Little Grove

Little Grove, South Front, published by Kell Brothers of Holborn, c. 1860s.

Little Grove, originally Danegrove, was a house and estate that once existed in East Barnet but was demolished in 1932 to make way for a housing development.

Location

Little Grove stood on high ground overlooking East Barnet village, to the south of Cat Hill. According to a contemporary engraving of New Place, the house faced west.[1]

Early history

A house had stood on the site since at least the 16th century. The court rolls of the manor record that William Copwood of Totteridge disposed of some part of Danegrove, or what it then was composed of, to David Woodroffe, citizen and haberdasher of London (died 1563), who as sheriff oversaw the execution of two protestant martyrs in 1555 and was criticised for the cruelty of his methods. Woodroffe's wife Elizabeth took a life interest in the property following her husband's death but surrendered Danegrove (9 acres) and Daneland (12 acres) to other members of the Woodroffe family.[1]

17th century

In 1610, Sir Christopher Rooper was renting the property and was threatened with a fine of 20 shillings if he did not remove a manure heap his servants had placed on the King's road between Bourn Gate (later referred to as Bohun Gate) and Doggett's Hill. Meanwhile, the estate continued in the ownership of the Woodroffe family who purchased additional lands and made sales of others, such that Frederick Cass argued in the 1880s in East Barnet that the composition of the estate had no consistent identity over time.[2]

Anthony Bouchier, clerk in the Remembrancer's office of the Exchequer, leased part of the estate in the early 1630s. He is mentioned in church records in 1632 and 1633 as "inhabiting Mr. Woodroffe's house".[3]

18th century

The West Prospect of New-Place in East Barnet in the County of Hertford. A view of the new house built in 1719 that John Cotton named New Place.

In 1719, the existing Little Grove was replaced by John Cotton of the Middle Temple with a house that he called New Place, but the house and estate soon reverted to the original name.[1]

In 1767, Edward Willes, then Solicitor General for England and Wales, purchased the estate.[4] He commissioned Capability Brown to design the gardens.[5]

A number of closes or meadows were amalgamated by the Willes family to create the estate.

19th century

Grave of Mary Hollidge (died 1856), St Mary the Virgin church, East Barnet. Hollidge was housekeeper to the Cass family at Little Grove.

Frederick Cass senior, father of Frederick Charles Cass (1824–1896) who wrote East Barnet, lived in the house in the mid 19th century and died there on 17 May 1861.[6]

In October 1868, The Times carried advertising stating that the house, having failed to sell at auction, was now available for offers. It was stated to be "a moderate-sized mansion, in the Italian style, with charming terraces and gardens, overlooking a delightful and finely-timbered park, with a model farmery; the whole in perfect order, and extending over about 110 acres".[7]

20th century

Littlegrove, East Barnet, looking north east from Church Hill Road.

In January 1912, The Times reported that Little Grove with 112 acres had been sold.[8]

On 21 June 1927,[9] the house was sold again by auction, the advertising noting "pleasure grounds of nearly three acres" and "three exceptionally fine building sites".[10]

In August 1931, the house was offered for sale again on behalf of the executors of Mr J.J. O'Brian[11] with the completion of the sale announced in The Times in November that year.[12]

Little Grove was demolished in 1932 to make way for a housing estate. Only remains of a cottage garden now exist.[5]

A street by the name Littlegrove exists in East Barnet which runs from Church Hill Road to Eton Avenue.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Cass, Frederick Charles. (1885-92) East Barnet. London: Nichols. pp. 88-92.
  2. ↑ Cass, pp. 94-95.
  3. ↑ Cass, p. 96.
  4. ↑ Cass, p. 113.
  5. 1 2 Little Grove (site of). London Gardens Online. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  6. ↑ Howard, Joseph Jackson, & Frederick Arthur Crisp. (1893) Visitation of England and Wales Vol. I. Privately printed. p. 114.
  7. ↑ Advertising, The Times, 26 October 1868, p. 16.
  8. ↑ "The Estate Market", The Times, 20 January 1912, p. 13.
  9. ↑ Advertising: Hampton & Sons, The Times, 28 June 1927, p. 30.
  10. ↑ Advertising: Hampton & Sons, The Times, 31 May 1927, p. 32.
  11. ↑ Advertising: Hampton & Sons, The Times, 14 August 1931, p. 20.
  12. ↑ Advertising: Hampton & Sons, The Times, 25 November 1931, p. 24.

Further reading

External links

Media related to Little Grove at Wikimedia Commons

Coordinates: 51°38′42″N 0°09′12″W / 51.6449°N 0.1534°W / 51.6449; -0.1534

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