The name refers to King Harold II, who held the manor of Havering-atte-Bower, and who was killed at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

Before construction of the estate, which was completed in 1958, it was the location of Dagnam Park house and grounds, and in the Municipal Borough of Romford and the county of Essex, but was transferred to Greater London in 1965.

[1] The area is part of a long-term regeneration project led by Havering London Borough Council.

[notes 1] Land for the estate, which consisted of the remaining 850 acres (340 hectares) of Dagnams, was purchased in 1947 by the London County Council.

The development is fairly low density with large sections of parkland retained in the centre and edges of the estate.

Provision was made for community facilities and three shopping areas were planned to break up the size of the development.

Harold Hill is situated on the north-eastern edge of London's urban sprawl, almost 17 miles (27 km) from Charing Cross.

To the south is Gidea Park, to the north is Noak Hill, to the west is Collier Row and to the east is Great Warley.

[8] By the early 1960s, Harold Hill had six secondary schools: These schools had been built to cope with the post-Second World War "baby-boom", but because of government education policy, Broxhill and Harold Hill Grammar merged to form Bedfords Park Comprehensive.

"So he sanded off his winkle with his Black & Decker drill"[11] The song set all three of its verses in real places; the others were Turnham Green and Lambeth Walk.

[13] Despite its past, Harold Hill is now one of the fastest improving boroughs since the council built the Myplace centre, a new community and performance space, allowing young people a safe location to spend time with their friends.