HAMP STEAD HEATH. 57 



150,000 from the Metropolitan Board, and 50,000 

 from the two parishes. Of the remaining 100,000, 

 one-half was obtained through the Charity Com- 

 missioners from the funds of the City of London 

 Charities, which had recently been under the review 

 of Parliament, for the diversion of their income, from 

 the useless and mischievous charities within the City, 

 to the more manifold needs of the whole of London. 

 The other half was raised by public subscription ; and 

 with this addition, the Metropolitan Board finally gave 

 their assent to the scheme, and contributed out of 

 their funds one-half of the purchase money. 



Many minor difficulties were encountered and over- 

 come, and finally, on March 6th, 1889, after rather more 

 than five years of complicated negotiations, the contracts 

 between the Metropolitan Board and the two landowners 

 were signed. The 260 acres of Parliament Hill have since 

 been thrown open and added to Hampstead Heath, and 

 form the most important addition which has been made 

 to the open spaces of London during the last forty 

 years. It will remain at some future time to supple- 

 ment this by the purchase of the remaining portion of 

 Lord Mansfield's property, whenever he or his successors 

 may be willing to part with it for Ken Wood is al- 

 most indispensable to the full enjoyment of Hampstead 

 Heath and Parliament Hill. With this addition, the 

 whole will be the most beautiful and valuable of all the 

 Parks or open spaces rouud London. 



