The Highgate Bowl: past, present and future Presentation for Highgate U3A by Maggy Meade-King Trustee of Friends of the Highgate Bowl October 2018
The Bowl in context: Highgate’s history • Hamlet first documented in 14 th century • Developed around the Bishop of London’s tollgate on a new road through his hunting grounds • This road has continued as an administrative boundary to the present day Map c 1600
The drovers Last remaining drovers’ pastures In London? Stop on the way To Smithfield Over 20 pubs in Highgate! Illustration from The Drovers by Shirley Toulson
17 th and 18 th century expansion OS Map 1894-96
Yards used for animal enclosures into Victorian era • Country houses for City gents • Shops to serve them • Inns for travellers • Fresh air and fun for Londoners Victorian photo by Sulman Courtesy of the HLSI
Still rural behind village The Bowl from Cholmeley Park 1870
North Road 1924 photo courtesy of Michael Hammerson
Changes in 20 th century • Core of Bowl remained as open space • Eastern section used by Highgate Cemetery to grow flowers • Site of former garden centre used as a nursery by 1950s Photo: 1935-1939 by Jannering Courtesy of the HLSI
Used as a nursery in the 1950s photo courtesy of HLSI archives
The nurseries in 1981 Photo by Brooks – courtesy of HLSI archives
Became a garden centre in 1986 photo courtesy of Chris Southwood
They sold swimming pools!
Community fights to keep Bowl as open land • Several developments proposed over last 40 years • All fought tenaciously by Highgate Society and turned down by Haringey Planning and Planning Inspectorate • Friends of Highgate Bowl formed by local organisations in 2014 • Bowl designated as open space by Highgate Neighbourhood Plan in 2017
FotHB website
The Bowl today: map from Neighbourhood Plan
Meanwhile , the site became derelict Photo: Maggy Meade-King, October 2013
The future of the Bowl: Omved Gardens ❖ Terraced gardens opened for Chelsea Fringe in May 2017; ❖ Renovated greenhouse used for concerts, exhibitions and Chef’s Manifesto events and demonstrations; ❖ Partnership with UN World Food Program on reducing waste, responsible sourcing of food and delivering access to food to vulnerable communities. Exploring the interplay between food and creativity through art, music, preparation and sharing of food; ❖ Further development of Gardens planned to include a vegetable garden, as well as exploring world hunger, healthy diets, seeds and bees, both practically and through workshops, making these worldwide topics local and specific. ❖ More at: https://www.omvedgardens.com
Glasshouse events photos taken from Omved Gardens website
Whistler’s Cottage: past Jack Foster, the Water Carrier’s Cottage 1845, W.West
Whistler’s present Photo courtesy of Karen Leason
Whistler’s Future Drawing courtesy of Karen Leason
Recommend
More recommend
