Dartmouth Park
| Dartmouth Park | |
 Chetwynd Road with St Mary Brookfield |
|
  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 |
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. On its west side, it borders Parliament Hill Fields.
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-19th 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. Housing in Dartmouth Park is a mixture of detached and semi-detached houses, late Victorian and Edwardian mansion flats (notable examples include Brookfield Mansions and the blocks in Lissenden Gardens), and some post war housing such as Haddo House. The former park on the area covered what is now Waterlow Park and Highgate Cemetery.
Notable residents
Julian Barnes, novelist; Hunter Davies, writer; Glenda Jackson, Labour MP; Glenys Kinnock, Labour politician (in neighbouring Tufnell Park); Neil Kinnock, former Labour party leader (in neighbouring Tufnell Park); Ed Miliband, present Labour party leader; Nova Pilbeam, retired actress; Dave Lee Travis, former Radio 1 DJ; Lucy Rose, a folk musician and Ken Loach, the film director.
Transport
Nearest places
Nearest stations
References
- The Buildings of England London 4: North. Bridget Cherry and Nikolaus Pevsner. ISBN 0-300-09653-4.
