The London Course: Exploring Growing Village Suburbs

The growth of London in recent centuries entailed the swallowing up of small villages deep in the countryside.

This course will examine what have now become extensive London boroughs. Each which will be described in lectures followed by walks through these historic areas and each should be treated as an integrated pair of topics.

Lecture about Hampstead

The hill with its fresh air and the Heath drew a population escaping from the smoky atmosphere of London. The great influence in the 18th century was Hampstead Wells, a highly developed spa, whose Assembly Rooms drew tourists of all types. And from then on this was the centre of intellectuals and artists, from the Kit-Kat Club whose members included Dr. Johnson and Steele, through to John Keats and Constable. It became the desirable village for elegant Georgian and Regency residences, and most of the street plan remains that of a village. 19th century public transport and the saving of the Heath from development encouraged the day-trip as an essential part of London life, where the Fair still remains part of London's entertainment.

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