The Kenwood viewpoint (2017)

English Heritage has installed a new structure at the viewpoint on the Stable Field east of Kenwood House. It is made of 3 tonnes of Portland Stone, and has an interpretation panel on the top which shows the current landscape andmarks changes of the landscape over time. The viewpoint is important because it is one of London’s Protected Views, giving a London Panorama from Kenwood to Central London. As a designated view, it is of national significance and is protected by law.

Before the Caring for Kenwood project (completed in 2013), there used to be a wooden structure locally known as ‘the pagoda’ or ‘the gazebo’ at the viewpoint. This was taken down because the structure had become unsafe, and also because English Heritage decided that it did not add a positive contribution to the landscape which they wished to restore under the Landscape Management Plan.

Of course the London skyline is constantly changing. For this reason the new map has an inscribed installation date of ‘2016’. You can see not only the current skyline, but also picked out are historic buildings which would have been visible from the same viewpoint before the 21st century. Some are associated with the end of the 18th century and the life of Lord Mansfield, one-time owner of Kenwood, such as Lincoln’s Inn, while other highlighted landmarks such as the British Library and the House of Commons continue to attract thousands of visitors to London every year.