This little-known section of London’s sprawling Hampstead Heath is a hidden gem. Some call it the ‘secret garden’ as you can be very close without knowing it is there.
The garden and pergola are not really secret as they have been open to the public since the 1960s and are a wonderful example of faded Edwardian grandeur.
Hill Garden History
The story begins at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1904, William H Lever, who was the founder of Lever Brothers, bought a large house on the outskirts of Hampstead Heath called ‘The Hill’. This soap magnate, who later became Lord Leverhulme, was a wealthy philanthropist and patron of the arts, architecture, and landscape gardening.
In 1905, Lever bought the surrounding land and planned to build a magnificent pergola for garden parties and as a place to spend time with family and friends. He commissioned Thomas Mawson, a world-famous landscape architect, to supervise the construction. Mawson was a prominent exponent of the Arts and Crafts garden and took his leadership from Humphrey Repton; both who proclaimed the importance of linking a garden to the larger landscape with gradually diminishing degrees of formality. The Hill Garden and Pergola has become one of the best surviving examples of his work.
Coincidentally, when work began on the Pergola in 1905, the Hampstead extension of the north (underground) line was being built. This tunnel meant a great deal of excess earth to remove and Lord Leverhulme received an incredible fee for every load of earth he received, giving him the ability to realize his dream and raise his pergola, as planned.
By 1906, the Pergola was finished, but other extensions and additions continued for many more years.
In 1911 more surrounding land was acquired and the construction of a stone bridge over the public thoroughfare addressed a “public right-of-way” problem.
Progress was halted by World War I, so the next development was not completed until 1925 with an extension of the Pergola, adding a Summer Pavilion, shortly before Lord Leverhulme died on May 7, 1925.
Hill House was bought by Baron Inverforth and renamed Inverforth House. He remained here until his death in 1955 and the property was short-lived as a convalescent home for the Manor House Hospital.
Sadly, the ancient opulence of Lord Leverhulme’s Hill Garden was not maintained and the ruin meant that many of the original Pergola timbers rotted beyond repair. In 1960, the London County Council purchased the Pergola and associated gardens and began conservation work.
Fortunately, the Council and its successor bodies (the Greater London Council and the City of London Corporation which now maintain the space) have worked to restore the gardens, including the addition of the lily pond to the site of a tennis court. . The area has been open to the public since 1963.
The pergola
At nearly 800 feet long, the Pergola is a Grade II listed structure and is as long as the Canary Wharf tower is tall. The majestic avenue of classical stone columns, with supporting wooden beams, provides an elevated walkway with atmospheric vines and flowers.
There is a unique atmosphere at Hill Garden, as you can feel the faded grandeur, but it is full of character. It is a wonderfully peaceful place and a perfect place for a romantic picnic.
It’s a dog-free zone – the sign on the door states ‘NO DOGS (not even yours)’, so you can enjoy the lawn and relax on the lawn too.
Addresses
- Address: Inverforth Close, at North End Way, London NW3 7EX
- Nearest Tube Station: Golder’s Green (North Line)
Exit the station, turn left and go up the hill on North End Road. After about 10 minutes, you will see the entrance to Hampstead Heath and Golders Hill Park on the right, opposite the Hampstead Way curve on your left. There is a crosswalk to cross into the park. Go into the park and there is a cafe here and restrooms. When you’re ready, in front of the cafe there is a sign directing you to the ‘Hill Garden & Pergola’. Take this path, go up the steps and go straight to the gate to enter the Hill Garden.
You will enter near the lily pond. There are other doors, but this should be the easiest to find the first time you visit.
