VILLAGE GREEN - HAMPSTEAD HEATH - 2013

Old Village Green ~

Between Hampstead Grove and Lower Terrace.

Here, the parliamentary elections for Middlesex were held until 1700.
The Green was later used as a cricket ground.

Currently, The Green is more associated with the area behind Whitestone Pond.

The Flagstaff marks a very high point on the Heath, 439 feet, which is, however, surpassed by Jack Straw's Castle at 443 feet.

Old Ordnance Survey maps show that there has been a flagstaff here, at one of the high points of the heath, since at least 1896.

The original flagstaff was erected by the Lord of the Manor about 1845.

It then flew his flag.

The flag is that of the City of London, not St George. (you can just make out the red sword in the top left corner)

Although the original flagstaff was a ship's mast - 1845 (see slide below), the present flagstaff was donated to the Corporation un 1954, by the British Columbia Lumber Company.

The article above reads:
Hampstead Heath:The Flagstaff, with approach to "Jack Straw's Castle"
That part of ever-attractive Hampstead Heath marked by The Flagstaff is one of the highest and ----- points.Our view embraces part of the pond dear to dogs and horses and to children and is winter to skaters of all ages. The road in the foreground comes up from High Street, Hampstead;and at the point where it diverges into the Spaniards Road in one direction and Heath End Hill in another is "Jack Straw's Castle" (just visible at the extreme right of the picture)an old fashioned house that has been visited by many a famous literary poet and artist of a past age.On the right will be seen one of the bird catchers who carry on their operations in this neighbourhood.From the flagstaff, as we show, is another view thjere is an exceptionally extensive  prospect westwards.

The article above reads:
HAMPSTEAD HEATH, FROM THE FLAGSTAFF, LOOKING WEST
Hampstead Heath is a possession of which Londoners may well be proud. The flagstaff against the pond stands 430 feet above the sea level, and the air thereabouts is delightfully bracing. So picturesque and unspoilt is the Heath that it is hard to realize the proximity of the metropolis. It extends over some 250 acres. The best outlook is undoubtedly the west - across the country to Hendon and the Welsh Harp, to Harrow-on-the-Hill, with its conspicuous church spire, and to Windsor, whose Castle on a clear day is distinctly visible. On a Bank Holiday the Heath is thronged by hundreds and thousands of holiday makers from London, whose "fun" waxes fast and furious.