Childs Hill
Encyclopedia
Childs Hill, now the southernmost ward of the London Borough of Barnet
, although of historic origin, is a late-19th-century suburban development situated 5 miles (8 km) northwest of Charing Cross
bordered by the A41 (Hendon Way) and Dunstan Road, and centred on the junction of Cricklewood Lane and Finchley Road. It is adjacent to a part of Hampstead Heath known as the West Heath.
It is the most densely populated ward in the borough. It is represented on Barnet Council by the Liberal Democrats
(current councillors Monroe and Susette Palmer, and Jack Cohen). As part of the Finchley & Golders Green constituency, its Member of Parliament is the Conservative Mike Freer
. The area has a thriving Residents' Association, called CLAN (current chairman: Andrew Sanger
), representing three residential streets at the heart of the neighbourhood - Crewys, Llanvanor and Nant roads.
. The Castle Inn dates from this period: the first record of it is in 1751.
With an altitude over 259 feet above sea level (at the Castle Public House), Childs Hill is visible from afar, and from 1789 to 1847 was the site of an optical telegraph station. In 1808 this became one of a line of telegraph stations stretching from the Admiralty to Great Yarmouth, erected as part of Britain's national defences. Only the name, Telegraph Hill
, remains; it has been covered with housing (this part of Childs Hill is now inside the boundary of the London Borough of Camden
).
Following an Act of Parliament in 1826, Finchley Road
was constructed; it was completed by 1829. There was a tollgate at the Castle Public House. The road is now the main thoroughfare through Childs Hill. In the early 1850s a Colonel Evans built houses on a site called The Mead, where the Morris brick works had been. The road was later called Granville Road - which it still is today. By the 1870s a number of laundries were operating in Childs Hill. The very last laundry site in the area, the Initial Laundry in Granville Road, closed in 2006.
At the northern extremity of Childs Hill, on the Hendon Way, is the Palm Hotel, formerly the Garth Hotel. Alexei Sayle
's short story "Barcelona Plates" goes into some detail about the hotel, as its protagonist stays there for a while, noting, amongst many other features, the idiosyncratic design of the building, which was formed by the amalgamation of several suburban houses.
It has two parks, Childs Hill Park
and Basing Hill Park
, and Golders Hill Park
and Clitterhouse Recreation Ground
are close to the area.
, who lived at Vernon Court on the Hendon Way.
Though not a resident John Constable
, who lived in nearby Hampstead
, painted Childs Hill in oils in 1825. (The work is entitled Childs Hill with Harrow in the Distance). The painting shows the view northwest along what is now Cricklewood Lane, with Harrow on the Hill visible beyond.
Infamous graffiti artiste, Zonk, is said to be from the area. World renowned street artist Banksy has cited Zonk as one of his inspirations.
London Borough of Barnet
The London Borough of Barnet is a London borough in North London and forms part of Outer London. It has a population of 331,500 and covers . It borders Hertfordshire to the north and five other London boroughs: Harrow and Brent to the west, Camden and Haringey to the south-east and Enfield to the...
, although of historic origin, is a late-19th-century suburban development situated 5 miles (8 km) northwest of Charing Cross
Charing Cross
Charing Cross denotes the junction of Strand, Whitehall and Cockspur Street, just south of Trafalgar Square in central London, England. It is named after the now demolished Eleanor cross that stood there, in what was once the hamlet of Charing. The site of the cross is now occupied by an equestrian...
bordered by the A41 (Hendon Way) and Dunstan Road, and centred on the junction of Cricklewood Lane and Finchley Road. It is adjacent to a part of Hampstead Heath known as the West Heath.
It is the most densely populated ward in the borough. It is represented on Barnet Council by the Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
(current councillors Monroe and Susette Palmer, and Jack Cohen). As part of the Finchley & Golders Green constituency, its Member of Parliament is the Conservative Mike Freer
Mike Freer
Michael Whitney Freer MP is a British politician. A Conservative, he was elected as the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Finchley and Golders Green at the 2010 general election...
. The area has a thriving Residents' Association, called CLAN (current chairman: Andrew Sanger
Andrew Sanger
Andrew Sanger is a British freelance journalist and travel writer, known for many popular travel guides to France and the French regions, although he has also authored more than twenty guides to other locations....
), representing three residential streets at the heart of the neighbourhood - Crewys, Llanvanor and Nant roads.
History
The earliest known use of the place name 'Child's Hill' is in 1593. (Today, the apostrophe in the name is optional.) In the 18th century, Childs Hill was a centre for brick and tile making, supplying material for building HampsteadHampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
. The Castle Inn dates from this period: the first record of it is in 1751.
With an altitude over 259 feet above sea level (at the Castle Public House), Childs Hill is visible from afar, and from 1789 to 1847 was the site of an optical telegraph station. In 1808 this became one of a line of telegraph stations stretching from the Admiralty to Great Yarmouth, erected as part of Britain's national defences. Only the name, Telegraph Hill
Telegraph Hill
Telegraph Hill may be:* Telegraph Hill, San Francisco, California, USA* Telegraph Hill, on the A38 road in Devon, England* Telegraph Hill, Claygate, Surrey, England* Telegraph Hill, Barnet, London, England* Telegraph Hill, Lewisham, London, England...
, remains; it has been covered with housing (this part of Childs Hill is now inside the boundary of the London Borough of Camden
London Borough of Camden
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough were already developed and had a total population of 96,795. This continued to rise swiftly throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 270,197 in the middle of the century...
).
Following an Act of Parliament in 1826, Finchley Road
Finchley Road
Finchley Road, an inner city main road which runs for about 7 kilometres/4 miles, is one of the major thoroughfares of north London, England.Originally named Finchley New Road, it was built as a turnpike road in the late 1820s/early 1830s to provide a by-pass to the existing route north from London...
was constructed; it was completed by 1829. There was a tollgate at the Castle Public House. The road is now the main thoroughfare through Childs Hill. In the early 1850s a Colonel Evans built houses on a site called The Mead, where the Morris brick works had been. The road was later called Granville Road - which it still is today. By the 1870s a number of laundries were operating in Childs Hill. The very last laundry site in the area, the Initial Laundry in Granville Road, closed in 2006.
Notable features
With streets of modest terraced housing, but also characterised by four high rise blocks of flats, Childs Hill has a public library, as well as Childs Hill park which also contains the Childs Hill Bowls Club,an 18th-century pub (The Castle), several shops and restaurants, small businesses, offices, primary schools and two churches (All Saints C of E with Primary School and Childs Hill Baptist, whose pastor of 25 years is Gary Brady).At the northern extremity of Childs Hill, on the Hendon Way, is the Palm Hotel, formerly the Garth Hotel. Alexei Sayle
Alexei Sayle
Alexei David Sayle is a British stand-up comedian, actor and author. He was a central part of the alternative comedy circuit in the early 1980s. He was voted the 18th greatest stand-up comic on Channel 4's 100 Greatest Stand-ups in 2007...
's short story "Barcelona Plates" goes into some detail about the hotel, as its protagonist stays there for a while, noting, amongst many other features, the idiosyncratic design of the building, which was formed by the amalgamation of several suburban houses.
It has two parks, Childs Hill Park
Childs Hill Park
Childs Hill Park is a public park in Childs Hill in the London Borough of Barnet. Together with the neighbouring Basing Hill Park, it is one of Barnet's 'Premier Parks'....
and Basing Hill Park
Basing Hill Park
Basing Hill Park is a small public park in Childs Hill in the London Borough of Barnet. Together with the neighbouring Childs Hill Park it is one of Barnet's 'Premier Parks'...
, and Golders Hill Park
Golders Hill Park
Golders Hill Park is a formal park in Golders Green, London. It is managed by the City of London Corporation as part of the parkland and commons in and near Hampstead Heath, and is part of the Hampstead Heath Local Nature Reserve...
and Clitterhouse Recreation Ground
Clitterhouse Recreation Ground
Clitterhouse Recreation Ground or Clitterhouse Playing Fields is a park and Local Nature Reserve in Brent Cross in the London Borough of Barnet. It is a large area of mown grass with a children's playground, bordered by thick hedges...
are close to the area.
Geography
Notable people
Childs Hill has blue plaques commemorating two famous former residents: Sportsman C. B. Fry who lived at Moreland Court, Lyndale Avenue, and Aviator Amy JohnsonAmy Johnson
Amy Johnson CBE, was a pioneering English aviator. Flying solo or with her husband, Jim Mollison, Johnson set numerous long-distance records during the 1930s...
, who lived at Vernon Court on the Hendon Way.
Though not a resident John Constable
John Constable
John Constable was an English Romantic painter. Born in Suffolk, he is known principally for his landscape paintings of Dedham Vale, the area surrounding his home—now known as "Constable Country"—which he invested with an intensity of affection...
, who lived in nearby Hampstead
Hampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
, painted Childs Hill in oils in 1825. (The work is entitled Childs Hill with Harrow in the Distance). The painting shows the view northwest along what is now Cricklewood Lane, with Harrow on the Hill visible beyond.
Infamous graffiti artiste, Zonk, is said to be from the area. World renowned street artist Banksy has cited Zonk as one of his inspirations.
External links
- British History Online - Childs Hill pages - a serious look at the area's history