Did you know that...
High Barnet EN5 was called Barneto in 1070 and La Barnette in 1248. It derives from the Anglo-Saxon word “bærnet” that means “land cleared by burning”. The Battle of Barnet, one of the most important encounters in the Wars of the Roses, took place here in 1471.
Barnet Fair has been taking place annually since 1588. Queen Elizabeth I allowed the Lord Mayor of Barnet to organize the fair two times a year. The fair used to feature horse races until 1870 when the railway station was built on the site of the racing grounds.
It is believed that St John the Baptist Church was built in the 13th century. In the 15th century, the church was rebuilt by John de la Moote the abbot of St Albans.
High Barnet literally is one of the highest-lying areas in London. The town centre has an elevation of 130 meters (427 feet).
On the Northern line, there is the High Barnet underground station while the East Coast Main Line (ECML) is where New Barnet railway station is located, which is served by routes from Moorgate and
King’s Cross to Welwyn Garden City.
Notable people associated with the area include Harvard professor and Dead Sea scrolls editor-in-chief John Strugnell, singer Emma Bunton, model Samantha Fox, TV host Jerry Springer, and cricketer Phil Tufnell. There are also several novelists from High Barnet such as Alison Weir, Charles Dickens, and Martin Amis.