Inventory Site Record

This private golf course is on land that was once the site of the manorial estate owned by Lord Chief Justice Popham, and was visited by Elizabeth I. The estate was sold in c.1906 to the North Middlesex Golf Company, whose clubhouse was the C19th manor house. In 1928 the land was acquired as open space by the local Council who then leased it back to the Golf Club. A small circular hedged area with a WWI War Memorial in the centre is located on the edge of the golf course.

Previous / Other name:

The Manor House

Site location:

Friern Barnet Lane, Whetstone

Postcode:

N20 0NL

What 3 Words:

aspect.coats.drop

Type of site:

Private Open Land

Borough:

Barnet

Open to public?

No

Opening times:

private, golfers use only

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Events:

Public transport:

Tube: Totteridge & Whetstone (Northern) then bus. Bus: 234, 383.

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Research updated:

01/05/2009

Last minor changes:

19/07/2023

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.northmiddlesexgc.co.uk

The golf clubhouse was originally a C19th manor house adjacent to a former farm; it is on the site of an older manor house where Lord Chief Justice Popham once lived, visited by Queen Elizabeth I when she hunted in the neighbourhood. The estate was sold in 1906 to the North Middlesex Golf Company. The course was designed by William (Willie) Park Junior (1864 -1925), a well-known golfer and golf course architect who designed many parkland golf courses in the UK, including Sunningdale in Berkshire in 1901, as well as courses in Europe, US and Canada. Son of another famous Scottish golfer, Park had won the Open in 1887 and 1889 and was author of 'The Game of Golf' in 1896, the first book on the game written by a professional.

In 1928 the land was acquired as open space by the local Council who then leased it to the North Middlesex Golf Club, which remains here. Two lakes to the south west of the clubhouse are shown on the OS map of 1894. A small circular hedged area with a World War I memorial in the centre is located on the edge of the golf course. There is a wooded area between the golf course and Friern Barnet Lane with paths through it, some beds and shrubs.

Sources consulted:

Arthur Mee 'The King's England: London North of the Thames except the City and Westminster' (Hodder & Stoughton Ltd, 1972); Victoria County History

Grid ref:

TQ270930 (526820,193080)

Size in hectares:

29.97

Site ownership:

LB Barnet, leased to North Middlesex Golf Club

Site management:

North Middlesex Golf Club

Date(s):

C19th; C20th

Designer(s):

William Park Junior (Golf Course)

Listed structures:

None

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 Data

The information below is taken from the relevant Local Authority's planning legislation, which was correct at the time of research but may have been amended in the interim. Please check with the Local Authority for latest planning information.

On Local List:

No

In Conservation Area:

No

Tree Preservation Order:

Not known

Nature Conservation Area:

No

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

Yes

Special Policy Area:

Yes - Area of Special Archaeological Significance

Other LA designation:

None