Nobody knows the history of Primrose Hill better than Martin Sheppard. Martin is a leading local historian and has lived in Primrose Hill for many years. I put my questionnaire to him and this is what he has said.
What have been your highlights of living in Primrose Hill?
Being lowered in a bucket into a sewer at the junction of Gloucester Avenue and Princess Road during a party hosted upstairs at the Engineer by Thames Water to celebrate the completion of a relief sewer under the two roads. This followed a successful campaign by PHAFF, ‘Primrose Hill Against Flash Floods’, of which I was the chairman. I walked to underneath the Albert and back. The sewer was not yet operational.
Preaching a sermon at St Mark’s on the theme ‘Why this Church is Not as Pub’.
Winning a Stand-Up Comedy Competition at the Primrose Hill Community Centre. The result was decided by the audience saying ‘Quinoa’. The loudest ‘Quinoa’ was the winner. I was awarded a large cupcake by ex-weather girl Sian Lloyd, who had an affair with Lembit Opik until he jilted her with one of the Cheeky Girls.
Owning Anna, the winner in the category of ‘Prettiest Crossbreed Bitch’ at the Primrose Hill Dog Show. She was given a rosette and other prizes by Brian May. She hasn’t gone in since: not because she wouldn’t win, but to give other dogs a chance.
Discovering the arrival of buffaloes on Primrose Hill in August 1850.
On Monday morning about nine o’clock, two young buffaloes were being driven from the terminus of the Great Western Railway at Paddington; when in the Edgware Road some sweeps shaking a soot bag alarmed them, and they started at a terrific pace in the direction of Lisson Grove. Several persons were knocked down and seriously injured, and a Mrs Le Blanc, of Alpha Cottages, had her ribs fractured. The animals dashed through Regent’s Park into Primrose Hill Park, leaping fences with the greatest ease, and were not secured till 10 o’clock at night, and after seven persons had been seriously injured.
John Bull, 3 August 1850.
Which is your favourite book that you have written?
Primrose Hill: A History (2013).
Love on Inishcoo, 1787: A Donegal Romance (2018).
We Love Lucy (co-written with Anna, Conor and Raffy) (2022).
How have you related your books to Primrose Hill?
My book Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill has a chapter on the history of Primrose Hill.
My book Primrose Hill: A History is about Primrose Hill from 400,000 BC to the present. It sets Primrose Hill in the context of London, Britain, the World and the Universe (the Martians land in Chapter 11).
My other books suppress all mention of Primrose Hill.
If you were able to write a book about any other part of London which part would it be?
I have written a book about Regent’s Park.
Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, on which I did a lot of research before deciding that trying to finish the book would take me the rest of my life.
What do you enjoy the most about living in Primrose Hill?
Being at the centre of the world. London is the centre of the world. Primrose Hill is the centre of London. Sam’s Café is the centre of Primrose Hill.
From your perspective as a resident, what do you perceive as being the benefits of living in Primrose Hill?
Proximity to Primrose Hill and Regent’s Park.
Proximity to the cultural riches of London.
Not having to live in Kentish Town.
A feeling of superiority over most other people in the world.
As a resident what do you perceive as being the problems of living in Primrose Hill?
There are many great and insoluble problems. As I always say, ‘It’s tough in Primrose Hill’.
What is your favourite shop in Primrose Hill?
Shepherd Foods, Regent’s Park Road. Bessa, who presides at the till on mornings from Monday to Friday, knows more people than anyone else in Primrose Hill and cheers them all up.
Keys Galore, Gloucester Avenue, a temple of keys, run by Fred.
Gloster Electrics, Gloucester Avenue, a shop of intense gloom. If you asked their electrician to come to look at an electrical problem, he might (or might not) come a month later.
Davies’ Dairy, Princess Road, where I watched the coronation of Elizabeth II with my father.
Tossie Stickle, Regent’s Park Road, where I bought two very useful filing cabinets.
The Little Bread Pedlar, Erskine Road and St Mark’s Churchyard, sells excellent bread and provides delicious pastries to those attending morning service on Sundays at St Mark’s.
Primrose Hill Bookshop, Regent’s Park Road, a bespoke bookshop of a kind almost extinct elsewhere.
At one time Melrose and Morgan, Gloucester Avenue. I cannot, however, forgive it for failing to pay the staff when it went into liquidation.
What future plans do you have relating to your time of living in Primrose Hill?
Longevity.
©2024 Adam Reeves All Rights Reserved.
For Martin
I’m the daughter of the Davies family who had the dairy in Princess Road.
Did you know my brother Vincent?
I think you maybe a little older than me.
The Hills in Princess Road? The Gallagher’s Regents park road?
The list goes on.
Lovely to hear from you
Denise Davies