Inventory Site Record

Holly Bush Hill has two small areas of green space that since the late C19th/early C20th have been maintained by Hampstead Borough Council, now by LB Camden, a narrow strip of land on Holly Bush Hill was laid out as a shrubbery and a small triangular green bounded by post and chain. A number of fine houses face Holly Bush Hill, including Romney's House named after artist George Romney. This was later converted for Assembly Rooms where the first Hampstead Heath Protection meeting took place in 1829, chaired by James Fenton who lived nearby at Fenton House.

Site location:

Holly Bush Hill

Postcode:

NW3 6SH

What 3 Words:

rapid.hungry.solved

Type of site:

Public Open Land

Borough:

Camden

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

unrestricted

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Events:

Public transport:

Tube: Hampstead (Northern)

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Research updated:

01/08/2002

Last minor changes:

19/07/2023

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.camden.gov.uk

Holly Bush Hill has two small areas of green space that since the late C19th/early C20th have been maintained by Hampstead Borough Council, now by LB Camden, a narrow strip of land laid out as a shrubbery, and a small area of grass with some small trees with low post and chain boundary. A number of fine houses dating from the mid to late C18th face Holly Bush Hill, including Romney's House that overlooks the Green. The white weather-boarded house is named after artist George Romney who purchased former stables of The Mount in 1796, planning to convert them into a house, studio and Palace of Art. The property was later enlarged in 1807 for Assembly Rooms and here the first Hampstead Heath Protection meeting took place in 1829 chaired by James Fenton of Fenton House (q.v.) whose entrance gates faces onto the Green. The Assembly Rooms were the venue for lectures in 1833 by Michael Faraday, John Constable and Elizabeth Fry. In c.1900 Holly Bush Hill was under threat for road widening in connection with railway works but local opposition prevented this.

Sources consulted:

Report of Royal Commission on London Squares, 1928; Christopher Wade, 'The Streets of Hampstead' (Camden History Society, 2000)

Grid ref:

TQ263859 (526276,185924)

Size in hectares:

0.0164

Site ownership:

LB Camden

Site management:

Parks & Open Spaces

Date(s):

C18th/C19th

Designer(s):

Listed structures:

LBI: Romney's House. LBII: Alpine Cottage, 1 Holly Bush Hill, Nos 2 & 3 Holly Bush Hill and attached railings, No 4 Holly Bush Hill and attached railings, Garden Wall to Romney's House

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:

Yes

Local Authority Data

The information below is taken from the relevant Local Authority's planning legislation, which was correct at the time of research but may have been amended in the interim. Please check with the Local Authority for latest planning information.

On Local List:

No

In Conservation Area:

Yes

Conservation Area name:

Hampstead Village

Tree Preservation Order:

No

Nature Conservation Area:

No

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

Yes - Area of Special Character: Hampstead & Highgate Ridge

Other LA designation:

Public Open Space (Small Local).

Holly Bush Hill, The Green with Romney's House, August 2002. Photo: S Williams

Click a photo to enlarge.