Imagine living in the 15th century. Friday Hill was then known as Jackatt Hill. It got its current name from a man named John Friday. He held land here.
Welcome to Friday Hill. It is now a housing estate in Chingford. This area has a rich history. It is full of interesting stories. Friday Hill House sits on the crest of the hill.
Lewis Vulliamy designed Friday Hill House in 1839. It replaced an older Jacobean house built in 1608. The manor house included 160 acres of farmland. Louisa Boothby-Heathcote lived here until 1940. She was the last resident of the Heathcote family. She took over as lady of the manor in 1915.
After the war, the estate was sold. The London County Council bought it. They built the large housing estate you see today. From the late 1940s, the Chingford Community Association used Friday Hill House. In 2006, the Waltham Forest Council’s Adult Education Service took over. The community center moved to a timber-paneled building. It faced Weale Road. The Adult Education Service used the house until 2012. Then, Friday Hill House was put up for sale. Today, it is a Grade II listed building.
Now, let’s talk about a legend. King Charles II supposedly knighted a loin of beef at Friday Hill. He named it “Sir Loin”. Other places also claim this honor. Most people think the story is not true. There was a pub on Friday Hill once called “The Sirloin”. It is now “The Dovecote”. It also traded as Little Friday Hill House. This was before the estate was sold.
Did you know a pop group took its name from this area? The band Friday Hill grew up here. The members wanted to honor their home.
Friday Hill House has quite a history. Robert Boothby Heathcote built it. He was the lord of the manor. He was also the rector of the local church. He paid for the church of St Peter and St Paul. It is in Chingford. He also funded a local school. It is now Heathcote School & Science College. Robert Boothby is buried in All Saints’ Churchyard. His family vault was bought by Robert Boothby who died in 1733. He lived in the earlier manor house.
In 2019, the house was divided into flats. These flats were sold leasehold. They ranged in price from u00a3322,500 to u00a3465,000 each. The grounds also feature a Great Tree of London. It is a large London Plane. Part of the estate became the Friday Hill estate.
Friday Hill offers glimpses into different eras. From its origins as Jackatt Hill to its present-day form, Friday Hill is a testament to the ever-changing face of London. Take a moment to appreciate the layers of history beneath your feet.