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. 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.
Practical Information
| Site location | Wadham Gardens, Primrose Hill |
|---|---|
| Postcode | NW3 |
| What3Words | ///gums.speak.logs |
| Type of Site | Private Garden |
| Borough | Camden |
| Open to Public | No |
| Opening Times | private, not visible from the street |
| Public Transport | Tube: Swiss Cottage (Jubilee). London Overground: South Hampstead |
| Research Updated | 1 August 2002 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full 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. 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 the Arts and Crafts movement. Wadham Gardens and the west part of Elsworthy Road were built from 1895 on the former site of the Eton and Middlesex Cricket Ground, which had been created c.1858 by Samuel Cumming, a builder-developer responsible for building in the area from the 1840s, including Primrose Hill Road and King Henry's Road. The cricket ground had already been relocated here after it lost its first site when the east of Elsworthy Road and Elsworthy Terrace were built in the 1870s.
The layout of Willett's estate here comprised curving roads that originally had green verges and with numerous street trees. Wadham Gardens and Elsworthy Road formed a tear-drop shape enclosing a private communal garden, now bounded by a high hedge. The garden was that of a house called Castlewood, later known as Kentford Lodge, which by 1928 Eton College had leased to Trustees of William Willett (lease expired 1990s). Willett had made an arrangement with tenants of adjoining houses to enable them to use the garden, with a common liability towards its upkeep. In 1928 it was described as 'an irregularly shaped enclosure at the rear of dwelling-houses and abutting on one side on a public road. A well-kept and very attractive ornamental garden, adding considerably to the amenities of the houses overlooking it.' Subsequently a committee of residents of Wadham Gardens purchased shares in the site.
The layout of Willett's estate here comprised curving roads that originally had green verges and with numerous street trees. Wadham Gardens and Elsworthy Road formed a tear-drop shape enclosing a private communal garden, now bounded by a high hedge. The garden was that of a house called Castlewood, later known as Kentford Lodge, which by 1928 Eton College had leased to Trustees of William Willett (lease expired 1990s). Willett had made an arrangement with tenants of adjoining houses to enable them to use the garden, with a common liability towards its upkeep. In 1928 it was described as 'an irregularly shaped enclosure at the rear of dwelling-houses and abutting on one side on a public road. A well-kept and very attractive ornamental garden, adding considerably to the amenities of the houses overlooking it.' Subsequently a committee of residents of Wadham Gardens purchased shares in the site.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ271840 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.4861 |
| Site Ownership | private (previously owned by the Provost and College of Eton, and leased to Trustees of William Will |
| Dates | c1895 |
| 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 | Private Open Space. 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. 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.
* 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.
This area was part of farmland held by Eton College since the C15th, which remained rural until the C19th when it was developed in three phases from the 1840s onwards. Much of the area around Eton Avenue was developed by speculative builder William Willett between 1886-1894, largely the work of architects Harry Measures and Amos Faulkner and inspired by Arts and Crafts style. At the junction of Eton Avenue and Adamson Road is a small triangular green with two trees, which has been maintained as public open space by Hampstead Borough Council since the late C19th or early C20th.
