Concern about his sons' education led Matthew Arnold to move to Harrow as he believed they might learn better if they lived with him and went to school as day pupils.

The family moved into Byron House in Byron Hill Road in March 1968 and Arnold was welcomed by the Harrow Gazette as "distinguished alike as a poet and critic and eminent as a refined and cultivated thinker.

"Mr Arnold will be most welcome in Harrow: and from the pains which he has devoted to educational questions and the valuable information contained in his late report to the Schools Commission, he can hardly fail to prove of service to a place where all matters affecting education are of so general interest and importance."

This prediction was quickly realised. Arnold became a school inspector for Harrow and Byron House became well known as a centre for literary discussions.

Its garden was used by Arnold to grow cauliflowers, Brussels sprouts and artichokes and to keep pigs and a cow.

The family also took in an unusual boarder from the school: Prince Thomas of Savoy, nephew of the King of Italy. Shortly after his arrival at Harrow the prince was offered the crown of Spain but decided to follow Arnold's advice to avoid the Machiavellian kingmakers and continue his studies.

But Arnold's time in Harrow was marred by personal tragedy with the death of his two eldest sons -- partially as a result of him encouraging them in outdoor sports.

Eight months after the family arrived in Harrow the eldest son, Thomas, died aged 16. While on holiday he fell from a pony and when he returned to Harrow had an attack of rheumatism from which he never recovered. His final words to his father from his deathbed were "Don't let Mamma come in".

Tragedy struck again three years later when the middle son Trevenen (Budge) died, again from the pursuit of outdoor activities.

To please his father the plump 18-year-old participated in sporting events at the school. One day he arrived home after running a mile and had trouble getting his breath.

A few days later he developed a cold and later that night Arnold found his son wandering around his bedroom in a daze. Budge eventually recognised his father and muttered "Ah, papa!" before falling into a heavy doze from which he never awoke.

To free themselves from the painful associations of Harrow, the family moved to Surrey in 1873 where Arnold lived until his death in 1888.

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