Description
Hadley Green is an ancient tract of commonland now bisected by roads. The land was secured as public open space for the people of Hadley parish in 1818. It is reputedly the site of the Battle of Barnet in the War of the Roses when the Earl of Warwick died with many of his men on Easter Sunday 1471. This historic occasion is marked by an obelisk erected in 1740 but moved further north of its original position in 1840. Houses were increasingly built around the Green from the C17th, and from 1770-1938 the Hadley Brewery was situated adjacent to Brewery Pond, one of five ponds on Hadley Green.
Practical Information
| Site location | Great North Road/Hadley Highstone/Hadley Green Road, Monken Hadley |
|---|---|
| Postcode | EN5 4PT |
| What3Words | ///mixed.shunts.vent |
| Type of Site | Public Open Land |
| Borough | Barnet |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Special Conditions | No fishing on Brewery Pond |
| Public Transport | Tube: High Barnet (Northern) then bus. Bus 34, 84, 263, 383, 399. |
| Research Updated | 1 May 2009 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
A mile or so up the Great North Road from High Barnet is Hadley Green, an ancient tract of commonland now bisected by roads. The land is registered under the Commons Registration Act of 1965 and was secured as public open space for the people of Hadley parish in 1818. This was reputedly the site of the famous Battle of Barnet in the War of the Roses when the Earl of Warwick, known as The Kingmaker, died with many of his men in the fighting 'in heavy mist before dawn' on Easter Sunday 1471. This historic occasion, which led to Edward IV's success over Henry VI who was murdered on 21st May, is marked by a Portland stone obelisk, which was erected in 1740 by Sir Jeremy Sambrooke of nearby North Mimms. The obelisk was moved to its present site in 1840, some 200 yards further north of its original position.
The settlement here grew up around St Mary's Church (q.v.) near which on Hadley Green Road are the old Wilbraham Almshouses, founded in 1612 by Sir Roger Wilbraham. In the C17th and C18th houses were increasingly being built around the Green, a number of which had notable residents. Dr Livingstone stayed in a cottage here in 1857 where he wrote 'Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa' before his return to Africa in 1858; his daughter erected a plaque on the house in 1913 to mark the centenary of his birth. The grandfather of William Thackeray lived in Hadley Green, and Thackeray's cousin was Rector of St Mary's Church (q.v.). Anthony Trollope's sister moved here briefly in 1836 before dying of consumption. From 1770 until 1938 the Hadley Brewery brewed here in buildings adjacent to one of the 5 ponds on Hadley Green, Brewery Pond; thereafter the brewery became a distribution centre but was finally demolished in 1978. Windmill House is on the site of the former windmill.
At the southern tip of Hadley Green is another pond, Joslin's Pond, and nearby is the mid C18th Ossulston House once owned by the Earl of Tankerville. The Green is crossed by paths, with a few seats, and has some fine trees such as willows and conifers. The obelisk commemorating the Battle of Barnet is sited on the grass abutting the Great North Road at Hadley Highstone. A pink granite drinking fountain is located at the south of the Green, probably late C19th.
The settlement here grew up around St Mary's Church (q.v.) near which on Hadley Green Road are the old Wilbraham Almshouses, founded in 1612 by Sir Roger Wilbraham. In the C17th and C18th houses were increasingly being built around the Green, a number of which had notable residents. Dr Livingstone stayed in a cottage here in 1857 where he wrote 'Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa' before his return to Africa in 1858; his daughter erected a plaque on the house in 1913 to mark the centenary of his birth. The grandfather of William Thackeray lived in Hadley Green, and Thackeray's cousin was Rector of St Mary's Church (q.v.). Anthony Trollope's sister moved here briefly in 1836 before dying of consumption. From 1770 until 1938 the Hadley Brewery brewed here in buildings adjacent to one of the 5 ponds on Hadley Green, Brewery Pond; thereafter the brewery became a distribution centre but was finally demolished in 1978. Windmill House is on the site of the former windmill.
At the southern tip of Hadley Green is another pond, Joslin's Pond, and nearby is the mid C18th Ossulston House once owned by the Earl of Tankerville. The Green is crossed by paths, with a few seats, and has some fine trees such as willows and conifers. The obelisk commemorating the Battle of Barnet is sited on the grass abutting the Great North Road at Hadley Highstone. A pink granite drinking fountain is located at the south of the Green, probably late C19th.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ246974 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 9.05 |
| Site Ownership | LB Barnet |
| Site Management | Leisure and Youth Services, Green Spaces Division. |
| Listed Structures | various houses abutting Hadley Green are listed |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | No |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Barnet |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Monken Hadley |
| Tree Preservation Order | Not known |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes - Metropolitan Importance |
| Green Belt | Yes |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Area of Special Archaeological Significance |
| Other LA Designation | Metropolitan Park. Green Chain through area; Article 4 Direction |
Gallery
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Nearby parks and gardens
A church has existed here since the C12th and the present building dates from 1494, the date given unusually in Arabic numerals over the west door, which was renovated in 1956. The copper beacon on the tower was set up in the C18th, possibly to celebrate the return to health of George III; this was lit for Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation in 1953. The churchyard contains a number of wooden 'bedhead' memorials and historic C19th tombs such as those of Emily Trollope, sister of Anthony Trollope, and W M Thackeray's grandparents.
Christ Church was built in 1845, a flint and stone building with two large gables facing the road and a picturesque wooden bell-turret. The Pennefather Hall next to the church dates from 1907 and is named after the first vicar. The churchyard is no longer used for burials and the church is now surrounded by garden, with grass, shrubberies and a number of trees including a Cedar, with a War Memorial obelisk to one side commemorating 'Old Scholars of the Boys School Christ Church Barnet who died in the South African Campaign of 1899-1902'.
Mount House was built in the C18th on rising land enclosed from Enfield Chase, a red brick house in its own grounds with a stable range to the west. In 1947 the Sisters of St Martha moved the senior wing of their school here from Wood Street, and additional buildings were added in the 1960s. Although little of the original grounds survive, there is a large circular pond in front of the house, partly surrounded by shrubs, with a statue of the Madonna on the south edge of the pond. Elsewhere are garden areas with lawns, paths, seating areas, some remains of old brick wall and mature trees. An elaborate gate retains the name 'Mount House' carved in the wood.
