The pergola on Hampstead Heath

HEATH managers the City of London have said that the crumbling state of a Grade II*-listed gardens on Hampstead Heath they are responsible for could help them find someone else to pay for its restoration.

The City say the inclusion on Historic England’s annual At Risk register of the Pergola and Italianate Gardens next to Golders Hill Park can help them find other funders to help meet the cost of restoration.

The pergola was built in 1906 in the grounds of a manor house owned by soap manufacturer Lord Leverhulme.

Designed by landscape architect Thomas Mawson, the gardens feature a 170-metre-long raised walkway, a sunken Italianate garden and the wooden pergola structures, which today supports a climbing wisteria.

The Grade-II* listed pergola, described as “one of the few surviving examples of its kind in the UK,” is said to be at risk of crumbling – and parts of it are currently cracked with emergency timber supports and scaffolding.

The Leverhulme gardens were opened to the public in 1963, and the Historic England report says “some of the materials used to create the pergola are starting to deteriorate due to age and weathering. Routine maintenance and structural repairs are regularly carried out to ensure public safety. A robust conservation management plan is needed to guide the pergola’s long-term care and maintenance, so this special place lives on for future generations to enjoy.”

The City took over management of the pergola after the scrapping of the GLC in the 1980s – and has run several repair programmes since.

Now the structures have reached the point where specialists have installed emergency supports in sections to stop collapse.

Chair of the City Corporation’s Hampstead Heath Committee, Alderman Gregory Jones KC, said: “The Hill Garden Pergola is one of Hampstead Heath’s hidden gems – a romantic and much-loved space, steeped in history. We’re proud to care for it as a registered charity and welcome Historic England’s support in recognising the need for focused, long-term conservation. This status will help us seek to unlock access to vital funding and expert support, strengthening the case for external grants and charitable donations.

“With safety, sustainability, and public enjoyment at the heart of its care, this recognition marks a turning point — not of decline, but of renewed investment in one of Hampstead Heath’s most treasured landmarks.”

Historic England’s Edward James said: “The Heritage at Risk Register draws attention to historic places in need and helps bring partners together to explore opportunities for repair and regeneration. We’re working closely with the City of London and Camden Council to develop a way forward to conserve and restore this remarkable structure.”

Another inclusion on the At Risk register is St Stephen’s church in Pond Street, South End Green.

The church was deconsecrated and an 11-year restoration programme by a charitable trust raised £6m.

It now rents out its crypt to private school Hampstead Hill, while the main body of the church is used for events. Trust chairman Patrick Anthony said: “The undercroft became part of Hampstead Hill school and they pay rent. We have a wedding licence, and between the rent and income from events, we just about keep ahead of it.”

The register says the building is “stable” but adds it is in a poor condition and under the heading “vulnerability” it is marked as medium.

Mr Anthony said: “There is always something with a building like this to do. Covid hit us hard economically but we are recovering and the building is good for the next few years. There is work needed to be done on some of the fabric of the walls and there is some movement. We have had the roof seen too, so at the moment the building is dry. The fact is there is very little funding available any more.”

A spokesperson for the City of London Corporation, which manages Hampstead Heath as a registered charity, said: “We’re working closely with Historic England and heritage experts to develop a robust Conservation Management Plan that identifies priorities for repair and investment.

“Being on Historic England’s Heritage At Risk register provides access to specialist advice and potential funding streams, including heritage grants and charitable donations.

“As the sole trustee of the Hampstead Heath Charity, we take our responsibility for its care extremely seriously.

“The pergola is much loved, and its future will be shaped with and for the community. We will ensure that any restoration is carefully planned, properly funded, and delivers lasting results – preserving this landmark for future generations.”