Parliament Hill is an area of open parkland in the south-east corner of Hampstead Heath in north-west London. The hill, which is high, is notable for its views of the capital's skyline. The Houses of Parliament, which are south of Parliament Hill in the City of Westminster, can be seen from the summit, although construction in the intermediate parts of London has partly obscured them.
History
A mound on the hill may have been a Bronze Age burial barrow. In 1133, the hill was part of a manor that Henry I gave to a baron called Richard de Balta. During Henry II's reign it was passed to Alexander de Barentyn, the king's butler. The area that was known as Traitors' Hill, may have acquired its current name during the English Civil War in the 17th century. When it was occupied by troops loyal to the English Parliament. A legend states that this was the site from where Guy Fawkes and Robert Catesby, of the Gunpowder Plot on November the 5th 1605, planned to watch the destruction of Parliament. Over time, plots of land in the manor were sold off for building, particularly in the early 19th century, though the hill remained mainly common land. In 1875 Hampstead Heath was acquired for the people by the Metropolitan Board of Works. Thirteen years later Parliament Hill was purchased for the public for £300,000 and added to Hampstead Heath. Nevertheless, manorial rights to the land remained in private hands until the mid 20th century when they lapsed under Sir Spencer Pocklington Maryon Wilson, though the titular estate itself was passed on to Shane Gough, 5th Viscount Gough. Until the 1940s, livestock was still reared on the hill to be sold through Smithfields, the London meat market. The City of London Corporation has managed Parliament Hill since 1989. Before that it was managed by the GLC and then Camden Council.
The Hill is also used by Hampstead Rugby Club. The senior men's and women's teams train in the middle of the running track and on parts of the hill on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The men’s section is one of the oldest in the World. However it was disbanded for the 2nd WW and did not regroup until the mid 1960’s. Since the formation of the RFU leagues it is the only club to be ever present in London 2 NW. The clubs most successful seasons were 2016/17 and 2017/18, where they won 18 games and then 19 games and 1 draw. Both seasons they were coached by Peter Breen and the consecutive captains were Andy McEwan and Max Moncrieffe. Saturday mornings around 200 to 300 juniors train from age 6. Boys and girls compete at all age groups. In summer mixed teams touch rugby is organised weekly.
