Fortune Green
Fortune Green
Credit: User unknown/public domain
Fortune Green lies to the north of the ancient village of West End.

The first recorded mention of the green itself came in 1646 as a small area of manorial 'waste' where local residents had the right to graze animals, dig turf and play sports.

In 1820 about a third of the land in the north east corner was enclosed. Nine cottages were built for labourors and laundresses, who were allowed to keep drying poles on the Green for fourpence a year. At the southern tip of the Green is a fountain erected by the Cattle Trough and Drinking Fountain Association. Even as late as 1870 the Green was still surrounded by open fields; however, the expansion of London was beginning to encroach. By the 1880s a local residential building boom was underway after the opening of West Hampstead's underground station (1879) and overground station (1888).

In 1891 the Green was put up for sale for development. But local residents formed the Fortune Green Preservation Society to prevent it being sold, and to maintain the residents' rights of recreation.

Challenging the validity of the sale in court, the Friends provided evidence that the Green had been in regular recreational use: Fortune Green Cricket Club played 'married vs singles' matches; boxing, rounders and trapball were also popular. Despite this, to the horror of local residents, a judge allowed the sale to proceed. Undaunted, the Fortune Green Acquisition Society was set up and managed to persuade the Vestry (Council) and London County Council to pay the bulk of the cost of acquiring the Green, together with smaller contributions from Henry Harben (a local benefactor), the Worshipful Companies of Skinners and Goldsmiths and local residents.

By December 1896 they had raised the asking price of £7000 and Fortune Green was saved. It took several more months to tie up legal details, but in January and February 1898, at a cost of £555, paths were laid out and the Green was properly turfed.

In 1971 ownership of the Green was transferred to the London Borough of Camden.

Text: Friends of Fortune Green

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