History of Edgware
Encyclopedia
Edgware
is a Saxon name. It means "Ecgi's weir". Ecgi must have been a Saxon
and the weir relates to a pond where Ecgi's people would catch fish. Over many years the name slowly became Edgware, and Ecgi as an individual is long since forgotten. By 1489, and the beginning of the Tudor period
those writing the name added the "d" and it was Edggeware.
The manor does not appear in the Domesday
survey, nor has there ever been a manor-house as such. But its centre has traditionally always been since at least 1216. James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos
erected a palace
at Cannons Park around 1713 and was by far the most important man in the district. The ancient parish of St Margaret’s was larger than the manor and included parts of Elstree
in the north, but not land south of Deans Brook and Edgware Brook, or lands west of the Edgware Road.
Edgware Road follows the same line as the ancient Watling Street
, an important Roman Road, and used in the medieval period by pilgrims. The Road was improved by the Edgware-Kilburn turnpike trust
in 1711, and a number of the local inns functioned as a stop for coaches. By 1867 a railway line had been built between Edgware and Finsbury Park and a station was built.
Mostly forest until the 13th century the area was mixed agriculture until the end of 16th century. Production of hay and the selling of cattle fattened and driven from other parts of England and sold locally led, by the 17th century to Edgware becoming a small market. Trades included butchers, tailors, colliers (charcoal sellers) and brewers. The market was held every week but petered out in 1790s. Edgware was associated with the highwayman Dick Turpin
- the infamous scene of his worst incident, which happened on February 4, 1735, when five gang members, including Turpin, broke into a farmhouse owned by Joseph Lawrence, called Earlsbury Farm. Lawrence was at least 70 (so considered fairly old) and yet Turpin et al. beat him with their pistols and tortured him by sitting him on a fire whilst naked, before announcing that they would amputate his legs. While this was going on, the leader of the gang took a servant girl upstairs and raped her.
There was a cattle and pleasure fair from 1760s to 1860s with horse racing between 1834 and 1855. The introduction of a railway led initially to a decline in the local population for unknown reasons. By the mid 19th century the area was almost entirely given over to hay production. Chas. Wright Ltd came to the area in 1900, and manufactured medals after the First World War. In 1921 the population was 1,516. Although much suburban development was encouraged by the opening of the tube station
in 1924, the area was already attracting developers like George Cross to the area by 1919. The conurbation increased as far north as the Edgware Way. In 1932 the parish became a part of Hendon Urban District. The shopping district around Station Road developed to included a cinema, now demolished the site is now occupied by a mixed use development including a gym, apartments and a Caffe Nero
. The Edgware Town F.C.
was founded in 1939, although there was a team in 1915.
Post war development was restricted by the Green Belt, sparing the Scratch Wood and Deacons Hill district apart from the M1 motorway
. By this time the population was more than 17,000. In 1939 the overground railway passenger service ceased to run, and goods traffic ceased by 1964. The site has been occupied by The Mall Shopping Centre (formerly Broadwalk Shopping Centre) since 1990, replacing the station pulled down in 1961.
From the Collection of Clive Smith
Edgware
Edgware is an area in London, situated north-northwest of Charing Cross. It forms part of both the London Borough of Barnet and the London Borough of Harrow. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
is a Saxon name. It means "Ecgi's weir". Ecgi must have been a Saxon
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
and the weir relates to a pond where Ecgi's people would catch fish. Over many years the name slowly became Edgware, and Ecgi as an individual is long since forgotten. By 1489, and the beginning of the Tudor period
Tudor period
The Tudor period usually refers to the period between 1485 and 1603, specifically in relation to the history of England. This coincides with the rule of the Tudor dynasty in England whose first monarch was Henry VII...
those writing the name added the "d" and it was Edggeware.
The manor does not appear in the Domesday
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
survey, nor has there ever been a manor-house as such. But its centre has traditionally always been since at least 1216. James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos
James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos
James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos, MP, PC was the first of fourteen children by Sir James Brydges, 3rd Baronet of Wilton Castle, Sheriff of Herefordshire, 8th Baron Chandos; and Elizabeth Barnard...
erected a palace
Cannons (house)
Cannons was a stately home in Little Stanmore, Middlesex built for James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos between 1713 and 1724 at a cost of £200,000 but which in 1747 was razed and its contents dispersed....
at Cannons Park around 1713 and was by far the most important man in the district. The ancient parish of St Margaret’s was larger than the manor and included parts of Elstree
Elstree
Elstree is a village in the Hertsmere borough of Hertfordshire on the A5 road, about 10 miles north of London. In 2001, its population was 4,765, and forms part of the civil parish of Elstree and Borehamwood, originally known simply as Elstree....
in the north, but not land south of Deans Brook and Edgware Brook, or lands west of the Edgware Road.
Edgware Road follows the same line as the ancient Watling Street
Watling Street
Watling Street is the name given to an ancient trackway in England and Wales that was first used by the Britons mainly between the modern cities of Canterbury and St Albans. The Romans later paved the route, part of which is identified on the Antonine Itinerary as Iter III: "Item a Londinio ad...
, an important Roman Road, and used in the medieval period by pilgrims. The Road was improved by the Edgware-Kilburn turnpike trust
Turnpike trust
Turnpike trusts in the United Kingdom were bodies set up by individual Acts of Parliament, with powers to collect road tolls for maintaining the principal highways in Britain from the 17th but especially during the 18th and 19th centuries...
in 1711, and a number of the local inns functioned as a stop for coaches. By 1867 a railway line had been built between Edgware and Finsbury Park and a station was built.
Mostly forest until the 13th century the area was mixed agriculture until the end of 16th century. Production of hay and the selling of cattle fattened and driven from other parts of England and sold locally led, by the 17th century to Edgware becoming a small market. Trades included butchers, tailors, colliers (charcoal sellers) and brewers. The market was held every week but petered out in 1790s. Edgware was associated with the highwayman Dick Turpin
Dick Turpin
Richard "Dick" Turpin was an English highwayman whose exploits were romanticised following his execution in York for horse theft. Turpin may have followed his father's profession as a butcher early in life, but by the early 1730s he had joined a gang of deer thieves, and later became a poacher,...
- the infamous scene of his worst incident, which happened on February 4, 1735, when five gang members, including Turpin, broke into a farmhouse owned by Joseph Lawrence, called Earlsbury Farm. Lawrence was at least 70 (so considered fairly old) and yet Turpin et al. beat him with their pistols and tortured him by sitting him on a fire whilst naked, before announcing that they would amputate his legs. While this was going on, the leader of the gang took a servant girl upstairs and raped her.
There was a cattle and pleasure fair from 1760s to 1860s with horse racing between 1834 and 1855. The introduction of a railway led initially to a decline in the local population for unknown reasons. By the mid 19th century the area was almost entirely given over to hay production. Chas. Wright Ltd came to the area in 1900, and manufactured medals after the First World War. In 1921 the population was 1,516. Although much suburban development was encouraged by the opening of the tube station
Edgware tube station
Edgware tube station is a London Underground station in Edgware, in the London Borough of Barnet, in North London. The station is the terminus of the Edgware branch of the Northern Line and the next station towards central London is . Edgware is in Travelcard Zone 5.-Location:The station is in...
in 1924, the area was already attracting developers like George Cross to the area by 1919. The conurbation increased as far north as the Edgware Way. In 1932 the parish became a part of Hendon Urban District. The shopping district around Station Road developed to included a cinema, now demolished the site is now occupied by a mixed use development including a gym, apartments and a Caffe Nero
Caffè Nero
Caffè Nero or Caffè Nero Group Ltd is an Italian-style coffee shop chain primarily based in the UK. It was founded in 1997 in London as the Caffe Nero Group by Gerry Ford...
. The Edgware Town F.C.
Edgware Town F.C.
Edgware Town F.C. was an English football club based in Edgware, Greater London. Established in 1939, the club was dissolved at the end of the 2007–08 season-History:...
was founded in 1939, although there was a team in 1915.
Post war development was restricted by the Green Belt, sparing the Scratch Wood and Deacons Hill district apart from the M1 motorway
M1 motorway
The M1 is a north–south motorway in England primarily connecting London to Leeds, where it joins the A1 near Aberford. While the M1 is considered to be the first inter-urban motorway to be completed in the United Kingdom, the first road to be built to motorway standard in the country was the...
. By this time the population was more than 17,000. In 1939 the overground railway passenger service ceased to run, and goods traffic ceased by 1964. The site has been occupied by The Mall Shopping Centre (formerly Broadwalk Shopping Centre) since 1990, replacing the station pulled down in 1961.
Further Research
- Barnet Archives and Local Studies
- HADAS Archived Newsletters (The Hendon & District Archaeological Society)
- Victoria County History Edgware Chapter
Maps
- 1870s
- 1785 Cary’s 15 miles around London
Pictures
From the collection of the City of London- St Margaret’s Church in 1792
- Atkinson’s Almshouses c1800
- Edgware Lodge c1820
From the Collection of Clive Smith
- Great Northern Railway Station c1905
- High Street c1905
- Edgware Road c1905
- Edgware Road with tram c1910
- Edgware Road c1925
- Railway Hotel c1925
- The Ritz Cinema Opened 1932
- The War Memorial
- Entry into Edgware
