Did you know that the name Barnet comes from the Old English word ‘bærnet’ meaning ‘land cleared by burning’? That’s right. This very borough we stand in today. London Borough of Barnet has a history forged in fire and shaped by centuries of change.
London Borough of Barnet wasn’t always the sprawling suburban landscape you see now. Its story begins long before 1965 when it officially formed. Think back to the Middle Ages. Barnet was a vital marketplace. Its location on the road linking London and St Albans made it a hub for travelers and traders. The Battle of Barnet in 1471 at Hadley Green is a dramatic chapter in its past. Yorkist and Lancastrian forces clashed deciding the fate of the English throne. This event etched Barnet’s name into the annals of English history.
For centuries Barnet remained largely rural. The coming of the railways in the mid-19th century triggered a population explosion. Victorian brick villas replaced estates and farms. The London Underground expanded in the 1920s and 1930s accelerating this growth.
Modern Barnet is primarily residential. However some industries still thrive along Edgware Road. The western part of the borough underwent significant regeneration in the early 21st century. Colindale Underground station area saw new housing developments. The Peel Centre the Metropolitan Police training facility consolidated its operations. Parts of the site were formerly Hendon’s military airfield. This historic airfield active from the early 20th century now houses the Royal Air Force Museum. The British Newspaper Library operated at Colindale for over 80 years before relocating in 2013. The Brent Cross Shopping Centre the first large enclosed shopping area in the UK opened in 1976. This further spurred growth and development.
Medieval structures are rare in Barnet. The Monken Hadley parish church boasts a tower from 1494. The East Barnet parish church dates from around 1100. There are Norman remnants in St Mary’s Hendon parish church. Tudor Hall now part of Barnet College dates back to 1577. It was originally built for Queen Elizabeth I’s Free Grammar School founded in 1573. Church Farm House Museum a mid-17th century farmhouse closed in 2011 due to budget cuts. Hampstead Garden Suburb an internationally renowned planned community was designed by Raymond Unwin and Barry Parker in the early 20th century.
Margaret Thatcher a prominent figure in British politics represented Finchley in the House of Commons for many years. Barnet’s population is incredibly diverse. Ethnic minorities constitute over one-fifth of the population with South Asians being the largest group. Golders Green and Finchley house significant Jewish communities. London Borough of Barnet. A place where history and modernity intertwine. A vibrant blend of the old and the new. A captivating story etched into every street.