History

John Lyon

John Lyon was a yeoman farmer from the village of Preston in Harrow and the Founder of Harrow School in 1572. He lies buried with his wife Joan in St Mary's Church, Harrow on the Hill, close to Harrow School and The John Lyon School which was established in 1876 to provide education for boys from the local community.

John Lyon was granted a Royal Charter by Elizabeth I incorporating the Keepers and Governors of the Free Grammar School in February 1572, and it was anticipated that he would found a separate trust for the purpose of maintaining the two roads from London to Harrow and Kenton. In 1578 and 1582 he gave to the Keepers and Governors a farm of some 48 acres in the area now known as Maida Vale as the endowment for that purpose. For the next two hundred years the Governors paid the income of that endowment to the variety of authorities that have been responsible for the maintenance of the roads

How did the present John Lyon's Charity evolve?

In May 1991 a Charity Commission scheme came into effect giving the Governors discretion to apply the income from that endowment for general charitable purposes for the benefit of the inhabitants of the boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Camden, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Kensington & Chelsea, and the Cities of Westminster and London.

Who governs the Charity today?

John Lyon's Charity, Harrow School and The John Lyon School are all part of the Harrow Foundation. The Foundation is made up of two separate entities; the Charity and the two schools, and is governed by the Keepers and Governors of the Free Grammar School of John Lyon, the Corporation established by the 1572 Charter. The Governors have appointed a Grants Committee to oversee the grants programme and recommend awards for their approval. Whilst the Governors are the Trustees of the Charity as well as of Harrow and The John Lyon School, the two Schools are quite separate organisations and do not benefit directly from the income of John Lyon's Charity.