CHOLMLEY GARDENS

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020 7483 2551
West Hampstead
146 West End Lane
London NW6 1SD
020 7328 3232
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USEFUL NUMBERS
WE KNOW
MANSION
BLOCKS
EMERGENCIES
T. 999
WEST HAMPSTEAD
POLICE STATION
T. 101
LONDON FIRE BRIGADE
T. 020 8555 1200
ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL
The first mansion blocks were built
in the early 19th century, providing
luxurious residences for the growing
urban, upper middle classes.
T. 020 7794 0500
THE SURGERY
T. 020 7624 1769
CAMDEN COUNCIL
T. 020 7974 4444
WEST HAMPSTEAD LIBRARY
AS THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
SPREAD THROUGHOUT EUROPE it
T. 020 7974 6610
THE WELL ANIMAL CLINIC
brought about a population boom in the major
T. 020 7435 1010
cities, and mansion blocks were devised to
THAMES WATER
provide luxurious housing for wealthy white-collar
www.greene.co.uk
T. 0845 9200 888
workers.
BRITISH GAS
T. 0800 048 0202
In spite of their popularity, Londoners were
initially sceptical about this new style of
accommodation. The idea of living in such a
communal manner was entirely contradictory
to the dominant Victorian social ideals. Many
thought flats harboured infectious diseases,
Find out what your mansion flat is worth with Greene & Co.
Call 020 7328 3232 or email [email protected]
others worried about burglary and the better
class of servants refused to work in them. Worse,
flats were associated with the French; and that
meant loose morals and poor personal hygiene.
The very idea of having bedrooms on the same
level as the reception rooms was considered a
By the 1880s London society had succumbed to
clear invitation to promiscuity.
their affordable nature and convenient locations,
appreciating the style in their impressive
Often built as speculations by builders in a hurry
entrances, generous elevations and balconies
to complete the job and pay off their investors,
reminiscent of mansions. Today their sense of
flats also suffered from poor noise insulation
community and wealth of history adds to why
and were not the sophisticated architectural
they are some of the most desirable property
structures we know today.
types in London.
CHOLMLEY
GARDENS
Fortune Green Road, West Hampstead NW6
DID YOU KNOW?
WE KNOW
CHOLMLEY
GARDENS
Cholmley Gardens has its
own website. Log onto www.
cholmleygardens.co.uk
WE KNOW WEST
HAMPSTEAD
In Medieval times the hamlet of West End was
first established as a small – and rather poor
– conurbation set on the vacant strip of land
nestled between Hampstead and Kilburn.
Cholmley Lodge was one of the first mansions to be
built in the West End when it was completed in 1813.
In the early 20th century the property came under the
ownership of Captain Henry Wilkes Notman, a wealthy
Scot who had made his fortune in the railways.
During Captain Henry’s long residency he proved
four flats are still occupied by former refugees
a good friend to both the mansion block and
from Central Europe, as well as a considerable
the flourishing village of West Hampstead. Not
number of children of these immigrants –
only was he responsible for acquiring more land
himself included.
Some years later in the early 18th century,
as HAMPSTEAD BECAME AN
INCREASINGLY POPULAR RESORT FOR
WEALTHY LONDONERS ON RETREAT,
many of the residents of West End found
Cholmley Gardens has attracted a host of famous
£350 for the construction of Emmanuel Church.
residents over the years. In the mid-1930s the
estates.
It was not until the latter half of the 19th century
that the village really started to grow. The arrival
of the railway in the 1850s brought a new source
block was home to Naum Gabo, the renowned
In the 1930s the house was purchased by Henry
Russian sculptor who played a pivotal role in the
Smith Bigg, THE MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR
development of the Constructionist movement.
GUIDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE
BLOCK TO ITS CURRENT STATE. Bigg
A flat neighbouring Gabo’s was later occupied
invested more than £1000 in enlarging and
by Carl F Flesch, the son of a highly regarded
improving the block, and it was he who added
Hungarian violinist who was responsible for
the attractive portico over the main entrance.
setting up a highly auspicious international
violin competition. Continuing this theme
Like many of the mansion blocks in the vicinity,
of high achieving Eastern Europeans, the
Cholmley Gardens had its own special role
block was also home to Elias Canetti, THE
to play in World War II. According to Dr A
BULGARIAN-BORN NOVELIST WHO
WAS AWARDED THE 1981 NOBEL
PRIZE FOR LITERATURE.
Grenville, a long-term resident and historian
of the Association of Jewish Refugees, THE
FLATS PROVIDED REFUGE FOR A
NUMBER OF JEWS FLEEING NAZI
PERSECUTION. He explains that at least
Cholmley Gardens is also remembered as the
home of Big Band and orchestra leader Cyril
O2 Centre – Shops,
restaurants, cinema,
fitness and more
www.o2centre.co.uk
employment serving in the grand houses and
for Cholmley Gardens, he also donated £100 to
protect West End Green from development and
EVERYTHING YOU
WANT UNDER
ONE ROOF
of employment and transport access and by the
1890s the suburbs of London were gradually
Stapleton, travel author John Hillaby and the
popular BBC radio presenter Alan Keith.
Today, the estate comprises of 165 flats,
a number of which have private gardens.
The estate also boasts SUBSTANTIAL
COMMUNAL GARDENS, TWO TENNIS
COURTS, A CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUND
AND PRIVATE PARKING.
creeping towards Willesden and Cricklewood.
which have been characteristic of the area since.
During a 20 year period West End experienced a
Today, West Hampstead is located in the London
population explosion – up from 8,000 in 1881
Borough of Camden, sandwiched between
to 30,000 in 1901. It was also during this time
Finchley Road and Kilburn, and possesses a well-
that West End picked up a new name, West
to-do reputation, with a village feel, dominated
Hampstead.
by one main high street, West End Lane. Popular
with a wide range of families and professionals,
DID YOU KNOW?
The estate is run by a board
made up of around 10
unpaid volunteers who seek
to manage the estate to the
benefit of all.
Following the introduction of the railways,
there are a number of patisseries, cafes and
West Hampstead became a strategic route to
restaurants in the area, along with a fine
London. Although this caused the DRAMATIC
INCREASE IN PROSPERITY TO THE
AREA, it also made West Hampstead a bombing
target during World War II. Because of this much
of the district had to be rebuilt following the war,
including many attractive residential developments
selection of bars and gastro-pubs offering a lively
nightlife. This, coupled with West Hampstead’s
EXCELLENT TRANSPORT LINKS AND
COMMUNITY ATMOSPHERE, MAKE IT
ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO RENT
OR BUY A PROPERTY IN LONDON.

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