Description
This area was part of farmland held by the Provost and College of Eton since the C15th, which was developed in three phases from the 1840s onwards. Elsworthy Road was part of the third phase, and was developed by speculative builder William Willett between 1890 and 1911, largely the work of architects Harry Measures and Amos Faulkner and inspired by Arts and Crafts style. This small area of grass and a few trees formed a common frontage to a number of houses in Elsworthy Road. It was transferred to Hampstead Borough Council, and covenanted to be kept as ornamental landscaping.
Practical Information
| Site location | Elsworthy Road, Primrose Hill |
|---|---|
| Postcode | NW3 |
| What3Words | ///boost.rats.moon |
| Type of Site | Public Gardens |
| Borough | Camden |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Public Transport | London Overground: South Hampstead |
| Research Updated | 1 August 2002 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
It was described in 1928 as 'a small crescent-shaped enclosure forming, with a private roadway, a common frontage to a number of dwelling houses. Enclosed by posts and rails and laid out as a grass plot with a few trees'.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ273840 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.0334 |
| Site Ownership | LB Camden |
| Site Management | Parks & Open Spaces |
| Dates | late C19th |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | No |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | Yes |
| Local Authority | Camden |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Elsworthy |
| Tree Preservation Order | Not known |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Other LA Designation | Public Open Space (Small Local). London Squares Preservation Act 1931. |
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.
Nearby parks and gardens
This area was part of farmland held by the Provost and College of Eton since the C15th, which was developed in three phases from the 1840s onwards. Wadham Gardens was part of the third phase, and was developed by speculative builder William Willett between 1890 and 1911, largely the work of architects Harry Measures and Amos Faulkner and inspired by Arts and Crafts principles. Wadham Gardens and the west part of Elsworthy Road were built from 1895 on the former site of the Eton and Middlesex Cricket Ground.
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
Formerly rough farmland belonging to the College of Eton and Lord Southampton, Primrose Hill was acquired as a gift, to be opened as a public park as a result of local pressure in 1842. After 1851 the land was drained and levelled on the north and west sides of the hill, and footpaths and lamps and some new planting were laid out. In 1863 the north side of the hill was developed for housing. The hill top, which gives panoramic views over London, has been exposed and treeless since the Middle Ages, and on the slopes are many mature trees including oak, horse chestnut, London planes, whitebeam and hawthorn.
Formerly rough farmland belonging to the College of Eton and Lord Southampton, Primrose Hill was acquired as a gift, to be opened as a public park as a result of local pressure in 1842. After 1851 the land was drained and levelled on the north and west sides of the hill, and footpaths and lamps and some new planting were laid out. In 1863 the north side of the hill was developed for housing. The hill top, which gives panoramic views over London, has been exposed and treeless since the Middle Ages, and on the slopes are many mature trees including oak, horse chestnut, London planes, whitebeam and hawthorn.
The Quintin Kynaston School was created from the merger of the Quintin School and the Kynaston Technical School and shares a block with the George Eliot Infant and Primary Schools. The schools were designed in 1956 by architect Edward D. Mills, the landscaping by Bridgewater and Shepheard. The site was previously part of the Eyre Estate and featured Victorian detached and semi-detached villas with large gardens and a fine collection of trees. As many trees as possible were preserved in the design for the schools and the layout allowed for ample grassed areas for recreation around the teaching blocks. In 2011 plans were approved to rebuild the Quintin Kynaston School as part of the Marlborough Hill Campus to include a new George Eliot Primary School and a new Alternative Provision Centre. This project is part of the government's Building Schools for the Future initiative and managed by WCC; a completion date of 2015 is projected.
