The Pryors of Hampstead

Today this - the Pryors - is one of the premium residential areas in Hampstead.

In the 1740's this was a single house on the heath just east of the Wells estate.

The name, 'The Pryors' is thought to come from Thomas Pryor (d. 1821), son-in-law of Samuel Hoare (d. 1825, of Heath House, Jack Straw's Castle) .
http://474towin.blogspot.com/2008/02/blue-plaque-for-george-crabbe-in.html

These impressive Edwardian mansion blocks on Hampstead Heath date back to 1904, 1906 and 1910 and retain many of their original features internally and externally.

Landscape painter Walter Field lived here. Taught by John Rogers Herbert and John Pye, he exhibited at the Royal Academy and the Royal Society of Painters in Water Colours, of which he became an associate in 1880, between 1856-1899. He died in Hampstead, London, on December 23rd 1901.

John Mortimer, author, barrister, was born at No 7 The Pryors, East Heath Road, Hampstead, and subsequently lived at 35 Downshire Hill.

Where is that white stone hidden?

I thought I'd better elucidate more on the context of Whitestone Pond and it's significance and also show off some of the pictures I took on the open day to mark the 1908 Olympics.

Thanks to The City of London (Simon Lee and Richard Gentry esp.), to camden (good to see Cllrs Flick Rea and Linda Chung there) and also to the range of residents and local amenities groups there...

The name Whitestone Pond appears to be relatively recent and not least event overtaken by other names - until recently (turn of the 20th century it was known still as The Horse Pond).

The white stone itself is still visible to the wandering explorer - but it's over the road from the pond itself at the top of Hampstead Grove and Upper Terrace by Judges Walk. The stone is a milestone but is unmarked and doesn't seem to have been inscribed at any time.

The Pond itself is not a constant size or precise location - over time it has shuffled moved, enlarged and varied. Not least the edging has changed several times in the last century - and is to change again - and indeed until 1899 there was also another pond at Branch Hill just nearby

Part of the significance of the area was that jack Straws castle was a kety watering hole/drinking establishment and combined with the literary nature of the Hoare family at Heath House in the 18th and 19th century meant that there was a pretty steady stream of literatry figures visiting the locality.

• John Constable
• John Keats
• George Crabbe
• John Linnell
• Leigh Hunt
• Wilkie Collins
• William Makepeace Thackeray to name a few.

The other earlier crucial part of the history was the use of the site for an early warning beacon - referenced as being first built in 1576 but used in 1588 during the Armada. The site is also cited as the location of encampment for Wat Tyler's rebellious unit under Jack Straw before marching on London. The Peasant's revolt ended with the leaders being hanged.

Now of course there is a desire to realise the potential of the site and the beauty of the views with better facilities and enahnced festivals/activities. For my own part - much as I appreciate the donkeys, the organ grinder and the tug-of-war, I'm keenest on ensuring the historic illusions are captured and the open air art show is recaptured along the top of Heath Street leading to the Pond... but for the future it's a superb start for a great piece of open space in the local area.

"High on bleak Hampstead's swarthy moor"

Not my words but those of Macaulay describing Hampstead's Whitestone Pond - it was of course such a high spot that it was the location of one of the Armada Beacons of 1588.

There is still a white stone (though I haven't taken the time to hunt it down yet) which apparently reads "4 miles from St Giles Pound: 4.5miles from Holborn Bars".

Now the area feels curiously drab and run down - part of autumn of course, but on a wider point the signage has had some attention but needs proper repair and so it's welcome that the refurbishment application for Heath House has attracted a section 106 payment and combined with some serious investment between camden and the Corporation of London (time and money) the area is to get a serious facelift.
http://474towin.blogspot.com/2008/02/blue-plaque-for-george-crabbe-in.html

Of course it could be so much better and this now lying on the route of the Olympic cycle ride.

It was the Horse Pond whereby carriages comming from up the hill or preparing to descend the hill would pause to water and also to clean their wheels of the mud from the journey - usually these were the coal carriages.

It was also much in use during the construction of the underground as the earth from the Hampstead Tunnel was taken up to Inverforth House to build the Pergola foundations.
http://474towin.blogspot.com/2008/07/tranquil-and-idyllic-thanks-to-northern.html

For details of the Whitestone Pond development appraisal have a look via this link on Camden website:
http://www.camden.gov.uk/ccm/content/council-and-democracy/having-your-say/consultations/street-policy/whitestone-pond/whitestone-pond---development-appraisal/whitestone-pond---development-appraisal-consultation.en;jsessionid=AAE99ABE37AC44CA586B8C65AF730265.node2

A blue plaque for George Crabbe in Hampstead?

Heath House is one of the most amazing houses in North West London. Great location, perspective, proportions, gating, settings - all over wow.

I have walked past and around on numerous occasions and thought how great it was and reflected on the shame that was the closed boarded up current state.

Now there is a planning application proposal progressing that will see the house restored to residential occupancy - which can only be good (assuming that all the plans respect the great architecture and listing features).

Some of us had dreamt that the house might have eneded up as the headquarters of the Hampstead Heath Managers (City of London Corporation), but it looks not to be the case now...

However, a new twist for me was the discovery that this was occupied by the Hoare family (Samuel and his daughter Sarah at least) who were cery close family friends , even confidentes, of George Crabb. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Crabbe

Crabbe is a serious player in the canon of romantic poetry and, it emerges, he stayed on a frequent basis at Heath House with the Hoare family writing his poetry and gathering inspiration from the heath and surroundings. I want to return to this but i think the stay here was significant and saw the writing of his very greatest works...

In the context of the links with Keats and Bloomfield I think there's a wider restoration of the poetic significance of Hampstead in the period 1800-1820.

A blue/Hampstead plaque for Crabbe on Heath House?