Harry Hallowes
Irishman who became famous for living on Hampstead Heath
About Harry Hallowes
Lived 1936 – 2016 (aged 79–80).
Harry Hallowes (born , died 2016), also known as Harry the Hermit, was an Irishman who became famous for living in a camp on Hampstead Heath in north London. When property developers tried to evict him, he successfully claimed adverse possession. After his death, a romantic comedy called Hampstead was made about his life.
Life Hallowes was born in County Sligo, Ireland, around 1936 and moved to London in the 1950s. When property developers tried to evict him, he successfully claimed title to the land by adverse possession having lived there for over 12 years. He was awarded title to the half-acre plot of land in 2007.
Death Hallowes died in February 2016. Hallowes left the half-acre plot to two homelessness charities (Shelter and Centrepoint) and following his death the land was auctioned.
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Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Harry Hallowes's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Harry Hallowes?
Irishman who became famous for living on Hampstead Heath
When was Harry Hallowes born?
Harry Hallowes was born in 1936 in County Sligo.
When did Harry Hallowes die?
Harry Hallowes died in 2016 in England, London.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Harry Hallowes. https://biography.guide/harry-hallowes/
MLA: "Harry Hallowes." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/harry-hallowes/.
Chicago: "Harry Hallowes." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/harry-hallowes/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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