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The District Council was formed in April, 1894, to succeed the
old Local Board. The District comprises the Parishes of East
Barnet, Barnet Vale, and Monken Hadley. As its name implies, it
lies on the side of a valley extending from Hadley in the north to
Brunswick Park in the south. The principal portion of the District
is divided by the main line of the Great Northern section of the
London and North Eastern Railway from Kings Cross to the north,
while it is bounded on the east and west respectively by the main
roads leading from London northwards through Southgate and
Barnet.
The general character of the District is residential; the area on
the west of the railway has been conveniently planned, and consists
principally of good-class detached and semi-detached villa residences,
the altitude varying from 200 to 400 feet above Ordnance datum.
The District forms a portion of a much wider area noted for the
healthiness of its climate and popularly known in and around the
Metropolis as the "Northern Heights." On the east of the railway
are situate the older portions of the District, including the village of
East Barnet, and Brunswick Park, at the southern extremity, most of
which is developed for a much smaller class of property and is
consequently more densely populated.
On the north-east boundary of the District are the beautiful
Hadley Woods and Common, partly grazing land and partly wooded,
being parts of the old Enfield Chase. The Council has leased from
the Hadley Commoners a portion of Hadley Common (about 9½
acres in extent), including a large lake, until recently part of Beech
Hill Park Estate, to be used as a recreation ground. Boating and
fishing facilities are available on the lake. The whole acquisition
makes a considerable addition to the attractiveness of the District.
Area and Population.
The area of the District is 2,644 acres.
The population in 1921 was 13,514, and in 1925 (estimated)
15,000.