Hampstead Heath

KENWOOD ESTATE

For three centuries or more, the estate of Kenwood has been a designed landscape combining formal gardens, parkland and woods.

A house of 1616 and lands passes to the third Earl of Bute around 1747, but he sells them in 1754 to William Murray, later the first Earl of Mansfield.

Mansfield landscapes part of the farmland, created earlier by felling woods, and expands the estate from about 90 to 232 acres.

In 1914 the sixth Earl plans to sell Kenwood for building but then decides to sell it to the public.

World War I halts his plans but a preservation council formed in 1921 buys 132 acres, designated Kenwood Fields and South Kenwood and it is opened to the public informally in 1925 and formally in 1928.

The first Lord Iveagh buys the house and grounds in 1925, mainly to own a suitable period house for his collection of pictures.
When he dies in 1927 the house, with the paintings and the surrounding park, become public by his bequest.

Private trustees take over the house and the LCC the grounds.

Kenwood House passes to the LCC in 1949.

When the GLC is abolished in 1986, the house, listed Grade I and grounds, listed Grade II in the Register of Parks and Garden of Special Historic Interest in England are taken over by English Heritage.

Finally, in 1989 it is taken over by the Corporation of London along with the rest of the heath on behalf of English Heritage.