Fortune Green

Fortune Green is a small green space in West Hampstead, in the London Borough of Camden. Today it works as a neighbourhood park and gathering place, but its story goes back to a time when it was common, uncultivated land belonging to a manor.

What is Fortune Green?

Fortune Green is an open green space in north-west London, within the area known as West Hampstead, and it falls under the Borough of Camden. It is not a grand royal park with a palace and a lake. It is an intimate patch of grass that has served local residents for over a century as a place to rest, stroll and hold community events. For visitors it makes a good stop if you want to see an everyday side of London away from the main central sights.

What is the history of Fortune Green?

Fortune Green was originally part of the district of Hampstead. It became physically separated from it when a new turnpike road, today's Finchley Road, was built in the 1830s. The origin of the name is unknown, though there is no shortage of guesses.

The first recorded mention dates to 1646, when the land appeared as manorial "waste", meaning common ground unsuited to farming. On Rocque's map of 1746 it covers a much larger area than it does now. Over time the green shrank, and in 1870 Henry Dunnett, who owned nearby cottages, was granted rights to what amounted to nearly the whole of Fortune Green.

How did locals save it from development?

In 1888 the land was sold at auction and bought by the Kent, Sussex and General Land Company for £1,200. Residents objected, fearing the loss of open space to building. Protests flared again when developers threatened it a second time. In the end the local Vestry, the equivalent of today's council, took it over as public open space. Sources differ on the exact date, with some pointing to 1896 and others to 1898 as the moment it officially became a public park.

What happens here today?

Since the mid-1970s the Jester Festival has been held on Fortune Green and has become a cornerstone of local community life. In 2007 the Friends of Fortune Green was founded to look after the green and speak up for it. Thanks to that care, the place has kept its character as the green heart of the neighbourhood.

Who is it for?

• People who enjoy quiet walks away from the crowds.
• Fans of local history and stories of residents defending shared space.
• Families looking for a green square in north-west London.
• Visitors to West Hampstead who want to pair a stroll through the area with a rest on the grass.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Fortune Green? In West Hampstead, in the London Borough of Camden, in the north-west of the city, near Finchley Road.

Where does the name Fortune Green come from? The origin of the name is unknown, and no single explanation is established.

When did Fortune Green become a public park? After residents protested against development, the local Vestry took the land over. Sources give different dates, 1896 or 1898.

Are there events here? Yes. Since the mid-1970s the Jester Festival has been held here, an important event for the local community.

Is there an entry fee? No. Fortune Green is a public open space and needs no ticket.

Who looks after it? Since 2007 the Friends of Fortune Green have worked to care for the green and promote it among local people.