Barnet Museum – Celebrating the historic importance of Barnet
Barnet Museum is a free local history Museum in North London run by volunteers. The Museum focuses on Chipping Barnet, East Barnet, New Barnet, Hadley and the surrounding districts.
The Museum’s collection contains hundreds of artefacts reflecting the history of Barnet and those that have lived there, dating from the Bronze Age to the present day. There is also an extensive archive, and we are a centre for local and family history research.
Quick Links to barnetmuseum.co.uk
Recent History – From the Facebook page “Barnet – A Trip Down Memory Lane”
“Let’s Wallow in Nostalgia with old Memories of Barnet, Find Old Friends, add your old Photos. Chat about the old Days.”
facebook.com/groups/144875765529910
Local Historic Attractions
With a timber-frame dating from 1360, 54a High Street, Barnet, is currently considered to be the oldest shop in Barnet and the second oldest timber framed building in London.
Note: This is a private home, so please don’t walk up the drive.
The monument is a sandstone obelisk which was originally put up by Sir Jeremy Sambrook in 1740. It reads “Here was fought the famous battle between Edward IV and the Earl of Warwick April 14th Anno 1471 in which the Earl was Defeated and Slain“.
London’s largest medieval weekend will take place at Barnet Elizabethans RFC. The Festival will be commemorating the Battle of Barnet with a special programme of battle re-enactments, gunnery and archery displays, living history encampments, music and dance, a medieval market and children’s activities.
Originally installed and opened in August 1885 by local benefactor Ann Pagent, it was restored and opened again in April 2023 campaigned for by local shopkeeper Peter Wanders in April 2023.
A series of historical and fun guided walks in Barnet. Barnet Ghosts; The Battle of Barnet; Charles Dickens in North London; Georgian Monken Hadley; Historical High Barnet; Mill Hill; Hampstead Garden Suburb; East Barnet Village; Barnet pubs, churches; Historical Finchley, Special ghost walks for Halloween. Walks are usually at the weekend. They meet at various points around the Borough of Barnet. Walks also in London.
“On 23rd August 1199 King John issued a charter for a market in Barnet to the Lord of the Manor, the Abbot of St. Albans, John de Cella.” – fobm.
Barnet Museum volunteers have created over 90 replica banners representing nobles who fought at the Battle of Barnet. View the battle of Barnet Banners, along the High Street and in the Spires. Download the list of Banners from the Barnet Museum website and see which ones you can spot.
Visit the bronze statue of Millie, the Waitrose Cat.
(Image Source)
Built in 2016, “New Ground Cohousing is the first senior cohousing community in the country based in High Barnet, north London, and it’s only for women.”
Documents Available Online
Cowing’s Guide To Chipping Barnet And Neighbourhood – Visitor Handbook 1875
Greater London: A narrative of its history, its people, and its places (1885) Chipping Barnet: p319
A chat about Barnet and it’s History by S.H. Widdicombe (first published 1912)
Kelly’s Directories – find out who lived at which house
Directories at Barnet Council
Directories at University of Leicester