Hampstead Garden Suburb is an example of early twentieth-century domestic architecture and town planning and is located in the London Borough of Barnet.
Hampstead Garden Suburb is a residential area positioned between Hampstead, Highgate and Golders Green. It is known for its connections to intellectual, artistic and literary circles.
The suburb was established by Henrietta Barnett, who, with her husband Samuel, had previously initiated the Whitechapel Art Gallery and Toynbee Hall. In 1906, Barnett established the Hampstead Garden Suburb Trust Ltd. The trust bought 243 acres of land from Eton College and appointed Raymond Unwin as its architect. The project had several goals:
- It aimed to accommodate people of various income levels and social classes.
- It prioritised lower housing density.
- Wide, tree-lined roads were a design feature.
- Houses were separated by hedges, not walls.
- Public gardens and green spaces were meant to be open to everyone.
- The suburb was envisioned as a peaceful place without the disturbance of church bells.
To realise these ambitions, a private bill was needed in Parliament, as it conflicted with local regulations. The Hampstead Garden Suburb Act 1906 allowed for a layout with fewer roads and more garden spaces. The project’s principles were influenced by the planning and development of Letchworth Garden City - the first of its kind - inspired by the ideas of Ebenezer Howard.
Apart from the garden cities, the suburb didn’t include industrial areas, pubs, or many shops or services, and it didn’t attempt to be self-contained. In the 1930s, the suburb expanded to the north of the A1, adding housing with distinct character but sometimes considered less architecturally significant.
Central Square is a central location with notable landmarks. It was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and houses two large churches: St. Jude’s Church and The Free Church, along with a Quaker Meeting House. The suburb also has two mixed state primary schools, Garden Suburb and Brookland, and a state girls’ grammar school, Henrietta Barnett School. In the past, it hosted The Institute, an adult education centre, which has since relocated and is currently closing down.
Market Place is the local shopping area, with other shopping options nearby in Temple Fortune, Golders Green, and East Finchley. Little Wood, situated in the suburb, contains an open-air arena used for summer theatre performances by a local amateur theater group.
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Hampstead Garden Suburb is an example of early twentieth-century domestic architecture and town planning and is located in the London Borough of Barnet.
