Description
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
The site was part of the gardens of Hill House, a villa of 1807, remodelled in 1896 and then rebuilt and enlarged by Sir William Lever, later Viscount Leverhulme, who owned the property from 1904-1925. His gardens were laid out in 3 phases as he acquired more land, in 1906 following his purchase of Hill House, renamed The Hill. A second scheme followed his purchase of Heath Lodge to the north-west in 1911, and a third in the 1920s after Cedar Lawn to the south was acquired. The first two schemes were by Thomas Mawson and included an extensive Pergola and formal gardens. Baron Inverforth acquired The Hill in 1926; it was renamed Inverforth House in 1955 when he left it to Manor House Hospital. The property was divided in 1960 and part of the Pergola and Hill Garden opened to the public in 1963. Inverforth House and gardens were sold to developers in the 1990s for private residences. Inverforth House is fronted on the west and south-west by a broad terrace with steps leading to a formal garden with paved rectangular pond and fountain, surrounded by classical urns and pedestals. The garden is visible from The Hill Garden.
The site was part of the gardens of Hill House, a villa of 1807, remodelled in 1896 and then rebuilt and enlarged by Sir William Lever, later Viscount Leverhulme, who owned the property from 1904-1925. His gardens were laid out in 3 phases as he acquired more land, in 1906 following his purchase of Hill House, renamed The Hill. A second scheme followed his purchase of Heath Lodge to the north-west in 1911, and a third in the 1920s after Cedar Lawn to the south was acquired. The first two schemes were by Thomas Mawson and included an extensive Pergola and formal gardens. Baron Inverforth acquired The Hill in 1926; it was renamed Inverforth House in 1955 when he left it to Manor House Hospital. The property was divided in 1960 and part of the Pergola and Hill Garden opened to the public in 1963. Inverforth House and gardens were sold to developers in the 1990s for private residences. Inverforth House is fronted on the west and south-west by a broad terrace with steps leading to a formal garden with paved rectangular pond and fountain, surrounded by classical urns and pedestals. The garden is visible from The Hill Garden.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Hill House, The Hill, Manor House Hospital |
|---|---|
| Site location | North End Way/Inverforth Close |
| Postcode | NW3 7ES |
| What3Words | ///pets.cure.storms |
| Type of Site | Private Garden |
| Borough | Camden |
| Open to Public | No |
| Opening Times | private |
| Public Transport | Rail: Hampstead. Tube: Golders Green (Northern) then bus. Bus 210, 268 |
| Research Updated | 1 July 2005 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Site on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens, for Register Entry for the Hill Garden see https://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list
On the edge of Hampstead Heath (q.v.) and formerly known as Hill House, then The Hill, Inverforth House is a substantial building. The original house was built in 1807 and in the C19th was owned by the Quaker banking family of Hoare until 1896 when Sir Samuel Hoare sold the property to George Fisher, partner in a successful firm of auctioneers. Fisher rebuilt the house and moved here with his family. A blue plaque was erected to Fisher's son Sir Ronald Aylmer Fisher, statistician and geneticist, who lived here as a child until the family left the property in 1904. Set in 5 acres of parkland and gardens, there were apparently ponies for the children and a goat-chaise. The house and its gardens were then successively modified by the philanthropist and soap manufacturer William Hesketh Lever, later created Viscount Leverhulme, who purchased the property in 1904 and owned it until his death in 1925.
After his death it was acquired by Andrew Weir, first Baron Inverforth, who left it on his death in 1955 to Manor House Hospital, when it was renamed Inverforth House. The property was divided in 1960 when the LCC purchased the western part of the site and the north-western part of the extensive 800ft-long Pergola, and Pergola and gardens were restored and opened to the public in 1963 as The Hill Garden (q.v.). Inverforth House and gardens were sold to developers in the 1990s for private residences. The early C20th alterations to The Hill included rebuilding of the central block and addition of north and south wings to the garden front (now with C20th 2nd storeys) of c.1905 by Grayson and Ould of Liverpool who also designed the terrace along the garden front, to which Thomas H Mawson added an Ionic veranda in c.1910. The Terrace was later altered in 1923 by Leslie Mansfield who added a ballroom beneath it. The south wing was extended and remodelled in 1924-5 by Mawson in conjunction with TH Mawson and Sons; the library wing was added to the entrance front in 1913-14 by William and Segar Owen of Warrington.
The garden of Inverforth House was designed in c.1906-10 by Thomas H Mawson as part of a scheme for Lord Leverhulme, which included a rectangular formal pond with central fountain and pedestals on a wide terrace, aligned westwards on Inverforth House, running east-west from Terrace Steps to the Cruciform Pergola that is now within the public gardens. The pond once had a bronze statue of a boy on a dolphin but this is now missing as are the pedestals flanking the pond that supported classical urns. Terrace steps, aligned westwards on Inverforth House, lead down to the pond and form part of the upper terrace layout, and were designed c.1906-10 by J Lomax Simpson as part of the garden scheme by Mawson, with a double flight of curved stone steps with stone balustrades. The terraces were constructed using spoil from the Hampstead Tube excavation. The area now forming The Hill Garden was divided when the house became a hospital; this part of the garden is open to the public.
The Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England was established in 1984 and was commonly called English Heritage. In April 2015 it split into 2 separate entities, Historic England (HE), which continues to champion and protect the historic environment, and the English Heritage Trust, whose role is to look after the 400+ historic sites and monuments owned by the state. HE manages the National Heritage List for England (NHLE) that includes over 400,000 items ranging from prehistoric monuments to office blocks, battlefields and parks, which benefit from legal protection.
On the edge of Hampstead Heath (q.v.) and formerly known as Hill House, then The Hill, Inverforth House is a substantial building. The original house was built in 1807 and in the C19th was owned by the Quaker banking family of Hoare until 1896 when Sir Samuel Hoare sold the property to George Fisher, partner in a successful firm of auctioneers. Fisher rebuilt the house and moved here with his family. A blue plaque was erected to Fisher's son Sir Ronald Aylmer Fisher, statistician and geneticist, who lived here as a child until the family left the property in 1904. Set in 5 acres of parkland and gardens, there were apparently ponies for the children and a goat-chaise. The house and its gardens were then successively modified by the philanthropist and soap manufacturer William Hesketh Lever, later created Viscount Leverhulme, who purchased the property in 1904 and owned it until his death in 1925.
After his death it was acquired by Andrew Weir, first Baron Inverforth, who left it on his death in 1955 to Manor House Hospital, when it was renamed Inverforth House. The property was divided in 1960 when the LCC purchased the western part of the site and the north-western part of the extensive 800ft-long Pergola, and Pergola and gardens were restored and opened to the public in 1963 as The Hill Garden (q.v.). Inverforth House and gardens were sold to developers in the 1990s for private residences. The early C20th alterations to The Hill included rebuilding of the central block and addition of north and south wings to the garden front (now with C20th 2nd storeys) of c.1905 by Grayson and Ould of Liverpool who also designed the terrace along the garden front, to which Thomas H Mawson added an Ionic veranda in c.1910. The Terrace was later altered in 1923 by Leslie Mansfield who added a ballroom beneath it. The south wing was extended and remodelled in 1924-5 by Mawson in conjunction with TH Mawson and Sons; the library wing was added to the entrance front in 1913-14 by William and Segar Owen of Warrington.
The garden of Inverforth House was designed in c.1906-10 by Thomas H Mawson as part of a scheme for Lord Leverhulme, which included a rectangular formal pond with central fountain and pedestals on a wide terrace, aligned westwards on Inverforth House, running east-west from Terrace Steps to the Cruciform Pergola that is now within the public gardens. The pond once had a bronze statue of a boy on a dolphin but this is now missing as are the pedestals flanking the pond that supported classical urns. Terrace steps, aligned westwards on Inverforth House, lead down to the pond and form part of the upper terrace layout, and were designed c.1906-10 by J Lomax Simpson as part of the garden scheme by Mawson, with a double flight of curved stone steps with stone balustrades. The terraces were constructed using spoil from the Hampstead Tube excavation. The area now forming The Hill Garden was divided when the house became a hospital; this part of the garden is open to the public.
The Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England was established in 1984 and was commonly called English Heritage. In April 2015 it split into 2 separate entities, Historic England (HE), which continues to champion and protect the historic environment, and the English Heritage Trust, whose role is to look after the 400+ historic sites and monuments owned by the state. HE manages the National Heritage List for England (NHLE) that includes over 400,000 items ranging from prehistoric monuments to office blocks, battlefields and parks, which benefit from legal protection.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ261866 |
|---|---|
| Site Ownership | private |
| Dates | 1807; 1910-25 |
| Designers | Thomas H Mawson; Leslie Mansfield |
| Listed Structures | LBII: Inverforth House, Formal pond surround, fountain and pedestals in Garden, Garden Terrace Steps |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | Yes (with the Hill Garden) |
| NHLE grade | Grade II* |
| 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 | Hampstead Village |
| Tree Preservation Order | Not known |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | Yes |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Area of Special Character: Hampstead & Highgate Ridge |
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
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
The Hill Garden and Pergola were formerly part of the gardens of Hill House, a villa of 1807 that was remodelled in 1896 and rebuilt and enlarged by Sir William Lever, later Viscount Leverhulme, who was owner from 1904-1925. His gardens were laid out in 3 phases, following his purchase of Hill House, renamed The Hill; a second scheme following purchase of Heath Lodge to the north-west in 1911, and a third after he acquired Cedar Lawn in 1914. The first 2 schemes were by Thomas Mawson and included an extensive Pergola and formal gardens. The Hill was acquired by Baron Inverforth in 1926; it was renamed Inverforth House in 1955 when he left it to Manor House Hospital. The property was divided in 1960, the LCC purchasing the western part and north-west part of the pergola, which opened to the public in 1963 as the Hill Garden. In 1991 the part of the pergola owned by the hospital was added to the public gardens. Inverforth House and gardens remain private. The 800ft-long Pergola was restored in 1995 and formal gardens were laid out on former kitchen gardens.
The Hill Garden and Pergola were formerly part of the gardens of Hill House, a villa of 1807 that was remodelled in 1896 and rebuilt and enlarged by Sir William Lever, later Viscount Leverhulme, who was owner from 1904-1925. His gardens were laid out in 3 phases, following his purchase of Hill House, renamed The Hill; a second scheme following purchase of Heath Lodge to the north-west in 1911, and a third after he acquired Cedar Lawn in 1914. The first 2 schemes were by Thomas Mawson and included an extensive Pergola and formal gardens. The Hill was acquired by Baron Inverforth in 1926; it was renamed Inverforth House in 1955 when he left it to Manor House Hospital. The property was divided in 1960, the LCC purchasing the western part and north-west part of the pergola, which opened to the public in 1963 as the Hill Garden. In 1991 the part of the pergola owned by the hospital was added to the public gardens. Inverforth House and gardens remain private. The 800ft-long Pergola was restored in 1995 and formal gardens were laid out on former kitchen gardens.
Hampstead Heath falls within 2 London boroughs, the largest proportion being in LB Camden. It has immense historical content; a Saxon charter referred to the 'great ditch' in the Domesday Survey, and a Royal Charter of 1227 to woods and heath enclosed on all sides by ditches which along with boundary oaks and stones that are still visible today. The Heath has a great variety of habitats including ancient woodland, meadows, wetland, hedgerows, parkland and 26 ponds some of which were built to serve London with its water supply. In 1871 the Metropolitan Board of Works purchased the manorial rights for the public in perpetuity through an Act of Parliament; subsequently further land was added. The City of London has managed all of Hampstead Heath, apart from the Kenwood area, since 1989.
Golders Hill Park is on the site of Golders Hill House and grounds, purchased at auction in 1898 by a committee of local residents. It was opened by the LCC in 1899, the first public park in Hendon. The estate was created in the 1760s for Charles Dingley, for whom 'Capability' Brown reputedly landscaped the grounds, which were improved by Humphry Repton for a subsequent owner. In the 1870s Robert Marnock made further alterations to create a 'natural gardening effect' and enlarged the lake. The café stands on the site of the house, demolished in 1941. The old kitchen garden was laid out by the LCC as an 'Old English Garden'. The park has a woodland garden walk leading to tennis courts, the Swan Pond and Water Gardens; animal enclosures, a small zoo and aviary; on the open grass slope are ancient oaks and a C20th bandstand; a number of sculptures.
