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Belsize Park
Belsize Park
History
Belsize is derived from the French, Bel Assis, which actually means “beautifully situated”. A cliché today perhaps, but no-one could argue against such a claim for this cosseted corner of north-west London.
Perfectly positioned for Hampstead walks and West End shopping, the existence of “Belsize” remained an historical secret until the beginning of the 14th century, when Sir Roger le Brabazon reportedly left land in the area of Hampstead Manor to Westminster Abbey.
Almost 200 years later, the area was in the news again, this time following the construction of the original Belsize House. The property was reported to be most impressive, however it was the rural outlook that particularly pleased. By the early 1700s the picturesque grounds had been developed into something of an entertainment park, a cross between Las Vegas and the Ken County Fair – gambling, dancing and mud-wrestling set against the backdrop of an idyllic countrified setting. This resulted in riotous behaviour and traffic jams in Belsize Avenue, finally followed by a court order demanding its gates be closed for good.
One hundred years on, the old homestead was eventually pulled down to make way for the city dwellers trying to escape the smoke, smog and disease that was increasingly prevalent in the most populated parts of the capital. St Peters Church, Belsize Square, was reputedly built on the site of the old Belsize House.
The first proper streets of Belsize were laid out in the 1850s and most of the main thoroughfares were quickly established within less than two decades. By 1870 Belsize had become Belsize Park, thanks mainly to the efforts of one Daniel Tidey, a builder and property developer. Tidey is responsible for the Belsize Tavern (where he would die after falling on hard times) and the Washington Hotel, which was named after his home town in Sussex.
From 1870 to 1900, the surviving stretches of greenery were systematically eroded and by the turn of the century, Belsize Park had become pretty much the place we see today – a magical selection of streets, reflecting the transient architectural and social trends of the 19th century.
Because the area was ‘developed’ to provide for a variety of residential estates, Belsize Park has inherited three fundamental focal points – Belsize Village, England’s Lane and Haverstock Hill – all with their own special flavour and unique selection of shops.
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