It was gloriously sunny during the afternoon of Thursday 6th October 2002, when a group from Cherry Lodge Cancer Care enjoyed a fun historical walk around Chipping (High) Barnet.
The walk was led by Paul Baker, a qualified City of London guide, who lives locally and loves to share his deep knowledge of Barnet’s history. We saw a town hall that had been a brewery, and a shopping centre (the Spires) that used to be a Methodist church. We also visited the parish churchyard with its 18th and 19th century tombstones. History also lives on at Barnet and Southgate college, where buildings that once housed Barnet’s Queen Elizabeth Grammar School are now used alongside the college’s 21st-century, ultra-modern extension. We heard stories about Barnet Fair, which was once so famous that Cossacks flocked to it, and so infamous that the Victorians tried to close it down. We also learned about the day when three kings of England came to Barnet: 14th April 1471, when the Battle of Barnet was fought. There were also stories about Charles Dickens, who knew Barnet very well.
If you’d like to join Paul next time he does this walk, or to receive his full programme of walks around Barnet and London, phone/text 07506 761294, email pbaker54@hotmail.co.uk or go to Paul’s website, www.barnet-walks.co.uk
This really was a most enjoyable and informative event. We are very fortunate to live in such a historical town. Thank you very much to Paul and thank you also to everyone who attended, helping raise funds for Cherry Lodge. The final figure raised was £100.00 for a wonderful afternoon tour through Chipping Barnet.
Click on the small images below to see larger, complete photographs of: (1) the former Town Hall on Wood Street, now the Coroner’s Court; (2) the former Queen Elizabeth’s Boys’ Grammar School, now part of Barnet and Southgate College; (3) 18th and 19th century tombstones in the parish churchyard; (4) our guide telling us about the parish church
