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177:. For a while the family firm continued to manage the block directly but in the mid-1970s, the building was placed in the hands of managing agents. By that stage the principal shareholder was FE (Francis) Griggs and when he died in 1977, control of the freehold passed to Mrs JL Griggs. Eventually, according to various residents, there came the shattering news that Hillfield Court had been sold to "unscrupulous experts at
121:. Sometime between 1864 and 1867 he built another house on the south end of the estate for his son Robert Ballard Woodd – This house was called Woodlands. Whilst Woodlands was demolished in 1901 to make way for higher density housing, Hillfield remained until 1928 when it was demolished. The land was bought by Hillfield Estates Ltd, a company formed in 1933 by FL, WJ and AG Griggs (Frank, William and Alfred).
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the 'dining-hall' in some layouts, for more efficient use of the available space. A boiler room provides hot water to all flats and heating to common parts. Originally there was a central store for tenants' own coal, carried up by porters to be burned on the open fires. From its inception
Hillfield Court was considered a prestigious block, not least because of its fine, spacious gardens.
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ownership of
Hillfield Estates Ltd for many years. The parade incorporated an Odeon cinema, one of the first in London, which opened in September 1934. The flagship of the Odeon chain for several years, it was demolished in the 1970s. It was replaced by the Screen on the Hill cinema (since changed hands and renamed the Everyman Belsize Park).
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By 1985 residents had ensured that the landlord's potential for making money was small. A group of leaseholders established
Hillfield Court Limited to buy the freehold, an agreement was reached, 84 residents subscribed and they became the new owners. Maintenance and improvement work continues year on
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Hillfield Court, so named in commemoration of the grand house, was just one part of the development. The scheme also included two other mansion blocks – Tudor Close (1935) to the back of the estate; and on
Haverstock Hill, a parade of shops with Hillfield Mansions above (1934), which remained in the
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and was one of many rural abodes in the area belonging to wealthy merchants, who wanted a country residence within easy reach of London. The Blue House was accessed directly from
Haverstock Hill. Little is known about the residents of the Blue House but evidence suggests that in 1650 it was occupied
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store. The practice he founded continues today. His design for
Hillfield Court provided 113 flats over six storeys, in seven different layouts and intended to suit a variety of tenants. Bennett had given much thought to the planning of apartment buildings for London. At Hillfield Court, he adopted
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and building at least two other theatres in the West End. Griggs & Son developed the
Hillfield site to cater for the high demand for mansion blocks. The destruction of the old house and the development of the estate was met with some local opposition, however.
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personnel were housed in a ground floor flat ready to launch the balloon when necessary. These large, airborne barriers protected important installations against low-level air attack. A brick bunkhouse built for the crew remains, now used as the garden shed.
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Hillfield Court sits on what was once a large country estate known as the
Belsize Estate. The first recorded building on the site of what today is Hillfield Court was built in around 1646. It was known as the
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181:". The twenty one flats that were still rented out were then sold on long leases to a property company. There was talk of building townhouses with garages and an access road on the much-loved gardens.
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in the hope of saving their garden. Eventually they prevailed – a preservation order was placed on every tree. Camden
Council effectively refused permission to build and the residents were elated.
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The activities of Griggs & Son Ltd of
Victoria St, London included land development in Pinner, building theatres for the Astoria group in London and in
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by one John Mascall and in 1679 by Thomas Butler. Between 1761 and 1773, the house was rebuilt and extended by merchant William Horsley.
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and can also be accessed from Glenloch Road. It is one of the many purpose built mansion blocks on Haverstock Hill between
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In 1808, the Belsize Estate was split into 9 leasehold estates. The Hillfield leasehold, as well as the adjoining
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appears on the building, several famous people have resided in Hillfield Court over the years including actress
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brandy merchant bought the lease from Abel, a 19-acre (77,000 m) estate set within the boundaries of
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saw tenants for the first time being given the opportunity to purchase their flats on a 99-year
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leasehold (around 19 acres (77,000 m) in total) were bought by James Abel.
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lived in the block in the early 2010s, as did media personality and paparazzo
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organised speeches, television interviews and meetings with
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year, still preserving the building's essential character.
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The flats were rented out on short leases until in 1969,
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had by this stage been renovated, modernised and renamed
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Buildings and structures in the London Borough of Camden
426:"Odeon Haverstock Hill in London, GB - Cinema Treasures"
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Architectural Design and Construction, May–June 1935
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400:Hampstead – Belsize | British History Online
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302:Learn how and when to remove this message
506:Residential buildings completed in 1932
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22:Hillfield Court on a winter's morning
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236:adding citations to reliable sources
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447:Hillfield Court newsletter, 1998
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496:Art Deco architecture in London
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366:Trinity Court, Gray’s Inn Road
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59:Belsize Park tube station
200:Notable former residents
43:London Borough of Camden
89:In 1841 Basil Woodd, a
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