Cracking the Harrow Bomb-map Code

Harrow's wartime bomb map is one of the most remarkable local records to survive the Second World War; colour-coded street by street to document exactly what the Blitz, the Doodlebugs and the V2 rockets did to the borough and its people.

As part of Heritage Open Days, Harrow Museum is delighted to offer free guided talks at our brand-new interactive bomb-damage map — a remarkable survival from the Second World War that recorded, street by street and house by house, exactly what the bombing of Harrow looked like. Colour-coded under official wartime instruction, the map tells the story not just of destruction but of the families displaced, the homes looted in the chaos, and the extraordinary effort by ordinary people to keep the borough functioning through some of the darkest years in living memory.

Our knowledgeable guide will lead you through the map's hidden language: what each colour meant, which weapons caused which damage, and how the record was used for everything from rehousing applications to hospital planning. Whether you have family roots in the area or are simply curious about the history beneath today's streets, this is a rare chance to see Harrow's wartime experience close up, in vivid and human detail.

During Heritage Open Days we will offer a coffee and cake deal at The Moat Café!

The Moat Café is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 4pm. If your tour is after opening times, there will be no refreshments or café access.