Hampstead History
The name Hampstead is derived from the old English meaning heam meaning home, and stede, a place. In the Middle Ages two windmills and a chapel (later a parish church) were built on Hampstead hill. A small priory was also built in Kilburn. With the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII the priory was closed. Hampstead remained a peaceful rural community until the end of the seventeenth century.
During the 19th century Hampstead significantly expanded as roads were built following the new railway lines which speeded up the development of thearea. The arrival of the North London Line (know known as the Silverlink line) in 1860 brought crowds of day-trippers to enjoy the Heath.
By 1891 the population of Hampstead was about 68,000 which was more than double that of 1871. As a result of this growth, new amenities were built including new churches, chapels, schools, a bigger and better workhouse, police and fire stations, a cemetery, water supply and sewage system. Hampstead also contained a fever hospital, a TB hospital (Mount Vernon). In 1974 The Royal Free Hospital was built in Pond Street and was officially opened by the Queen in 1978.
Church Row is one of the few almost preserved streets in its early eighteenth century elegance. There have been many notable residents including H.G Wells, Gracie Fields and one of Hampstead’s first historians, John James Park (there is a plaque in his name at No 18). At the end of the road is the parish church of St John’s. John Constable and his wife (who lived at 25-6 Downshire Hill) are buried in the courtyard.