In 1972, a local organization called Inter-Action rented a derelict house, cottage, and timber yard site in Kentish Town, London. Through donations of materials and labor from volunteers, the buildings were converted into Kentish Town City Farm, establishing stables, gardens, and a riding school. The farm has since grown, but faced challenges with three-quarters of its gardens and allotments lost due to housing redevelopment in 1977 that also demolished its indoor riding arena.

1. In 1972, a local
organization called Inter-
Action rented a house, a
cottage and part of the
discussed timber yard
known as Gloster Parquet
- now the site of Kentish
Town City Farm.

2. The house and cottage dated back to
the early 1890’s when the Wall
Brothers (a family of builders)
carried out extensive work on the
site.

3. Through years of disuse, the
buildings fell into severe disrepair.

4. …and the land was left
derelict.

5. Local businessmen donated
building materials and
equipment worth over £5000.
A team of volunteers, youth
workers, farm workers and
Inter-Action’s architects and
builders converted the stables
and buildings into a farm,
riding school and gardens.

6. Buildings were used for both
administrative and project work.

7. This building was transformed into a
chicken hutch

8. Shown here in the 1970’s

9. Inter-Action discovered that the
original stables that the Midland
Railway company had used to house
shunting horses were still in
existence.

10. Horses were the first
animals at the farm.
Inter-Action actively
solicited donations of
horses once the stables
were habitable, and in
1974 the riding school
was opened.

11. The property had two
incredible steel
structures that had been
used to store the wood
for the parquet flooring
when the land was
owned by Gloster
Parquet. They were at
least 30 foot high,
located to the side of
the current farm
building, they were built
on the site where
Cressfield Close is now
sited.

12. One hangar was
converted to an indoor
riding arena

13. The allotment gardens
were the first part of the
arm to come into
commission. Originally the
gardens and allotments
took up the entire space
where the woodyard is
now sited.

14. “Ed [Berman] went one night
to The Mitre, which is the
pub that used to be on the
corner here, and asked if
anyone was interested in
gardening. He said, “You
know I am American and I
know nothing about
gardening.” And a trail of
local people went up from
the pub at closing time and
there were communal
allotments within 24 hours.”
Interview with David Powell
– original member of Inter-
Action and Camden resident

15. “From the beginning it was
very locally driven, very locally
energised.”
Interview with David Powell –
original member of Inter-
Action and Camden resident

16. In 1977 the Area known as
‘Grafton Area 16’ was
redeveloped for housing.
This had a huge effect on
the farm – over 75% of the
gardens and allotments
were lost and the farm’s
indoor riding school (the
only riding school in London
apart from the Queen’s )
was demolished.