Description
Holly Bush Hill has two small areas of green space that since the late C19th/early C20th have been maintained by Hampstead Borough Council, now by LB Camden, a narrow strip of land on Holly Bush Hill was laid out as a shrubbery and a small triangular green bounded by post and chain. A number of fine houses face Holly Bush Hill, including Romney's House named after artist George Romney. This was later converted for Assembly Rooms where the first Hampstead Heath Protection meeting took place in 1829, chaired by James Fenton who lived nearby at Fenton House.
Practical Information
| Site location | Holly Bush Hill |
|---|---|
| Postcode | NW3 6SH |
| What3Words | ///rapid.hungry.solved |
| Type of Site | Public Open Land |
| Borough | Camden |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Public Transport | Tube: Hampstead (Northern) |
| Research Updated | 1 August 2002 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Holly Bush Hill has two small areas of green space that since the late C19th/early C20th have been maintained by Hampstead Borough Council, now by LB Camden, a narrow strip of land laid out as a shrubbery, and a small area of grass with some small trees with low post and chain boundary. A number of fine houses dating from the mid to late C18th face Holly Bush Hill, including Romney's House that overlooks the Green. The white weather-boarded house is named after artist George Romney who purchased former stables of The Mount in 1796, planning to convert them into a house, studio and Palace of Art. The property was later enlarged in 1807 for Assembly Rooms and here the first Hampstead Heath Protection meeting took place in 1829 chaired by James Fenton of Fenton House (q.v.) whose entrance gates faces onto the Green. The Assembly Rooms were the venue for lectures in 1833 by Michael Faraday, John Constable and Elizabeth Fry. In c.1900 Holly Bush Hill was under threat for road widening in connection with railway works but local opposition prevented this.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ263859 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.0164 |
| Site Ownership | LB Camden |
| Site Management | Parks & Open Spaces |
| Dates | C18th/C19th |
| Listed Structures | LBI: Romney's House. LBII: Alpine Cottage, 1 Holly Bush Hill, Nos 2 & 3 Holly Bush Hill and attached railings, No 4 Holly Bush Hill and attached railings, Garden Wall to Romney's House |
| 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 | Hampstead Village |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Area of Special Character: Hampstead & Highgate Ridge |
| Other LA Designation | Public Open Space (Small Local). |
Gallery
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
Along Hampstead High Street and Heath Street are a number of landscaped areas with grass, shrubs and some trees, such as the central enclosure between The Mount and Heath Street, which have been maintained as public open space by Hampstead Borough Council since at least the late C19th/early C20th. They are now maintained by LB Camden. These green spaces are of interest in providing green banks to the busy high street.
Fenton House is a late C17th merchant's house, which was left to the National Trust in 1952 by owner Lady Binning, together with a collection of porcelain. It had been given its present name after 1793 when the house was bought by merchant, Mr P I Fenton. A description of the garden in 1756 records that it had fruit trees and a kitchen garden. The layout today is not dissimilar to that of the 1860s with a lawn to the south with central gravel path leading to what was then the main entrance of the house. North of the house were terrace gardens with perimeter walks comprising a flower garden and walled kitchen garden.
The land for St John's Churchyard North Extension was acquired in 1811 to provide additional burial space for the parish church of St John-at-Hampstead directly to the south. The Additional Burial Ground, consecrated by the Bishop of London in 1812, was laid out in a grid marked A-Q west to east and 1-110 south to north. There are a few chest tombs, and several graves have the form of miniature gardens. Among those buried here are Sir Walter Besant, George du Maurier, Hugh Gaitskill and George Gilbert Scott Jnr. There are two fine Cedars of Lebanon and other mature trees including oak, yew, copper beech.
