Ruins of Dollis Hill House London

Images of Britain: The Ruins of Dollis Hill House

Dollis Hill House in Gladstone Park in northwest London was an early 19th century house that now lies in ruins following a succession of fires in 1995, 1996 and 2011. Its grounds form the majority of Gladstone Park to its south.

The house dates from 1825 built for the Finch family of Willesden when this part of the capital was still largely rural. It later passed into the hands of the Scottish nobleman Baron Tweedmouth and his family and once entertained such distinguished guests as novelist Mark Twain, Lord Randolph Churchill and prime minister William Gladstone. The War Cabinet even met here on occasion during World War II.

Dollis Hill House, London. — Dollis Hill House in Gladstone Park © Hiro Taniguchi

The house and grounds were acquired by Willesden Urban District Council in 1899 and the building opened to the public for a time before becoming a hospital during World War I and a catering college from the mid-1970s until its closure in 1989.

Devastated by two fires in the 1990s, the house became derelict and plans to restore it were quashed by the incoming Mayor of London at the time, Boris Johnson.

The house was demolished in 2012 following another fire the previous year caused by arson leaving only a few traces of the brick walls in place. Nearby is Stables Cafe in the old stables block and a pretty rose garden.