Description
Holly Village is a small garden estate comprising a group of 12 former estate cottages designed by Henry A Darbishire for Baroness Burdett-Coutts to house her trusted retainers close to her residence, Holly Lodge, which was further to the north and now the site of the early C20th Holly Lodge Estate. Picturesquely grouped around a private garden in model village style, the 2-storey cottages are cottage ornée in style. The central garden has three grass terraces linked by gravel paths, and is entered from the street through a central archway. The estate's rural atmosphere is enhanced by the lattice fencing and dense holly hedges that surround it.
Practical Information
| Site location | Swain's Lane/Chester Road |
|---|---|
| Postcode | N6 |
| What3Words | ///took.sting.highs |
| Type of Site | Housing/Estate Landscaping |
| Borough | Camden |
| Open to Public | No |
| Opening Times | private, partially visible through gateway |
| Public Transport | Tube: Kentish Town (Northern) then bus. London Overground: Gospel Oak then bus. Bus: C11. |
| Research Updated | 1 March 2002 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Holly Village is a group of 12 former estate cottages designed by Henry A Darbishire for Baroness Angela Burdett-Coutts to house her trusted retainers close to her residence, Holly Lodge, which was further to the north and now the site of the early C20th Holly Lodge Estate (q.v.). Darbishire's design for the cottage estate has been described as 'fantasy Gothic' and it is redolent with ornamental detailing in its pinnacles, turrets and chimneys, statuary and stone busts and animals on the gabled roofs. Picturesquely grouped around a private garden in model village style, the 2-storey cottages are cottage ornée in style and were built in 1865 by William Cubitt who employed Italian craftsmen for the wood carving; they are of multi-coloured stock brick with stone dressings, having slate roofs with decorative cresting. The central garden is entered from the street through a central gabled drop archway flanked by Nos. 1 & 2 Holly Village. Over the archway is the inscription 'Holly Village erected by A G B Coutts AD 1865'. Two lamp posts outside Nos. 3 and 12 date from c1865 and were manufactured by The Thames Cast Iron Company, London. The estate's rural atmosphere is enhanced by the lattice fencing and dense holly hedges that surround it.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ285865 |
|---|---|
| Site Ownership | private |
| Dates | 1865 |
| Designers | H.A. Darbyshire |
| Listed Structures | LBII*: 1-12 Holly Village. LBII: 2 lamp posts. |
| 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 | No |
| Local Authority | Camden |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Dartmouth Park |
| Tree Preservation Order | Not known |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
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
Holly Lodge Estate was built on the sloping site of the grounds of Holly Lodge, a late C18th villa that had stood near Robin Grove. In 1808 it was leased to actress Harriet Mellon who married banker Thomas Coutts and later the Duke of St Albans. After the latter's death in 1849 Holly Lodge was inherited by Baroness Angela Burdett-Coutts. The estate was expanded considerably between 1809 and 1864. In 1922 the estate was sold for housing and Holly Lodge Estate laid out in 1923. Part of the original gardens survive between the former carriage drive and Holly Lodge Gardens, maintained for private use of estate residents. Two garden areas are separated by a wooded avenue, the larger laid out around evergreen oaks and originally a Glade of Cedars of Lebanon, of which only one now remains, and a small flower garden to the east of the carriage drive.
Brookfield Estate was built by St Pancras Borough Council to provide much-needed housing post WWI. Designed by Albert Thomas, who worked with Edwin Lutyens, the estate has echoes of Hampstead Garden Suburb with curving streets, large garden areas, street trees and hedged boundaries. Brookfield Primary School was conceived as part of the estate and opened in the 1920s. An area of private open space within the Brookfield Estate has been used for recreation since the late C19th when the land was part of the Holly Lodge estate of former landowner Baroness Burdett-Coutts. The rural aspect of the Brookfield Estate is enhanced by the historic Highgate Cemetery to the north.
This area was developed from the 1860s as Highgate New Town, largely providing working class terraced housing. The Whittington Estate was built in the 1970s as part of post WWII social housing by Camden Council. Built north of Raydon Street, and overlooking Highgate Cemetery, the estate comprises six terraces with strong horizontal lines of balconies and cornices and vertical cross walls. Between each terrace is a pedestrian walkway of a different character, with planting of trees and shrubs to soften the architecture. This landscaping together with other green spaces provided for residents is an integral part of the design.
