Category: News
High Barnet infant school under threat of closure
A government decision is expected before the end of the year on the future of the Grasvenor Avenue Infant School where staff and parents have already been warned about its possible closure in July next year.
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Music festival aims to encourage budding young composers
Secondary school pupils who play an instrument or who are studying music are being invited to take part in a young composers’ competition organised by the High Barnet Chamber Music Festival.
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Barnet Market site for sale again — and it could be developed with new housing
After Premier Inn abandoned its plans to build a new hotel on the former Barnet Market site, the empty land is back on the market for potential redevelopment with flats and townhouses.
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New school planned for Moxon Street to meet shortage of places for autistic children
A former warehouse and office block in Moxon Street is to be converted into a special needs school for up to 90 children with autism if Barnet Council gives the go ahead.
Former derelict hospital site in Wood Street transformed by £22 million new care home
Signature at Barnet, a new care home with 100 apartments, which is due to open for residents in March next year, will become the largest nursing home in High Barnet.
December highlight: Christmas Fayre returns to Barnet High Street
After missing out last year, the High Street will be closed to traffic again for the annual Barnet Christmas Fayre on Sunday 5 December.
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A chance to write a “Love Letter to London” with a High Barnet twist
Residents and admirers of High Barnet have every encouragement to enter a competition to write the best “Love Letter to London” — after all this is said by many to be the most historic town within Greater London.
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Fly tippers beware: St Albans Road dumping ground now being monitored by CCTV
Closed circuit television and a steel security fence have been installed along a stretch of the St Albans Road to deter fly tippers who for years have taken advantage of a notorious dumping ground.
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Classic and vintage cars bring out crowds for return of much anticipated show
For the first time since it was opened 30 years ago the top deck of The Spires car park became a place to linger, look and admire. Lined up was an impressive display of vintage and classic cars.
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Putting surplus apples to good use: supplying food banks and producing fruit juice
Two inspired community projects — encouraging community gardens and collecting unwanted fruit — celebrated their initiatives by combining to hold a joint workshop to produce local apple juice.
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Tough year for bees cuts entries at Barnet’s annual honey show
Fewer entries than usual at the annual show organised by the Barnet and District Beekeepers Association were only to be expected after so much unseasonal weather but there was praise as well for the standard achieved.
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The Lyon roared – but the developer is biting back
Back in February the Barnet Society thought it had helped save this remarkable Locally-Listed Victorian villa, when the Council unanimously refused its demolition in favour of 20 flats. But the developer has appealed against the decision, and you have until Wednesday 29 September to add your voice to preserve this building from the wrecking ball.
You can read about the dramatic refusal of the planning application in February here:
https://www.barnetsociety.org.uk/lyonsdown-roars
We knew that might not be the end of the story. The developer, Abbeytown Ltd, gave the property guardians notice to quit in March and has not responded to a letter from local residents inviting discussion about conversion of the building rather than demolition and redevelopment. As a result, this architectural gem currently stands empty and at risk of damage and decay.
Prestigious national heritage bodies agreed that demolition would be a disaster. In its support for our cause, the Victorian Society affirmed that “the building is of real architectural quality and interest” and that its loss “would have a detrimental impact on the local area”.
SAVE Britain’s Heritage also opposed “needless demolition” and questioned why no case had been presented for re-use of this Locally-Listed 1866 Victorian villa. The campaign also caught the eye of Private Eye’s ‘Nooks and Corners’ which reported in its 16-29 April 2021 edition that “Fears are growing for a large and unusual Italianate Victorian villa in New Barnet”.
The development of New Barnet began in 1850 when Barnet Station (now plain New Barnet) opened, and everything started to change in the area. No.33 – originally named ‘Oakdene’ – was one of the early, and grandest, villas to be built. As well as its striking external appearance with a unique bridge porch/conservatory entrance from Lyonsdown Road, many of its impressive Victorian features and fittings survive unaltered.
Today, it is one of last – and certainly the most characterful – left in a neighbourhood that is being gradually overwhelmed by new identikit apartment blocks and multi-storey office conversions. If New Barnet is to retain a distinct identity, it’s vital for rare survivals of such quality to be kept. At a time of climate crisis, it also makes sense not to waste all the carbon it embodies.
The colourful history of no.33 has been researched by local historian and Society Committee Member, Dr Susan Skedd. She has unravelled the fascinating evolution in its use, from upper-middle-class house, then a spell as a home for single mothers and children, then an African Catholic missionary HQ and most recently as affordable housing for young creatives.
Moreover, original sales documents in the British Library reveal that its architect was Arthur Rowland Barker (1842-1915), who had a portfolio of projects in and around Barnet. He trained with the leading church architect Ewan Christian, who designed Holy Trinity Church, Lyonsdown (1866). This connection probably introduced Barker to the area, and it was around this time that he established his own practice and designed Oakdene, the neighbouring villa ‘Lawnhill’ (demolished) and the new south aisle of St Mary’s Church, East Barnet (1868-69).
In 2020 we succeeded in getting No.33 added to Barnet’s Local List on grounds of its
Aesthetic Merits, Social and Communal Value, Intactness and Architectural Interest. To that should now be added its Historical Interest and its Rarity.
To avoid its Rarity turning into Extinction, we’re working with local residents to put up the best case we can to the Planning Inspectorate, which will adjudicate the appeal. Our main objections are that:
- 33 is a unique local architectural and historical asset that deserves be saved.
- The building is ideally suited to re-use.
- To demolish it and build a new block would be environmentally wasteful.
- The proposed replacement block would be overbearing, austere and inappropriate.
The Barnet Society and Lyonsdown Road residents will be submitting representations, but the more who do so, the better. Please find a few minutes to submit your own objection by contacting the Planning Inspectorate by Wednesday 29 September via:
- Online (Planning Portal): gov.uk/appeal-planning-inspectorate
- Email: East2@planninginspectorate.gov.uk
- Post: The Planning Inspectorate, 3/N Kite Wing, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6PN
Be sure to quote the appeal reference no. APP/N5090/W/21/3272187 and provide your own name and address.
You’re welcome to use the Society’s points, but preferably use your own words. Many thanks!
Barnet FC fans pay tribute to legendary footballer who played final games at Underhill stadium
Jimmy Greaves, the legendary English footballer who has died at the age of 81, is held in great affection by fans of Barnet Football Club who remember seeing him play at Underhill in the 1977-78 football season.
Bull Players portray life for women in a medieval community as Battle of Barnet rages all around
Fog of War, a play written around the life of a community of local women living through the sound and fury of the 1471 Battle of Barnet, had its premiere in the historic setting of the garden of Monken Hadley Church.
Another generation of children enjoying rides on Wood Street miniature railway layout
A welcome return of his annual garden fete — together with rides for children around his miniature railway track — were another sign of life returning to normal at the Wood Street home of retired Barnet family practitioner Dr Ian Johnson.
Taylor Wimpey withdraws from building flats at High Barnet and Finchley central tube stations
A plan to construct as many as six blocks of flats over the car park and storage yard at High Barnet tube station appears to have been abandoned — at least for the foreseeable future.
Battlefield re-enactors thrill the crowds at much anticipated return of Barnet Medieval Festival
After its cancellation last year, Barnet Medieval Festival returned with a superb display of medieval history and a stylish re-enactment of Wars of the Roses combat which provided a magnificent in-character celebration of the 550th anniversary of the Battle of Barnet.
Packed programme of autumn social events brings Barnet back to life
After the cancellation of so many social events during the last 18 months because of the Covid.19 pandemic, the welcome return of the Barnet Medieval Festival with its battlefield re-enactments kicks off what promises to be a packed programme of weekend attractions for the rest of September.
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Planning decision on future of Whalebones woods and fields awaited after inspector pays farm visit
A visit by a planning inspector to the Whalebones woods and farmland rounded off a week-long public inquiry into the future of a large open space that provides a green buffer between Arkley and High Barnet.
Hadley Wood Green Belt threat: a timely warning to Barnet
A determined campaign has been launched by the Hadley Wood Association to fight plans for 160 homes to be built on Green Belt land — one of a series of Green Belt housing developments being proposed by Enfield Council.
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Whalebones planning inquiry: heated debate over future fate of fields and woodland
A spirited plea to preserve one of High Barnet’s prominent green spaces was heard at the opening day of a public inquiry into plans to build 152 houses and flats on the Whalebones fields and woodland.
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Pioneering community farm in Dollis Valley has ambitious plans for future expansion
An open day at the Grow Farm at Totteridge Academy in Barnet Lane was a chance to see the transformation of an empty field into a community farm where local school children are taught the practicalities of food cultivation and have an opportunity to build up agricultural skills.
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Residents dismayed by Barnet Council’s U-turn over plans for housing estate at Whalebones
On the eve of a critical public inquiry, Barnet Council has withdrawn its main objection to plans to build 152 homes on fields and woods in the Whalebones estate, Wood Street, Barnet.
New Battle of Barnet display boosts build-up to Barnet Medieval Festival
Six iron arrowheads recovered from the site of the 1471 Battle of Barnet are on display for the very first time at the recently re-opened Barnet Museum — a must see exhibit for anyone hoping to attend the Barnet Medieval Festival in mid-September
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Classic car enthusiasts ready for the off: bonnets up, engines on display
After missing out last year, members of the Barnet Classic Car Club are raring to go — ready to parade up Barnet Hill and along the High Street to the annual vintage and classic car show which has grown from strength to strength in recent years.
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Post lockdown event highlight: Barnet Medieval Festival to return for mid-September weekend
After months of agonising uncertainty, Barnet Medieval Festival is definitely going ahead for a re-scheduled weekend of events and attractions on Saturday and Sunday 11-12 September at the Byng Road playing fields.
Another High Street casualty: High Barnet Police Station is up for sale
After closing its doors to the public four years ago, High Barnet Police Station is to disappear altogether from the High Street.
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Legacies of slavery: unexpected links to the past in familiar street names
A research project at University College London into the role of slavery in shaping British history has highlighted unlooked for — almost accidental — reminders of the slave trade in some of the historic street names of High Barnet.
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Bid to install two advertising and communication displays on already crowded pavements
JCDecaux, which claims to be the world’s largest outdoor advertising contractor, is promising local authorities it wants to help declutter town centres — and then promptly abandons this pledge by pressing on with its controversial application for two advertising and communication hubs on the recently widened High Street pavements of High Barnet.
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