Inventory Site Record

This area was once part of the ancient Middlesex Forest. In 1756 the manorial lands were purchased and a mansion built on the high ground, although a moat predates this. In 1866 the 400 hectare estate was purchased by Edward William Cox, who added considerably to the estate, and rebuilt the house. What is now Moat Mount was laid out as parkland with ornamental lake, exotic plantings and grassy slopes; Scratchwood was used for rearing game and sport. Part of the estate was sold in 1906, the remainder purchased largely by Hendon UDC in 1923 after the death of Cox's son. The A1 Barnet Bypass bisected the site in 1927. Part became Mill Hill Golf Club, and the rest is now known as Moat Mount Open Space, which contains Leg of Mutton Pond. and on the other side of the A1, Scratchwood Open Space.

Previous / Other name:

Moat Mount House; Scratchwood and Moat Mount Local Nature Reserve

Site location:

Barnet Way/Hendon Wood Lane/Barnet Road/Highwood Hill

Postcode:

NW7 4HJ

What 3 Words:

much.face.awards

Type of site:

Public Open Land, Garden Feature Remnants

Borough:

Barnet

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

unrestricted (car park closes dusk)

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Outdoor Activity Centre (see moatmount.co.uk)

Events:

Public transport:

Rail: Elstree & Boreham Wood, Mill Hill Broadway then bus. Tube: High Barnet, Totteridge & Whetstone, Edgware (Northern) then bus. Bus: 107, 251, 292, 614, 797, 306.

Citymapper    
Google Map    
streetmap.co.uk

Research updated:

09/05/2009

Last minor changes:

19/07/2023

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.barnet.gov.uk

The area was once ancient woodland, part of the larger Middlesex Forest. Moat Mount is a surviving moat from an earlier house in an area of open common and woodland, shown as open countryside on Rocque's map of 1754. There seems to have been no full survey of the area but its commanding situation suggests that it may have been a defended high site with an open ditch, perhaps dating from the Iron Age. Owned by the Herbert Family for over 200 years, financial problems compelled the sale of all the manorial demesne lands in 1756 to Mr Able Brown, a tenant farmer who built a mansion on the high ground. The lands were surveyed by James Crow, who shows the moat on his map of 1754. The sale catalogue described it as 'The Moat Mount, an elevated piece of ground and a proper place to build on, on account of the beautiful prospect therefrom, and it lying upon the road'. The large mansion was rebuilt in the C19th by Edward William Cox, a London barrister, who bought the 400 hectare estate in 1866 including what is now known as Scratchwood and added considerably to the estate. The Moat Mount site was laid out as parkland with ornamental lake, exotic plantings and grassy slopes, and Scratchwood was used for game rearing and sport. Trees planted include Wellingtonia, Coast Redwood, Scots Pine, Irish Yew, Holm and Turkey Oak, Atlas Cedar, Swamp Cypress, Deodar, and Norway Maple, and these are now part of a tree trail. The Leg of Mutton Pond reached its present shape by 1870. Within the estate were small farms, growing hay for London horses, but the fields have since become scrub and woodland

Edward Cox died in 1879 and his estate passed to his son Irwin Cox; part of the estate was sold in 1906 and the rest in 1923, after Irwin Cox died without an heir, purchased largely by Hendon Urban District Council for public use, including housing. Part of the land became Mill Hill Golf Club, and the rest the Moat Mount Countryside Park, now called Moat Mount Open Space. The mansion was damaged by fire and was demolished. The A1 Barnet Bypass bisected the site in 1927. The public path at the northern entrance passes through private land with wide vistas of open countryside. It eventually enters woodland and passes a camping site adjacent to the southern perimeter entrance. Part of the estate is on the west side of the A1, and now called Scratchwood Open Space. An underpass is the main access between the two parts of the original estate lands. Scratchwood and Moat Mount were designated a Local Nature Reserve in 1997.

Moat Mount is also home to an Outdoor Centre and Campsite, providing activities such as orienteering, adventure course, camping and a permanent aerial runway. The centre is managed by Friends of Moat Mount Camp Site.

Sources consulted:

Stewart Gillies and Pamela Taylor, 'Hendon, Child's Hill, Golder's Green and Mill Hill', 1993; Ralph Calder, 'Mill Hill: a 1000 years of history', 1993; LB Barnet leaflets incl. Moat Mount Tree Trail (n.d.); Jan Hewlett, Ian Yarham, David Curson, 'Nature Conservation in Barnet', London Ecology Unit, 1997.

Grid ref:

TQ212941 (520850,194320)

Size in hectares:

MM 18.28/Scratchwd 47.96

Site ownership:

LB Barnet

Site management:

Leisure and Youth Services, Green Spaces Division/Moat Mount & Scratchwood Countryside Group

Date(s):

C18th; 1923

Designer(s):

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:

Yes

Conservation Area name:

Mill Hill (part)

Tree Preservation Order:

No

Nature Conservation Area:

Yes - Moat Mt: Boro Imp II/Scratchwd: Metropolitan

Green Belt:

Yes

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

Yes - (part) Area of Special Archaeological Significance

Other LA designation:

Metropolitan Park. Local Nature Reserve (part); Heritage Land. Green Chain, Capital Link

Moat Mount Open Space, September 2000. Photo: S Williams

Click a photo to enlarge.