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.
Local Historic Attractions
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 (2023). In 2024, a booklet “Battle of Barnet – Set forth on a Quest” was created and is available from the museum.
“The [banners] on the right [of the high street] are the Yorkists, and on the left are the Lancastrians. this is because the roads diverge at Hadley, York to the right, and Lancaster to the left.” (source)
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.
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.
Barnet and Monken Hadley’s almshouse tradition spans several charities and sites, from Eleanor Palmer to Ravenscroft (Jesus Hospital). Follow the links for overviews and individual histories.
Erected by Sir Jeremy Sambrook in 1740, this sandstone obelisk marks the area associated with the Battle of Barnet of 14 April 1471. Its inscription records Edward IV’s victory over the Earl of Warwick, a decisive moment in the Wars of the Roses. The 1840 the monument was moved 180 meters to its present loaction (source).
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.
Visit the bronze statue of Millie, the Waitrose Cat.
Private residence on Wood Street. Whalebones Cottage, first appears on Middlesex Sheet VI, Surveyed: 1863 to 1866, Published: 1868
Barnet’s chartered market dates to 23 August 1199, when King John granted rights to the Abbot of St Albans. Today it trades at the Rear of The Spires Shopping Centre on Stapylton Road – see the market site for details.
Tudor Hall in Wood Street, Chipping Barnet, was built around 1577 as the original home of Queen Elizabeth’s School under a charter granted in 1573. It is a Grade II listed building. Not currently open to the public. (Image Source)
London’s largest medieval weekend marks the 1471 Battle of Barnet with living-history encampments, market stalls, and family activities. Visitors can watch full-scale battle re-enactments alongside gunnery, archery, music and dance, bringing Wars of the Roses history vividly to life.
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
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