Dartmouth Park

Dartmouth Park
Dartmouth Park

 Dartmouth Park shown within Greater London
OS grid reference TQ287861
London borough Camden
Ceremonial county Greater London
Region London
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town LONDON
Postcode district NW5
Dialling code 020
Police Metropolitan
Fire London
Ambulance London
EU Parliament London
UK Parliament Hampstead and Highgate
London Assembly Barnet and Camden
List of places: UK • England • London

Dartmouth Park is a district of north London in the London Borough of Camden, on the slope of the hill that rises up to Highgate from Kentish Town.

Contents

History

Dartmouth Park is named after the Earl of Dartmouth who bought the land in the middle of the 18th century. The 5th Earl of Dartmouth instigated some major house building in the late 19th century, and the area has continued to undergo development since that time.

The street named York Rise, which runs through the centre of Dartmouth Park, is in a slight valley which follows the course of the River Fleet, now underground. At the foot of York Rise the river crosses the railway tracks in a large iron pipe.

Architecture

Most of the area consists of late nineteenth century terraced and semi-detached houses, with a few more recent buildings. The local church is St Mary Brookfield, designed by William Butterfield and opened in 1875. It is red brick with contrasting yellow and blue brick patterns.

Park

Although the name designates a district and not a park per se, there is a small but attractive park off Dartmouth Park Hill, now named 'Dartmouth Park'. Although much of it is taken up by a reservoir tank, there is also a children's playground and a green bank with spectacular views of Central and East London.

Dartmouth Park today

Dartmouth Park is a quiet residential area with a mixture of residents, from young professionals and families through to retired couples. To the north lies the Holly Lodge Estate and then Highgate. Dartmouth Park is separated from Kentish Town to the south by the Gospel Oak to Barking railway line. The former park on the area covered what is now Waterlow Park and Highgate Cemetery.

Notable residents

Julian Barnes, novelist; Glenda Jackson, Labour MP; Glenys Kinnock, Labour politician; Neil Kinnock, former Labour party leader; Ed Miliband, present Labour party leader; Dave Lee Travis, former Radio 1 DJ; and Ken Loach, the film director.

Transport

Nearest places

Nearest stations

References