The Blake Society at St James’s Piccadilly
Programme
1993

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June 1993
Visit to “Old Wyldes”
In June 1993, members of the Blake Society have the opportunity to visit “Old Wyldes” where the first Blake Society was inaugurated in 1912.
“Old Wyldes”, North End, London NW3, is an early 17th century house on the edge of Hampstead Heath.  Though the present house was probably built soon after 1600, the estate of which it was the farmhouse was very much older, dating back to medieval times when it had been under monastic control.  Wyldes was the medieval name of the estate, a name that was revived at the end of the 19th century.  In Blake’s day it was known as Collins Farm.
The Collinses, father & son (and both called John) had been farming Wyldes since 1793.  John Collins, the younger, was a small-scale dairy farmer, owning 16 cows which grazed on the heath.  He also sold strawberries, apples, currants & fresh water at a penny-farthing a pail from one of the wells near the house.
At the end of the 18th century Hampstead was a fashionable playground for the rich, & North Enders cashed in by renting out rooms & even whole houses.  Collins soon realised he could do the same. The first tenant we know of came in August 1823.  He was John Linnell, the painter, who wanted the house for the summer.  By the time Linnell first came up to Wyldes, he & Blake were already close friends.  Blake could be found at Wyldes on most Sundays & quite often during the week as well.
The Society is greatly obliged to Mr Bernard Roseborne, the owner, & his family for their hospitality.

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