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.
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.
After missing out last year, the High Street will be closed to traffic again for the annual Barnet Christmas Fayre on Sunday 5 December.
Continue reading December highlight: Christmas Fayre returns to Barnet High Street
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.
Continue reading A chance to write a “Love Letter to London” with a High Barnet twist
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.
Continue reading Fly tippers beware: St Albans Road dumping ground now being monitored by CCTV
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.
Continue reading Classic and vintage cars bring out crowds for return of much anticipated show
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.
Continue reading Putting surplus apples to good use: supplying food banks and producing fruit juice
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.
Continue reading Tough year for bees cuts entries at Barnet’s annual honey show
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:
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:
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Continue reading Packed programme of autumn social events brings Barnet back to life
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.
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.
Continue reading Hadley Wood Green Belt threat: a timely warning to Barnet
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.
Continue reading Whalebones planning inquiry: heated debate over future fate of fields and woodland
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.
Continue reading Pioneering community farm in Dollis Valley has ambitious plans for future expansion
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.
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
Continue reading New Battle of Barnet display boosts build-up to Barnet Medieval Festival
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.
Continue reading Classic car enthusiasts ready for the off: bonnets up, engines on display
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.
After closing its doors to the public four years ago, High Barnet Police Station is to disappear altogether from the High Street.
Continue reading Another High Street casualty: High Barnet Police Station is up for sale
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.
Continue reading Legacies of slavery: unexpected links to the past in familiar street names
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.
Gary Murphy, High Barnet’s most celebrated licensee of recent times, has given up his lease after having spent the last 13 years establishing The Mitre as a public house recognised across North London for its real ales and craft beers.
On Tuesday 13 July, the Barnet Society held its first Open Meeting on topical local issues via Zoom. Around 50 members of the Society and general public participated. This is what we discussed.
Welcome
Frances Wilson introduced herself as the Society’s first Rotating Chair and thanked everyone for joining to discuss issues in more detail than was possible at the AGM and in an informal fashion within the confines of Zoom. The AGM was the first time we had held a mass Zoom meeting, which seemed to go fairly well thanks to Simon Watson our Website Officer, who fortunately is here again to sort out any technical issues. The invitation indicated the four topics under discussion: tree planting, Tudor Park Cricket Pavilion, Rambles 3 and an update on planning and the environment.
Tree planting
Robin Bishop said the Barnet Society had a proud tradition of planting trees, including plantations on Whitings Hill in 1995 led by Jenny Remfry, in 1998 Lee’s Trees (inspired by David Lee), the line of London Planes and Norway Maples on Barnet Hill from Underhill to Milton Avenue, and recently along the High Street.
We would like to finish the job on Barnet Hill and have planted 125 of a planned 300 hawthorns screening Vale Drive Health Authority and St Catherines School. On 17th January’22, which is the Jewish New Year of the Tree and with the help of Kisharon, we would like to plant more hawthorns to complete the job and have received a donation of £200 towards the cost of saplings. We will need volunteers to help organise and plant them.
Suggestions from Members
Susan Marcus said before we plant anything we must ensure there is a 10 year management plan to ensure the trees will be maintained and this should be costed. She said we should concentrate on parks rather than look for other areas. Willing to be on Working Party.
New Barnet – Junction by St Marks Church Meadway/Potters Lane.- This is currently a very neglected site but very prominent and would not take too much effort to improve it. Simon Watson happy to assist and Leyla Atayeva said she would be happy to assist as she lives in St Marks Close.
Meadway Open Space – ( stretches from Meadway to Potters Lane and follows the underground). This too would be a suitable area to plant trees.
Andy Bryce said he was an architect and asked if we had any advice from landscape architects or tree specialists. He said he may be able to suggest a contact. He also said schemes should link up.
Robin said one of the suggestions in the Community Plan was to provide signposts from the Town Centre showing 10 minute walks to various green areas, e.g. Whitings Hill.
Susan Skedd suggested we walk around the area with a landscape architect and someone who could advise on different species to encourage birds and other wild life.
Quinton Dighton said U3A are hoping to plant 1,000 trees this year so perhaps we could work together. Robin asked them to let us know who to contact at U3A.
Barnet Council are considering planting tiny forests and making a Regional Park near Moat Mount.
Robin welcomed all these suggestions and said we needed to co-ordinate them. He suggested people contact him via the Society website info@barnetsociety.org.uk.
Tudor Park Cricket Pavilion
Simon Cohen said he had organised a survey to find out what people thought of the disused cricket pavilion which had been unused for years except for storing garden equipment for the Parks Dept. 1,000 people took part in the survey and 98% wanted to see it re-used as a community space or café. Simon Kaufman carried out a structural survey and confirmed it is in a terrible condition. There is a kitchen, male and female changing rooms and showers but all in a dreadful condition and would require complete replacement. Plus needs re-wiring and replumbing. Cllr David Longstaff visited and put in a successful bid to the Council of CIL funding to restore it.
The Council will provide £200,000 over 2 years to make it fit for a Commercial lease. This is ambiguous and residents must put forward ideas to guide them in the right direction. Also the refurbishment will require more than £200,000 so we will have to fund raise to pay the extra costs.
Simon said we need to set up a ‘Friends of Tudor Park’ Group to give us more influence and to develop our vision and suggested if attendees were interested they contact him via his email address or the Barnet Society Website.
Suggestions from Zoom attendees:
Rahim Alibhai said he and his friends worked with a group of autistic children and said it would be ideal for their use. He also said it should be multi-use and could be shared with AA, art groups, socialising groups and St Johns Ambulance could be a really good community hub. He said his autistic children group was very big and could support children and parents and have professionals there.
Simon said it should be made a condition of the lease that it be available for community use perhaps 3 hours a night. Andy Byrne asked if the Council have anything in mind but Simon said he did not know.
Jenny Remfry suggested it could be used for children’s parties or the allotment growers close by.
Nikki Rice lives in Chester Avenue and said it should be used as community space such as Toddlers Group, Music Group and happy to help. Suggested solar panels on the roof to help with funding.
Ben Nahum owns a bagel factory and lives nearby and said he would be interested in providing a café and it could be used as social hub during the evenings. Has spoken to Gail Laser & Robin Bishop in the past and will email them so they have his contact details.
Aviva Driscoll asked what size is the interior space? Simon Kaufman said 277 square meters and you could get 80-100 people sitting in main space perhaps for weddings or bar mitzvahs. He also thought it could be used as a flexible space so could have more than one activity at a time. He made it very clear £200,000 would make the building safe so the challenge is to raise the money to carry out the rest of the work. He suggested we could look at grants such as Environment or Sports.
Foot Golf is also on the site so they should be involved.
Simon said anyone interested in helping with this project should contact him via simon.sjc@btinternet.com or the Society website info@barnetsociety.org.uk.
Rambles 3
Simon Kaufman showed a copy of Rambles 1 which was originally published in 1948, published in an expanded version in 2012, and has just been reprinted as a Limited Edition. He said following the lockdown there has been an increased interest in walking and the local countryside so the Society were keen to produce an up to date user friendly booklet using the GPS App. But we need help from others.
Simon then showed some slides:
Source of information – Best routes for walks around Barnet, History of Chipping Barnet, Important buildings and landscapes in Barnet, Facilities and local attractions for families with children.
This would be a way to promote the Society to new and prospective members and raise funds.
He outlined who would use the booklet such as walkers, cyclists, families and wheelchair users.
He outlined the Geographical scope suggesting about 3.5 kms to 7.0 kms from Barnet Town Centre.
We would consult with Members to find their favourite places and walks, and contact Ramblers Ass, Chipping Barnet Community Plan, Green Ring, Local Authority Footpaths, Open Spaces Society and Barnet Museum.
Suggested New Routes – Victorian Barnet, Historic Barnet, Edge of London, Green Spaces (parks) Monken Hadley/Trent Park, Moat Mount.
Simon suggested we re-interpret Lucas’s Walks as some are quite difficult to walk due to changes that have taken place. Thought we could consider Wrotham Park and The Shire, Darland’s Lake, North Mimms & Potters Bar, South Mimms to Broad Colney.
Simon showed examples of other walkers publication but also suggested Topo, GPS app and Google Maps which are used by Ramblers Ass.
Following this presentation Simon said there was a lot of enthusiasm for the project but there is a lot of work and we will need help with:
Graphic Design
Walking routes – taking notes and photos
Digital structure
GPS or Google Mapping
Organisation of book printing and sales
Suggested places to go and things to see.
Anyone interested in helping or with suggestions should contact Simon through our Website info@barnetsociety.org.uk and label it Rambles 3.
Les Bedford said it was an excellent presentation and we need to all pool our knowledge.
Planning and environment update
Robin Bishop said the biggest threat currently was the proposed ‘reforms’ to Planning Legislation which would tear up the current planning system. It would expand permitted development in order to build more housing and there would be no public consultation once areas have been designated for growth, so local residents would be unable to object. There is a need for more housing but it needs to be proportionate and sympathetic to the neighbourhood.
Current schemes where we have objected
The Victoria Quarter – We objected to this scheme where the Developer proposed 650 flats, there was a lot of local opposition and the Council reflecting this opposed the scheme unanimously against the advice of the Officers. This is ongoing and the Developers have now proposed another scheme of 554 units and reduced the height of the tower blocks but we are still critical and will oppose it further.
33 Lyonsdown Road – This is the last surviving Victorian Villa which The Barnet Society successfully had placed on the Local List. The Developer wants to demolish it and replace it with 20 flats. We opposed this proposal along with many others including the Victorian Society so it has had a lot of publicity and was refused by the Council. However the owners may appeal and in the meantime they are allowing the building to rot.
Whalebones is another scheme we opposed and again the Council refused Planning Permission but the Developer has appealed to the Planning Inspectorate. We have submitted a strong representation and will attend the public inquiry at the end of August. Robin thanked Guy Braithwaite, Bill Foster and Nick Saul for their help. Robin emphasised how key Whalebones was to the identity of Chipping Barnet.
The Local Plan – Jenny Remfry said this is currently on display in the local library for residents to provide comments. There are 3 sites shown in Chipping Barnet. Whalebones, High Barnet Station with blocks 8 storeys high with commercial and a hotel proposed and MOD land in St Albans Road as the Territorial base may be put up for sale with room for 193 flats. There would have to be an archaeological dig first. Robin said we have been working on this for 2 years with BRA and FORAB and it has been adopted by the Council subject to public consultation which is now taking place. Jenny thought it was a good plan.
There were no further questions so Frances reminded everyone to look at Robin’s regular P&E report, which appeared on the website roughly every 2 months, in order to keep up to date and let us know their opinions.She thanked everyone for coming and Simon Watson for providing the technical support, asked those not already members to join the Society, and asked anyone wanting to help to contact us via our website: info@barnetsociety.org.uk.
For Robin’s reports plus Society submissions on Barnet’s Local Plan and other major planning and environmental topics, go to Our Work on our website.
Simon Smith who spent the last 16 years managing over 60 of High Barnet’s historic almshouses has taken early retirement from his role as clerk to the trustees of the Jesus Hospital Charity.
Continue reading Fond farewells from residents to retiring clerk who managed charitable almshouses
After the success of the inaugural season of concerts arranged by the High Barnet Chamber Music Festival plans are already being drawn up for a repeat event next year.
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Northern line briefing
⚠️ Travel news: there is a 27 minute interval between trains on the Northern line this morning ⚠️
NEW: Christchurch Spinney in High Barnet threatened by new building
Barnet food waste caddies will arrive from Jan-Mar 2026! 🍽️ Ready for the new service - pop in leftovers & put it out for weekly collections from 30 Mar 2026. Find out more and win £100 vouchers here: http://www.barnet.gov.uk/foodwaste
Tickets for our home fixture against Cambridge United in the Vertu Trophy are now on sale! 🎟️
Come down and cheer on the Bees on Tuesday the 21st, for our final group stage fixture! ⚽️
Secure your tickets below! 👇
#BarnetFC🐝
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