Primrose Hill

Coordinates: 51°32′23″N 0°09′39″W / 51.5396°N 0.1608°W / 51.5396; -0.1608

Primrose Hill
View of central London from Primrose Hill
Primrose Hill  Primrose Hill shown within Greater London
OS grid reference	TQ282838
London borough	Camden
Ceremonial county	Greater London
Region	London
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	LONDON
Postcode district	NW1, NW3, NW8
Dialling code	020
EU Parliament	London
UK Parliament	Holborn and St. Pancras
London Assembly	Barnet and Camden
List of places: UK • England • London

Primrose Hill is a hill of 256 feet (78 m)^[1] located on the north side of Regent's Park in London, England, and also the name for the surrounding district. The hill has a clear view of central London to the south-east, as well as Belsize Park and Hampstead to the north. It is one of the most exclusive and expensive residential areas in London and is home to many notable residents.^[2]

History

Like Regent's Park, Primrose Hill was once part of a great chase appropriated by Henry VIII. Later, in 1841, it became Crown property, and, in 1842, an Act of Parliament secured the land as public open space. The built up part of Primrose Hill consists mainly of Victorian terraces. It has always been one of the more fashionable districts in the urban belt that lies between the core of London and the outer suburbs, and remains expensive and prosperous. Primrose Hill is an archetypal example of a successful London urban village, due to the location and the quality of its socio-historical development.^[3] In October 1678 Primrose Hill was the scene of the mysterious murder of Edmund Berry Godfrey, and in 1792 the radical Unitarian poet and antiquarian Iolo Morganwg (Edward Williams) organised here the first meeting of Gorsedd Beirdd Ynys Prydain. According to the diary of Narcissus Luttrell, Primrose Hill was once known as "Greenberry Hill" prior to the execution of Messrs. Green, Berry and Hill for the murder of Edmund Godfrey, but this was after the execution and there is no trace of such a name before 1679.

Panorama of London, taken from the top of Primrose Hill

Notable^{[citation needed]} residents

Famous Primrose Hill residents past and present include:

• Adam Ant, singer-songwriter and actor
• Alain de Botton, philosopher
• Agyness Deyn, supermodel
• Alan Bennett, author
• Alan Rickman, actor
• Bernice McCabe, headmistress of North London Collegiate School
• Boris Johnson, Mayor of London
• Cameron McVey, producer (Massive Attack, Sugababes, All Saints)
• Charles Brasch, notable New Zealand poet, editor, and cultural critic
• Daisy Lowe, model
• David Miliband, former Foreign Secretary
• Ed Miliband, former Energy Secretary and present leader of the Labour Party
• Deborah Meaden, business woman and Dragon's Den panelist
• Enrique Iglesias, Spanish singer
• Eva Green, actress
• Finley Quaye singer-songwriter
• Fiona Shaw, Irish actress
• Friedrich Engels, political philosopher and co-author of The Communist Manifesto
• Gavin Rossdale musician, husband of Gwen Stefani
• Gwen Stefani, musician, wife of Gavin Rossdale
• Harry Styles, musician, member of boy band One Direction
• Henry Holland, fashion designer
• Helena Bonham Carter, actress
• Herbert William Weekes, British genre and animal painter
• Ian McKay, writer and academic
• Jamie and 'Jools' Oliver, celebrity chef and wife
• Joan Bakewell, journalist and broadcaster
• John McCririck, horse racing pundit
• Martin Shaw, composer and organist of St Mary's, Primrose Hill
• Geoffrey Shaw, composer and organist of St Mary's, Primrose Hill
• Jon Snow, news broadcaster
• Jonny Lee Miller, actor
• Jeremy Clarkson, presenter
• Jude Law, actor
• John Cleese, actor
• Kate Garner, singer/photographer
• Kate Moss, fashion model
• Martin Amis, novelist
• Morrissey, singer/songwriter
• Terry Manning, music producer
• Neneh Cherry, singer and songwriter
• Nick Grimshaw, DJ and television presenter
• Percy Dearmer, vicar and Anglican liturgist
• Rachel Weisz, actress
• Rachel Stevens, actress, singer, model
• Richard Bacon, broadcaster
• Robert Plant, rock singer and songwriter, lead vocalist and lyricist of the rock band Led Zeppelin
• Russell Tovey, actor Being Human
• Sadie Frost, actress and co-owner of fashion label Frost French
• Sarah Barrand, actress Footballers Wives
• Scott Maslen, actor EastEnders & The Bill
• Sharleen Spiteri, Singer
• Sienna Miller, actress
• Simon Callow, actor
• Sophie Ellis-Bextor, singer and songwriter
• Sophie Muller, director
• Stephen Mangan, actor and comedian
• Tim Burton, film director
• W.B. Yeats, poet

See also

• Primrose Hill railway station
• Primrose Hill set

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Primrose Hill

• Primrose Hill - An Urban Village Examined by Alistair Barr, Architect & Resident (Barr Gazetas)
• Article on Primrose Hill Farmers' markets
• Primrose Hill Local Website
• Primrose Hill and Regent's Park in Literature and Music, a bibliography

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