Barnet
Alston Road
9 Sebright Arms
Barnet
The modern borough, created in 1965, is named from the ancient settlement,
recorded as ‘Barneto’ c.1070, ‘Barnet’ 1197, ‘la Bernet’ 1235, ‘La Barnette’
1248, that is 'the land cleared by burning', from Old English ‘bxmet’,
referring to the clearing of this once densely forested area in early times.
The three manors of Barnet were distinguished one from another at an early
date. Chipping Barnet and East Barnet were included in Hertfordshire because
they were possessions of the Abbey of St Albans, whereas Friern Barnet was in
the old county of Middlesex because it belonged to the Knights of St John of
Jerusalem. New Barnet, marked thus on the Ordnance Survey map of 1887, and
Barnet Vale are areas mainly developed from the end of the 19th century. Beginning
of the c.19th Barnet had a population of 1,500; in 1821 this was 1,750
and by 1831 2,400. This was a reflection
of its position on the northern mail-coach road; it was an important junction
and, at a distance of 11 miles from London, a convenient place for the coaches
to change their teams. Chipping Barnet
had long been prosperous. It is a centre of great urban
development. Yet in spite of all these
changes the centre of Chipping Barnet is not unduly changed.
Barnet Hill
Levelled by Macadam, 1823. Causeway dates from 1820s to lessen the steep
slope
Court House 1913
Queen Elizabeth’s
Green Man, Stamford Regent stopped there. Drastically affected
as the new road was driven through its yard; the inn which remains is a pale reflection of the
size and importance of its great predecessor. For 50 years intense with
the Red Lion. After the establishing of
the mail coach
they grew and prospered, considering themselves no longer mere hostelries but
great posting establishments, each with the aim of horsing more coaches and chaises
than its rival. They differed in every
way. On the far side, hoped to secure
the south bound traffic. The post-boys
affected distinctive blue jackets and became a Whig house. The Green Man eventually became the larger of the two, keeping 26 pairs and
11 post-boys. It was a severe blow when the new road virtually
destroyed the Green Man leaving the Red Lion intact.
Red Lion, previously called the Antelope. South side of the road for the
north bound traffic. The greatest of them.
For 50 years
intense rivalry with the Green Man.
After the establishing of the mail coach they grew and prospered, considering themselves no longer
mere hostelries
but great posting establishments, each with the aim of providing horses for more coaches and chaises
than its rival. They differed in every
way. Provided yellow jackets and black hats
for its 'boys'. Recognized as a centre for Tory
sympathisers. Against the 18 pairs at
the Red Lion and 8 post-boys.
Milestone
Court House. 1913.
Chipping Barnet
Means ‘burnt place’,
earlier written ‘Baemet’, or 'a place
cleared by burning'. On this prominent hilltop the forest lands of Enfield
Chase were cleared to form the village, which in time was to have its chepe, or
weekly market, receiving a charter for that purpose in the region of Henry
II. The full title of Chipping, or High
Barnet, summarises its origins and position. It means ‘market’ which was
granted by King John 1199, and set up by the Abbey of St.Albans to whom the manor belonged. Thus the centre of the settlement moved from
East Barnet to here. It was built on the
site of a wood called Southaw which belonged to the Abbey. The name evolves
through ‘Chepyng Barnet’ in 1321, ‘Chepinbarnet’ in 1347, that is 'the Barnet
manor with a market'. It was also known as ‘Westbarnet’ 1449 to contrast with
East Barnet, and from the 16th century as ‘High Barnet’, as in ‘High Bernet’ in
1575, and ‘Chipping Barnet alias High Barnet’ in 1628. in 1588 a charter was
granted for a horse and cattle market here by Queen Elizabeth I. There was a
horse fair first week in September, which became the most important sale centre
for Welsh Drovers coming into London with cattle
Church Passage
Hyde Institute, Now part of Barnet College. Built from a
bequest of 1887; 1903-4. a late work by T.
G. Jackson. Galleried reading room , now with inserted floor. f.1888
by Julia Hyde for public system. Bequest.
High Street
A
number of small low
buildings, some timber-framed in origin, still reflect the town's older history,
although old fabric is well hidden and the scene fails to add up to anything consistently
picturesque.
105-107, a former interwar Burton's, has the store's typical detail to the upper
floor.
126 Salisbury
149 King George
17th militia HQ
58 Mitre Inn good etched glass where General Monk stayed when he led his army into London to welcome
Charles II at the Restoration. Posting house whose successor is still near the
church,
60 Old Bull community and arts centre. House with later shop front.
Lloyds Bank, by T.M.
Wilson, c. 1931;
Moon Under Water
Post Office, near the little green by the church, 1903-4,
Power Station. Built by NMEPDC 1900. Northmet 1906.
The Spires Shopping Centre, 1986-9 by
Essex Goodman & Suggitt, starts on
the between the twin turrets
preserved from a Methodist church of 1891, and stretches back over a long
narrow site to Stapylton Road. a top lit arcade with shops on two levels, then shops around two
planted open courtyards, ending with supermarket and car park fronting Stapylton Road
White Hart, General Monk stayed there
Leecroft Road
Thomas Watson cottage homes. 1914 for old and loyal employees of Messrs.
Sutton carriers, One-storey cottages spaciously arranged on three sides of a large court.
Central community building
Meadway Gate
Cattle trough used as a planter
Cranmer School old school, used for meetings
Mission Church
St. Stephen
Moxon Street
A series of earlier 19th villas.
Mutton Lane
Our Lady of the Assumption 1950
Ravenscroft Park
Outside Grimsdyke House, stone block boundary stone of the turnpike trust,
probably earliest. Park was Barnet Common and laid out as a recreation ground
1883.
Stapylton Road
Library. By Barnet
Borough Architect's Department. Octagonal public library with
reference section on mezzanine floor above, the ground-floor spaces around the
edge open to the roof, with well-lit corner sitting areas
Lodge to almshouses
Pillar box by A. Handyside & Co. Ltd.
V.R. cypher 1887 - c.1899
The Drive
Pillar box by A. Handyside & Co. Ltd.
V.R. cypher 1887 - c.1899
Union Street
Laid out 1837
Leathersellers Almshouses, 1544, moved from the Bishopsgate 1837. Three
ranges round a courtyard. chapel, 1866, rebuilt 1926. The
wings of pale brick, originally single-storeyed, 1836-7 and 1851 were tactfully rebuilt in 1964-6
by Kenneth
Peacock of the Louis de Soissons Partnership.
Lodge of 1861. Iron gates brought from St Helen's
Place, Bishopsgate, in 1926.
Town Hall
RC chapel
St. Mary Immaculate & St. Gregory. RC 1974, built by Lanner Buildings
after a design by Steel, Bretman & Partners. Presbytery by Scott & Jakes.
Ravenscroft Lodge annexe 1976-8 by R. E. Barnes, fine alabaster busts of James Ravenscroft, dated
1670, and his wife Mary, dated
1672, attributed to Thomas Burman
Wood Street
Ravenscroft
Almshouses, the Jesus Hospital Charity founded by James Ravenscroft, 1679, although only the central archway
and gable, and the gate piers with carved stones 'JR' and '1679' from then. Single row of one-storeyed dwellings, largely rebuilt in the
c19. For
six poor women
Garrett's Almshouses, 1731, a
very simple one-storey row of six cottages. Much
restored c. 1902 and modernised 1981.
29 Registry offices. The competition for new Urban District Offices
was won in 1913 by H.A. Cheers.
55
is a more
substantial 18th house with 19th seven-bay stucco front, later a maternity hospital,
converted in 1996 to flats, with extensions
Tudor Hall. Barnet College, The former Queen Elizabeth Grammar School is now the
Tudor Hall of the college. It was built
c. 1577 and altered c19. The hall was originally open to the roof. The interior was remodelled in 1968. Behind the hall, three phases of local
authority architecture. The buildings
are grouped informally around a quadrangle.
library of 1957; blocks of 1965
Hertfordshire County Council Architect's Department G. C. Fardell, linked by a
glass bridge with red brick towers at either end. They demonstrate the confidence with which
the Herts CC could mix new with old buildings.
additions to the SE Barnet Borough Architect's
Department: B. Bancroft, 1974-6.
Barnet pillar to the Battle of Barnet, erected 1790 by Jeremy Sambrook of
North Mimms
Crown
Elizabeth Allen School. 1824 on the gable.
Ewen Hall
James Garratt Almshouses. 1731 one storey six cottages modernised
1981
Marie Foster Home single-storey, , by Peter Barefoot & Partners,
1974.
United Reformed Church. 1884, extended 1892.
Ewen Hall, 1906 by W. Charles Waymouth.
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