harlow is a town and local government district in the west of essex, england. a former mark one new town, situated on the border with hertfordshire and london, harlow occupies a large area of land on the south bank of the upper stort valley, which has been made navigable through other towns and features a canal section near its watermill. old harlow is a village-size suburb founded by the early medieval age and most of its high street buildings are early victorian and residential, mostly protected by one of the conservation areas in the district. in old harlow is a field named harlowbury, a de-settled monastic area which has the remains of a chapel, a scheduled ancient monument.