Not only did a steady stream of houses from North End village and Child’s Hill demand an appropriate allotment of shops at the hill’s foot, but from the north-east towards Finchley the roads and houses of the Garden Suburb enclosed Golders Green within a rough-cast barrier. Within two years no one walking on an April afternoon from Hendon to Golders Hill would imagine himself to be taking a country stroll. Balliol no longer talked of living in the country, nor was he for much longer to be allowed to describe himself as a resident of Hampstead. His vote lay in Hendon; his postal address was changed from Hampstead, N.W.3. to Golders Green, N.W.11. A change that considerably disturbed Balliol’s staff. A parlourmaid actually gave notice because she did not like telling her friends she lived in Golders Green. Though in the end she was persuaded to remain. “I should not let that worry you,” he said. “You can have your letters addressed to you at North End Road, Hampstead, N.W. And they will still arrive.
