Parliament Hill, London
Encyclopedia
Parliament Hill is an area of open parkland in the south-east corner of Hampstead Heath
in north-west London
. The hill, which is 98 metres (321.5 ft) 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
and St Paul's Cathedral
in the City of London
.
Despite its name, it is not home to the Houses of Parliament
which are located a few miles to the south in the City of Westminster
.
that Henry I
gave to a baron
called Richard de Balta. During Henry II
's reign it was passed to Alexander de Barentyn, the king's butler
. The area, which became known as Traitors' Hill, acquired its current name 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.
Over time, plots of land in the manor were sold off for building, particularly in the early 19th century, though the hill remained mainly common land
. In 1875 Hampstead Heath
was acquired for the people by the Metropolitan Board of Works
. Thirteen years later Parliament Hill was purchased for the public for £300,000 and added to Hampstead Heath.
Nevertheless manorial rights to the land remained in private hands until the mid 20th century when they lapsed under Sir Spencer Pocklington Maryon Wilson, though the titular
estate itself was passed on to Shane Gough, 5th Viscount Gough
.
Until the 1940s, livestock was still reared on the hill to be sold through Smithfields, the London meat market.
The City of London Corporation has managed Parliament Hill since 1989. Before that it was managed by the GLC
and then Camden Council.
) side, including Parliament Hill Lido
, is known as Parliament Hill Fields, and a local girls' school, Parliament Hill School
, is named after it.
The hill has been used as a location in several films including The Wedding Date
in 2005 and Run Fatboy Run
in 2007.
Hampstead Heath
Hampstead Heath is a large, ancient London park, covering . 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...
in north-west London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The hill, which is 98 metres (321.5 ft) 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
Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf is a major business district located in London, United Kingdom. It is one of London's two main financial centres, alongside the traditional City of London, and contains many of the UK's tallest buildings, including the second-tallest , One Canada Square...
and St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
in the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
.
Despite its name, it is not home to the Houses of Parliament
Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, is the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Lords and the House of Commons...
which are located a few miles to the south in the City of Westminster
City of Westminster
The City of Westminster is a London borough occupying much of the central area of London, England, including most of the West End. It is located to the west of and adjoining the ancient City of London, directly to the east of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and its southern boundary...
.
History
In 1133, the hill was part of a manorManorialism
Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...
that Henry I
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
gave to a baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
called Richard de Balta. During Henry II
Henry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
's reign it was passed to Alexander de Barentyn, the king's butler
Butler
A butler is a domestic worker in a large household. In great houses, the household is sometimes divided into departments with the butler in charge of the dining room, wine cellar, and pantry. Some also have charge of the entire parlour floor, and housekeepers caring for the entire house and its...
. The area, which became known as Traitors' Hill, acquired its current name in the 17th century because during the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
it was defended by troops loyal to the English Parliament. A legend states that this was the site from where Guy Fawkes
Guy Fawkes
Guy Fawkes , also known as Guido Fawkes, the name he adopted while fighting for the Spanish in the Low Countries, belonged to a group of provincial English Catholics who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605.Fawkes was born and educated in York...
and Robert Catesby
Robert Catesby
Robert Catesby , was the leader of a group of provincial English Catholics who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605....
planned to watch the destruction of Parliament in the Gunpowder Plot
Gunpowder Plot
The Gunpowder Plot of 1605, in earlier centuries often called the Gunpowder Treason Plot or the Jesuit Treason, was a failed assassination attempt against King James I of England and VI of Scotland by a group of provincial English Catholics led by Robert Catesby.The plan was to blow up the House of...
on 5 November 1605.
Over time, plots of land in the manor were sold off for building, particularly in the early 19th century, though the hill remained mainly common land
Common land
Common land is land owned collectively or by one person, but over which other people have certain traditional rights, such as to allow their livestock to graze upon it, to collect firewood, or to cut turf for fuel...
. In 1875 Hampstead Heath
Hampstead Heath
Hampstead Heath is a large, ancient London park, covering . 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...
was acquired for the people by the Metropolitan Board of Works
Metropolitan Board of Works
The Metropolitan Board of Works was the principal instrument of London-wide government from 1855 until the establishment of the London County Council in 1889. Its principal responsibility was to provide infrastructure to cope with London's rapid growth, which it successfully accomplished. The MBW...
. Thirteen years later Parliament Hill was purchased for the public for £300,000 and added to Hampstead Heath.
Titular
Titular means existing in title only. It may refer to:*Titular ruler, a person in an official position of leadership who possesses few, if any, actual powers*Titular , bishop or titular cardinal, whose see is in name only**titulus**titular see...
estate itself was passed on to Shane Gough, 5th Viscount Gough
Shane Gough, 5th Viscount Gough
Shane Hugh Maryon Gough, 5th Viscount Gough, Bt , is a peer of the United Kingdom. He was educated at Winchester College and Sandhurst. Son of Hugh William Gough, 4th Viscount Gough, Bt, MC, and Margaretta Elizabeth Maryon-Wilson.-Career:...
.
Until the 1940s, livestock was still reared on the hill to be sold through Smithfields, the London meat market.
The City of London Corporation has managed Parliament Hill since 1989. Before that it was managed by the GLC
Greater London Council
The Greater London Council was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. It replaced the earlier London County Council which had covered a much smaller area...
and then Camden Council.
Local area
It is administered by the City of London Corporation together with the rest of Hampstead Heath. The Eastern (HighgateHighgate
Highgate is an area of North London on the north-eastern corner of Hampstead Heath.Highgate is one of the most expensive London suburbs in which to live. It has an active conservation body, the Highgate Society, to protect its character....
) side, including Parliament Hill Lido
Parliament Hill Lido
Parliament Hill Lido, Parliament Hill Fields, Gordon House Road, Hampstead Heath, North London, is next to Gospel Oak railway station. The lido, also known as Hampstead Heath Lido, is a public unheated open air swimming pool, open for 12 months a year...
, is known as Parliament Hill Fields, and a local girls' school, Parliament Hill School
Parliament Hill School
Parliament Hill School for girls is a specialist technology college in the Borough of Camden in London, England.-Present day:It has Investors in People accreditation and participates in the London Excellence in Work Experience Scheme. Located on the edge of Hampstead Heath it has added two new...
, is named after it.
Activities
Parliament Hill is renowned as a cross-country running venue and hosted the 2009 English National Championships. It is popular place that is used by walkers, runners and kite flyers.The hill has been used as a location in several films including The Wedding Date
The Wedding Date
The Wedding Date is a 2005 romantic comedy directed by Clare Kilner, who also directed How to Deal . The release was successful achieving $47 million worldwide at the box office against a budget of $15 million...
in 2005 and Run Fatboy Run
Run Fatboy Run
Run Fatboy Run is a 2007 British comedy film directed by David Schwimmer, written by Michael Ian Black and Simon Pegg, and starring Pegg, Dylan Moran, Thandie Newton, Harish Patel, India de Beaufort, and Hank Azaria...
in 2007.
Panorama
See also
- Parliament HillParliament HillParliament Hill , colloquially known as The Hill, is an area of Crown land on the southern banks of the Ottawa River in downtown Ottawa, Ontario. Its Gothic revival suite of buildingsthe parliament buildings serves as the home of the Parliament of Canada and contains a number of architectural...
, OttawaOttawaOttawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario... - Government HillGovernment HillThe Government Hill is a hill in Central, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, bounded by upper section of Upper Albert Road on the south, Queen's Road Central north, Garden Road east, and Glenealy west of Hong Kong Island....
, Hong KongHong KongHong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour... - Queen's Park, TorontoTorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...