{"id":2469,"date":"2014-07-27T10:30:41","date_gmt":"2014-07-27T09:30:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/londonerfromafar.wordpress.com\/?p=2469"},"modified":"2020-05-24T17:45:46","modified_gmt":"2020-05-24T16:45:46","slug":"hidden-gems-in-london-a-bit-of-gothic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alondonerfromafar.co.uk\/hidden-gems-in-london-a-bit-of-gothic\/","title":{"rendered":"Hidden Gems in London. Victorian Gothic Architecture"},"content":{"rendered":"

I know. I haven’t published a full post here in a couple of weeks or so. I’d like to make it up to you by showing one of those hidden gems that we usually only know about if:<\/p>\n

1. We happen to pass by it;
\n2. We are told by someone else or read about by chance.<\/p>\n

If you like architecture, seeing buildings and gardens, go on reading. Well, go on reading anyway and you’ll see a curious place that I discovered in London recently. There are some pictures too.<\/p>\n

Residential areas are usually as dull and boring as they get. This one, near Highgate and Hampstead Heath<\/a> park is neither.<\/p>\n

I sometimes get the impression that I am not in a big city. The usual boring \u00a0semi detached houses were suddenly obscured by buildings like the one below, majestic in comparison.<\/p>\n

\"Hidden<\/p>\n

So, I ventured a bit closer and found the Holly Village. Apologies for the quality of the pictures, but you can hopefully see what I mean.<\/p>\n

\"Hidden<\/p>\n

\"Hidden<\/p>\n

The Holly Village consists of eight near-Gothic style buildings which were built in 1865 by Baroness Burdett-Coutts.\u00a0You know, Coutts, the bank where the Queen has her money. This gated community was originally intended for her senior estate workers and designed by her favourite architect, Henry Darbishire.<\/p>\n

Apparently, this area would have been visible by the Coutts’ country house<\/em> (think it was 1800s!) in Highgate’s West Hill in North London, very close to Hampstead Heath. The Baroness wanted to have buildings that could be enjoyed both as a view and by the future tenants.<\/p>\n

This is the same entrance as seen from the inside.<\/p>\n

\"Hidden<\/p>\n

This place is indeed a private residential area, which doesn’t stop the curious passers-by from going in and admiring the place. Residents don’t seem to be bothered by it. Today, it comprises 12 buildings.<\/p>\n

\"Hidden<\/p>\n

Noticed some of the flamboyant detail already? This is an example of Victorian Gothic in a residential complex, which was not the norm at the time. I have read that they used the finest materials here, such as Portland stone, and Italian craftsmen for the carving. The Coutts diamond-shaped coat-of-arms features quite prominently everywhere.<\/p>\n

\"Hidden<\/p>\n

\"wpid-img_20140722_163012.jpg\"<\/p>\n

I’d love to visit the houses themselves, partly because they must be amazing if you take into account the many different, and sometimes hidden, details in the vast garden. I mean, if you look after your garden this well, your house might be really nice.<\/p>\n

Check the two pictures below.<\/p>\n

\"Hidden<\/p>\n

\"Hidden<\/p>\n

This is one of the gates. See the woodcarving.<\/p>\n

\"Hidden<\/p>\n

Right at the entrance and under the arch, there are two doors like the one below.<\/p>\n

\"Hidden<\/p>\n

The old estate has long been replaced by mock-Tudor garden suburb which is still called Holly Lodge Estate.<\/p>\n

\"Hidden\u00a0\u00a0\"Hidden<\/p>\n

I hope you like it and that I inspire you to visit. Thanks for reading!<\/p>\n

A Londoner from Afar<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I know. I haven’t published a full post here in a couple of weeks or so. I’d like to make it up to you by showing one of those hidden …<\/span> Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":88,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wpupg_custom_link":[],"wpupg_custom_link_behaviour":[],"wpupg_custom_image":[],"wpupg_custom_image_id":[],"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[48,240,301],"yoast_head":"\nHidden Gems in London. 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