Harry Hallowes, known as Harry the Hermit, is an Irishman who has become famous for living on Hampstead Heath
He was born in County Sligo around 1936 and moved to London in the 1950s. He was evicted from his council flat in Highgate in 1987 and then set up a makeshift camp in a corner of Hampstead Heath near Athlone House, supporting himself by doing odd jobs for locals such as the director Terry Gilliam. When property developers tried to evict him, he successfully claimed squatter's rights to the land, having lived there for over twelve years. He was awarded a deed to the half-acre plot of land in 2007 and this is worth over £2 million now.
In 2015, a movie called Hampstead was announced which is based on this story. Actor Brendan Gleeson will play the part of a hermit on Hampstead Heath, who is befriended by an American widow, whose part will be played by Diane Keaton.