Description
King's College London today occupies 5 campuses and other properties across London including its Hampstead Residence. The site was formerly that of Kidderpore Hall, a large Grecian-style house of 1840-43, which stood on top of the hill. When the estate was broken up in 1889 the house and 2 acres were purchased by Westfield College, founded in 1882. New facilities such as the Maynard Wing and Skeel Library were added and in 1928/9 a classical chapel was built in the grounds north-east of Kidderpore Hall. In the garden was also a small mid-C19th summerhouse, and some fine trees.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Westfield College; Kidderpore Hall |
|---|---|
| Site location | Kidderpore Avenue |
| Postcode | NW3 7ST |
| What3Words | ///yappy.dinner.garage |
| Type of Site | Institutional Grounds |
| Borough | Camden |
| Open to Public | No |
| Opening Times | private, use by residents and guests of King’s College London only |
| Public Transport | Tube: Finchley Road (Jubilee, Metropolitan) then bus. London Overground: Finchley Road & Frognal then bus. Bus: 13, 82, 113 |
| Research Updated | 1 June 2012 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
King's College London was founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829. Along with University College London (q.v.), it became one of the two constituent colleges of the University of London in 1836. King's College London now occupies five campuses across London, that at The Strand being the original one, with others at Guy's Hospital, Waterloo, St Thomas's and Denmark Hill. Other college property includes The Maughan Library (q.v.) and the Hampstead Residence, which provides accommodation today but was formerly Westfield College. This was one of the first women's Christian colleges, founded in 1882 by the pioneer of women's university education, Miss Constance Garnett. Its first premises were in Maresfield Gardens near Finchley Road, the college moving to Hampstead in 1889 to occupy Kidderpore Hall, a large semi-detached Grecian-style house designed by T Howard for John Teil in c.1840-43.
John Teil was a retired leather merchant who had a flourishing business, trading with Kidderpore near Calcutta hence the name of his house, and now the road. When it was built, the house stood on its own in its grounds on top of the hill; a small summerhouse in the north of the garden was probably erected in the mid-C19th and has been used to house boilers for the college, but its restoration is planned. John Teil died in 1854 and the estate had various owners before being broken up in 1889 when Westfield College bought Kidderpore Hall and 2 acres of land for £12,000, and added new buildings such as the Maynard Wing to the south of the house in 1889. This was designed by Robert Falconer Macdonald following an open competition to provide more student accommodation for Westfield College, the brief requiring the new buildings to show 'economy with good effect'. Falconer Macdonald also designed the Skeel Library that fronts onto Kidderpore Avenue, built in 1903-4, a facility that enabled Westfield College to be admitted as a teaching school of the University of London. Other buildings to the south were added in the 1960s.
In 1928/29 a classical chapel was built in the garden north-east of Kidderpore Hall, designed by Percy Morley Horder and Verner Rees. It was erected to commemorate a former Vice-Principal of Westfield College, Miss Anne Richardson, whose wishes were for the chapel to be 'small and simple' and one 'in which no Christian ministry shall be impossible'. Behind Kidderpore Hall is an expanse of lawn with shrubberies, a long flower bed to the north with central sundial behind, the summerhouse visible beyond this amidst shrubbery, and some fine trees including yew; the chapel, rather neglected, is hidden behind foliage. A further area of lawn slopes to the west with adjacent modern buildings.
Further to the east along Kidderpore Avenue and accessed through an archway is a courtyard garden with a lawn, where there are various good trees including a fine catalpa. Outside the King's College grounds but once forming part of John Teil's estate is a covered reservoir and the West Heath Lawn Tennis Club.
In summer 2002 the College received planning permission to build new facilities for the students in part of the grounds and these works have now been completed although plans to restore the summerhouse and re-site it more visibly in the gardens have yet to be realised.
John Teil was a retired leather merchant who had a flourishing business, trading with Kidderpore near Calcutta hence the name of his house, and now the road. When it was built, the house stood on its own in its grounds on top of the hill; a small summerhouse in the north of the garden was probably erected in the mid-C19th and has been used to house boilers for the college, but its restoration is planned. John Teil died in 1854 and the estate had various owners before being broken up in 1889 when Westfield College bought Kidderpore Hall and 2 acres of land for £12,000, and added new buildings such as the Maynard Wing to the south of the house in 1889. This was designed by Robert Falconer Macdonald following an open competition to provide more student accommodation for Westfield College, the brief requiring the new buildings to show 'economy with good effect'. Falconer Macdonald also designed the Skeel Library that fronts onto Kidderpore Avenue, built in 1903-4, a facility that enabled Westfield College to be admitted as a teaching school of the University of London. Other buildings to the south were added in the 1960s.
In 1928/29 a classical chapel was built in the garden north-east of Kidderpore Hall, designed by Percy Morley Horder and Verner Rees. It was erected to commemorate a former Vice-Principal of Westfield College, Miss Anne Richardson, whose wishes were for the chapel to be 'small and simple' and one 'in which no Christian ministry shall be impossible'. Behind Kidderpore Hall is an expanse of lawn with shrubberies, a long flower bed to the north with central sundial behind, the summerhouse visible beyond this amidst shrubbery, and some fine trees including yew; the chapel, rather neglected, is hidden behind foliage. A further area of lawn slopes to the west with adjacent modern buildings.
Further to the east along Kidderpore Avenue and accessed through an archway is a courtyard garden with a lawn, where there are various good trees including a fine catalpa. Outside the King's College grounds but once forming part of John Teil's estate is a covered reservoir and the West Heath Lawn Tennis Club.
In summer 2002 the College received planning permission to build new facilities for the students in part of the grounds and these works have now been completed although plans to restore the summerhouse and re-site it more visibly in the gardens have yet to be realised.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ253858 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.9855 |
| Site Ownership | King's College London |
| Site Management | King's College London |
| Dates | 1840-43; 1889-91 |
| Designers | Kidderpore Hall: T Howard |
| Listed Structures | LBII: Summerhouse; College Chapel; Kidderpore Hall; The Maynard Wing; The Skeel Library. |
| 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 | Paddington/Frognal |
| Tree Preservation Order | Not known |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes - Borough Importance II |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Other LA Designation | Private Open Space |
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
West Heath Lawn Tennis Club is on the site of the former West Middlesex Waterworks covered reservoir, later owned by the Metropolitan Water Board, from whom the club leased the land. The Club opened in 1902 and had five grass courts, two of which were later converted to hard courts. Today the club continues to offer low-cost memberships and provide the opportunity for outdoors exercise for residents in the area and from elsewhere. It also provides a social meeting place, with club tournaments, suppers, picnics and other activities.
Fortune Green Open Space is a triangular site surrounded by mature London plane trees at the intersection between roads. It was opened to the public in 1897/8, the cost of acquiring the land split between London County Council and Hampstead Borough Council, who took on its maintenance. At the southern tip is a granite drinking fountain presented by Miss Miles in memory of her mother, erected through the Metropolitan Drinking Fountain & Cattle Trough Association.
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
Hampstead Cemetery was founded by Hampstead Burial Board, which was established in 1873 when the graveyard at St John-at-Hampstead became full. A 20-acre plot of land was purchased and the cemetery was laid out and planted by Joseph Meston, who had previously worked on Victoria Embankment Gardens. The cemetery was consecrated by the Bishop of London and opened in November 1876; further land was added in 1901. Over 60,000 people have been buried here, representative of the many well-known and artistic people attracted to the area over the years, and there are many fine monuments. The oldest graves are close to the main paths.
Hampstead Cemetery was founded by Hampstead Burial Board, which was established in 1873 when the graveyard at St John-at-Hampstead became full. A 20-acre plot of land was purchased and the cemetery was laid out and planted by Joseph Meston, who had previously worked on Victoria Embankment Gardens. The cemetery was consecrated by the Bishop of London and opened in November 1876; further land was added in 1901. Over 60,000 people have been buried here, representative of the many well-known and artistic people attracted to the area over the years, and there are many fine monuments. The oldest graves are close to the main paths.
