uk/ Mark Hall Academy] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070308131806/http://www.markhall.essex.sch.uk/ |date=8 March 2007 }}</ref>
*[[St Mark's West Essex Catholic School]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Welcome to St Mark's - St Mark's West Essex Catholic School |url=http://www.st-marks.essex.sch.uk/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929064054/http://www.st-marks.essex.sch.uk/ |archive-date=29 September 2007 |access-date=29 April 2018 |website=www.st-marks.essex.sch.uk |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
*[[Burnt Mill Academy]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home - Burnt Mill Academy |url=http://www.burntmill.essex.sch.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070118053719/http://www.burntmill.essex.sch.uk/ |archive-date=18 January 2007 |access-date=29 April 2018 |website=www.burntmill.essex.sch.uk |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
* [[Passmores Academy]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Welcome - Passmores Academy |url=http://www.passmoresacademy.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111010034211/http://www.passmoresacademy.com/ |archive-date=10 October 2011 |access-date=29 April 2018 |website=www.passmoresacademy.com |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
* Sir Frederick Gibberd College<ref>{{Cite web|title=Welcome to Sir Frederick Gibberd College|url=https://www.sirfrederickgibberdcollege.org/|access-date=2021-10-19|website=www.sirfrederickgibberdcollege.org}}</ref>
*[[BMAT STEM Academy]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Burnt Mill Co-operative Academy Trust |url=http://www.sircharleskaoutc.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150422045640/http://www.sircharleskaoutc.com/ |archive-date=22 April 2015 |access-date=29 April 2018 |website=www.sircharleskaoutc.com |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

[[Saint Nicholas School, Essex|St. Nicholas School]] is a [[Private schools in the United Kingdom|private school]] in the town while [[Harlow College]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Harlow College - Home |url=http://www.harlow-college.ac.uk/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120102213019/http://www.harlow-college.ac.uk/ |archive-date=2 January 2012 |access-date=29 April 2018 |website=www.harlow-college.ac.uk |df=dmy-all}}</ref> provides [[sixth form]] and [[further education]]. St Mark's West Essex Catholic School and BMAT STEM Academy also provide [[sixth form]] education.

Brays Grove Community School and Specialist Arts College closed down in June 2008 due to decreasing pupil numbers over a number of years. Following the schools closure, the site was demolished and redeveloped into a £23&nbsp;million state of the art Academy which Passmores School and Technology College relocated to in September 2011 opening as Passmores Academy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Passmores School and Technology College - New school |url=http://www.passmoresschool.com/page_viewer.asp?page=New+school&pid=644 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715050845/http://www.passmoresschool.com/page_viewer.asp?page=New+school&pid=644 |archive-date=15 July 2011 |access-date=2010-10-24 |df=dmy-all}} – ''Information on new school on the Passmores School and Technology College website''. 25 October 2010</ref>

In the 1980s, a further two secondary schools were closed, Latton Bush (now a commercial centre and recreational centre) and Netteswell (now forms part of the Harlow College Campus)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Harlow College - Home |url=http://harlow-college.ac.uk |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060821202808/http://www.harlow-college.ac.uk/ |archive-date=21 August 2006 |access-date=29 April 2018 |website=harlow-college.ac.uk |df=dmy-all}}</ref> is a major further educational centre, covering [[General Certificate of Secondary Education|GCSE]]s, [[Advanced Level (UK)|A-Level]]s, and many vocational subjects including Hair and Beauty Therapy, Construction, Mechanics, ICT, and a new centre for engineering recently opened. The college is currently under major regeneration and is due to open a new university centre in partnership with [[Anglia Ruskin University]], covering mostly Foundation degrees in a variety of subjects relevant to local employers' needs.

An international campus of [[Memorial University of Newfoundland]] is located in Old Harlow.

Passmores Academy was where the first school TV series, [[Educating Essex]], was filmed. The episodes were broadcast from September to November 2011; they were produced in the 2010–2011 academic year.

===Sir Frederick Gibberd College===
Named after the prominent architect associated with Harlow, Sir Frederick Gibberd College opened in 2019.<ref name="BMAT">{{cite web |title=Sir Frederick Gibberd College |url=https://www.bmat-trust.org/280/our-schools-1/academy/9/sir-frederick-gibberd-college |website=BMAT |access-date=23 August 2023}}</ref> Built (to a design by HLM Architects)<ref name="Lowe-24Aug2023">{{cite news |last1=Lowe |first1=Tom |title=Government launches wider probe into Caledonian Modular after school closures |url=https://www.building.co.uk/news/government-launches-wider-probe-into-caledonian-modular-after-school-closures/5124829.article |access-date=24 August 2023 |work=Building |date=24 August 2023}}</ref> by Caledonian Modular from 198 prefabricated modules, the school was forced to close in August 2023 due to concerns about structural irregularities.<ref name="Morby-22Aug2023">{{cite news |last1=Morby |first1=Aaron |title=£29m modular-built secondary school shuts over structural fears |url=https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2023/08/22/modular-built-school-shuts-over-structural-fears/ |access-date=23 August 2023 |work=Construction Enquirer |date=22 August 2023}}</ref><ref name="Morby-24Aug2023">{{cite news |last1=Aaron |first1=Morby |title=Risk of collapse in 'high winds' shuts Caledonian Modular schools |url=https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2023/08/24/caledonian-modular-built-schools-at-risk-of-collapse-in-high-winds/ |access-date=24 August 2023 |work=Construction Enquirer |date=24 August 2023}}</ref> The DfE blamed poor workmanship for the structural issues; the school had not been built in accordance with its original architectural design.<ref name="Lowe-24Aug2023" /> HLM said the firm had raised concerns with Caledonian's approach to the technical delivery of the designs, both for Sir Frederick Gibberd College and for [[Haygrove School]] in [[Bridgwater]]; "Unable to resolve our differences, we parted company with Caledonian and the projects were delivered by others."<ref name="Weinfass-29Aug2023">{{cite news |last1=Weinfass |first1=Iain |title=HLM walked off school projects being built by unsafe contractor |url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/hlm-walked-off-school-projects-being-built-by-unsafe-modular-contractor |access-date=29 August 2023 |work=Architects' Journal |date=29 August 2023}}</ref> In December 2023, the DfE confirmed that the college would be demolished and rebuilt.<ref name="Morby-05Dec2023">{{cite news |last1=Morby |first1=Aaron |title=Three Caledonian Modular-built schools to be demolished |url=https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2023/12/05/three-caledonian-modular-built-schools-to-be-demolished/ |access-date=5 December 2023 |work=Construction Enquirer |date=5 December 2023}}</ref>

==Sport and leisure==

===Cricket===
Harlow Town Cricket Club was formed in 1960 as Stort Cricket Club and plays at Ash Tree Field. The club plays in division 2 of the Shepherd Neame Essex League, runs a junior section that play in the West Essex District Cricket Board League and has a girls team which play other girls teams in the county.

Harlow Town Cricket Club's Pavilion recently underwent a six figure refurbishment to promote women's and disabled cricket in Harlow and the whole of Essex. Essex County Cricket Club Ladies and disability sections use the club as well as the England disability teams.

Harlow has four cricket clubs. Harlow Cricket Club play in Division 3 of the Shepherd Neame Essex League and is based in Old Harlow. The club runs a junior section that play in the West Essex District Cricket Board League. Netteswell and Burnt Mill Cricket Club are based at Harlow Cricket Club, they are a social team that was founded around 1889. Near neighbours Potter Street and Church Langley Cricket Club play in the Herts and Essex League.

===Football===
The town's football club [[Harlow Town F.C.]] play in the [[Isthmian League]] South Central Division, having been relegated from the Premier Division in the 2018–19 season.

The club is best known for its extended run in the [[1979-80 FA Cup]], where they reached the Fourth Round of the competition. This included wins against established [[Football League]] sides [[Southend United F.C.|Southend United]] and most famously a 1–0 win over [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] in a replay, having drawn 1–1 at [[Filbert Street]]. Harlow were eventually eliminated by [[Watford F.C.|Watford]], narrowly losing 4–3.

The club built a new stadium in 2006 at Barrows Farm, now named The Harlow Arena, with the old Harlow Sports Centre being converted into housing.

Les Smith, a Harlow resident, represented Great Britain at the 1992 Barcelona Paralympic Games. Les became one of the first disabled people to become a qualified football coach in 1993.

===Greyhound racing===
The Harlow Greyhound Stadium has been at its present site for over 20 years and has regular race meetings each week as well as hosting other sporting events.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stadium |first=Harlow Greyhound Racing |title=Harlow Greyhound Stadium - London Greyhound Racing - Greyhound Race Nights |url=http://www.harlowgreyhounds.co.uk |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306053554/http://www.harlowgreyhounds.co.uk/ |archive-date=6 March 2016 |access-date=29 April 2018 |website=www.harlowgreyhounds.co.uk |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===Rugby Union===
{{main|Harlow rugby club}}
[[Harlow rugby club|Harlow Rugby Football Club]] moved from Ram Gorse near The Pinnacles to a new location in mid 2017 located on  Howard Way, Latton Bush, Harlow. The former site of the club has been turned into a housing estate affectionately called Ram Gorse Park. The first team plays in the London and South East Division IIl North East league. Currently, the training grounds are located near Pennymead.

===Other sports facilities===
The town has a leisure facility named the Harlow Leisurezone, built in the late 2000s next to [[Harlow College]] as part of the Gateway Project, which replaced the old Harlow Sports Centre, opened in 1960.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Harlow Penguins |url=http://www.harlowpenguins.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220042925/http://www.harlowpenguins.com/ |archive-date=20 February 2012 |access-date=6 August 2012 |publisher=Harlow Penguins |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In the 2010s, investments have included its skate-park next to [[Burnt Mill Academy]]. The project has been funded by the investment of over £300,000, largely from Harlow Council with £57,500 from Sport England. The park is [[Floodlights (sport)|floodlit]]. The 650sq metre park is made from concrete, and has a bowl as well as a street course which contains [[quarter pipe]]s, flat banks, rails and steps.

==Art and culture==
[[File:Trigon, Harlow (25996639083).jpg|thumb|upright|''Trigon'' by [[Lynn Chadwick]], in Harlow Town Centre]]

Harlow is the home to a [[List of public art in Harlow|major collection of public sculptures]] (over 100 in total) by artists such as [[Auguste Rodin]], [[Henry Moore]], [[Barbara Hepworth]], [[Gerda Rubinstein]] and [[Ralph Brown (sculptor)|Ralph Brown]]. Many of these are owned by the [[Harlow art trust|Harlow Art Trust]], an organisation set up in 1953 by the lead architect of Harlow [[Frederick Gibberd]]. Gibberd had idealistic notions of the New Town as a place where people who might not normally have access to art could enjoy great sculptures by great artists on every street corner. Consequently, almost all of Harlow's sculpture collection is in the open air, in shopping centres, housing estates and parks around the town.<ref>Whiteley, Gillian: ''Sculpture in Harlow'', Harlow Art Trust, 2005</ref>

In 2009, Harlow Council voted to celebrate Harlow's collection of sculpture by branding Harlow as 'Harlow Sculpture Town – The World's First Sculpture Town'. [[Harlow Sculpture Town]] began as an initiative from Harlow Art Trust, presenting itself as 'Sculpture Town', in a similar way to [[Hay-on-Wye]]'s presentation of itself as [[Booktown]].<ref>''Harlow Herald'', 31 March 2009{{page needed|date=April 2013}}</ref><ref>http://www.harlowarttrust.org.uk {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008151329/http://www.harlowarttrust.org.uk/ |date=8 October 2011 }} Harlow Art Trust</ref>

As part of the 'Sculpture Town' branding, Harlow is also home to the [[Gibberd Garden]], the former home of Frederick and Patricia Gibberd, which is a managed twentieth-century garden, and home to some of the Gibberd's private sculpture collection.<ref>http://www.thegibberdgarden.co.uk {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309234136/http://www.thegibberdgarden.co.uk/ |date=9 March 2009 }} see Gibberd Garden</ref> The Gibberd Gallery, in the Civic Centre, contains a collection of twentieth-century watercolours and temporary exhibitions.

[[File:The Playhouse, Harlow - geograph.org.uk - 140524.jpg|thumb|The Playhouse Theatre, shown in 2006]]

Harlow's Playhouse Theatre is in the town, which hosts shows and live comedy throughout the year and is the home to local community Arts group "Livewire Theatre" which has provided free arts access to young people since 2001.

Harlow has a local museum, which hold exhibitions and which contains artefacts on Harlow's historic past, charting the story of the town through the ages. Harlow Museum is in Muskham Road, and is set within the grounds of a sixteenth-century manor building with walled gardens. The museum is run in conjunction with the Essex Records Office (ERO) which holds family history archives in the search room. Admission to the museum is currently free, but visitors are encouraged to make a donation to ensure future maintenance of services.

The Town of Harlow and Harlow New Town are cited in the song "[[Get 'Em Out by Friday]]", by progressive rock group [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]], on their 1972 album ''[[Foxtrot (album)|Foxtrot]]''.

The album ''[[Pram Town]]'', described as a "folk opera", is a [[concept album]] about Harlow by [[Darren Hayman and the Secondary Modern]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Pram Town |url=http://hefnet.com/pram-town/ |website=Hefnet |access-date=31 March 2024}}</ref>

Harlow was home to [[The Square, Harlow|The Square]], named one of the Top 10 Small Venues in the UK by [[NME]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 November 2015 |title=Finalists revealed in NME's search for Britain's Best Small Venue with Jack Daniel's 2015 |url=https://www.nme.com/news/various-artists/89447 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007061717/http://www.nme.com/news/various-artists/89447 |archive-date=7 October 2016 |website=NME}}</ref> but the venue was closed due to re-development of the site, and was demolished in 2018.

==Media==
Harlow is within the BBC London and ITV London region. Television signals are received from [[Crystal Palace transmitting station|Crystal Palace]] TV transmitter,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Crystal_Palace|title=Full Freeview on the Crystal Palace (Greater London, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=8 October 2023}}</ref> [[BBC East]] and [[ITV Anglia]] can also be received from the [[Sandy Heath transmitting station|Sandy Heath]] TV transmitter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Sandy_Heath|title=Full Freeview on the Sandy Heath (Central Bedfordshire, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=8 October 2023}}</ref>

Local radio stations are [[BBC Essex]] on 95.3 FM, [[Heart East]] (formerly [[Ten-17]]) on 101.7 FM, and [[Harlow Hospital Radio]] which broadcast to hospital patients at the [[Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow|Princess Alexandra Hospital]] in the town.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.harlowhospitalradio.com/|title=Harlow Hospital Radio|access-date=8 October 2023}}</ref>

Local newspapers are ''Harlow Guardian'' in print and ''Your Harlow'' that publishes online.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishpapers.co.uk/england-eang/harlow-star/|title=Harlow Star|date=8 May 2014|website=British Papers|accessdate=8 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.yourharlow.com/|title=Your Harlow |access-date=8 October 2023}}</ref>

[[Channel 4]]'s TV show of [[Educating Essex]] (2011) was filmed at Passmores Academy during the 2010/11 academic year.

==People from Harlow==
{{further|:Category:People from Harlow}}

==Twin towns==
Harlow is [[sister city|twinned]] with:
* [[Havířov]], Czech Republic
* [[Prague 15]], Czech Republic
* [[Vélizy-Villacoublay]], France
* [[Stavanger]], Norway
* [[Tingalpa]], Australia

==Arms==
{{Infobox COA wide
|title = Harlow District Council
|escutcheon = Vert between three lozenges Argent a pair of dividers Or enfiled by a mural crown also Argent two flaunches of the last each charged with a mascle Gules.
|crest = On a wreath of the colours in front of a dexter cubit arm vested in a white shirtsleeve the cuff rolled back the hand grasping an axe a demi cogwheel all Proper.
|motto = In Common Endeavour<ref>{{cite web|url=http://civicheraldry.co.uk/east_of_england.html |title=East of England Region |publisher=Civic Heraldry of England |accessdate=9 March 2021}}</ref>
|notes = Originally granted to Harlow Urban District Council on 27 September 1957.}}

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Harlow}}
* [http://www.visitharlow.com/ Visit Harlow] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111160452/http://visitharlow.com/ |date=11 January 2016 }} – a website from [http://www.harlow.gov.uk/ Harlow District Council]
* [http://harlowez.org.uk Harlow Enterprise Zone]

{{East of England}}
{{Essex}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Harlow| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Essex]]
[[Category:Planned communities in England]]
[[Category:Non-metropolitan districts of Essex]]
[[Category:Planned communities established in the 1940s]]
[[Category:Unparished areas in Essex]]
[[Category:Former civil parishes in Essex]]