Clitterhouse Playing Fields

Hidden within the urban sprawl of London, Clitterhouse Playing Fields whispers tales of a bygone era. This seemingly ordinary park holds a rich history, intertwined with the growth and development of the surrounding area. Clitterhouse Playing Fields, also known as Clitterhouse Recreation Ground, isn’t just a green expanse. It’s a living testament to the changing landscape of Brent Cross. Originally part of Clitterhouse Farm, its name, meaning ‘clay house farm’, hints at its agricultural past. The farm, whose earliest known owner was John de Langton around 1321, was once a sprawling manor. For centuries, it was owned by St Bartholomew’s Hospital, a connection that speaks to the area’s historical significance. The arrival of the Midland Railway in the 1860s dramatically reshaped Clitterhouse Farm, dividing it and giving birth to Claremont Road. The land west of the railway became Brent Sidings, a bustling hub of activity. Nearby, the Brent Gas Works fueled stations from Mill Hill to St Pancras, including iconic landmarks like the Midland Hotel and the railway workers’ cottages of Brent Midland Terrace. Over time, Clitterhouse Farm shrunk, transitioning into a dairy farm before further parcels of land were sold for Hendon sewage works and Hendon fever hospital. But perhaps the most dramatic transformation occurred when a portion of the farm became the Beatty School of Flying before World War I. This site then evolved into the Handley Page Cricklewood Aerodrome and factory, where Britain’s first bombers were developed and tested. After the war, the aerodrome briefly hosted passenger flights to the continent before closing in 1929. The land was then reborn as Laing’s ‘Golders Green Estate’, where actress Jean Simmons spent her formative years. Finally, the remaining land of Clitterhouse Farm found its current purpose. Hampstead FC, later renamed Hendon FC, rented a portion of the land, marking the end of Clitterhouse’s farming era. The remaining expanse became the Clitterhouse Playing Fields we know today, a vibrant green space offering a children’s playground, sports facilities, and a community garden run by the Clitterhouse Farm Project. This project fosters community well-being through arts, crafts, and sustainability initiatives. So, next time you stroll across the grassy fields of Clitterhouse, remember the layers of history beneath your feet. From a medieval manor to a bustling railway hub, from a pioneering airfield to a vibrant community park, Clitterhouse Playing Fields stands as a symbol of London’s ever-evolving story.