Dreamy stone pillars draped in vines. Exotic flowers. Do you feel like you have discovered some magnificent lost civilization? This is the Hampstead Pergola. It is one of London’s best hidden gems.
The Hampstead Pergola’s story began in 1904. William Lever, later known as Lord Leverhulme, purchased a large house called “The Hill” on Hampstead Heath. Lord Leverhulme made his fortune selling soap. He acquired surrounding land and wanted a grand spot to entertain guests. He wanted to host summer parties. Thus, the Hampstead Pergola was born.
Lord Leverhulme enlisted Thomas Mawson. Mawson was a world-famous landscape architect. Construction on the Hampstead Pergola began in 1905. A main challenge was raising the height of the gardens. They needed to raise it 20-30 feet to create a terraced landscape.
The construction of the Northern Line extension to Hampstead provided a solution. Lord Leverhulme struck a deal. He shuttled the spoil from the underground extension to “The Hill”. This saved costs and sped up the process.
The first stage of the Hampstead Pergola was completed in 1906. Lord Leverhulme expanded his estate further. This allowed for extensions in 1911 and 1925. Lord Leverhulme only enjoyed it a few months before his death in May of 1925.
After Lord Leverhulme’s death the Hampstead Pergola declined. It became a shell of its former opulence. The London County Council took over the structure and gardens in 1960. Since then, the Hampstead Pergola has undergone significant restoration.
Lord Leverhulme was born in Bolton. He was one of ten children to a grocer. In 1885 he established the Lever Brothers. He manufactured soap from vegetable oils. The business took full advantage of consumerism in Victorian Britain.
Lever opened a new factory near Liverpool in 1888. He constructed a model village for his workers. It was called Port Sunlight. It was named after their famous bar soap: Sunlight.
He was made a Baronet in 1911. Later, he was made a Baron in 1917 and Viscount in 1922. By 1930 the Lever Brothers employed 250,000 people. It was the biggest company in Britain. That same year the company merged with a Dutch company. The company was called Margarine Unie. The new company formed Unilever. Unilever is the largest producer of soap in the world today. It is considered the world’s first multi-national corporation.
Today, the Hampstead Pergola offers commanding views. It overlooks the wooded hills of Hampstead Heath. Discover the Italianate gardens below. These can be reached by a spiral staircase. This leads you into cool, shaded archways. It also leads to the pretty gardens beyond.
The Hampstead Pergola is a unique space for a quiet wander. It is a grand venue for photos. It is open to all. The Hampstead Pergola is a great place to escape the rush of London.