Description
Hampstead Garden Suburb was conceived by Dame Henrietta Barnett in 1903 when the area, hitherto rural, became ripe for development. Her aim was to provide a garden suburb for the working classes, with some larger houses as well as amenities. The overall layout was the work of Raymond Unwin. The street pattern followed the land contours, with curving and straight roads to create interesting viewpoints, closes and squares, street trees, a pedestrian network of footpaths and a variety of green spaces. Willifield Green was laid out as part of the first phase of development, largely built between 1907 -1912, and consists of an expanse of grass with trees and shrubs, low wooden posts to the road. Set behind the green are artisans cottages built in 1909 for the Improved Industrial Dwellings Company.
Practical Information
| Site location | Willifield Way |
|---|---|
| Postcode | NW11 6YE |
| What3Words | ///overnight.ranks.weep |
| Type of Site | Public Open Land |
| Borough | Barnet |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Public Transport | Tube: Golders Green (Northern) then bus. Bus: 102, 82, 260, H2. |
| Research Updated | 1 October 2000 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Hampstead Garden Suburb was conceived by Dame Henrietta Barnett in 1903 when the Underground tunnel from Hampstead to Golders Green was completed and the area, hitherto rural, became ripe for development. Her aim was to provide a garden suburb for the working classes, with some larger houses as well as amenities such as shops. Through energetic fund-raising she acquired the money to buy 243 acres of land at Hampstead from the owners, Eton College. After the initial suburb was created, further phases of development took place when additional parcels of land were purchased in 1908 and 1911 and later 300 acres were developed after 1919.
Hampstead Garden Suburb lies on the north-west side of Hampstead Heath with the Hampstead Heath Extension (q.v.) creating a Green Belt link to the heath on its southern side. The A1 bisects the Suburb along its northern edge. The overall layout was the work of Raymond Unwin, at that time in the process of completing Letchworth Garden Suburb and who had known Canon Barnett from the 1880s. In 1904 he was invited to plan the new suburb at Hampstead and his first design was dated February 22nd 1905; in the same month Henrietta Barnett published a prospectus for the suburb in 'The Contemporary Review'. In 1906 Hampstead Garden Suburb Trust Ltd was formed which owned and administered the land although housing was erected by co-partnership companies, and a large number of different architects were involved. Unwin was associated with the Trust as consultant architect from 1906-1914.
The Hampstead Garden Suburb Act of 1906 enabled him to by-pass local planning by-laws and create a street pattern that followed the contours of the land, using curving and straight roads to create interesting viewpoints, introducing closes and squares, with a pedestrian network of footpaths or 'twittens' and a variety of green spaces, public and private. Hedges rather than walls were used between front gardens and the streets, and street trees were either retained existing trees or newly-planted.
The first phase was largely built between 1907 and 1912 which included Willifield Green as one of a number of public open areas. Set behind the green are artisans cottages built in 1909, designed by George Hubbard and Arthur Walter Moore for the Improved Industrial Dwellings Company in consultation with Parker and Unwin. The green consists of an expanse of grass with trees and shrubs, low wooden posts to the road.
Hampstead Garden Suburb lies on the north-west side of Hampstead Heath with the Hampstead Heath Extension (q.v.) creating a Green Belt link to the heath on its southern side. The A1 bisects the Suburb along its northern edge. The overall layout was the work of Raymond Unwin, at that time in the process of completing Letchworth Garden Suburb and who had known Canon Barnett from the 1880s. In 1904 he was invited to plan the new suburb at Hampstead and his first design was dated February 22nd 1905; in the same month Henrietta Barnett published a prospectus for the suburb in 'The Contemporary Review'. In 1906 Hampstead Garden Suburb Trust Ltd was formed which owned and administered the land although housing was erected by co-partnership companies, and a large number of different architects were involved. Unwin was associated with the Trust as consultant architect from 1906-1914.
The Hampstead Garden Suburb Act of 1906 enabled him to by-pass local planning by-laws and create a street pattern that followed the contours of the land, using curving and straight roads to create interesting viewpoints, introducing closes and squares, with a pedestrian network of footpaths or 'twittens' and a variety of green spaces, public and private. Hedges rather than walls were used between front gardens and the streets, and street trees were either retained existing trees or newly-planted.
The first phase was largely built between 1907 and 1912 which included Willifield Green as one of a number of public open areas. Set behind the green are artisans cottages built in 1909, designed by George Hubbard and Arthur Walter Moore for the Improved Industrial Dwellings Company in consultation with Parker and Unwin. The green consists of an expanse of grass with trees and shrubs, low wooden posts to the road.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ250888 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.5 |
| Site Ownership | LB Barnet |
| Site Management | Leisure and Youth Services, Green Spaces Division. |
| Dates | 1909 |
| Listed Structures | LBII: 118-124 Willifield Way (Improved Industrial Dwellings Company Cottages) |
| 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 | Barnet |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Hampstead Garden Suburb |
| Tree Preservation Order | Not known |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | Article 4 Direction |
Gallery
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Nearby parks and gardens
Little Wood has existed as woodland for over 1000 years, probably part of land given to the Bishop of London in c704AD. When Hampstead Garden Suburb was being planned in 1907, its instigator, Dame Henrietta Barnett, was committed to providing green spaces within the housing, planting trees and preserving those that existed. When additional land was acquired to extend the Suburb in 1911, Little Wood was leased from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners and preserved as woodland. In 1920 an open air amphitheatre was built in the woods by the Play and Pageant Union, one of two drama groups that later merged to form the Garden Suburb Theatre. The theatre was restored in 1997. In 1933 Finchley UDC took on the freehold of the woods. Now designated a Nature Reserve, there are a variety of trees including Wild Service Trees associated with ancient woodland, although the trees here are generally no more than 175 years old.
Hampstead Garden Suburb was conceived by Dame Henrietta Barnett in 1903 when the area, hitherto rural, became ripe for development. Her aim was to provide a garden suburb for the working classes, with some larger houses as well as amenities. The overall layout was the work of Raymond Unwin. The street pattern followed the land contours, with curving and straight roads to create interesting viewpoints, closes and squares, street trees, a pedestrian network of footpaths and a variety of green spaces. The first phase was largely built between 1907 and 1912 which included Lucas Square, named after its architect Geoffrey Lucas. Hedged from the road, the houses on three sides look onto a rectangular slightly sunken tennis lawn, separated from a further strip of lawn at the east end by a low wall.
Big Wood has existed as woodland for over 1000 years, probably part of land given to the Bishop of London in c704AD. When Hampstead Garden Suburb was being planned in 1907, its instigator, Dame Henrietta Barnett, was committed to providing green spaces within the housing, planting trees and preserving those that existed. When additional land was acquired to extend the Suburb in 1911, Big Wood was leased from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners and preserved as woodland. In 1933 Finchley UDC took on the freehold. Now designated a Nature Reserve, there are a great variety of trees here including Wild Service Trees, associated with ancient woodland.
