1-7, Asmuns Hill

These are a group of artisans’ cottages, built in 1909 as part of the Asmuns Hill development in the Hampstead Garden Suburb, designed by Barry Parker and Raymond Unwin. The facades are painted pebbledash with a brick plinth in Flemish bond to the central section, featuring a round-arched cross passage with a brick surround. Gable kneelers are made of tile. The roofs are tiled with swept eaves and exposed rafter ends. The cottages are two storeys high.

The design follows the pattern of a double-ended hall house, with a central five-window range and gabled crosswings of one window each. Most openings are flat arched with weatherings, except for the first-floor windows in the hall range. The elevation is symmetrical, with a half dormer with a hipped roof and diminutive eyebrow windows between on the central line and outer corners. The original design doors, with small sidelights, are at entrances to Nos. 3 and 5, positioned within the cross passage. Entrances to Nos. 1 and 7 are on the returns. Each cross wing has a pair of three-light casement windows on the ground floor, and a six-light casement above. All windows have casements of the original design. Ridge stacks are present on the crosswings, and a L-plan stack extends along the ridge and rear slope on the party walls between Nos. 1 and 3, and Nos. 5 and 7. The Asmuns Hill Group is considered a significant example of a complete Parker and Unwin townscape, with the hall house plan form – a main range with crosswings – influencing subsequent designs.