Hidden beneath the leafy residential streets of Neasden lies a secret. It’s a secret bunker. This isn’t just any bunker. It’s Winston Churchill’s bombproof bunker. Built during the Second World War it’s a marvel of engineering. Thirty-seven rooms including a map room and a cabinet room. This is Dollis Hill.
Dollis Hill isn’t just about wartime secrets. It has a rich and fascinating history stretching back centuries. The name itself comes from the Dolley or Dawley family. Long before the houses and the park there was farmland. There’s even evidence of Iron Age inhabitation. Dollis Hill House a grand estate built in 1825 played a pivotal role.
Dollis Hill House was initially the home of the Finch family. Later it belonged to Lord Tweedmouth a prominent Liberal Party member. His daughter married Lord Aberdeen. They transformed Dollis Hill House into a social hub. It’s said that Prime Minister William Gladstone and Mark Twain were guests. Imagine the conversations that took place within those walls. The grandeur of the house is sadly gone now. A fire damaged it. It was demolished in 2012. However some low brick walls remain whispering tales of the past.
Another fascinating aspect of Dollis Hill is St Andrew’s Hospital. Built by a Frenchwoman Marguerite Amice Piou who wished to remain anonymous until her death. It’s construction was quite remarkable. Robert Curtis designed the four-storey hospital. It featured a green dome operating theatre and space for 100 beds. Sadly it too is gone replaced by houses and a reservoir. Yet the iron posts that held donation boxes still stand. They are a poignant reminder of a bygone era.
Dollis Hill also boasted Dollis Hill Farm. It’s said to have been the last working farm within a five-mile radius of Marble Arch. Oliver Cromwell supposedly visited. The farm transitioned into a veterinary hospital. Finally it disappeared in 1939.
The Post Office Research Station arrived in Dollis Hill in 1921. Initially housed in ex-army huts. A new building appeared in 1933 opened by Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald. This building held even greater secrets. Here Tommy Flowers created the Colossus computer used at Bletchley Park to break German codes during WWII. This very building is now Chartwell Court. Its access road is aptly named Flowers Close.
Today Dollis Hill remains a vibrant residential area. Gladstone Park a large green space stands as a testament to the area’s history. The park provides a peaceful retreat a lovely place to relax and reflect on Dollis Hill’s captivating past. From the highest points you have stunning views of London. The area is full of unique Edwardian houses. You can almost feel the weight of history as you walk these streets. This is Dollis Hill. A place with a story to tell around every corner.