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Friern Barnet is a residential district within Barnet and located 11.9 km (7.4 miles) north of Charing Cross. Forming its center is the busy intersection of Barnet Road (taking eastbound traffic towards New Southgate), Woodhouse Road (running westbound in the direction of North Finchley), and Colney Hatch Lane (leading north and south).
Up until the 1900s, Friern Barnet was primarily rural. The opening of railway stations on the Metropolitan Railway and Great Northern Railway (GNR) as well as Colney Hatch’s asylum for the mentally ill in the mid-19th century brought about its progress as an outer community in London. The electric trams’ arrival in the 19th century accelerated this development.
Notable personalities who were born in Friern Barnet include actor and comedian Cyril Fletcher, classical guitarist John Williams, art teacher and studio potter Colin Pearson;,TV and radio host Neil ‘Roberto’ Williams, and entomologist H. G. H. Kearns.
The Jewish care facility Lady Sarah Cohen house was financed by Jack Cohen, the founder of Tesco, and his wife Sarah. Classical guitarist John Williams attended Friern Barnet Grammar School.
Friern Barnet New Southgate N11 was known as Little Barnet back in the day. Starting with the 13th century, the name changed to Frerenbarnet and then to Friern Barne. Fryern Barnett was an alternate spelling. The name derives from “frere”, the French word for brother.