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Garden decoration helps to highlight High Barnet events to commemorate 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day

Celebrations for VE Day marked with impressive garden decoration at High Barnet's historic alms houses

There is no mistaking an imaginative commemoration for the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day on the lawns of the historic Wood Street alms houses of Jesus Hospital Charity in High Barnet.

A large V incorporating the figure 80 has been laid out on one lawn with a massive poppy on an adjoining lawn.

The displays are the work of gardener Robert Fenton.

His floral decorations are widely admired not only by residents of the alms houses but also passers-by in Wood Street who have been treated over the years to a succession of impressive displays for major state occasions.

A royal cypher and crown were marked out on the lawn to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III in June 2023. 

Robert, who is helped by fellow gardener Brian Hewitt, works to scale drawings prepared by his partner Kate Walsh.

“The VE display of the V and the figure 80 is the official design and it has to be done to scale. My partner Kate makes sure they are dead right.”

Robert uses the charity’s 100-year-old hand-pushed cylinder lawn mower to cut the grass extra short so that the display stands out.

“It is hard work, cutting back the grass, and keeping it looking good, but every so often it is great to commemorate the big events, and we know how much these commemorative displays are appreciated by local people.”

In addition to King’s Coronation display, Robert marked out the Olympic rings for the 2012 games in London, did displays for the late Queen and one for Prince Harry and Meghan – an H and M with a heart in between.

Robert has been a gardener at the alms houses for over 20 years and takes care of lawns and gardens in Wood Street, Monken Hardley, Potters Lane, and Grasvenor Avenue.

Barnet Parish Church of St John the Baptist is commemorating VE Day with a tower opening from 5pm to 7pm on Thursday 8 May with a glass of Pimm’s, cakes and tea to follow.

A concert of music and songs dating back to 1945 with plenty of wartime numbers is being held that evening at the Monken Hadley Church of St Mary the Virgin followed by the ceremonial lighting of the beacon at 9.15pm.

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Changing face of Barnet town centre with refurbishment of historic premises and creation of flats above High Street shops

Planning applications have been approved for changes to several of the iconic buildings at the historic heart of High Barnet’s conservation area.

Work is to start in late April on a “makeover” at the town’s oldest coaching inn, The Mitre.

Further up the High Street, closer to the town centre, approval has been given to build a flat above the traditional sweet shop, Hopscotch.

Work has already started converting the first and second floors of the former Barnet Press office – now a Costa Coffee shop – into five self-contained flats.

Refurbishment of the Costa Coffee premises has also resulted – at long last — in the clock at the front of the building telling the right time.

Another very noticeable change is at the Mama Fifi restaurant — at the entrance to The Spires shopping centre – which is now resplendent with a full-length spring display of Sicilian lemon blossom.

Hopscotch, a single-storey shop constructed in the 1930s, is like a missing tooth along the High Street but, under a design approved by the council, the gap – as seen above – would be filled by the addition of a one-bedroom home over the sweet shop.

Simon Kaufman Architects say the scheme has been carefully designed to preserve the character of the Wood Street Conservation Area and will provide a high-quality living space above the existing retail unit.

The project embraces a lightweight construction approach with only minimal internal strengthening to provide “a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to rebuilding from scratch” which is in full compliance with heritage and conservation policies.

Michael and Alice Kentish, proprietors of Hopscotch, say they are thrilled that planning approval had been given as they believe providing homes above High Street shops is one way of revitalising town centres.

“There are so many under-developed properties along Barnet High Street and there is so much residential accommodation which could be provided within existing buildings.

“What we need is for the government and Barnet Council to adopt a regime which encourages the use of empty space above shops. It would provide much needed homes and help increase business along the High Street.”

Hopscotch and its rear garden are a designated area of archaeological significance as the previous medieval buildings on the site formed part of the narrow street of shops and inns beside Barnet Parish Church which was known as The Squeeze.

Until its demolition in 1933 – and the construction of the present single-storey shop – 88 High Street was a Dutch-style timber building with a gabled façade and distinctive Oriel windows.

Work has already started on the refurbishment of the upper floors of the Costa Coffee shop which will provide five self-contained flats.

P2M Coffee, which has the High Barnet franchise, says the frontage of the building will be repainted. It promised that the clock, which dates back to the days when it was the home of the Barnet Press, would be repaired as soon as scaffolding was in place to allow access for a clock repairer.

True to their word, the clock was telling the right time within days — although when this picture was taken, the clock face, just visible behind the scaffolding, was still stuck at 12.34 as it had been for several years!

What is described by brewers Greene King as a “makeover” to give The Mitre a “fresh look” will result in the pub being closed from Monday 28 April to Friday 23 May.

Several suggestions made by the Barnet Society regarding the refurbishment were accepted by Greene King and the company’s willingness to engage with local groups was welcomed by Robin Bishop who leads for the society on planning and the environment.

Etched glass bay windows which were going to be removed will now be retained. Although only 20th century, the etched glass is attractive in its own right and illustrates the “fascinating evolution of High Barnet’s oldest inn”.

An investigation to date the timbers in the ceiling and roof has now been conducted by Historic England. If the tests indicate the timbers date from around 1360 — similar to those discovered in the neighbouring building, Elisana Florist — it could be that together with the Mitre, they represent the oldest group of timber-framed buildings in London, predating Westminster Hall.

Enfield and Barnet Campaign for Real Ale has announced that The Mitre has been voted pub of the year for 2025 – and will present the award in May.

Mama Fifi restaurant – which won the 2024 prize for the best High Barnet Christmas window competition – is again attracting plaudits for its latest display.

Mural artist Alessandra Tortone has decorated the side windows in the entrance to The Spires shopping centre with a spring design of Sicilian lemon blossom.

Alessendra is seen with her team after the competition of the mural – from left to right, Alessandra, Roberta Piras, Kateryna Vilkul, and Radhika Ganapathe Ulluru.

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“Dame on the doorstep!” – Dame Theresa Villiers celebrates honours award out campaigning in Barnet Council by-election

Former Secretary of State Theresa Villiers, who was Conservative MP for Chipping Barnet until she lost her seat in last year’s general election, has been made a Dame Commander in Rishi Sunak’s resignation honours.

Four of her ex-colleagues were promoted to the House of Lords.

Ms Villiers is among a group of former Conservative ministers whose honours, including knighthoods, are in line either with their continuing status as MPs or are perhaps a reflection of the possibility that they might wish to seek re-election to the House of Commons.

The day after her Damehood was announced, she was celebrating her new status when out campaigning for the Conservative candidate in a by-election in Whetstone for a vacancy on Barnet Council.

“Dame on the doorstep” was the heading for a post on her Facebook page which contained numerous congratulations for “a well-deserved honour” and expressed the hope that she might one day return to Westminster as the Chipping Barnet MP.

Her website – www.theresavilliers.co.uk – gives details of the speeches she has made since losing her seat and outlines her wish, as a resident of Arkley, to continue taking an interest in community issues and events within the constituency.

A recent example of her engagement in local affairs was joining a LoveWhetstone litter pick in support of the Keep Britain Tidy Campaign.

In responding to the award – Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire – she made it clear it was an honour she believed she would never have received without the support and hard work on her constituency staff and volunteer helpers.

She was re-elected four times as the Chipping Barnet MP – in 2010, 2015, 2017 and 2019.

Her ministerial appointments included serving for four years as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland under David Cameron and then as Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under Boris Johnson.

Former Chipping Barnet Conservative MP Theresa Villiers is made a Dame Commander by Rishi Sunak in resignation honours

Dan Tomlinson, who won the Chipping Barnet constituency for Labour in last July’s general election, added his congratulations.

The image above is by High Barnet caricaturist and cartoonist, Simon Ellinas (simonelli@me.com) who was in the audience – and who set to work — when Mr Tomlinson appeared at a question-and-answer session hosted by the Barnet Society.

In applauding Mr Sunak’s announcement that his predecessor was now Dame Theresa Villiers, Mr Tomlinson told the Barnet Post that he wanted to add his congratulations to the recognition she had received for her 19 years’ service as the Chipping Barnet MP.

“No matter our political differences, I’m genuinely heartened to see two decades of commitment to Chipping Barnet and public life recognised in this way.”

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Decision on future operation of Barnet Post Office is likely by the autumn as part of a switch to franchising the business  

Barnet Post Office is to become a franchise operation along with another 107 crown offices across the country where the Post Office is to cease its own management and staffing.

Applications to run these businesses as a franchise are currently being considered. New owners could be in place by the end of September.

So far there has been no announcement about the precise future for a franchise for the crown office branch in High Street, Barnet.

The Post Office says it hopes that a majority of the remaining 108 crown offices will continue in operation at their existing locations, but some buildings could be closed if a franchise operator moves to different premises.

Over the coming weeks the company hopes to supply local communities and stakeholders with more detailed information.

By switching to a franchise model – which is already the case with other local post offices – the company says it will mean that towns like Barnet which “currently have a directly managed branch in their area will continue to be able to access Post Office services.”

Over 4,000 applications – from 500 different bidders — have already been received to take over the 108 crown offices.

Among the groups which have expressed an interest in taking over some of the larger branches are Tesco and the stationery retailer Ryman.

Dan Tomlinson, Labour MP for Chipping Barnet, welcomed the announcement by the Post Office that it would continue to provide services to the local community in High Barnet.

He said he had spoken to the Communication Workers Union – which represents Post Office staff at Barnet – and he understood their concern about the switch to franchise operation.

“I will continue to work with and support union members as we find out more from the Post Office about the exact nature of future plans.”

Mr Tomlinson declared that it was his petition – “Save Barnet Post Office” which attracted over 2,500 signatures – which had ensured “victory” in his campaign to save the High Street branch from closure.

“This is a tremendous victory for our community after months of campaigning with residents.

“The Post Office is vital to High Barnet and serves thousands of residents. “Working with residents across Barnet, we have demonstrated what can be achieved when a community unites behind an essential service.”  

The closure of the remaining 108 crown offices – which together employ around 1,000 staff but are said to be losing £40 million a year — was announced last November when the management indicated it was seeking applications from franchise operators.

There are mixed views locally about the level of service offered in post offices around High Barnet which are already being operated on a franchise basis but in some cases, it is said to be quicker and more friendly than in the past.

Barnet Post Office – which was rebuilt in 1905 – has a distinguished history having been a regular stopping off point for mail coaches heading out of London for Scotland and the north.

In more recent years it has regained importance following the closure of several High Street banks and the development of the Post Office’s banking services.

The current building, which bears the ER motif of King Edward VII, was designed by Jasper Wagner.

Franchise operator to take over Post Office in High Street Barnet. Future likely to be decided by the autumn.

Set in the wall, just above the pavement, between the front door and the letter box, is one of the original boundary stones of the ancient parish of Chipping Barnet – which is pointed out during the annual ceremony to mark the Beating of the Bounds of the parish of Barnet

Until the 1930s Barnet was one of the best-known coaching towns on the outskirts of London.

When the mail coach for Scotland left St Martins-le-Grand one of the first stops on the Great North Road was Barnet post office where it picked up mail

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Barnet High Street about to become a much-admired showcase once again for the historic Battle of Barnet banners  

Recently restored and repaired medieval banners commemorating the 1471 Battle of Barnet will once again decorate the High Street during the summer months after Barnet Museum intervened with financial support.

A contractor will start the two-day process of hanging the banners from lampposts the length of the High Street from the evening of Monday 14 April – the 554th anniversary of the battle.

Each of the 76 heraldic banners illustrates the coats of arms of royalty and noblemen whose troops fought in the battle just to the north of Barnet on what is Greater London’s historic battlefield.

The return of the banners is a timely reminder of the annual Barnet Medieval Festival which is being held over the weekend of Saturday and Sunday June 7 and 8 at a new location on farmland off Galley Lane.

A 12-acre field will offer more space for Wars of the Roses re-enactments and camp sites for the opposing Yorkist and Lancastrian armies.

Organisers hope it will be the largest celebration in the town since the start of the recent events to commemorate the battle as more military re-enactors are expected to attend than ever before.

This summer’s re-appearance of the banners along the High Street had been touch and go because Barnet Council’s street lighting contractor told the museum that it was no longer able to afford the installation cost.

After the council found an alternative contractor who offered to do the work at a much-reduced rate, the museum agreed to fund the work from its reserves on a one-off basis.

Barnet High Street about to become resplendent once again with display of historic banners from 1471 Battle of Barnet

Museum trustee Scott Harrison – seen above in the museum’s shop in The Spires shopping centre – said there had been great uncertainty as to whether it would be possible to hang the banners in the High Street for what will be their sixth year on display.

“We have been so fortunate in the past in having the annual installation cost met by the council’s lighting contractors, but we were told earlier this year that the company had decided this was no longer a sustainable expense.

“Barnet Council found another contractor who would hang the banners at a much-reduced cost, but the museum is having to fund the bill of several thousand pounds.

“We have agreed to pay up this year, but we will have to find a sustainable source of funding. Perhaps we can arrange an appeal each year or find sponsors who will meet the cost.

“We do hope the people of Barnet value the banners so much that they will help to contribute towards the expense involved in hanging them along the High Street.”

As well as the 76 banners that will decorate the High Street, others from the collection of 107 banners will be on display in The Spires and at the museum.

A team of volunteers led by the museum’s deputy curator Hillary Harrison spent the winter repairing and repainting the banners. Those on display in the High Street are also reglazed each year to given them an extra coat of protection.

Each banner with its emblems or coat of arms belonged to an individual who took part in the battle and the challenge for the museum’s historians has been to bring to life each member of the royalty, nobility and gentry whose troops fought at Banet.

Sometimes symbols were used to represent people’s names or occupations and indicate their wealth and status.

The research conducted at Barnet – and so vividly displayed each summer in the High Street – has attracted considerable interested.

The latest group to visit Barnet for a walk along the High Street to identify – and admire the banners – are members of the Anglia Heraldry Trefoil Guild who are planning a visit in July.

Barnet Museum’s celebration and commemoration of the Battle of Barnet is not without cost. Currently the museum is applying to the National Heritage Lottery Fund for a £50,000 grant towards the cost of installing a new heating system and repairing leaky windows.

Because of the museum’s inability to maintain the correct humidity an exhibit on loan from the British Museum – displaying the Earl of Warwick’s seal and arrows from the Battle of Barnet – has had to be returned until the heating system has been fixed.