It was the opening of the railway station in 1860 that made Hampstead Heath, a 790-acre rambling open space north of London, accessible to the many poorer people who lived beyond walking distance of its borders.
The Heath was acquired as a public open space in 1871, and additional land was purchased in 1888 and 1889, respectively. Shortly after the first acquisition, the Bank Holidays Act of 1871 established four national day-long holidays: Easter Day, Boxing Day and the first Mondays in May and August.
The Heath hosted a fair on the May and August bank holidays, and ‘Appy ‘Ampstead became part of national conversation in the 1890s, celebrated in song and cartoons.
c. 1898
A man takes a cooling drink from a stall. The vendor stands nearby on a crate. On the left a sign for oysters reads ‘A’int they grand?’ At the time…
View original post 21 more words
James' World 2 
Leave a comment