Site details:

Fuller information:

Friary Park is on land formerly around The Friary/Friern House, built in the C19th. Friern Barnet is so-called, Friern meaning 'belonging to the Brotherhood', because the land here was in the possession of the Order of St John of Jerusalem between c.1199 and the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the mid C16th. Prior to this the manor had belonged to the Abbot of St Albans until it was given to the Bishop of London by William the Conqueror, upon which the deprived Abbot joined Hereward the Wake against the King. The site of Friary Park was acquired in 1909 and opened in 1910 although the official ceremony was cancelled because of the death of Edward Vll to whom 'The Peacemaker', the park's Statue of Peace was dedicated. This large bronze statue was donated by Sidney Simmons, JP, and stands on a rockwork plinth on the highest point in the park. Friary Park was dedicated on 7 May 1910 on the day following the King's death. The park was laid out with a bowling green and pavilion, tennis courts, a putting area and playground, with more formal gardens around the site of the house, now a café. A stream runs through the north of the park, crossed by a rustic bridge and numerous mature trees are found in the grounds, including oak, lime, hornbeam, horsechestnut and a line of London plane along the stream. Green Flag Award in 2007/8; 2008/9.

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; S Gillies and P Taylor, 'Finchley and Friern Barnet, a Pictorial History' (1992); Jan Hewlett, Ian Yarham, David Curson, 'Nature Conservation in Barnet', (London Ecology Unit, 1997).

Grid ref:	TQ2792
Size in hectares:	9.31
On EH National Register :	No
EH grade :
Site on EH Heritage at Risk list:
Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965:	No
Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931:	No
Site designated by London Geodiversity Partnership 2010 as Regionally Important (RIGS) or Locally Important (LIGS):	No
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.
In Conservation Area:	No
Conservation Area name:
Tree Preservation Order:	Not known
Nature Conservation Area:	Yes - Local Importance
Green Belt:	No
Metropolitan Open Land:	Yes
Special Policy Area:	Yes - Area of Special Archaeological Significance
Other LA designation:	Premier Park
On Local List: