Newsletter
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THE MONTH AHEAD
Next HADAS lecture on Tuesday November 4th will be by Dr Hugh Chapman, Keeper of the Dept. of Prehistoric and Roman Antiquities at the Museum of London. Dr Chapman writes:
“The purpose of my lecture will be to explore the history of archaeological investigation in the City of London. Today’s excavations by the Museum of London are the direct descendants of the work of scholars and antiquarian investigations from the 16th c onwards. The personalities involved include John Stow, Sir Christopher Wren, William Stukeley and Charles Roach Smith. The products of their work are well-known, but less attention has been paid to the motivation behind their conscious efforts to record the vanishing past, the way in which they set about their task and the development of their methods. The events and physical changes to the fabric of the City that unsealed London’s past and provided the opportunity of archaeological investigation and recording have also to be examined, as well as the effect the news of the discoveries had on a wider public.”
Nov 8/9 and 15/16: Roman Weekends at the Teahouse, Northway, NWll.
No, not an orgy, (anyway, not a planned orgy) but pottery study. Material from sites in the Borough of Barnet, particularly Brockley Hill, will be available, current work will be continued and new projects planned. Field walk finds will be further examined.
Helen Gordon, who is organising the sessions, says HADAS members unfamiliar with Roman pottery will be particularly welcome to use this opportunity to handle the local Romano-British ware; training projects will be arranged as required.
A research seminar will be held on the first Saturday, Nov 8, at 2.30 pm, which all members interested in the Borough’s Roman past are invited to attend.
A further investigation of the Roman road (The Viatores route 167) was made on October 5, and a hitherto unrecorded possible agger was observed which merits closer examination. This will also be considered at the Teahouse.
Teahouse sessions from 10 am-5 pm each day. Bring a picnic lunch if you wish -coffee/tea making facilities available.
From now till Nov 30, Exhibition at Church Farm House Museum.
The General Arts Division of Barnet Borough Arts Council (to which HADAS is affiliated) currently has an exhibition which shows how wide the interpretation of “general arts” can be. Called “The Things that Go On in Barnet Borough” it includes displays by some 20 different organisations. They range through churches, ceramic groups, gemmologists, neighbourhood associations, historical literary and amenity societies, local branches of the WEA and National Trust, the HGS Institute and, of course, HADAS. Nell Penny has mounted a general photographic display of various HADAS activities.
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There are live events on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. These include several lectures by members of the Mill Hill & Hendon Historical Society on topics which will interest HADAS members; and tape-recording of reminiscences of the district by the Finchley Society.
Lectures later this season will be:
Tues Jan 6 – Recent Excavations on the Nile. – John Alexander MA PhD
Tues Feb 3 – Hoards and Hillforts: Ireland in the 1st Millennium BC. – Harold Mytum BA
Tues Mar 3 – Sutton Hoo. – Kenneth Whitehorn BA.
Tues Apr 7 – Greek Royal Art. – Malcolm Colledge MA PhD.
Meetings are at Hendon Library, The Boroughs, NW4. Coffee 8pm, Lecture 8.30
LONDONERS ON WHEELS
A report by BILL FIRTH on the opening lecture of the season.
As usual, a large audience attended the first lecture of the 1980-1 season given on Oct 7 by John Freeborn, head of interpretation and display at the London Transport Museum. Mr Freeborn had two topics. First he described significant events in the development of urban transport in London; secondly he talked about the, problems, pitfalls and triumphs of setting up the new London Transport Museum Covent Garden. All illustrated by slides of course.
When I first wrote a synopsis of the lecture I found I had run to eight pages without getting to the second part. This would not have been popular with the editor but more importantly it shows now much Mr Freeborn packed into his time. I can pick out only a few of the highlights.
We wore first invited to think of London and its communications 200-300 years ago. These were two main East-West arteries, which still remain and are now known as Oxford Street and the Stand; but London was a compact city, no one lived more than a mile from the river, and the usual way to get about was to use the river to the nearest point and then walk. The alternative was the hackney carriage and Mr Freeborn pointed out that the word hackney comes from a French pronunciation meaning a strong horse. In the early 19th c some 1100 hackney licences were issued in London.
Interestingly a number of developments in London’s transport have originated in France. Around 1820 a new type of carriage, the cabriolet, was introduced from across the Channel and eventually led to the English contraction- a cab. In 1829 Mr Shillibeer introduced his omnibus and, again, the idea originated in Paris. The first route was from Paddington to the Bank along the New Road (now Marylebone, Euston, Pentonville, City Roads), which was the North Circular of its day. Shillibeer’s route was chosen because it lay outside “the stones,” the area within which stage coaches could not pick up: or set down except at the terminus at the Bull and Mouth, at a site near St Martins le Grand now marked with a plaque.
The Great Exhibition of 1851 was instrumental in popularising the bus. Planks were laid on the roof then to “take more passengers – the first double-deckers. However, competition was cut-throat and buses tended to run only on highly profitable routes at peak hours. It was from Paris again that the next development came -the formation of the London General Omnibus Company to buy up the independents, and, by pooling receipts, to subsidise the unprofitable routes from the proceeds of the profitable ones.
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Mr Freeborn then turned to the tram. The advantage of this was that a horse could handle a much higher payload when pulling a vehicle on rails. Consequently by packing more passengers in, more profit could be made while charging lower fares. The 19th c history of the horse tram, which became the working class mode of transport, was outlined.
This covered 19th c road transport. Mr Freeborn then went back to the early 1860s to describe the construction and opening of the Metropolitan Railway underground from Paddington to Farringdon Street, again along the line of the New Road because of the relative ease of construction by cut-and-cover methods along an unbuilt-up road. The railway was operated by steam locomotives since the electric motor was not yet available. We had to wait until the end of the century for the first deep tube, the City and South London Railway, operated by electricity. This was rapidly followed by a large part of the present tube network.
The electrification of trams and the introduction of the motor bus were early 20th c developments. Moving rapidly through the middle of the~ century there was the first trolleybus in 1931, nicknamed the Diddler because it could “diddle” all over the road, the last tram in 1952, the last trolleybus in 1962, the RT and RM buses and the Victoria and Jubilee tubes.
Fina11y we came to the museum at Covent Garden. Mr Freeborn out-lined London Transport’s scheme to use the old Flower Market. He described the floor strengthening necessary to take the load of vehicles to be displayed, how they are parked on special stands and how their positions had to be precisely determined in advance on a plan.
He then showed us some of the problems involved in manoeuvring trams and railway vehicles through the narrow approach streets, and how it took twelve hours of backward and forward movements to turn a single 60-ft railway carriage through 900 degrees onto its track. Opening day also posed problems since three buses had to be taken out to make room for the official opening party but needed to b~ replaced very quickly afterwards in order not to delay public opening.
There were also slides of a horse bus under restoration -one might almost call it rebuilding, since it nearly fell apart because the timber was so decayed. Lastly we were shown something of the museum itself, with its low -hung display cabinets for the benefit of children -though they are quite comfortable viewing, too, for adults. If Mr Freeborn’s enthusiastic description (he himself calls it his “commercial”) does not persuade some of his audience to visit the museum soon, nothing will.
Nell Penny adds this comment:
The lecture by Mr Freeborn produced an interesting footnote from Mrs Mason, our kindly lecture coffee lady, and near-founder member of HADAS. Her father, Frederick Jackson, was born in 1879. When he was eleven he got a job leading a tram trace-horse down Highgate Hill to the Archway. If the roads were icy, young Fred wrapped sacking round the horse’s front hooves and round his own feet. The boy graduated to being a “boy behind”’ on an LMWR horse delivery van. Mrs Mason remembers being told about one badly brought up horse which refused to pass a certain East End pub till it had been bought a drink of beer.
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FINCHLEY IN HENDON
HADAS played host on Sunday Sept 28 to twenty-nine members of the Finchley Society (not forgetting the dog). The occasion was a Sunday afternoon stroll through the highways and bye-ways of Hendon, following mainly the Hendon Town Trail.
Paddy Musgrove looked after the mustering arrangements. Percy Reboul and Ted Sammes did the commentary on points of special interest, finishing with Church Farm Museum and Hendon St Mary’s churchyard.
A pleasant walk on a nice warm autumn afternoon. PR
THE PROUD PUMPS OF HADLEY
A few months ago HADAS was told of some old wells in Hadley. We asked HAROLD COVER to investigate, and this is his report.
I visited 120 Hadley Road, New Barnet (OS ref: TQ 258969) to meet a lady who, instead of fairies at the bottom of her garden, had something almost as interesting – an old English well.
The house had originally been built in the early 1900s and was now in process of being rebuilt by new owners. A capped well in the garden, which had been covered with soil, had recently been re-discovered.
The diameter of the well opening was 26 ins. The inner wall was bell-shaped, with a diameter of 64 ins. The opening was capped by a circular stone slab 2½ ins thick, movable by a metal ring. The wall of the well was lined with bricks 4½ ins thick.
The well contained very muddy water that had reached to within 12 ins of the top. Protruding through one side was a metal pipe that presumably formerly led to a pump.
It is considered locally that the area was once the site of a large orchard.
Descending Hadley Road I visited next the courtyard of the Hadley Hotel at no. 113. This contained an iron pump painted black in good condition but no longer capable of drawing water. The pump has a raised inscription- WARNERS -at the side.
Going further down to the garden of 96 Woodville Road – only a short distance from the Hadley Hotel – I was shown an iron pump in remarkable condition that had been refurbished by its enthusiastic owner. The pump, once primed, still produced a good and regular supply of clear water. The owner stated that even in the driest of summers this flow was maintained. It is estimated that the well serving the pump is 13 ft deep, the water level being 24 ins from the top.
Once again local information is that the area was once the site of a large orchard.
The three wells are on an apparently descending spring line that would possibly lead to the Town Hall annexe at the junction of Station Road and Lytton Road, which was formerly the site of Metcalfs Hydro and Turkish Baths.
FROM EGYPT TO ISLINGTON
– some New Year lecture courses.
In the last Newsletter we reported that the City University, Northampton Square, ECl (just beyond the Angel, Islington, and not too difficult of access for HADAS members) had various interesting one-term courses starting after Christmas. Here are some details:
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An Introduction to Ancient Egypt, including a start on hieroglyphic writing. Tues. from Jan’20. Virginia Northedge. Fee £4.50.
South American Archaeology, particularly Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Mons from Jan 19. Alexandra Morgan. £4.50
The Journeys of St Paul: a travellers-eye view of the Roman Empire in the lst c. AD. ‘Weds from Jan 21. Geoffrey T Garvey. £6.00
19th c Islington: transformation from village to industrial area. Tues from Jan 20. Mary Cosh. 8 meetings £3.60
Recent Work on Early Man: evidence from Africa, Australasia and the Americas. Thurs from Jan 22. Esmee Webb. £4.50
The above are all 10-meeting courses unless otherwise stated, and are from 6.30-8 pm. In addition, there are two 8-meeting courses later in the year:
Aztec Cities of Mexico. Apr 28-May 21, 2 meetings a week on Tues, Thurs. Fee £4.80. Elizabeth Baquedano de Alvarez, who will be returning from Mexico just before the course, with details of latest excavations.
Subterranean London: all that goes on under London, including archaeological problems and geological uncertainties. Weds from Apr 29. Roger Morgan. £6.00.
MEDIEVAL TILES
Excavations lat Norton Priory, Runcorn, Cheshire, have in the last 10 years provided fresh insights in various medieval matters. Of particular interest are the tile floors which have been uncovered at the Priory; and the experiments which have been made to reproduce similar tiles.
Now the Norton Priory Museum has issued a brief illustrated booklet which summarises what they have discovered about the manufacture of medieval floor tiles and methods of laying them. Techniques of tile decoration and use of colours and glazes are also covered.
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The museum also has a set of 5 slides on 14th/15th c tiles at 75p plus post. The booklet is 30p plus post. Write to Norton Priory Museum, near Astmoor, Warrington Rd, Runcorn, Cheshire WA7 1RE.
CONGRATULATIONS
…are in order for HADAS member Rosalind Batchelor and, her husband, John, who became the proud parents of a second son, Peter James, in the middle of October.
Mrs Batchelor, who has been a member for 6 years and is a town planner by profession, represents HADAS on the Historic Buildings Committee of the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society. Best wishes to her and husband – not forgetting Peter James himself.
A CAUTIONARY TALE
When people talk of the pitfalls of archaeology don’t always necessarily mean falling into a trench or down a hole.
About 5 years HADAS mounted an excavation, directed by Ann Trewick, in the churchyard of St James the Great, Friern Barnet, at the request of the then Rector, Canon Norman Gilmore. You’ll find the final report on that dig in Newsletter 58, December 1975.
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Among the most interesting finds were 8 coffin plates from 18th and 19th c burials – 3 mid-18th c brass plates, and 5 of lead, one dated 1727, the others l9th century.
In July 1977 HADAS was approached by two research workers who were studying the history of coffin plates and working on methods of conserving them at the Dept. of Archaeology of Cardiff University. They had read of the St James’s plates.
In due course these conservators came to London, saw the plates and offered to conserve four of them, if the Rector was agreeable, in the University laboratories at Cardiff. HADAS Was asked to give an undertaking that, once conserved, the plates would henceforth be properly stored and displayed. This we were able to do, as Canon Gilmore was enthusiastic at the prospect of being able to show them in his church. Indeed, two handy members of the Research Committee straight away began to plan how best to mount the conserved plates for display, possibly under glass.
It’s unwise, however, to count your chickens.
In mid-1978 HADAS began to press for the return of the plates. The letter from the conservators at this time is worth quoting:
“The position with the coffin plates is as follows: We have managed to conserve two plates. Now that I have some time I shall be able to finish the others properly for you. I regret the delay in dealing with the plates due to pressure of academic work, but I would urge you to wait until we have managed to preserve them properly. I feel confident that you will be well satisfied with the transformation that has taken place.”
The plates were not ready in 1978. The whole of 1979 went by and despite periodic reminders, no coffin plates appeared. Finally, in 1980, after some fairly tough letters, Ann Trewick managed to get the managed to agree a date in September on which they would bring the conserved plates to London.
They were handed over, in something of a hurry, at a main line station. Ann bore them back in triumph, eager to see the heralded “transformation”. She opened the wrapping. Inside were the plates, done up precisely as they had left her over 3 years’ before, each with its little bag of silica gel.
“I couldn’t absolutely swear to it,” she says, “but the parcel looked as if it had never been opened. I reckon no conservation work of any kind had been done”.
There is even a tailpiece to this sorry story. In addition to getting back the Friern Barnet plates, we also received a package of fine coffin plates, unprovenanced, belonging to some other wretched excavator. Perhaps instead of complaining we ought to be thanking our lucky stars that our plates didn’t get shipped off to Timbuktu, never to be seen again by HADAS
Letter to the Editor
I think Ken Vause’s “Druid temple” (see Newsletter 116) is a mini-Stonehenge made by William Danby of Swinton Hall, about 1820, at Ilton. There are a number of these false antiquities around the county which bring one up with a jolt.
For further reading, see Follies, a National Benzole book, edited by Sir Hugh Casson, publisher Chatto & Windus, 1963.
Yours, etc TED SAMMES
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FROM THE EXCAVATION FRONT
News from both our digs is that they are coming to their close.
From West Heath Daphne Lorimer (soon off on a month’s globe-trot half-way round the world) reports that excavation finished with the end of October, although back-room work on the finds will continue through the winter. The season has been successful and has provided answers to a number of our questions about West Heath. Daphne will report fully early in the New Year.
At Cedars Close Percy Reboul says that he, too, has shut up shop, and has settled down to the various post-excavation jobs which will enable him to produce his report in due course.
CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION
Now news on another topic in which many members are deeply interested – how will HADAS celebrate Christmas this year?
Dorothy Newbury has been beavering away at this problem and has tried all sorts of options -from dinner at the House of Commons to a boat trip down the Thames. Inflation, alas, has taken the price of most of the more exotic ideas through the roof. So she has decided to come back nearer home – in fact, to David Garrick’s 200-year old manor house, now the Hendon Hall hotel.
Our Christmas feast will therefore take place there on Tuesday, December 2, accompanied by old-time music hall entertainment to give it the Christmas spirit. An application form is enclosed – please fill it in as soon as possible if you would-like to join us, and send it to Dorothy Newbury.
NEW TITLES IN SHIRE ARCHAEOLOGY SERIES
Three new titles – on Later Stone Implements, Roman Coinage and Romano-British Towns – have recently been added to this series. Two are reviewed below, and we hope to publish a review of the third next month. Each book costs £1.50 and is obtainable from our Hon. Treasurer. When you buy a Shire publication through him, you put a little commission into the HADAS kitty – so don’t be backward about buying.
Roman Coinage in Britain by F J Casey.
This book should be in the library of every Romanist and collector of Roman coins. The explanation of the relative value of coins, particularly in the vexed later centuries, when inflation was even worse than ours, is excellent. The various emperors whose coinage turns up in Britain are listed. The highly involved study of hoards is explored, but perhaps such a subject might be better treated in n separate book.
The suggested book list, oddly enough, omits Seaby’s “Roman Coins and their Values” which, although a commercial catalogue, is extremely useful for identification and is much cheaper than the recommended Mattingley and Sydenham. R.L.
Towns in Roman Britain by Julian Bennett.
The Romans brought town life to Britain for the first time: indeed, towns were a vital necessity to their successful administration of the country. Mr. Bennett explains the set-up with admirable clarity, describing the status of the various kinds of town, from coloniae to vicus, how administration and taxation worked, public buildings and amenities (aqueducts, latrines, sewers etc), shops, defences.
Inevitably, since Shire books are of small compass, the “chapters” are heavily condensed and specialist detail is missing. This is, however, an admirable resume, well illustrated, for anyone who wants a general idea of Roman Britain.
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A GAZETTEER OF TRANSPORT IN THE BOROUGH OF BARNET
Part 1: By Water, Air and Road – Compiled by BILL FIRTH.
(EDITORIAL: For map to which marginal references apply, select the following link)
We are working on a gazetteer of all industrial sites in the Borough of Barnet. It is however a large area and industry is scattered, so that it takes time. To start with, here is Part I of a gazetteer of transport sites only (Part II will follow next month). This has proved easier to complete than the full gazetteer, partly because of a greater personal interest, partly because, although the Borough is large, transport follows certain well defined routes. However, there ate still problems, because features can change quickly and unnoticed, particularly for example, as has happened in the last few years when major electrification has occurred on a railway (e.g. both the Great Northern and Midland lines). It is thought that at the time of going to press the list is up to date. The criterion for inclusion has been visible remains, except for a few cases where a site is marked with a blue plaque or has been proposed for one. One final word -the inclusion of a site is no guarantee of accessibility.
WATER TRANSPORT
Wl. Brent Reservoir, NW9 (Welsh Harp) TQ 215 870, partly in LB Barnet. Formed in 1835 on completion of dam (in LB Brent) across Brent Valley to provide water for Grand Junction Canal.
W2. Site of Guttershedge Farm, now Park Road NW4, TQ 225 879. Sir Francis Pettit Smith (1808-74), inventor of the screw propeller, lived here and demonstrated a model of his invention on the farm pond in 1836 (Newsletters 81, Nov. 1977, and 93, Nov. 1978) Note also that Thomas Tilling, motor bus pioneer, lived here too.
AIR TRANSPORT
Al. llO Cricklewood Lane, NW2, TQ 244 861. Handley Page Aircraft Co moved here from Barking in 1912 prior to move to Claremont Road.
A2 Handley Page factories Claremont Road/Somerton Road,NW2, TQ 240 862. Occupied by Handley Page c. 1914-70, now in other use.
A3 RAF Museum, Grahame Park Way, NW9, TQ 221 903, incorporates two early hangars, c. 1914, with timber Belfast truss roofs.
A4 Grahame-White Hangar, RAF Station Hendon, NW9, TQ 221 901. Listed as an historic building ( Newsletter 12, June 1980).
A5 Former Entrance Gates to Grahame-White Aviation Co Ltd. Re-sited at entrance to RAF Museum; Grahame Park Way, NW9, TQ 220 904, originally in Aerodrome Road, NW9; TQ 219 890 (Newsletter 112, June 1930).
A6 Other sites on the RAF station are mentioned in Newsletter 116, October 1980.
ROAD TRANSPORT
Some main North/South through-roads have been shown on the map at the end of this gazetteer. There are a number of ancient East/West routes too, as well as shorter North/South roads and lanes which do not transect the whole Borough. Many of these have been in use, on almost or precisely the same line, since medieval times, and are worthy of study -to name only a few, Golders Green/North End Road, Colindeep Lane and The Burroughs, Nether Street, East End Road. Any member who would like to “adopt” a road to study in detail might find it very rewarding.
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For evidence for Roman Watling Street and The Viatores suggested route 167 see newsletter 102, August 1979.
TOLL HOUSES
Rl Spaniards Toll House, Spaniards Road, NW3, TQ 266 872. This is on the Borough boundary with Camden.
R2 Tollgate Cottage, Hadley Green, TQ 248 975.
R3 Site of Childs Hill Toll House, Castle Public House, Finchley Road, NW2, TQ 250 864. Blue plaque.
R4 Site of Edgware Toll House, Edgware Road, TQ 195 913. Blue plaque.
MILESTONES
On the Edgware-Kilburn Turnpike, opened 1711 (now Edgware Road) Early 19th c cast iron, V-shaped, round headed, all marked Hendon Parish:
R5 In front of 3/4 Grafton Terrace, NW2, TQ 236 859. London 4 Watford 10
R6 20-25 m. N of junction Edgware Road/Goldsmith Avenue NW9, ‘TQ 217 885. London 6 Watford 8
R7 70-75 m. S of junction Edgware Road/The Greenway, NW9. TQ 207 898. London 7 Watford 7.
R8 The London 5 Watford 9 stone was removed from Staples Corner, TQ 226 873, when the flyover was built and is in safe-keeping. It is hoped that the Borough may re-erect it at an appropriate point.
R9 On tile continuation of this route, half-way up Brockley Hill, TQ 178 934, rectangular stone milestone. ?18th c.
On the Finchley-Regents Park Turnpike, built 1826, milestones similar to above:
RlO Outside 604 Finchley Road, NWll. TQ 252 872, Regents Park 3, Barnet 6 1/4
Rll Junction Regents Park Road/The Avenue, N3, TQ 249 902, Regents Park 5, Barnet 4 ¼
On the Holyhead Road (later Great North Road) which existed pre-19th c, but was re-surveyed by Telford in 1810:
R12 50-55 m. S of junction High Road N12/Ravensdale Ave, TQ263 925, London 8 Barnet 5, similar to above
R13 Junction Barnet Hill/Meadway, TQ 251 964, stone milestone possibly dating from Telford’s survey.
Hampstead-Mill Hill, on a winding route, rectangular stone milestones, stated by Peter Collinson to be newly erected in 1752:
R14 Brent Street NW4, between Lodge Road and Church Road, TQ 233 893.
R15 Holders Hill Road, NW7, close to Hendon Park Cemetery, TQ 241 906
R16 Top of Bittacy Hill, NW7, opposite UK Optical Factory, TQ 237 921 R17
R17 The Ridgeway, NW7, on green by War Memorial, TQ 224 029.
R18 Highwood Hill, NW7, near junction with Hendon Wood Lane, TQ 222 938
CATTLE/HORSE TROUGHS AND DRINKING FOUNTAINS (not marked on map)
These are a historic link with the final days of horse-drawn traffic immediately before the start of mass production of the motor car. The following (all of which bear the primary inscription “Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association”) are known:
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Cattle trough/drinking fountain, corner Wellgarth/North End Roads ,NW11. Secondary inscription: “George & Annie Bills. Australia.” TQ 257 872 Note: this trough was taken into care by Borough Engineer’s dept. for duration of the still incomplete Wellgarth development, with a promise of re-erection when building is finished.
Cattle trough/drinking fountain, at Meadway Gate, NWll. Now used as a plant container by Parks Dept LBB TQ 251 881
Cattle trough/drinking fountain outside 40 The Burroughs, NW4. Secondary inscription “Be kind and merciful to al animals in memory of Louis David Benjamin, 1917” TQ 226 890
Cattle trough/drinking fountain at top of Bell Lane, NW4. Secondary inscription “Be kind and merciful to your animals”. Erected by Mrs F C Banbury. TQ 235 090
Cattle trough (no drinking fountain) at junction Nether St/Ballards Lane, N3. Secondary inscription “In memory of John White of this parish, surgeon, obit AD 1868 and Emily his wife, obit AD 1891.” TQ 252 907
Cattle trough/drinking fountain, with dog-trough running underneath junction Re,venscroft Park/Wood St, Barnet TQ 241 965
Note: we have not checked how many of these are in their original positions, which were often at the top, or part-way up, a hill. Some may still be as first placed, others patently are not.
In Ravenscroft Park, Barnet, TQ 241 965, is a boundary stone inscribed inter alia “This stone was originally a boundary stone of the Whetstone & Highgate Turnpike Trust which built Barnet Hill about 1823″ (not marked on map).
STREET FURNITURE
There is a diminishing amount of other interesting street furniture connected with transport which still remains and urgently needs listing. An example of such recording is the study of trolley bus poles made by B G and B L Wibberley {see Newsletter 112, June 1980). Since that survey these poles have vanished, sure proof of the need to record them. Offers from members to do similar types of study in their own area of the Borough would be joyfully received. If you are prepared to examine your own street and perhaps a few surrounding roads for surviving street furniture, and to record it, please get in touch with Bill Firth.
TRAM AND BUS DEPOTS
R19 Finchley Tram Depot (now a bus garage), Woodberry Grove, N12, TQ 264 919. Built by Metropolitan Electric Tramways, 1906
R20 Hendon Bus Garage, Church Road, NW4, TQ 229 894. Built by London General Omnibus Co, 1913. Entrance, originally onto Church Road.
R21 Edgware Bus Garage, Edgware Station, TQ 196 919. Originally built 1925, completely rebuilt 1939.
MODERN ROADS
For the benefit of the future industrial archaeologist mention should be I made of the arterial roads of the 1920s – Hendon Way/Watford Way/Edgware Way/North Western Avenue {Watford by-pass) started 1924; Barnet Way (Barnet by-pass) started 1924; the North Circular Road {1925) and the Great North Way system (1926); and, in the 1970s, the Ml. One good area at which to study modern roads and flyovers is between Staples Corner TQ 226 873 and Brent Cross TQ 237 880 (approx. R8 on map).
