Dollis Brook - Mill Hill East
Dollis Brook
The Dollis Brook flows south westwards and is met by two tributaries from the north west
Post to the north Frith
Post to the east West Finchley
Post to the west Holders Hill
Post to the south Finchley Church End
Bittacy Hill
Mill Hill East Station. Opened in 1867 it is now the Terminus of the Northern Line beyond Finchley Central and the only station on the branch. It is the least used station on the Northern Line. It was built for the Edgware, Highgate and London Railway and opened by the Great Northern Railway – and opened originally as ‘Mill Hill Station’ between Finchley and Edgware, but originating in Finsbury Park. In 1928 the name was changed to ‘Mill Hill (East) for Mill Hill Barracks’ and the station was used mainly for soldiers at the nearby barracks. Electrification to Edgware was proposed in 1938 as part of the New Works programme but this didn't happen and, unlike others, this station was never rebuilt. The old Edgware Line was reopened to here in 1941 following pressure from the War Office which wanted access to the barracks but at the same time it became part of the Northern Line but using the old London North East Railway track. It is one of only two London Underground stations to have only one platform – an intended second platform was never built. Just beyond where trains stop, is some hundred yards of fenced off non-electrified track left in-situ as an over-run for the London Transport line- the intended extension of the line has never been undertaken. There is also some contemporary netting on either side. The original station is still there, with the former Station Master’s house adjacent and the old wooden platform still there under a layer of asphalt. An overhead cable bridge connected to the New Works programme has been removed.
A siding was installed for North Middlesex Gas Works in 1886
Sidings for building work for the infantry barracks were provided in 1904 and remained there for army use.
Industrial Estate on the east side of the road represents a goods dock built in the 1930s. This served the barracks and the Royal Engineers workshop which was adjacent to it
Bus turning circle in front of the station dates from the New Works programme in 1941
Waitrose and development – this is on the site of the North Middlesex Gas Works opened 1886 and closed in 1956. This area represents the area of the entrance to the works – the holders and working area were to the west
Royal Engineers Eastern Command Workshops. Built in 1946 on the site of Bittacy Farm. Later used by the Council Depot
Council Estate built in the 1930s
Devonshire Road
Mill Hill Homesteads bought Devonshire Farm in 1933 and laid out this estate
Dollis Road
Dollis Railway Viaduct. Built for the Great Northern Railway on the branch line from Finsbury Park to Edgware in 1863-7 by Sir John Fowler and Walter Marr Brydone. It consists of thirteen red brick arches with a parapet. The piers are subdivided into two sub-pieces. It is one of the most spectacular works of railway architecture in southeast England and said to be the highest point on the London Underground. In 1941 the line was electrified by London Transport and became part of the Northern line. It was built wide enough for a double track.
Eversleigh Road
This follows the line of the approach road to Nether Court
Frith Lane
Finchley Golf Course. This is built in the grounds of what was Nether Court. The house owner, Henry Tubbs, established a 9-hole golf course in part of his grounds in 1892. The club lapsed during the Great War and Tubbs died in 1917. In 1919 Hendon Urban District Council bought the house for a hospital site but instead sold it to John James Ward, a Farringdon butcher. He sold both this and Frith Grange, to a company who then sold it to Finchley Urban District Council in 1928 who wanted to build a road through the site. It was then leased out as a golf course which opened in 1930.
Nether Court - this is now the golf clubhouse. It was built in 1883 by Percy Stone for Henry Thomas Tubbs, JP, thus also called 'Old Tubbs Mansion'. Garden terraces lie on the side of the house, there are specimen trees and a large 19th ornamental fountain and basin. The golf course retains the original landscaping of the old grounds.
Golf Club Entrance – the club is approached by an avenue of chestnut trees, a continuation of Eversleigh Road.
Bridge over Dollis Brook. This bridge on the chestnut avenue between Eversleigh Road and Nether Court. It is a road width, built of brick and has railings to prevent falls into the brook
Frith Grange. Demolished in 1929
Railway Bridge. Thus was built for the never finished and now non existent line. It was not used until 1969 when the original bridge became unsafe and the track on the bridge was re-aligned to pass through the space for the second track
Old Railway Bridge The original bridge was demolished In 1969. There are signs of the original track on the south side of the bridge where by the line of sleepers still in position
Frith Grange Scout Camp Site. Owned by Barnet District Scouts
Holders Hill Circus
Locally known as Kelly’s Corner. Kelly were monumental masons
The Mill Pub. Built in the 1960s
St Mary Magdalene church 1934. This was a mission church which has now gone. Some of the fitting were moved to other churches in the area
Inglis Barracks
The barracks were built in the late 1880s – this square covers the south eastern area. This was the home of the home of the ‘Die Hards’ Middlesex Regiment. Named after Lt.Col William Inglis killed at Battle of Albuera in 1811 and told troops to ‘Die Hard’. In the Second World War this included a Middlesex Regiment Depot and a hutted camp. Much of the area is now in other use.
Lidbury Road
This road was within the area of the Barracks
Personnel and Medical Centre. Built 1960s
Sources
Day. London Underground
Disused Stations. Web site
GLIAS Newsletter
London Borough of Barnet web site
London Gardens online web site
London Railway Record
Osborne, Defending London
TBAIG, A Survey of Industrial Monuments of Greater London
Pevsner and Cherry. London North
Northern Wastes
The Dollis Brook flows south westwards and is met by two tributaries from the north west
Post to the north Frith
Post to the east West Finchley
Post to the west Holders Hill
Post to the south Finchley Church End
Bittacy Hill
Mill Hill East Station. Opened in 1867 it is now the Terminus of the Northern Line beyond Finchley Central and the only station on the branch. It is the least used station on the Northern Line. It was built for the Edgware, Highgate and London Railway and opened by the Great Northern Railway – and opened originally as ‘Mill Hill Station’ between Finchley and Edgware, but originating in Finsbury Park. In 1928 the name was changed to ‘Mill Hill (East) for Mill Hill Barracks’ and the station was used mainly for soldiers at the nearby barracks. Electrification to Edgware was proposed in 1938 as part of the New Works programme but this didn't happen and, unlike others, this station was never rebuilt. The old Edgware Line was reopened to here in 1941 following pressure from the War Office which wanted access to the barracks but at the same time it became part of the Northern Line but using the old London North East Railway track. It is one of only two London Underground stations to have only one platform – an intended second platform was never built. Just beyond where trains stop, is some hundred yards of fenced off non-electrified track left in-situ as an over-run for the London Transport line- the intended extension of the line has never been undertaken. There is also some contemporary netting on either side. The original station is still there, with the former Station Master’s house adjacent and the old wooden platform still there under a layer of asphalt. An overhead cable bridge connected to the New Works programme has been removed.
A siding was installed for North Middlesex Gas Works in 1886
Sidings for building work for the infantry barracks were provided in 1904 and remained there for army use.
Industrial Estate on the east side of the road represents a goods dock built in the 1930s. This served the barracks and the Royal Engineers workshop which was adjacent to it
Bus turning circle in front of the station dates from the New Works programme in 1941
Waitrose and development – this is on the site of the North Middlesex Gas Works opened 1886 and closed in 1956. This area represents the area of the entrance to the works – the holders and working area were to the west
Royal Engineers Eastern Command Workshops. Built in 1946 on the site of Bittacy Farm. Later used by the Council Depot
Council Estate built in the 1930s
Devonshire Road
Mill Hill Homesteads bought Devonshire Farm in 1933 and laid out this estate
Dollis Road
Dollis Railway Viaduct. Built for the Great Northern Railway on the branch line from Finsbury Park to Edgware in 1863-7 by Sir John Fowler and Walter Marr Brydone. It consists of thirteen red brick arches with a parapet. The piers are subdivided into two sub-pieces. It is one of the most spectacular works of railway architecture in southeast England and said to be the highest point on the London Underground. In 1941 the line was electrified by London Transport and became part of the Northern line. It was built wide enough for a double track.
Eversleigh Road
This follows the line of the approach road to Nether Court
Frith Lane
Finchley Golf Course. This is built in the grounds of what was Nether Court. The house owner, Henry Tubbs, established a 9-hole golf course in part of his grounds in 1892. The club lapsed during the Great War and Tubbs died in 1917. In 1919 Hendon Urban District Council bought the house for a hospital site but instead sold it to John James Ward, a Farringdon butcher. He sold both this and Frith Grange, to a company who then sold it to Finchley Urban District Council in 1928 who wanted to build a road through the site. It was then leased out as a golf course which opened in 1930.
Nether Court - this is now the golf clubhouse. It was built in 1883 by Percy Stone for Henry Thomas Tubbs, JP, thus also called 'Old Tubbs Mansion'. Garden terraces lie on the side of the house, there are specimen trees and a large 19th ornamental fountain and basin. The golf course retains the original landscaping of the old grounds.
Golf Club Entrance – the club is approached by an avenue of chestnut trees, a continuation of Eversleigh Road.
Bridge over Dollis Brook. This bridge on the chestnut avenue between Eversleigh Road and Nether Court. It is a road width, built of brick and has railings to prevent falls into the brook
Frith Grange. Demolished in 1929
Railway Bridge. Thus was built for the never finished and now non existent line. It was not used until 1969 when the original bridge became unsafe and the track on the bridge was re-aligned to pass through the space for the second track
Old Railway Bridge The original bridge was demolished In 1969. There are signs of the original track on the south side of the bridge where by the line of sleepers still in position
Frith Grange Scout Camp Site. Owned by Barnet District Scouts
Holders Hill Circus
Locally known as Kelly’s Corner. Kelly were monumental masons
The Mill Pub. Built in the 1960s
St Mary Magdalene church 1934. This was a mission church which has now gone. Some of the fitting were moved to other churches in the area
Inglis Barracks
The barracks were built in the late 1880s – this square covers the south eastern area. This was the home of the home of the ‘Die Hards’ Middlesex Regiment. Named after Lt.Col William Inglis killed at Battle of Albuera in 1811 and told troops to ‘Die Hard’. In the Second World War this included a Middlesex Regiment Depot and a hutted camp. Much of the area is now in other use.
Lidbury Road
This road was within the area of the Barracks
Personnel and Medical Centre. Built 1960s
Sources
Day. London Underground
Disused Stations. Web site
GLIAS Newsletter
London Borough of Barnet web site
London Gardens online web site
London Railway Record
Osborne, Defending London
TBAIG, A Survey of Industrial Monuments of Greater London
Pevsner and Cherry. London North
Northern Wastes
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