Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Hampstead Pergola

During my last visit in UK I've seen Hampstead Pergola that is essentially a raised walkway, overgrown with vines and exotic flowers. It's a wonderful example of one of London’s hidden treasures. 

 
Hampstead Pergola is situated near Kenwood house and park, in Northern area of Great London.



I learned the history of the Pergola that goes back to 1904 when Lord Leverhulme, a lover of landscape gardening, purchased a large land “The Hill”, and then he decided to build the Pergola. He wanted it to be a place where his family and friends could spend long summer evenings enjoying the spectacular gardens.


                                                                   "Hamstead Heath" by John Constable, 1836 


To turn this idea into reality Lord Leverhulme enlisted the help of Thomas Mawson, the world famous landscape architect, and construction on the Pergola began in 1905.


One of the main difficulties in building the raised gardens of the Pergola was the amount of material that was needed. 


 
But luckily for Thomas Mawson the nearby Hampstead extension of the underground Northern Line provided just the solution! Instead of bringing in material, a deal was struck to shuttle the spoil of the underground extension just a few hundred meters to “The Hill”. The Pergola was finished a year later in 1906. 


 
Later Lord Leverhulme was able to expand his estate, allowing for a further extension to his Pergola in 1911 and in 1925. Unfortunately, after Lord Leverhulme’s death the Pergola went into a slow decline.


 
Although they said that the sense of faded grandeur is everywhere, and even with the recent restorations the Pergola hasn't lost this unique character I think it's a very romantic and magic place in "the Hill" gardens. When I see the old wooden beams of the roof, columns entwined with vines, roses, clematis, wild grapes I feel the romance of those years when owners and their guests merrily danced, ran, played or just sat and relaxed in raised gardens of the Pergola.


What do you think about old and partly forgotten places like the Pergola?

34 comments:

  1. I love these old pergolas and I enjoyed this post about Hampstead very much because I was there too when my daughter worked in London. A beautiful place!

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    1. Yes, Janneke, it's a really beautiful place, a hidden treasure.

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  2. Here I am again. Forgot to say that you have a great new header and blog background Nadezda.
    Have a nice week in your garden!
    Janneke

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    1. Glad you liked my new header. I combined the most loved flowers together.

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  3. Lovely - you have seen more of London than I have.

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    1. Sue, I try to see more parks and gardens, and the Pergola was a discovery for me.

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  4. I love your pictures of this place and, like you, can envision the grand parties, and relaxing times the former owners must have enjoyed here.

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  5. Beautiful! Thanks for sharing this. If we ever return to London we will definitely visit this spot.

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    1. I hope you will Jason. The Pergola deserves to be visited.

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  6. This place ticks all the boxes Nadezda. You were lucky to be able to visit. I love the character and structure of The Pergola. It's easy to take ourselves back in time and imagine spending summer evenings here.

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    1. You're right Angie. It's easy imagine those summer days strolling through the arches and columns.

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  7. Hello Nadezda girl !
    What a beautiful place ... and indeed it conveys a very romantic atmosphere .. I can imagine sitting there on a wonderful summer evening with a glass of wine just living in the moment of how gorgeous it is.
    I would love to smell the scent of roses wafting on a light breeze .... how good could it get ?
    I had a peek at your garden plants and they are looking very pretty ! ... your pond is beautiful and reminds me of Monet's paintings.
    Thanks for dropping by my blog : )
    Joy

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    1. Joy, you compared my garden pond with Monet's paintings - it's a great honor for me, dear. Thank you!

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  8. Oh Nadezda I have never seen this Pergola...it is beautiful and your pictures are magnificent!

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  9. Hello dear Nadezda!!!Wow!!What a lovely pergola!!
    Love the roses!!!Gorgeous pictures!!
    Have a Happy Summer!!
    Dimi...

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  10. Lord Leverhulme lo consiguió Nadezda. Es una maravilla pasear entre esas flores, son preciosas.
    Gracias amiga por tus buenos deseos. Tendré que pensar en volver a Portugal, parece que no me quiere mucho ;))) Menos mal que esta vez ha sido poco, en nada estamos de nuevo en ruta:)))
    Besos.

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  11. Lovely post, Nadezda !! This garden is gorgeous !! Wonderfully to know such a beautiful place !!
    Happy weekend !

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  12. What wonderful photos indeed. Greetings!

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  13. Interesting story, I'm glad you searched for the history of the Pergola and shared it with us! Thank you!
    Pictures are spectacular too, very well photographed!
    Wishing sunny Sunday!

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    1. Thank you, Tistou, glad you liked my photos!

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  14. What a beautiful and wonderful place! I like learning the stories of old gardens.I'm glad it's been preserved.

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    1. So am I , Tammy. It's beautiful raised garden.

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  15. Oh, I missed this post Nadezda, what a beautiful place you visited last time you were here! I haven’t been able to travel around and be a ‘tourist’ myself here in London so it is so nice to see your photos :-) There are many treasures and wonderful gardens around here, I see them all the time on TV, but this one I had not heard of before – thanks for the tour!

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    1. This park and the Pergola is too far from your place Helene, and is very large to get there closer. I agree, it's a hidden treasure.

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  16. Its great to know that pergolas are not in only designed now-a-days but they are being constructed from such a long period of time. The maintenance work has been done very finely.

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