CAMPAIGNING FOR A BETTER COMMUNITY SINCE 1945

THE INSIDE: Page 6 I Whalebones relief Page 7 I Café society Barnet Page 8 I You’re so vane Society Page 9 I The way we were SPRING 2021 | £1 Page 11 I Tudor Park plea

of Barnet. Teams of battlefield archaeologists, including volunteers from , conducted extensive metal-detecting searches and excavations in fields and woodland around Kitts End Lane and Wrotham Park. At the start of the project in 2015, Mr Foard joined metal detectorists who searched one of the fields between Kitts End Lane and the St Albans Road. Some artefacts were recovered but they failed to find military archaeology that linked the site Mystery remains over definitively to the battle. Volunteers at Barnet Museum, exactly where the 1471 under the direction of Sam took place Wilson, cleaned and recorded all the various items that were found. However, most of the The Battle of Where? objects recovered were modern “junk”. report into the Glenn Foard, Reader in Military The report’s four-year project Archaeology at the University of conclusion is that the to discover the site Huddersfield, led the 2015-18 Barnet slight scatter of finds – of the 1471 Battle of battlefield project, which was and the discovery of round ABarnet explains why a team of funded by the Hadley Trust. ▲ Top, the shot by other metal detectorists military historians still cannot Their 116-page report explores recently in previous years – suggests the provide answers to the mystery the many historic accounts of the cleaned main action of the confrontation monument surrounding the precise location battle and compares and contrasts at Hadley between the forces of Edward IV of an epic confrontation during this data with the latest experiences Highstone to and Warwick the Kingmaker lay the , writes Nick in battlefield archaeology and the the battle. beyond the search site in areas Above, Glenn Jones. success in locating the site of the Foard, from the where metal detecting has not yet Despite failing to find any 1485 Battle of Bosworth Field. University of been undertaken. definitive battle-related evidence Despite years of study, historians Huddersfield, Dr Foard -- and his two other who helped during their archaeological dig, have failed to agree on the exact team members and report authors, lead the they call for further research and location of the confrontation Tracey Partida and Sam Wilson recommend several sites to the between Lancastrian and Yorkist – say the significance of their north of Barnet which they believe armies that took place on 14 April research, and the need for it to might be worth investigating. 1471 in fields up to a mile north Continued, Page 2 ➻

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The Barnet battlefield project 2015-2018 Glenn Foard, Tracey Partida and Sam Wilson

Barnet Society The Battle of Barnet is Continued from Page 1 one of the “well upon half a myle” from the continue, is that Barnet still presents iconic military town of Barnet in memory of the perhaps the best potential for encounters in soldiers killed in the battle. British history further investigation out of several but still its Test pits were dug around a of the lost battlefield sites of the precise location former moat within Wrotham Park, Wars of the Roses. eludes historians together with a geophysical survey Barnet’s added importance is by a team from Southampton that it is the only surviving English University, but failed to identify any

battlefield of the period where an Cover of the structures or any trace of a mass universities of army was known to have included Huddersfield and grave pit. One concern is metal Southampton report a substantial number of hand contamination in some target areas The battle of Barnet as depicted in the short version of The Arrival, showing events in a landscape which lacks any significant relation to the landscape around Barnet. gunners. ofFile:MS exceptional Ghent - Battle of Barnet.jpg . archaeological value” which could render a systematic

“Thus, Barnet might be our only as no other European battlefield metal detecting survey impractical. opportunity in to reveal of the later 15th century had yet While a few of the high-status the archaeological signature of late produced large scale archaeological dead from Barnet were known 15th century handguns when used in evidence for the use of handguns. to have been buried in London battle...and we cannot be sure which Targets for future investigation if churches, there has been no type of handgun was used by the access could be obtained would discovery of human remains Flemish mercenaries at Barnet.” be the Old Fold Golf Course; land reported from the Barnet area If round lead shot had been around Dancers Hill which was an which can be securely linked to the discovered in the search area that area where most of the artillery battle. might have helped to unlock the overshots might have come to rest; There has The report pays tribute not only mysteries surrounding the Yorkist and the north side of Bentley Heath been no to the Hadley Trust’s funding of the army’s defeat of the Lancastrian where Yorkist overshots might lie. discovery project, but also the “tireless work” forces and the death of Warwick. Another priority would be a larger of the late Dr Gillian Gear of Barnet of human Hundreds of Flemish hand excavation inside Wrotham Park, Museum who was “almost single gunners were present in the Yorkist the site of a medieval Kick Ends remains... handedly responsible for securing army and if lead bullets were found settlement to see if there was any linked to the financial and community at Barnet they would be “potentially evidence of a chapel that was built the battle support”.

Roll on September for anniversary celebrations

An ambitious line-up of events is planned for the 550th once lockdown restrictions are eased. Last year’s medieval festival anniversary of the Battle of Barnet and the highlight will be the had to be cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic and when it return of the Barnet Medieval Festival in September. became evident that holding this year’s event in June, as originally A two-day event over the weekend of September 11-12 will planned, was no longer possible, the organisers opted for the include battle re-enactments and a medieval encampment and weekend of September 11-12 instead. market at the Byng Road playing fields. “We are busy planning how to deliver an exciting and A crowdfunding campaign – see details below – is well underway spectacular programme that will bring the community together to help finance what the festival committee hopes will be a truly safely, working within whatever guidelines are still required, and memorable event to commemorate Barnet’s role in the Wars create a truly memorable celebration,” said Dr Skedd. of the Roses when the Yorkist army of Edward IV defeated the Over the two-day festival there will be re-enactments at the Lancastrian forces led by Warwick the Kingmaker. Barnet Elizabethans RFC’s playing fields in Byng Road of both the If all went to plan, the High Street should have been decorated Battle of Barnet and the Battle of Tewkesbury which were both with heraldic banners in time for the 550th anniversary date of fought in the spring of 1471. Wednesday 14 April. In order to fund this special event, the committee has launched To mark the occasion a socially distanced wreath laying a crowdfunding campaign and has bid for funds from the Mayor of ceremony was due to have been held at Hadley Highstone which London and Barnet Council. was erected in 1740 to commemorate the battle. “Public support is vital to the success of our bid and the more Volunteers at Barnet Museum, who painted 72 heraldic banners people who pledge their support now for our ‘Battle of Barnet at featuring Yorkist and Lancastrian coats of arms, refurbished them 550’ campaign, the better chance we have of getting backed by during the winter months ready for installation on lamp posts in the major funders and reaching our target of £25,000”. the High Street. Anyone wishing to make a donation can do so by visiting www. Dr Susan Skedd, a founder member of the festival committee, spacehive.com/battle-barnet-550 or e-mailing the Festival team stressed the importance of building support for the two-day event at [email protected]

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Kitchen sink drama lifts the lid on women’s food role

The Bull Players’ ▲ Illustration historic setting , close of the typical close to the scene to what is believed to performance of Fog of medieval kitchen, of the battle. be the battlefield site. War – their contribution to in this case commemorations to mark Barnet’s closed Monken Hadley Fearful that beguine lay church was rebuilt victorious soldiers will the 550th anniversary of women order in 1494 shortly after pillage their beguine, the the Battle of Barnet – is to James P Godwin, author the battle of 1471 and the church women of the house prepare be staged in mid-September of the play, Fog gardens are thought to be close themselves for the imminent battle in the historic setting of the of War to the site of the chapel that was and the trouble it might bring for garden of Monken Hadley erected to commemorate the men local community. church, writes Nick Jones who lost their lives in what was one They bake extra bread for the of the decisive confrontations of the troops and embroider coats of arms wo afternoon Wars of the Roses. of the competing forces in the hope performances during the Fog of War has been written by they can be considered the allies of weekend following the Ms Dunne’s son James P Godwin, whichever army prevails. Barnet Medieval Festival a budding playwright, who is James, who is 21, has completed Twill attempt to bring to life the about to complete a three-year several drafts of the play which daily toil of women working in creative writing course at Bath Spa became his final year project, and a medieval kitchen as the local University. it is ready for read throughs by the inhabitants ready themselves for James wanted to explore the group. what became one of the decisive impact of the looming clash Ms Dunne said the choice of the confrontations of the Wars of the between the two armies and its Monken Hadley church garden as a Roses. aftermath on medieval life in setting for the production seemed The scene will be set by a large Barnet. to be the ideal solution; she and black and white drawing that forms The challenge he faced was to the cast are hoping for a repeat the backdrop for the stage and create a setting and script suitable of the recent run of warm and dry the production will also include for an amateur dramatic group, so September weather. medieval music written specially for Much of the he devised a story line with parts “We have the advantage of not the occasion. action takes for the women and men who only an historic setting but also Siobhan Dunne, the Players’ place in the make up the 22-strong group of one outside where a cast of senior director and producer, opted kitchen of players. performers will feel safe.” for open air productions on the a medieval Much of the action takes place in There will be 150 seats available afternoons of Saturday and Sunday the kitchen of a medieval beguine, for the two performances and 18-19 September as it will provide beguine, a a women-only community, which tickets, at £10 each, will be on sale the safest acting environment for women-only he has placed next to the hermitage through the Bull Theatre in Barnet the cast and take advantage of an community that later became Old Fold Manor at High Street.

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SPRING

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENTREPORT

Happily, Barnet has denied plans The Victorian to build solar farms and batteries villa at 33 Lyonsdown Road on what it what it terms ‘low-value, has been saved low-quality’ parks such as Highlands from developers Gardens and Tudor Park. Two new who wanted to knock it down cases particularly concern us. The and build fl ats, fi rst is applications for 175 lamp- above post advertising banners in High, East and and in Whetstone. We’ve objected to the one for Barnet Hill and High Street, which would negate the decluttering Developers knocked achieved since 2000, contradict Conservation Area policy and back three times undermine the aims of the Community Plan. Robin Bishop writes elsewhere in North London, have The second, a proposal to add recently been refused, so politicians two storeys and a side extension to We’ve had three big wins have begun to notice public Barnet House as part of a scheme since I last reported. Mayor concern about drastic change to the for 263 1-3 bed fl ats, is outside our Sadiq Khan has refused to character of our suburbs. patch, but very much in our view. overturn Barnet’s rejection Our campaign to stem abuses in We will also be studying closely a of the Victoria Quarter and Conservation Areas is progressing. plan for a 90-place school for pupils Whalebones developments. The Council issued enforcement aged 5-18 with Autistic Spectrum notices in respect of 70 High Street Disorder at 50 Moxon Street. Also, demolition of a Locally & 1 Sunset View, and the owners New versions of both the London Listed Victorian villa, 33 have appealed to the Planning and Barnet Plans have been fi nally Lyonsdown Road, in favour Inspectorate. If the Council wins, published. Having submitted many of fl ats has been rejected by it will send a powerful message to comments on both, by and large we the Council. We wait to see would-be abusers. support the end results – especially Our campaign what the developers decide We’ve objected successfully to the lower housing targets, which to stem to do next. three developments in the Green have been so problematic. abuses in We’re also waiting for an Belt at the former Riding Those Plans will count for little, Conservation application for High Barnet School, the former Cottage Garden however, if the government’s radical Areas is Station car park. Similar major Nursery and near Hadley Highstone. planning reforms go ahead. progressing developments at other tube But decisions on a new gas plant and Read more about our recent stations, as well as others on the electricity battery off Partingdale activity on the Our Work page on former Homebase site and Lane are still awaited. our website.

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75 saplings for 75 years

Robin Bishop writes

On 28 January Society volunteers Walk on: planted the last of 75 Hawthorns on The council Barnet Hill to celebrate 75 years of has appointed a Rights of our existence and also Tu B’Shvat, Way offi cer the Jewish New Year of the Tree. to help meet They form part of a line of some the 2026 300 that our Vice-President, David deadline Lee, planned along the south-west boundary of the hillside. Rambling into the future A year ago, the Jewish charity Kisharon helped us to plant the fi rst Robin Bishop writes 50 Hawthorns, which now grow at the top of the hill. Last autumn One of the few benefi ts of Covid-19 on sale in April as a Limited Edition they off ered to plant more on Tu has been revival of interest in the of 50 copies, with a 4-page insert of B’Shvat, but unfortunately Covid-19 countryside, with a noticeable updates and additional information. prevented that. increase in walkers and cyclists on It will be priced at £6, the profi ts Hawthorns bloom in May, local paths and bridleways in the last going to the Society. the month that the Society was year. We also think that, in view of the founded. Their magnifi cent white As part of its duty to complete a widening demography of walkers – blossom inspired a 1904 poem Defi nitive Map of Rights of Way by with interests not only in nature but by Algernon Charles Swinburne, 2026, the Council has appointed in local history, architecture, parks Hawthorn Tide, that seems a Rights of Way Offi cer. Frances and urban development – that the especially resonant after a year of Wilson has been leading the time is right for a new kind of guide. lockdown: Society’s work with the Council and Simon Kaufman is heading research Ramblers to ensure that all existing into what we’re provisionally calling Dawn is alive in the world, and the footpaths are included. Rambles III. It will include new darkness of heaven and of earth Among these will be, we expect, routes suitable for families, cyclists Subsides in the light of a smile the routes mapped in 1947 by the and the disabled, and we hope it will more sweet than the loud Society’s Treasurer, EH Lucas. also be available digitally. noon’s mirth. In 2012, four of his walks were A whole white world published by the Society (with Do you have suggestions for: of revival awaits May’s Barnet Museum) as Rambles Round • favourite places to go for walks? whisper awhile… Barnet – In the footsteps of EH • lovely green spaces and places Lucas. In 2013 a further three walks with great views? How we all look followed in Volume II. • secret places, features or buildings forward to May Volume I of Rambles is out of you’d like others to know about? and the easing print, but we’ve decided that it’s • favourite playgrounds and places of lockdown. appropriate, at the conclusion of our to go with the family? 75th anniversary year, to reprint it. A Please let me know via our website facsimile of the 2012 edition will go ‘Contact’ page.

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for the Mayor to intervene – a decision that still leaves open the possibility of an appeal to the Secretary of State. Hill Residential’s plan to redevelop Whalebones on behalf of the Gwyneth Cowing trustees proposed that half the site – excluding the privately-owned Whalebones house – would remain as parkland and green space, which would be open Victory for campaign against to public access. Much of the new housing would Whalebones houses and flats be in the field next to the new Elmbank redevelopment. ▲ The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan any possible future intervention by Part of the The plan provided for 53 family Whalebones has decided not to overrule Barnet the Secretary of State. site from Wood houses; 99 flats in three blocks up Council in its refusal to give the go Hill Residential’s application for Street, and to four storeys high; 179 car parking ahead for the redevelopment of the planning permission to redevelop above, the plans spaces; and the construction of for developments Whalebones fields and woodland Whalebones was rejected by the a new access road joining Wood with the construction of 152 new council last October after years of Street opposite the Arkley public homes, writes Nick Jones. campaigning by local activists and house, where there would be a new Local objectors urged the Mayor organisations, and the Chipping road junction with Galley Lane. not to intervene and to respect Barnet MP, Theresa Villiers. Alongside the new housing would the council’s decision to reject the Over 500 objections were be two new public open spaces, a planning application. registered to the application and the children’s play area and a woodland In welcoming the Mayor’s backing depth of local opposition was cited walk. Hill would also construct a for local decision making, the by the chairman, Councillor Shimon purpose-built community building Barnet Society has appealed to the Ryde, when he used his casting for the Barnet Guild of Artists and Whalebones trustees to rethink vote to refuse permission after the the Barnet Beekeepers Association. their plan and to re-examine the planning committee was tied by a Robin Bishop, chair of the Barnet possibility of using the fields for five-five vote. Society, urged the developers to urban farming or another green However, Barnet Council’s take the opportunity to rethink project. refusal was not final because the the project and back away from Nearby residents who have application to build 152 homes was such “a big suburban housing been campaigning for months to pitched sufficiently high to trigger development”. save Whalebones had appealed the process under which proposals Whalebones included the “last to the Mayor to acknowledge the for large developments of 150 Over 500 remaining fields” of historic High strength of their argument that an homes or more can be referred objections Barnet, a deliberate legacy of irreplaceable green space between to the Mayor who has the power were received the late Gwyneth Cowing, who High Barnet and Arkley should be to overturn decisions by London by the council bequeathed the land for continuing preserved. boroughs. agricultural use. against the Mr Khan said he was “content” to A report prepared for the Greater Representations to the Mayor in allow the council to make decisions London Authority concluded there development advance of his decision included 289 on the future of the site subject to were “no sound planning reasons” written objections.

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Work-from-homers wake up and smell the coffee

With so many city centre office staff ▲ Perk barista “Our hunch was that high-end heading for Ravenscroft Park Thomas Mannion continuing to work from home, the coffee remains just as popular, and or taking the dog for a walk to and customer daily demand for take-away coffees Jackie Arthur it was simply a question of finding the nearby Byng Road playing has been rising out in the suburbs – a suburban location surrounded by fields. creating new business opportunities lots of family houses and flats where With the return of children to for hard-pressed café proprietors. people are working from home and Foulds Primary School, mums The Perk coffee bar opened where they do like their daily take- popping in for a cup of tea or coffee in mid-February at the height of away. add to the morning and mid- the 2021 lockdown in the hope of “Our pitch is that we see ourselves afternoon trade. tapping into the market for speciality as a neighbourhood café. We want Perk has two baristas, Thomas coffees among the growing band of to build a customer base among Mannion and Alejandro Berro, and High Barnet home workers who live local people and become part of the they both appeared surprised but in the streets in and around Alston neighbourhood.” pleased to find they had so many Road and The Avenue. The Perk offers a range of satisfied customers. Hugo James and Annabelle speciality coffees, cakes, savouries, Another recently opened coffee Shields-Porter are delighted with the and snacks and will provide light bar, The Huddle, at the Hadley response to their neighbourhood meals when outside seating is Green end of Barnet High Street, coffee bar situated at the corner permitted, and then inside once says it too has benefited from the with Wentworth Road. They seem lockdown has eased. demand for high-quality coffees sure their venture has every chance In the first month of trading the and teas from home workers and of success. couple’s hunch proved correct: there dog walkers. “We had to give up the coffee is a strong trade during the morning Manager Arjan Dema said the shop and salad bar which we were from people taking a break or switch to home working had helped running in Camden next door to walking the dog. to sustain trade. People who used several office blocks. Our trade just Some customers seem in a rush to get a coffee on their way to the disappeared overnight when all the to get home, saying that they must office still wanted the same treat office workers were told to stay at get back to work, while others are when working at home and that had home. enjoying the fresh air, probably helped maintain footfall.

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BS_Spring_FINAL.indd 7 29/03/2021 06:39 Barnet Society The weathervanes forecast looks good

Weathervanes date back in documentation to early times in ancient China and Greece, write Geoffrey Crabtree and Paul Huggins. However, they only really came into prominence in Christendom when a papal edict in the 9th century made it compulsory for every church steeple to be surmounted by a weathercock. The cockerel had become the symbol of St Peter, and hence of the papacy, as he was the first Bishop of Rome. The symbol originated because Jesus told Peter that he would deny knowing Him three times before the cock crowed that day. Hence, weathervanes were also known a cockerel, none of which is on an as weathercocks, and the oldest one still ecclesiastical building, which would not functioning is atop of the church of Ottery please the 9th century pope mentioned St. Mary in Devon dating from 1340. above. In times before weather forecasts There are four examples depicting were available, wind direction was very the traditional pennant, in various important in determining what sort of forms, including swallowtail, wavy and weather to expect, and whether it was rectangular. The most popular type is in an appropriate day for horse transport. the form of an arrow, a favourite of the Hence, many weathervanes were placed Victorians, half of which are feathered on stables, and there are seven examples examples. in Barnet. Different types of birds are popular for Later, weathervanes diversified to weathervanes, which is understandable depict such symbolic figures as dolphins, considering that they are associated with fish, griffins, and dragons. Pennants wind and air. (pennons) also became popular, The fine collection includes a swan, sometimes bearing the arms of the local an owl, a myna bird, a duck and a dove, landowner. It was only in the 17th century the latter with an olive branch to depict that pointers or arrows became common. peace. Copper was later succeeded by wrought From the animal kingdom, there are iron in flat silhouette. The Victorians liked two cats, a fox and four horses, one exuberance, and they introduced exotic walking, two trotting, one galloping with animals, mythical creatures, sporting the highway man Dick Turpin on his back. motifs and trade signs. Two extreme forms of transport are Finally, mass-produced cast iron ones included; one ancient in the form of a have mainly taken over from hand-made Viking ship, the other modern in the wrought iron ones, and they are still form of a Formula One racing car, on the produced in a great variety of forms. former residence of the racing driver, Perhaps some Barnet Society members David Coultard. may be tempted to enhance those There is a delightful recent found in the area by commissioning a weathervane on the Monken Hadley weathervane. for their house. In the Barnet parish school depicting the church tower Society area, 41 vanes have been spotted. and 18th century copper beacon. Among these are eight weathervanes Finally, there is one depicting the Grim depicting the historic emblem of Reaper.

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reveals about 1911. “Remember, there was no tarmac, no electricity, tap water was a recent arrival, people had tin baths, outside privies, coal fi res. School leaving age was 14, there was no NHS, families had lots of children and an average working ▲ Dennis Bird week of 55 hours. has pored over the 1911 “The Dental factory in Alston census to reveal Road was established in 1890 and fascinating their football team, Dental Alston, insights into life were the forerunners of Barnet in 1911. Left, Alston Road FC. Five hours work on Saturday from 1911 morning and a 3pm kick off ! “I looked at the census schedules for the area and these are some of the things I found: As the 2021 census is “There were 324 households in the area and 308 returned schedules. completed, historian The total population was 1,680 including 562 children aged 0 – 14 (not including several 14-year-olds looks at life in 1911 already at work). There were two elementary schools well established Research by a local historian the family of the Liberal peer, the locally, Christ Church and Elizabeth provides a fascinating insight into Earl of Straff ord (George Byng) Allen. Foulds (Byng Road School) the occupations and everyday life sold off fi elds. The new houses opened in 1910. over a century ago among the and gardens followed the fi eld “There was no evidence that any several hundred families who lived in boundaries, and the streets were child was educated beyond age 14, a respectable working-class enclave named after four MPs who served the grammar schools were for those close to Barnet town centre, writes after the Great Reform Act – who could pay. Nick Jones. Sebright, Puller, Alston, and Calvert. “There were 832 males and 848 Dennis Bird, a long-standing The two biggest employers were females so it does not appear that member of the Barnet Local History the nearby factory of the Barnet the women here took any notice of Society, has completed a detailed Dental Manufacturing Company the suff ragettes’ campaign for votes examination of the 1911 census for (now Alston Works) which supplied for women and their rallying call the streets that make up SPACES – dentistry equipment, and the photo- for the day, ‘If women don’t count the group of houses bounded by the engraving works of John Swain neither shall they be counted’. four roads of Sebright, Puller, Alston, and Son in Bath Place, which was “The 1870 Education Act meant and Calvert. renamed Brake Shear House, and that elementary education was His study is a snapshot of what, which was demolished last year. compulsory for all children. It was shortly before the First World War, The 1911 census was held on fascinating to see 1911 handwriting was a solid, respectable working- Sunday 2 April and Dennis, a trustee from copper plate to barely legible. class area – only one person was of Barnet Museum, describes the “Obviously many male household unemployed; two households had information he extracted from a heads were not used to writing a servant; and the inhabitants census that went into greater detail and spelling could be eccentric, eg included a Belgian hairdresser and a than earlier surveys and which had ‘Baernet’ and ‘Hearts’. German optician. to be completed by the head of the “There were 328 residents, mainly Barnet had expanded rapidly after household and not an enumerator: adult, born outside the London the railway reached the town in 1872 “The roads known as SPACES There’s no and South Herts area. Many also and the farmland on the west side were built up after about 1870. evidence that came from Inner London Boroughs. of the High Street was gradually Development was piecemeal and any child was Clearly Barnet was attracting many built over, including the fi elds that generally of a lower standard than educated incomers but not immigrants. disappeared under the streets the rest of the town. beyond the “There were only fi ve people born that now make up the SPACES “As a former resident of Alston in Ireland, a Belgian hairdresser and age of 14 community. Road, I thought it would be a German optician. I wonder what Development was piecemeal as interesting to see what the census happened to him in 1914?”

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with Counsel for the committee. With luck will become law in the fi rst half of 2022. Those who run the Common are very keen that local residents should take an active interest in it. Already many provide fi nancial support through the Friends of and it is likely that after the Act comes into force the Friends will be amalgamated with the Trust. This will be a membership organisation with annual elections of the trustees and the management committee. In practical terms the Common will probably still be managed by the Curators, who are supported by a volunteer group of some 20 people who work in the woods each Tuesday, and be supervised by a committee. Despite the inadequacy of the current rules, the Common is managed satisfactorily within the limit of its fi nancial resources. Felling United in a Common cause a dangerous tree can cost up to £750 so it is to be hoped that a new The Churchwardens of Monken It was listed for a hearing in early ▲ It is hoped that charity which actually owns the Hadley Common (“the trustees”) March 2020 but that had to be the Bill for Hadley Common will encourage donations Common will have lodged a petition with adjourned as further preparatory become law next and, just as importantly, obtain a Parliament to authorise the transfer work needed to be done and then year membership which has a genuine of the Common to a registered Covid-19 intervened. Picture: William Boyes interest in the preservation of the charity to be known as the Monken It was decided that a charitable Common as a place to be enjoyed by Hadley Common Trust. Following incorporated organisation would the public and wild life. a consultation, which elicited a be the most appropriate structure The Common website (www. favourable response, the petition and an application for registration monkenhadleycommon.net) is was lodged on 27 November of the Trust was made to the Charity updated from time to time with 2019. The Bill provides that the Commission in September 2020. progress on the Bill. If anybody primary objects of the Trust are the There have been discussions with would like to be emailed the draft preservation of the Common as a it and the form of the constitution Bill and/or a transcript of the House place for peaceful open air public has been agreed but it will not be of Commons committee hearing or recreation and enjoyment and registered until further progress has requires further information please the conservation, protection and been made on the Bill. email me. improvement of the physical and A hearing took place before the A petition to Parliament requires natural environment of the Common House of Commons committee on the employment of a Parliamentary for the benefi t of the public. 17th November 2020 and it started Agent and this is an expensive These objects will therefore be well as the chairwoman, Dame operation so that additional “embedded” by primary legislation Eleanor Laing, mentioned that donations to the Friends will be very so that, for example, any attempt to she was reading one of Anthony welcome not only to pay for this but develop part of the Common would Trollope’s political novels and I Felling a tree also to repair some of the extensive require another Act of Parliament. was able to tell her that he and his can cost up physical damage caused during The Bill had fi rst and second mother had lived on to £750, so it the lockdowns by the massively readings in the House of Commons and one of his novels, The Bertrams, is hoped that increased use and the exceptionally and, as there was no opposition, it was set in the area. dry and then wet weather. a new charity passed to the House of Commons The committee was satisfi ed with William Boyes Unopposed Bill Committee for the Bill, subject to some relatively will encourage Clerk to the Churchwardens consideration. minor amendments to be agreed donations [email protected]

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Barnet Society committee Road school. It seems ludicrous to most environmentally friendly way member Simon Cohen has me that such a popular and well- to have these facilities in Tudor Park organised a survey that loved park has this derelict building To date, is to re-use the existing Pavilion standing for a decade without being building. If you agree can I suggest shows the strong demand there have utilised. Despite numerous attempts that you write a letter or send an to restore Tudor Park to by resident asking local politicians been 1,016 email to your local councillor and ask its former glory to help re-use this building for the responses to them to act as your representative To the members of the Barnet benefi t of the community, all these the survey, to make this happen. A few hundred Society and residents of High requests seem to have fallen on deaf with 984 letters might have an impact in an Barnet, Barnet Vale and New Barnet ears. people election year. and : There is talk of the high cost of wanting to see So, for the sake of our mental and On the 1st of January 2020 while repairs but I understand only one physical well-being, please act now the pavilion walking with my family through quote has ever been sought by to #SaveTudorParkPavilion. Hadley Woods and out into Tudor Barnet Council and I don’t know brought back Park, we reached the pavilion and anyone who has seen the surveyor’s to good use High Barnet Ward. for the fi rst time I noticed the date report commissioned by a past David Longstaff . above the entrance A.D. 1920. Environment Director. cllr.d.longstaff @barnet.gov.uk The pavilion was one hundred Following the council recently Wendy Prentice. years old but, as far as I am aware, stating the park was of “low quality [email protected] for the past ten years it has not been and low value”, I set up a survey to Julian Teare. in use. canvass local opinion on the park [email protected] I posted a tweet about the and its pavilion. situation that day with the hashtag To date there have been 1,016 ▼ The pavilion #SaveTudorParkPavilion, which responses to the survey, 984 people dates from 1920 had a strong response with people wish to see the pavilion brought and is in bad wanting it to be put to good use. back to good use, with the most need of repair I have known the pavilion for 50 popular requests being 85% wanting years, and my children have grown a café, 41% want public toilets and up as regular visitors to the park and 39% want a community space. playground having gone to Cromer This is not rocket science, the

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▲ Crowds at the unveiling of the memorial in April 1921

the necessary conservation onerous task of ensuring that work as part of a programme all the names of the Barnet men for restoring the borough’s ten who lost their lives in the First war memorials. World War were recorded on Councillor Stephen Sowerby, the plinth. who is heritage champion for Illustrating the booklet are the Borough of Barnet, told the numerous photographs and Barnet Society that the council newspaper cuttings from did not have suffi cient funds. the Barnet Press together An application has been with detailed accounts of the submitted to the War Memorial services and wreath laying held War memorial centenary... Trust in the hope of obtaining at the memorial every year but cleaning and conservation match funding for a full to mark Armistice Day and will have to wait programme of refurbishment Remembrance Sunday. and the council was hoping for “Peace! How the news was a positive response. received” was the headline A commemorative booklet of the memorial’s offi cial Chipping Barnet’s war over a Barnet Press report has been published by Barnet unveiling at the Parish Church memorial was unveiled by (16 November 1918) on how Museum and Local History of St John the Baptist on General Lord Byng of Vimy, the townspeople of Barnet Society to mark the 100th Sunday 3 April 1921. who was born at Wrotham responded on fi rst hearing anniversary of the erection Many names of the fallen Park, in tribute to what he said news of the signing of the of the Chipping Barnet war from the First and Second were the “Barnet boys who armistice. memorial, writes Nick Jones. World Wars are hard to gave their lives...by paying the “It was about nine o’clock Sadly, a clean-up of the read and some are barely greatest sacrifi ce”. when the town was apprised. Portland stone base, plinth, decipherable because of lichen The booklet, written and What the Rector did was to and column did not take and soot deposits. compiled by Jeff Gale and Mike have the Union Jack hoisted place in time for an Act of Local History Society Noronha, relives the determined above the tower of the parish Commemoration on Easter members had hoped that local eff orts to raise funds for a church, and the church bells Saturday to mark the centenary Barnet Council would carry out memorial and to complete the rung.”

Help the Barnet Society carry on its work by joining. Annual subscriptions are £8 for an individual or £12 for a family. Additional donations are greatly appreciated. Website – www.barnetsociety.org.uk Chair – Robin Bishop [email protected] 020 8449 0088 Membership Secretary – Kim Ambridge [email protected] 07974 225950 Correspondence – The Secretary, 27 Elton Avenue, Barnet, Herts EN5 2EB EDITED BY EAMONN RAFFERTY. DESIGN: RICHARD COOKE

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