Looking for The Gate House

The Branch Hill Gate House Lodge is a Listed Grade II, Gothic revival style building.

It's a fascinating looking building and one I've often seen in online images. And not realizing

it's whereabouts I discovered that it was hidden away in Frognal Lane just behind

The Whitestone Pond in Hampstead.

So how has this grand old building not been seen in one or two old British movies? It's Gothic

charm would have been well suited to a Harry Potter film.

Apparently the most recent owner of the property bought the house in May 2007 for £2,625.000

and the current value is estimated to be around the £5 million mark. Making it the second most

expensive property in the area.

ARCHITECT :  SAMUEL SANDERS TEVLON - 1868

 

Having moved on further down Frognal Lane, I thought I'd explore more of the local area.

And it really was full of surprises like these two Birthday cake coloured cottages below. 

Above: The Gothic splendour of Mount Vernon House, once a former Hampstead Hospital.

Above is No 5 Holly Bush Hill Hampstead. It was once the home of English painter George Romney,

considered to be the top Society portrait artist of his day. 

Above is the front Cottage style garden at Windmill Hill House which sits right next

door to Fenton House.

Above and below is Fenton House and Garden. And although I visited the area yesterday on Thursday,

I was told by the Head Gardener that the Gardens are only open to the public on Fridays and Sundays.

So perhaps another visit there very soon. A shame though as today (Friday) is another early Summer

sunny day. But alas, today is for getting all of yesterday's pictures up. 

Above: Some early Summer Tulips at the front of Fenton House.

Above is the narrow Passage way leading to The Holly Bush Pub.

Above is the quaint setting of The Holly Bush Pub which sits right next door to Holly Bush House.

So not far to walk to the Pub for those nearby residents.

Above is Hampstead's Northern Line Underground Station.

So now we have two Telephone Kiosk Coffee Bars in the main Hampstead High Street. One on

each side of the road.

Above: Whitestone Pond Hampstead. And the two resident Geese seem very friendly and

approachable. Perhaps on the lookout for some tasty treats.

Coming away from Hampstead and heading towards the Sandy Road Cottages.

Above: Bluebells seem to be everywhere.

Above: The front of houses in North End. And I imagine this frontage looks pretty in the Autumn

when the leaves turn to a scarlet red.

Below: The Corner Cottages at Sandy Road which sit directly opposite The Old Bull and Bush Pub.