Hampstead Heath walk(part two)
A beautiful Spring afternoon sees a bumper turnout for the walk
(Photos/words © urban75, 18th April, 2009)
![Hampstead Heath walk past Hampstead Ponds, Pergola, Hill Garden and Jack Straw's Castle, north London, England - photos, feature and comment](images/hampstead-heath-walk-31.jpg) Inverforth House, now luxury flats.
![Hampstead Heath walk past Hampstead Ponds, Pergola, Hill Garden and Jack Straw's Castle, north London, England - photos, feature and comment](images/hampstead-heath-walk-32.jpg) Walking around the Pergola.
![Hampstead Heath walk past Hampstead Ponds, Pergola, Hill Garden and Jack Straw's Castle, north London, England - photos, feature and comment](images/hampstead-heath-walk-33.jpg)
![Hampstead Heath walk past Hampstead Ponds, Pergola, Hill Garden and Jack Straw's Castle, north London, England - photos, feature and comment](images/hampstead-heath-walk-35.jpg)
![Hampstead Heath walk past Hampstead Ponds, Pergola, Hill Garden and Jack Straw's Castle, north London, England - photos, feature and comment](images/hampstead-heath-walk-36.jpg)
![Hampstead Heath walk past Hampstead Ponds, Pergola, Hill Garden and Jack Straw's Castle, north London, England - photos, feature and comment](images/hampstead-heath-walk-38.jpg) The Hill Garden, said to be one of London's best-kept secrets.
![Hampstead Heath walk past Hampstead Ponds, Pergola, Hill Garden and Jack Straw's Castle, north London, England - photos, feature and comment](images/hampstead-heath-walk-39.jpg)
![Hampstead Heath walk past Hampstead Ponds, Pergola, Hill Garden and Jack Straw's Castle, north London, England - photos, feature and comment](images/hampstead-heath-walk-40.jpg) Sweetheart's names carved on a tree. I wonder if ID stills loves PD?
![Hampstead Heath walk past Hampstead Ponds, Pergola, Hill Garden and Jack Straw's Castle, north London, England - photos, feature and comment](images/hampstead-heath-walk-41.jpg) Second pub stop at the Old Bull and Bush (est. 1721), a pub made famous by a once-popular knees-up, "Down at the Old Bull and Bush" belted out by the 15 stone favourite of the music halls, Florrie Forde.
The original building was a farmhouse, licensed to sell ale in 1721.
William Hogarth used to quaff ale here, and was said to have planted the yew bower in the garden by his own hand.
Thomas Gainsborough felt the love and is quoted as saying, "What a delightful little snuggery is this said Bull and Bush."
![Hampstead Heath walk past Hampstead Ponds, Pergola, Hill Garden and Jack Straw's Castle, north London, England - photos, feature and comment](images/hampstead-heath-walk-42.jpg)
![Hampstead Heath walk past Hampstead Ponds, Pergola, Hill Garden and Jack Straw's Castle, north London, England - photos, feature and comment](images/hampstead-heath-walk-43.jpg) Heath House near the summit.
![Hampstead Heath walk past Hampstead Ponds, Pergola, Hill Garden and Jack Straw's Castle, north London, England - photos, feature and comment](images/hampstead-heath-walk-44.jpg) View over London.
![Hampstead Heath walk past Hampstead Ponds, Pergola, Hill Garden and Jack Straw's Castle, north London, England - photos, feature and comment](images/hampstead-heath-walk-45.jpg) The Egg Rolling Competition!
![Hampstead Heath walk past Hampstead Ponds, Pergola, Hill Garden and Jack Straw's Castle, north London, England - photos, feature and comment](images/hampstead-heath-walk-46.jpg) Ready to go...
![Hampstead Heath walk past Hampstead Ponds, Pergola, Hill Garden and Jack Straw's Castle, north London, England - photos, feature and comment](images/hampstead-heath-walk-47.jpg) They're off!
![Hampstead Heath walk past Hampstead Ponds, Pergola, Hill Garden and Jack Straw's Castle, north London, England - photos, feature and comment](images/hampstead-heath-walk-48.jpg) Following the eggs down the hill. Some eggs appeared to have received a rather less than sporting extra shove which saw them hurtling down the slope at improbable speeds.
![Hampstead Heath walk past Hampstead Ponds, Pergola, Hill Garden and Jack Straw's Castle, north London, England - photos, feature and comment](images/hampstead-heath-walk-49.jpg) Rolling down the hill.
![Hampstead Heath walk past Hampstead Ponds, Pergola, Hill Garden and Jack Straw's Castle, north London, England - photos, feature and comment](images/hampstead-heath-walk-50.jpg) Most survived the journey.
![Hampstead Heath walk past Hampstead Ponds, Pergola, Hill Garden and Jack Straw's Castle, north London, England - photos, feature and comment](images/hampstead-heath-walk-51.jpg) ...but not all.
![Hampstead Heath walk past Hampstead Ponds, Pergola, Hill Garden and Jack Straw's Castle, north London, England - photos, feature and comment](images/hampstead-heath-walk-52.jpg) Tranquil pond at Hampstead Heath.
![Hampstead Heath walk past Hampstead Ponds, Pergola, Hill Garden and Jack Straw's Castle, north London, England - photos, feature and comment](images/hampstead-heath-walk-53.jpg) Pond at Hampstead Heath.
![Hampstead Heath walk past Hampstead Ponds, Pergola, Hill Garden and Jack Straw's Castle, north London, England - photos, feature and comment](images/hampstead-heath-walk-54.jpg)
![Hampstead Heath walk past Hampstead Ponds, Pergola, Hill Garden and Jack Straw's Castle, north London, England - photos, feature and comment](images/hampstead-heath-walk-55.jpg) Woodland den.
![Hampstead Heath walk past Hampstead Ponds, Pergola, Hill Garden and Jack Straw's Castle, north London, England - photos, feature and comment](images/hampstead-heath-walk-56.jpg) Long shadows at the end of the day.
![Hampstead Heath walk past Hampstead Ponds, Pergola, Hill Garden and Jack Straw's Castle, north London, England - photos, feature and comment](images/hampstead-heath-walk-57.jpg) Looking out across the pond.
A final flurry of FACTS!
Views of the Heath and its cloudscapes were a favourite subject of John Constable, who lived in nearby Well Walk.
John Keats lived in West Heath Road, and his poem Ode to a Nightingale was inspired by a bird he heard while swigging ale at the Spaniards Inn on the northern border of the Heath.
CS Lewis was inspired to write "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" while strutting about the heath on a snowy day.
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