Iolanthe.co.uk
Title
Iolanthe
Description
For absolute peace after a hectic day in the City, this is the place to be. Iolanthe is situated right opposite Hampstead Heath - a miracle of preservation - 800 acres of woods meadows, natural ponds, where you can swim with the ducks, where wild flowers grow, birds sing and the air smells truly sweet. See map -our pictures. The Victorians called it "the lung of London", and as you leave the smoke behind and climb to 440 feet above sea level, you really feel that you can breath again.
Hampstead Garden Suburb is situated to the north of the village of Hampstead and east of Golders Green. It was founded by Dame Henrietta Barnett in 1907, who, appalled at the living conditions of London's poor, declared her intention to establish a community where persons of all classes of society and standards of income could be accommodated and the handicapped welcomed. She declared that houses be so planned that none should spoil each other's outlook or rob its neighbour of beauty.
She was determined to retain and create as many features of the country as was consistent with a town community. Beauty both in layout, architecture and planting was an essential consideration, as beautiful surroundings contribute to the happiness of life for both rich and poor. Alas for Henrietta's dream, the beauty remains but only the rich can afford to buy even the smallest cottage.
