Highgate - Further London Villages

View from Shepherd's Hill

This week our Further London villages walk was Highgate, we met at the station which had once been part of another line in North London.- before we met I took a walk to Shepherd's Hill where you get a good view of Alexandra Palace.

The Priory Gardens entrance of the station where an unused platform can be observed

The Hillcrest Estate

Really surprised to find Highgate such a nice area of London, it has a large area of woodland  and some great views, far more suburban than I had expected.

We saw some fine (I would say) architecture including municipal housing called The Hillcrest  Estate.


We also saw some flats designed for Sigmund Gestetner by Berthold Lubetkin for his workers

Flats designed by Berthold Lubetkin

Famous residents now include Jude Laws but in the past Dickens passed through.

George's home still a destination  for his fans 

Charles Dickens - not his permanent home 

Highgate's Institution

George Michael the Pop Singer was a famous resident and for a while after his early death the area was a destination for his fans.

Home for the Fair

George  was quietly quietly philanthropic and as well as making donations to individuals he was a backer of Highgate fair held in the (although it's not) square which has Highgate's Institution across the road.

Literary figures have lived in Highgate  too - JB Priestley lived in the same house that  Samuel Taylor- Coleridge had lived in before - like George  Michael Coleridge had drug issues.

Houseman the poet was another poet who  lived in the same road.

Another poet's home -Houseman 

Dead figures also featured as near to St Joseph's church we saw the graveyard that is where Karl Marx is laid to rest -Karl Marx was non-practising Jew he was buried in non consecrated ground.

2 plaques one house

From the perimeter the graveyard that's home to the remains of Karl Marx 

A most impressive Catholic Church St Joseph's was viewed inside and out

Outside the church

St Joseph's Church

Inside the church

As we approached the shops we saw a Pub used by comedian Graham Chapman.

A Pub used by Graham Chapman 

A 'copious' drinker 

I should also mention the significant New River (NR) marking and an associated building..

NR = New River 

A Building for water