Puneet Varma (Editor)

Parliament Hill, London

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Type
  
Public park

Created
  
1888 (1888)

Phone
  
+44 20 7332 3322

Area
  
932 acres (3.77 km)

Status
  
All year

Parliament Hill, London

Location
  
Hampstead Heath, London

Operated by
  
City of London Corporation

Address
  
Parliament Hill Viewpoint, London NW5 1QR, United Kingdom

Hours
  
Open today · Open 24 hoursThursdayOpen 24 hoursFridayOpen 24 hoursSaturdayOpen 24 hoursSundayOpen 24 hoursMondayOpen 24 hoursTuesdayOpen 24 hoursWednesdayOpen 24 hoursSuggest an edit

Similar
  
Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood, Havering Country Park, Grange Hill tube station, Bowes Park railway st

Ecca english national cross country championships parliament hill london 2015 senior men s race


Parliament Hill is an area of open parkland in the south-east corner of Hampstead Heath in north-west London. The hill, which is 98 metres (322 ft) high, is notable for its views of the capital's skyline. Many landmarks can be seen from its summit such as Canary Wharf, the Gherkin, the Shard and St Paul's Cathedral.

Contents

The Houses of Parliament which are 6 14 miles (10.1 km) south in the City of Westminster can still be seen from Parliament Hill although they have become rather obscured by surrounding buildings.

New year s eve parliament hill london 2012


History

In 1133, the hill was part of a manor that Henry I gave to a baron called Richard de Balta. During Henry II's reign it was passed to Alexander de Barentyn, the king's butler. The area, which became known as Traitors' Hill, acquired its current name in the 17th century because during the English Civil War it was defended by troops loyal to the English Parliament. A legend states that this was the site from where Guy Fawkes and Robert Catesby planned to watch the destruction of Parliament in the Gunpowder Plot on 5 November 1605.

Over time, plots of land in the manor were sold off for building, particularly in the early 19th century, though the hill remained mainly common land. In 1875 Hampstead Heath was acquired for the people by the Metropolitan Board of Works. Thirteen years later Parliament Hill was purchased for the public for £300,000 and added to Hampstead Heath.

Nevertheless, manorial rights to the land remained in private hands until the mid 20th century when they lapsed under Sir Spencer Pocklington Maryon Wilson, though the titular estate itself was passed on to Shane Gough, 5th Viscount Gough. Until the 1940s, livestock was still reared on the hill to be sold through Smithfields, the London meat market.

The City of London Corporation has managed Parliament Hill since 1989. Before that it was managed by the GLC and then Camden Council.

Local area

It is administered by the City of London Corporation together with the rest of Hampstead Heath. The Eastern (Highgate) side, including Parliament Hill Lido, is known as Parliament Hill Fields, and a local girls' school, Parliament Hill School, is named after it.

Activities

Parliament Hill is renowned as a cross-country running venue and hosted the 2009 English National Championships. It is a popular place that is used by walkers, runners and kite flyers. The 2012 and 2015 English National Cross Country Championships were also staged at Parliament Hill.

Hampstead Rugby Club

The Hill is also used by Hampstead Rugby Club. The senior men's and women's teams train both in the middle of the running track and on parts of the hill on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Peter Breen is head coach and is contactable via the HRFC website. Most Saturday mornings around 200 to 300 juniors train and practice in a number of age groups ranging from under 6 to under 18. Both boys and girls compete at all age groups. During the summer a mixed sexes touch rugby friendly get together takes place on a Wednesday evening.

The hill has been used as a location in several films, including The Wedding Date in 2005, and Run Fatboy Run in 2007, Absolutely Anything in 2015 and many others.

References

Parliament Hill, London Wikipedia


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