Golders Green

Golders Green is an area in the London Borough of Barnet in England. A smaller suburban linear settlement, near a farm and public grazing area green of medieval origins, dates to the early 19th century. Its bulk forms a late 19th-century and early 20th-century suburb with a commercial crossroads. The rest is of later build. It is centred approximately 6 miles (9 km) north west of Charing Cross on the intersection of Golders Green Road and Finchley Road.

For the Pete Ham album, see Golders Green (album).

Golders Green

Golders Green clock tower

Golders Green Underground station
Golders Green
Location within Greater London
Population18,818 (2011 Census.Ward)[1]
OS grid referenceTQ248876
London borough
Ceremonial countyGreater London
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townLONDON
Postcode districtNW11, NW2
Dialling code020
PoliceMetropolitan
FireLondon
AmbulanceLondon
UK Parliament
London Assembly

It was founded as a medieval hamlet in the large parish of Hendon, Middlesex. The parish was heavily superseded by Hendon Urban District in 1894 and by the Municipal Borough of Hendon in 1932, abolished in 1965. In the early 20th century it grew rapidly in response to the opening of a tube station of the London Underground, adjacent to the Golders Green Hippodrome which was home to the BBC Concert Orchestra for many years. The area has a wide variety of housing and a busy main shopping street, Golders Green Road.

It is known for its large Jewish population as well as for being home to the largest Jewish kosher hub (located west of Hoop Lane after the rail bridge) in the United Kingdom, which attracts many Jewish tourists.

History
Extract of OS Map of 1868–1883. Click on map to view wider sheet.

The name Golders comes from a family named Godyere who lived in the area, and Green alludes to the manorial common at a cross roads next to which the settlement was built.[2] Golders Green has been a place in the parish and manor of Hendon since around the 13th century. The earliest references to the name of the adjacent district of "Temple Fortune" is on a map (c. 1754). However this name reveals a much earlier history. It is likely that the name refers to the Knights of St John, who had land here (c. 1240). Fortune may be derived from a small settlement (tun) on the route from Hampstead to Hendon. Here a lane from Finchley, called Ducksetters Lane (c. 1475), intersected. It is likely that the settlement was originally the Bleccanham estate (c. 10th century). By the end of the 18th century Temple Fortune Farm was established on the northern side of Farm Close.

The building of Finchley Road (c. 1827) replaced Ducksetters Lane as a route to Finchley, and resulted in the development of a small hamlet. Hendon Park Row (c. 1860s) is of this period, and consisted of around thirty small dwellings built by a George Stevens, which were, with two exceptions, demolished around 1956. A small dame school and prayer house run by Anglican deaconesses existed in the 1890s and 1900s, and developed to become St. Barnabas (1915). Along Finchley Road were a number of villas (c. 1830s), joined by the Royal Oak public house (c. 1850s). By the end of the 19th century there were around 300 people living in the area, which included a laundry and a small hospital for children with skin diseases. The principal industry was brick making.

The Golders Green crossroads before the tube and urbanisation, c. late 19th century

In 1895 a Jewish cemetery was established adjacent to Hoop Lane, with the first burial in 1897. Golders Green Crematorium was opened in 1902 (although much of it was built after 1905). A significant moment in Temple Fortune's development into a suburban area occurred in 1907, when transport links were vastly improved by the opening of Golders Green Underground station.

Although the area had been served by horse-drawn omnibuses (since at least the 1880s) and later motor buses (from 1907), the tram line of 1910, connecting Finchley Church End with Golders Green Station, led to the development of the area west of Finchley Road. The establishment of Hampstead Garden Suburb brought major changes to the area east of Finchley Road. Temple Fortune Farm was demolished and along the front of the road the building of the Arcade and Gateway House (c. 1911) established the Hampstead Garden Suburb's retail district.

Both the Golders Green Hippodrome, former home of the BBC Concert Orchestra, and the police station opened in 1913.[3] The now-demolished Orpheum Theatre (1930) was intended to rival the Hippodrome in Golders Green.

Geography
See also: London Borough of Barnet

For local elections Golders Green ward covers the north and west of the area; Childs Hill the south to the centre and Garden Suburb, named after Hampstead Garden Suburb: most of the east. Councillors are elected from across 21 wards. Nationally it votes for the MP for seat of Finchley and Golders Green, which encompasses the parts of the NW11 and NW2 postcode districts it contains.[4] The same boundaries are used for the Golders Green, Childs Hill and Garden Suburb wards of the Metropolitan Police Service.[5]

The area is adjacent to the Heath Extensions part of Hampstead Heath.

Demography

Golders Green is often referred to as a Jewish area, although the majority of residents are not Jewish. However, Jews do form a plurality of residents (6,975 of 18,818) and it is likely that other Jews chose not to state their religion, or put down no religion.[6]

Ethnically, the Golders Green ward was 64% white (43% British, 21% Other, 1% Irish). Indians, Other Asians and Black Africans made up 5% each. 6% claimed 'Any other ethnic group'[6]

Jewish community

There has been a prominent Jewish community in Golders Green since the early 20th century. The Jewish community took root after Hitler's rise to power, with the first German Jewish immigrants forming the Golders Green Beth Hamedrash. Soon after, Galician Jewish immigrants formed other synagogues. With it came the formation of Jewish schools such as Menorah before the onset of World War II.

There are close to fifty Kosher restaurants and eateries under rabbinical supervision in Golders Green, and more than 40 synagogues dotted throughout the area continuing into neighbouring Hendon, as well as 30 schools (some in outlying areas due to space restriction), many of them private.

The Jewish community of Hendon and Golders Green is viewed as one, sharing the schooling system as well as rabbinical guidance.

Japanese and East Asian community

Golders Green is home to a growing Japanese and East Asian community[7] with many families living in the district[8] being catered for a notable number of restaurants and shops specialising in Japanese and other East Asian food, such as the Seoul Plaza supermarket.

Economy

The area has restaurants with cuisines from all over the world including Indian, Israeli, Thai, Turkish, Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Italian eateries. These are over a dozen coffee bars; together with a number of niche food stores. The area is home to several leading banks and the high street is well populated with high quality amenities.

Transport

Golders Green station is a London Underground tube station on the Northern line in zone 3. It is the first surface station on the Edgware branch when heading north. On the station's forecourt is Golders Green bus station. This is a major hub for London Buses in North West London.[9] National Express coaches also stop at the bus station before/after central London.

Many bus routes pass through Golders Green, including the 210 to Finsbury Park, the 139 to Waterloo, the 13 to Victoria and the 102 to Edmonton Green, and from Golders Green station the 240 to Edgware, the 183 to Pinner and the 83 to Alperton begin their routes.

Education

There are six state aided primary schools in Golders Green; these include: Brookland infant & junior, Garden Suburb infant & junior, Menorah primary school and Wessex Gardens.[10]

The King Alfred School is located on North End Road and Henrietta Barnett School is located in nearby Hampstead Garden Suburb.

Religious centres
Golders Green Parish Church (Church of England)
Golders Green Synagogue

The Anglican parish church of St. Alban the Martyr in North End Road was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, and in 1933 replaced the original eponymous church, on the site, which is now the parish hall. The latter was built in 1910 and made a parish church in 1922.[11]

St. Edward the Confessor, a Roman Catholic church, was built in 1915 and consecrated in 1931.[12] A Carmelite monastery was established in Bridge Lane in 1908[13] and sold in 2007.[14]

There is also a Greek Orthodox cathedral on Golders Green Road,[15] and a Coptic Orthodox church,[16] both having been Anglican churches for most of the 20th century. The Greek Orthodox church was built in 1914.

The Golders Green Unitarian Church, built in 1925 on Hoop Lane, is Grade II listed; Historic England singles out for mention a "notable temera mural by Ivon Hitchens", among other works. The congregation seceded from Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel (Hampstead) in 1903 but took a generation to build its own place of worship.[17] St Ninian's Presbyterian Church on Helenslea Avenue was built in 1911 by T. P. Figgis, noted for designing stations on the Northern line. The congregation merged with Golders Green Methodist Church (now Trinity Church, Hodford Road) in 1979. The building found new life as a Hindu temple, but was decommissioned in 2013.[18] The former Golders Green Hippodrome theatre became an El Shaddai International Christian Centre in 2007 and then an Islamic centre as of 2017.

There are several synagogues in the area. The first, Golders Green Synagogue, started in 1915 and its current building in Dunstan Road opened in 1922.[19][20] The Beth Hamedrash opened in Golders Green in 1935, moving to the Riding in 1956. The Sassover Beis Hamedrash Helenslea Avenue moved to Golders Green from the East End in 1938 as well as the Beis Yissochor Dov currently in Highfield Avenue, the most sought after and busiest. The Synagogue Beth Shmuel opened in 1942 in Oakfields Road and relocated at 169–171 Golders Green Road since 1952[21] and is one of the most prominent synagogues in North West London with Grand Rabbi Elchonon Halpern its longest serving Rabbi. In about 1960 the Eastern Jewish Community established the Ohel David Eastern Synagogue at the Lincoln Institute, the former site of the Golders Green Beth Hamedrash.[22] The Machzike Hadath Synagogue moved to Golders Green in the 1970s, opening its present building in 1983.[23]

Community facilities
Water Garden in Golders Hill Park

Golders Hill Park, adjoining the West Heath of Hampstead Heath, is a formal park, which includes a small zoo, a walled horticultural garden, pinetum, duckponds, a water garden and a café. During the summer, children's activities are organised and there is often live music on the bandstand. Close to the park, also adjoining the West Heath is the Hill, a formal garden with an extensive and imposing pergola.

Nearby Golders Green Crematorium has an extensive garden with features such as a special children's section and a pond, in keeping with the distinct Italianate air.

The area is the setting of the humorous short story "The Ghoul of Golders Green" (May Fair, 1925) by Michael Arlen.

A 1960s recording "Finchley Central" by the New Vaudeville Band refers to a possible Northern line tube journey: "For Golders Green change at Camden Town", though in reality bus would be far quicker between these two points.

George Harrison recorded an unreleased track called "Going Down to Golders Green". This came about because he would visit members of the pop group Badfinger, who lived at 7 Park Avenue, off North End Road, situated on the borders of Golders Hill Park.

A second posthumous album release of the music of Pete Ham of the pop group Badfinger is titled Golders Green. The first posthumous album release was titled 7 Park Avenue, named after the address of Badfinger's band residence in Golders Green.

Dannie Abse, the Welsh-Jewish poet, was once a resident of Golders Green. It provides a backdrop to a couple of his poems such as "Odd" and "3 a.m. in Golders Green Road".

In his travelogue parody "Balham, Gateway to the South", recorded on The Best of Sellers (1958), Peter Sellers parodies John William Burgon's well known description of Petra – "A rose-red city half as old as time" – as "A rose-red city half as gold as green [Golders Green]".

In his 1944 poem "Death Wish", Spike Milligan expresses his wishes to be buried anywhere but Golders Green

Bury me anywhere,
Somewhere near a tree
Some place where a horse will graze
and gallop over me.

Bury me
Somewhere near a stream,
When she floods her banks
I'll give her thanks
For reaching out to me
In my childhood scene;

But please –
don't burn me
In Golders Green.

Whilst playing the character Terry Tibbs in a spoof episode of 'The Secret Millionaire' on his show Facejacker, Kayvan Novak visits a working men's club in Swansea whilst dressed as an Orthodox Jew and is pressured into an ad lib performance entitled "We are the Jews of Golders Green".

One of the lead characters in 9 Dead Gay Guys is only referred to as "Golders Green", it being the location of his residence.

Places of interest

Notable people

Notes and references
  1. "Barnet Ward population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  2. Weinreb, Ben (2008). The London Encyclopaedia (3rd ed.). pp. 328–329. ISBN 978-1-4050-4924-5.
  3. "The UK's best military driving gifts". wanadoo-members.co.uk. Archived from the original on 10 November 2005.
  4. "Finchley and Golders Green BC" (PDF). Boundary Commission for England. 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  5. "Finchley and Golders Green BC". Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime 2014. 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  6. Services, Good Stuff IT. "Golders Green – UK Census Data 2011". UK Census Data. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  7. "Golders Green – Hidden London". Hidden-london.com. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  8. Kosher in the country The Economist 1 June 2006 accessed 14 August 2007
  9. "Buses from Golders Green" (PDF). Transport for London. July 2009. Retrieved 9 October 2009.
  10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 10 February 2012. Retrieved 19 February 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. AIM25 Retrieved 29 November 2013
  12. "Roman Catholic Church of St Edward the Confessor". rcdow.org.uk.
  13. "Golders Green, London – Carmelite Nuns". carmelite.org.uk.
  14. Kevin Bradford Property developers do not rule out demolishing Carmelite monastery, in Golders Green, after winning a High Court ruling against Barnet Council 26 November 2009 Hendon & Finchley Times Retrieved 1 May 2012
  15. The Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Cross & St. Michael Retrieved 1 May 2012
  16. St. Mary & Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church Golders Green, U.K. Retrieved 1 May 2012
  17. Historic England. "UNITARIAN CHAPEL, Barnet (1390934)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  18. Shree Swaminarayan Temple London Retrieved 29 November 2013
  19. "Golders Green Synagogue". Golders Green Synagogue.
  20. "Helen Fry » Golders Green Synagogue: The First 100 Years". Helen Fry.
  21. "Hendon: Judaism". british-history.ac.uk.
  22. Jewish Communities & Records 14 December 2011 Retrieved 1 May 2012
  23. Jewish Communities & Records 12 December 2011 Retrieved 1 May 2012
  24. "Helena Bonham Carter – Biography on Bio". Bio. 2011. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  25. https://www.theparisreview.org/interviews/5829/the-art-of-fiction-no-196-kazuo-ishiguro
  26. Oldfield, Sybil (January 2008), "Simon, Dame Kathleen Rochard, Viscountess Simon", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, retrieved 4 January 2013 (subscription required)
  27. McIntyre, Michael. Life and laughing (Large print ed.). Bath: Paragon. ISBN 1-4458-5618-2.
  28. "Dannie Abse - obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 2014.
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