West Hampstead

Underground station, existing between 1879 and now.

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(51.547 -0.191, 51.547 -0.191) 
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Underground station · * · ·
JANUARY
1
2015
The name "West Hampstead" was a 19th century invention - the original name was West End.

Lacking its own supply of spring water and situated away from the main roads, medieval West End barely qualified as a hamlet until a few country houses were built here from the 17th century onwards. The tendency for West End Lane to become impassably muddy after heavy rain further enhanced the hamlet's isolation.

By 1815 West End was still excep­tionally quiet – so much so that its inhab­itants claimed to have heard the cannon fire at Waterloo. The construction of the Finchley Road in the 1830s brought few additions to a population that consisted of a handful of squires and some farm labourers, gardeners and craftsmen. By 1851 West End had one inn and two beershops.

Railways were the prime stimulus of growth in many country corners of modern London but few places were trans­formed as wholly as West End. With the arrival of the Hampstead Junction Railway in 1857, the Midland Railway in 1868 and the Metro­politan and St John’s Wood Railway in 1879, the new suburb of West Hampstead spread in all directions.

Rapid development in the 1880s and 1890s swept away the large houses and the streets were laid out in today's pattern. A local estate agent in Kilburn claimed that he coined the name ‘West Hampstead’, for one of the local railway stations. Public amenities such as street lighting, gas and electricity were provided and much of the frontage to West End Lane was developed as shops.

Some of the new estates were the work of big developers like the United Land Company, whose inclination was to build fairly densely, and during the latter decades of the 19th century parts of West Hampstead became increasingly working-class in character, with policeman, travelling salesmen and railwaymen mixing with clerks and artisans. Engin­eering workshops operated near the railway lines.

Twentieth-century building was limited mainly to interwar blocks of flats in the north of the district, often in place of Victorian houses that had already become run-down.

The West Hampstead ward now has relatively few families and a great number of young single people. A large proportion of homes are privately rented and fewer than a quarter of adults are married, compared with more than half for the country as a whole. This socio-economic profile is evident in the upmarket cafés that have lined West End Lane in recent years.

Famous West Hampstead residents have included the singers Dusty Springfield, Joan Armat­rading, Olivia Newton John and Jimmy Somerville, author Doris Lessing, actresses Imelda Staunton and Emma Thompson, and the playwright Joe Orton, who lived on West End Lane with his lover Kenneth Halliwell from 1951 to 1959. Stephen Fry has also lived here.


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CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LOCALITY

None so far :(
LATEST LONDON-WIDE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PROJECT

Comment
Wendy    
Added: 22 Mar 2024 15:33 GMT   

Polygon Buildings
Following the demolition of the Polygon, and prior to the construction of Oakshott Court in 1974, 4 tenement type blocks of flats were built on the site at Clarendon Sq/Phoenix Rd called Polygon Buildings. These were primarily for people working for the Midland Railway and subsequently British Rail. My family lived for 5 years in Block C in the 1950s. It seems that very few photos exist of these buildings.

Reply

Steve   
Added: 19 Mar 2024 08:42 GMT   

Road construction and houses completed
New Charleville Circus road layout shown on Stanford’s Library Map Of London And Its Suburbs 1879 with access via West Hill only.

Plans showing street numbering were recorded in 1888 so we can concluded the houses in Charleville Circus were built by this date.

Source: Charleville Circus, Sydenham, London

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Comment
Steve   
Added: 19 Mar 2024 08:04 GMT   

Charleville Circus, Sydenham: One Place Study (OPS)
One Place Study’s (OPS) are a recent innovation to research and record historical facts/events/people focused on a single place �’ building, street, town etc.

I have created an open access OPS of Charleville Circus on WikiTree that has over a million members across the globe working on a single family tree for everyone to enjoy, for free, forever.

Source: Charleville Circus, Sydenham, London

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Comment
Charles   
Added: 8 Mar 2024 20:45 GMT   

My House
I want to know who lived in my house in the 1860’s.

Reply

NH   
Added: 7 Mar 2024 11:41 GMT   

Telephone House
Donald Hunter House, formerly Telephone House, was the BT Offices closed in 2000

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Comment
Paul Cox   
Added: 5 Mar 2024 22:18 GMT   

War damage reinstatement plans of No’s 11 & 13 Aldine Street
Whilst clearing my elderly Mothers house of general detritus, I’ve come across original plans (one on acetate) of No’s 11 & 13 Aldine Street. Might they be of interest or should I just dispose of them? There are 4 copies seemingly from the one single acetate example. Seems a shame to just junk them as the level of detail is exquisite. No worries if of no interest, but thought I’d put it out there.

Reply
Comment
Diana   
Added: 28 Feb 2024 13:52 GMT   

New Inn Yard, E1
My great grandparents x 6 lived in New Inn Yard. On this date, their son was baptised in nearby St Leonard’s Church, Shoreditch

Source: BDM London, Cripplegate and Shoreditch registers written by church clerk.

Reply
Comment
Vic Stanley   
Added: 24 Feb 2024 17:38 GMT   

Postcose
The postcode is SE15, NOT SE1

Reply


NEARBY LOCATIONS OF NOTE
Cannon Stream The Cannon Stream was, before it was sent underground, a tributary of the Westbourne River.
Canterbury House In the last half of the nineteenth century, a white house called Canterbury was built on the then southern fringes of West End.
Decca Studios Decca Studios was a recording facility in Broadhurst Gardens.
Hampstead Cricket Club Hampstead Cricket Club moved to its Lymington Road site in 1877.
Jacksfield Jacksfield was one of the smaller but well-documented copyhold estates in the West Hampstead area.
Kilburn Grange Park Kilburn Grange Park is a three hectare open space adjacent to Kilburn High Road.
Lauriston Lodge Lauriston Lodge, now the site of Dene Mansions, was a large house in West Hampstead.
Oaklands Hall On the west side of West End Lane, Charles Spain bought 5 acres and between 1829 and 1838 built York Villa.
Poplar House Poplar House was occupied by one of the first developers of West Hampstead, Thomas Potter.
Ripley House Jeremy Jepson Ripley built a house and coach house after 1814, with a large garden north of Lauriston Lodge.
Sandwell House Sandwell House was owned by three generations of the Wachter family.
The Railway The Railway pub is a standard Victorian pub with a musical secret.
Treherne House Treherne House was built in the mid eighteenth century,
West End Hall West End Hall (once called New West End Hall) was one of the mansions of West End (West Hampstead).
West End House West End House, once in open countryside, became surrounded by railways.
West End Park West End Park was created from fields known as the 'Little Estate'.

NEARBY STREETS
Alvanley Gardens, NW6 Alvanley Gardens was named after a resident of Frognal Hall (West Hampstead)
Ariel Road, NW6 Ariel Road was formed from the 1885 combination of Ariel Street and Spencer Terrace (West Hampstead)
Banister Mews, NW6 Street/road in London NW6 (West Hampstead)
Barlow Road, NW6 Street/road in London NW6 (West Hampstead)
Beckford Building, NW6 The Beckford Building is located on Heritage Lane (West Hampstead)
Beech House, NW6 Beech House is a block on Netherwood Street (Kilburn)
Beswick Mews, NW6 Street/road in London NW6 (Finchley Road)
Billy Fury Way, NW3 Billy Fury Way is a road in the NW3 postcode area (Finchley Road)
Blackburn Road, NW6 Blackburn Road is a cul-de-sac off of West End Lane (West Hampstead)
Brassey Road, NW6 Street/road in London NW6 (West Hampstead)
Broadhurst Close, NW6 Street/road in London NW6 (West Hampstead)
Broadhurst Gardens, NW6 Broadhurst Gardens is in West Hampstead, NW6 (West Hampstead)
Broadwell Parade, NW6 Street/road in London NW6 (West Hampstead)
Brooklands Court, NW6 Brooklands Court is a block on Cavendish Road
Broomsleigh Street, NW6 Broomsleigh Street dates from the 1880s (West Hampstead)
Buckingham Mansions, NW6 Buckingham Mansions is a residential block in Fortune Green, NW6 (West Hampstead)
Campagne Gardens, NW6 Campagne Gardens is a location in London (West Hampstead)
Canfield Road, NW6 Canfield Road is a location in London (West Hampstead)
Carlton Mews, NW6 Street/road in London NW6 (West Hampstead)
Cavendish Mansions, NW6 Cavendish Mansions lie along Mill Lane (West Hampstead)
Cedar House, NW6 Cedar House is a block on Netherwood Street (Kilburn)
Cleve Road, NW6 Street/road in London NW6 (West Hampstead)
Compagne Gardens, NW6 Compagne Gardens is a location in London (West Hampstead)
Compayne Gardens, NW6 Street/road in London NW6 (West Hampstead)
Cotleigh Road, NW6 Street/road in London NW6 (West Hampstead)
Coverdale Road, NW6 Coverdale Road is a road in the NW6 postcode area
Crediton Hill, NW6 Crediton Hill was at first called Crediton Road (West Hampstead)
Crown Close, NW6 Street/road in London NW6 (West Hampstead)
Davina House, NW2 Davina House is a block on Fordwych Road (West Hampstead)
Dennington House, NW6 Dennington House is a block on Dennington Park Road (West Hampstead)
Dennington Park Road, NW6 About 1881 Dennington Park Road was constructed on the line of Sweetbriar Walk, the old path to Lauriston Lodge (West Hampstead)
Dornfell Street, NW6 Street/road in London NW6 (West Hampstead)
Doulton Mews, NW6 Street/road in London NW6 (West Hampstead)
Dresden Close, NW6 Street/road in London NW6 (Finchley Road And Frognal)
Dunrobin Court, NW3 Dunrobin Court is a block on Finchley Road (West Hampstead)
Dynham Road, NW6 Street/road in London NW6 (West Hampstead)
Embassy House, NW6 Embassy House is a building on Cleve Road (West Hampstead)
Fawley Road, NW6 Fawley Road connects West End Lane with Crediton Hill (West Hampstead)
Frognal Parade, NW3 Frognal Parade is a parade of shops lying beyond Finchley Road and Frognal station (Finchley Road And Frognal)
Gascony Avenue, NW6 Gascony Avenue is an east-west road lying both sides of Kingsgate Road, NW6 (West Hampstead)
Gladys Road, NW6 Street/road in London NW6 (West Hampstead)
Glastonbury Street, NW6 Street/road in London NW6 (West Hampstead)
Glenbrook Road, NW6 Glenbrook Road lies to the west of West Hampstead (West Hampstead)
Greencroft Avenue, NW6 Greencroft Avenue is a location in London (South Hampstead)
Hall Oak Walk, NW6 Street/road in London NW6 (West Hampstead)
Harvard Court, NW6 Street/road in London NW6 (West Hampstead)
Hawthorne House, NW6 Hawthorne House can be found on Netherwood Street (Kilburn)
Hemstal Road, NW6 Street/road in London NW6 (West Hampstead)
Heritage Lane, NW6 Heritage Lane runs off West End Lane (West Hampstead)
Highfield Mews, NW6 Street/road in London NW6 (West Hampstead)
Hilltop Road, NW6 Street/road in London NW6 (West Hampstead)
Holmdale Road, NW6 Holmdale Road runs from Mill Lane to Dennington Park Road in West Hampstead (West Hampstead)
Honeybourne Road, NW6 Honeybourne Road runs between West End Lane and Fawley Road (West Hampstead)
Inglewood House, NW6 Inglewood House is on the corner of West End Lane and Inglewood Road (West Hampstead)
Inglewood Road, NW6 Inglewood Road, NW6 was one of the last roads to be built in West End, West Hampstead (West Hampstead)
Interlink House, NW6 Interlink House is a building on Maygrove Road (West Hampstead)
Iverson Road, NW6 The first part of Iverson Road, NW6 was laid out in 1872. (West Hampstead)
Jackson House, NW6 Jackson House can be found on Cleve Road (West Hampstead)
Kingdon Road, NW6 Kingdon Road connects Sumatra Road and Dennington Park Road (West Hampstead)
Kylemore Road, NW6 Street/road in London NW6 (West Hampstead)
Lessing Building, NW6 Lessing Building is situated on Heritage Lane (West Hampstead)
Liddell Road, NW6 Liddell Road was named after an old West Hampstead estate (West Hampstead)
Lilian Baylis House, NW6 Lilian Baylis House is a building on Broadhurst Gardens (West Hampstead)
Linstead Street, NW6 Street/road in London NW6 (West Hampstead)
Lithos Road, NW3 Lithos Road is a part of the NW3 postal area which lies west of the Finchley Road (Finchley Road)
Lowfield Road, NW6 Lowfield Road is the northern extension of Kingsgate Road, NW6 (West Hampstead)
Lymington Road, NW6 Lymington Road was laid out over the grounds of the former Canterbury House (West Hampstead)
Maygrove Road, NW6 Maygrove Road runs between the Edgware Road and Iverson Road, NW6 (West Hampstead)
Medley Road, NW6 Street/road in London NW6 (West Hampstead)
Messina Avenue, NW6 Messina Avenue stretches from West End Lane over to Kilburn High Road (West Hampstead)
Mill Lane, NW6 Mill Lane forms the boundary between Fortune Green and West Hampstead (West Hampstead)
Milverton Road, NW6 Street/road in London NW6
Minton Mews, NW6 Street/road in London NW6 (Finchley Road)
Mowbray Road, NW6 Street/road in London NW6
Mowbray Road, NW6 Mowbray Road is a road in the NW2 postcode area
Narcissus Road, NW6 Narcissus Road connects Pandora Road with Mill Lane (West Hampstead)
Palace Court, NW3 Palace Court is a block on Finchley Road (West Hampstead)
Pandora Road, NW6 Pandora Road was one of many new West Hampstead roads constructed in the late 1870s (West Hampstead)
Petros Gardens, NW3 Petros Gardens is a location in London (Finchley Road)
Potter’s Buildings, NW6 Potter’s Buildings or West Cottages were established by Thomas Potter for his workers (West Hampstead)
Princess Court, NW6 Princess Court is a block on Compayne Gardens (West Hampstead)
Pumpkin House, NW6 Pumpkin House is a block on Compayne Gardens (West Hampstead)
Ravenshaw Street, NW6 Ravenshaw Street runs parallel to the Midland Main Line (West Hampstead)
Rowntree Close, NW6 Street/road in London NW6 (West Hampstead)
Salmon Mews, NW6 Street/road in London NW6 (West Hampstead)
Sandwell Crescent, NW6 Street/road in London NW6 (West Hampstead)
Sherriff Court, NW6 Sherriff Court is sited on Sherriff Road (West Hampstead)
Sherriff Road, NW6 Street/road in London NW6 (West Hampstead)
Smyma Road, NW6 Smyma Road is a location in London (West Hampstead)
Smyrna Road, NW6 Smyrna Road is a small road to the west of West End Lane (West Hampstead)
Solent Road, NW6 Solent Road is a street in West Hampstead (West Hampstead)
Spode Walk, NW6 Street/road in London NW6 (West Hampstead)
Sumatra Road, NW6 Sumatra Road, NW6 dates from the 1870s (West Hampstead)
The Mansions, NW6 The Mansions is a residential block on the north side of Mill Lane (West Hampstead)
Udare House, NW6 Udare House is a block on West End Lane (West Hampstead)
Waites Court, NW6 Waites Court is a building on Priory Road (South Hampstead)
Wayne Kirkum Way, NW2 Wayne Kirkum Way is a road in the NW6 postcode area (West Hampstead)
Webheath Estate, NW6 The Webheath Estate is an estate in Kilburn (Kilburn)
Welbeck Mansions, NW6 Welbeck Mansions, flats notable for their ironwork balconies, were built north of Inglewood Road in 1897 (West Hampstead)
West Court, NW6 West Court is a block on Woodchurch Road (South Hampstead)
West End Court, NW6 West End Court is a block on Priory Road (South Hampstead)
West End Lane, NW6 West End Lane is the main road running through West Hampstead (West Hampstead)
West Hampstead Mews, NW6 Street/road in London NW6 (West Hampstead)
Westend Lane, NW6 Westend Lane is a location in London (West Hampstead)
Woodchurch Road, NW6 Street/road in London NW6 (South Hampstead)
Worcester Mews, NW3 Street/road in London NW6 (Finchley Road)
Worcester Mews, NW6 Worcester Mews is a location in London (Finchley Road)

NEARBY PUBS
Alice House What is now the Alice House has been through a number of incarnations since it was built in the early 1900s.
Cock and Hoop The Cock and Hoop Inn was standing on the corner of West End Lane and Fortune Green Road by 1723.
The Black Lion The Old Black Lion was established in 1751 as a beer house.
The Railway The Railway pub is a standard Victorian pub with a musical secret.


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We now have 664 completed street histories and 46836 partial histories


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