The Parish Church of St John-at-Hampstead

John Betjeman was born in Parliament Hill Mansions at the bottom of the Heath:
Here from my eyrie, as the sun went down,
I heard the old North London puff and shunt,
Glad that I did not live in Gospel Oak

As it is the Betjeman Centenary this year I thought it may be of some interest to reflect on his connection with Hampstead as opposed to Highgate and Kentish Town.

Born in Kentish Town he moved up in the world socially to Highgate West Hill [a plaque will be put on his West Hill home in September]. In all his works Hampstead is rarely mentioned – sandalled socialists and the strong Fabian community, are notably absent. Even George Orwell who lived and worked there in the 50s is not mentioned. Of course, he was not politically involved with them – even the Spanish civil war is not there!

As the seer of the suburbs he was pre-eminent. Letchworth, Bedford Park and not least Hampstead Garden Suburb are prominent. His milieu was Highgate and the area round it. Parliament Hill fields moved him to some memorable verse.

Of course Metroland [a TV programme] is a classic and brought him fame with Summoned by Bells. But for me his great legacy was in the conservation movement. He saved many Victorian buildings from demolition, especially St Pancras and Paddington stations and rallied popular opinion against the depredations of the modernists and developers. His poem on Slough
Come, friendly bombs, and fall on Slough
It isn’t fit for humans now,
There isn’t grass to graze a cow
Swarm over, Death!

is rightly remembered [though possibly not by the inhabitants].
His was the moving spirit of the Heath and Hampstead Society and its Highgate equivalent. How he would have loved Restoration with Gryff Rees Jones! He opened our eyes to our great heritage, especially glorying in the architecture of British churches and made us notice often overlooked details of buildings and towns with which we are blessed.

So three cheers for Sir John and thank God for him.