Barnett Homestead And Wood Porches And Memorial Plaque

Barnett Homestead comprises a group of twelve cottages at nos. 1-12 Erskine Hill, Hampstead Garden Suburb, built in 1916 as a memorial to Canon S. A. Barnett and funded by Sir Alfred Yarrow to house war widows and their children. The cottages were designed by J. C. Soutar, planned by Raymond Unwin, and form a pair of cul-de-sac developments alongside Homesfield. Their location within a middle-class street reflects the ideas of Mrs. Barnett concerning charity and social organisation.

The cottages are constructed of brick in stretcher bond, with weatherboarding to gable-headed half dormers. They have hipped tile roofs with swept and boxed eaves. The design is inspired by the form of a double-ended hall house, featuring cross wings with one window each, and a four-window hall range. The architectural style is Vernacular Revival. Gable-headed half dormers are present to the cross wings and to the second and third window ranges, each incorporating four-light casement windows. Round-arched entrances are set beneath wood porches, which also function as first-floor balconies and are enclosed by slat balustrades, with a narrow door to each balcony. Five-light casements are positioned below each dormer, with tile weathering above. All windows have flat arches with casements of original design. The returns of the cottages are of identical design, each with three windows, and incorporating a weatherboarded gable to a half dormer, flanked by porches similar to those on the front elevation, supported by short spur walls of brick. Round arched entrances are found under each porch. The rear elevation is broadly similar to the front, except for the absence of gable-facing half dormers to the hall range, and the inclusion of entrances and porches within this range. Ridge stacks are centrally positioned on the roof and over the cross wings. A metal plaque on the west face of the south wing bears the inscription commemorating Sir Alfred Yarrow's respect and memory of Canon Barnett and his dedication to assisting those in need.