Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Harrod, Henry
HARROD, HENRY (1817–1871), antiquary, was born at Aylsham in Norfolk on 30 Sept. 1817, and educated at Norwich. He was admitted an attorney in Michaelmas term 1838, and for many years was in practice at Norwich. He was for twelve years secretary to the Norfolk and Norwich Archæological Society, and contributed many papers to their ‘Transactions.’ During this period he collected the information which in 1857 he published in ‘Gleanings among the Castles and Convents of Norfolk.’ In this volume he combined documentary evidence with proofs from architectural details, the illustrations being from his own drawings. On 16 March 1854 he was named a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, for whose ‘Proceedings’ he wrote some articles, principally on matters connected with Norfolk. He was also a contributor to the ‘Archæologia,’ his first paper, read on 3 May 1855, being ‘On some Horse-trapping found at Westhall,’ xxxvi. 454–6. In 1862 he removed to Marlborough, and entered into partnership with Richard Henry Holloway, solicitor; thence in 1865 he went to 4 Victoria Street, Westminster, where he became a professional antiquary. He was remarkable for his skill in deciphering old documents, and was employed in arranging the records of Norwich, Lynn, and other boroughs. The New England Historic and Genealogical Society elected him a corresponding member. He was busy at work on a monograph on the Tower of London when he died at 2 Rectory Grove, Clapham, Surrey, on 24 Jan. 1871. His wife was the eldest daughter of Colonel Franklin Head.
[Proceedings of Soc. of Antiquaries, 1870–3, v. 141–3; Solicitors' Journal, 18 Feb. 1871, p. 294.]