Hamstead Heath and Highgate Hill.

After another day of enforced rest for Geoff yesterday we decided to get back out there today and go north to Hamstead Heath and Highgate Hill.

 

 

 

Half way up the hill was the Whittington Stone. This is supposedly the place where Dick Whittingon stopped and heard the famous bells and returned to London. He was a real person and was the Mayor of London three times. But whether or not he had a cat is debatable! The building opposite was interesting as well.

 

 

 

Such a typical London street scene.

 

 

Not sure what this is but it was a lovely old building.

 

 

Waterlow Gardens is a lovely park with an interesting history. Originally it was the grounds of 5 mansions which were bought up by Sir Sidney Waterlow and then donated to the people of London to enjoy. The magnolia trees were beautiful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Highgate Cemetery. We wanted to go on a tour but it was booked out which was a shame. The cemetery in its original form – the northwestern wooded area – opened in 1839, as part of a plan to provide seven large, modern cemeteries, known as the "Magnificent Seven", around the outside of central London.

 

 

 

 

 

One of the most famous residents of the cemetery. While we were there an elderly chinese couple laid flowers at his grave and then reverently bowed down to his grave.

 

 

On our way from the cemetery to Hamstead Heath we came upon this building which was intriguing. It was called Holly Village.

Holly Village was built in 1865 by Baroness Burdett-Coutts, a remarkable but little known Victorian philanthropist.Angela Burdett-Coutts's good fortune started in 1837 when, at the age of 23 and much to her surprise, she inherited a half-share in Coutts Bank worth £1.8 million.

She embarked on a life of philanthropy which continued until she died aged 92 in 1906. Dubbed "the queen of the poor", she cleared slums in the East End, set up homes for fallen women, founded schools, built churches, funded scientific research and bankrolled expeditions. She was a great friend of Charles Dickens and he helped her plan this village.

 

I have wanted to see Hamstead heath for years. It is a most amazing green space amongst the hustle and bustle of London. It was a bright sunny day although there was a bit of a biting wind but Londoners obviously we're not deterred as there were many out and about, having picnics and romantic trysts.

 

Lovely views on all sides.

 

 

Hampstead Heath (locally known as "the Heath") is a large, ancient London park, covering 320 hectares (790 acres). This grassy public space sits astride a sandy ridge, one of the highest points in London, running from Hampstead to Highgate, which rests on a band of London clay. It even has Iron Age barrows.

 

 

We walked up to Parliament Hill, an area of open parkland in the south-east corner of Hampstead Heath. The hill, which is 98 metres high, is notable for its excellent views of the capital's skyline. Many famous landmarks can be seen from its summit such as Canary Wharf, the Gherkin, the Shard and St Paul's Cathedral, the London eye and a bit of the House of Lords.

 

 

The area got its current name of Parliament Hill in the 17th century because during the English Civil War it was defended by troops loyal to the English Parliament. A legend states that this was the site from where Guy Fawkes and Robert Catesby planned to watch the destruction of Parliament in the Gunpowder Plot on 5 November 1605.

 

 

Lots of Dads flying kites with their kids

 

 

Then it was back to Stratford in the top front seats of a double decker bus. Lovely tea with Patrick and Margaret back in Stratford.