New Barnet/Cockfosters - mysterious ditch/moat? | Forum

Sifaka Jan 1, 2008 20:35:03

Can anyone from the New Barnet/Cockfosters area of London help me with an odd feature near the playing fields (TQ 276 966)?

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=527632&y=196677&z=1&sv=527632,196677&st=4&ar=Y&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf

It's some sort of moat or ditch feature at the east end of the playing fields - on the other side of the 'moat' is a modern housing development, but this feature appears on maps of the area as early as 1873 - with no houses immediately nearby. I realise this may have no prehistoric provenance (perhaps a medieval moat?), but you never know, since there is an Iron Age enclosure/fort ('Hadley Woods Camp') about a mile to the west, where the railway line bisects the woods.

The other oddity I noticed on these old maps was a mound feature to the west of the ditch (now where Linthorpe Rd meets Northfield Rd); the ditch and the 'mound' are connected by a path.

I'd be grateful for any info that anyone has, even if it disproves a prehistoric date...

Thanks!

ocifant Jan 1, 2008 21:30:16

Replying to Sifaka

When I first saw this subject, I thought "I bet that's Camlet Moat", but you seem to be pointing in a slightly different area.

Other than a brief sojourn in the Jester pub, I'm notr too familiar with that part of Cockfosters - if you'd asked yesterday I could have popped up there today, but I'm back at work now so it will have to wait till the weekend before I get a chance to take a look.

Nothing on Magic that I'm aware of in that area, so I'm intruiged now... roll on Sunday!

rojo Jan 1, 2008 22:04:56

Replying to Sifaka

Hi,

I am a former resident of that area and you have got me scratching my head. Basically the housing estate stands where the old Electricity Board training college was (demolished in the 90s). From memory there was a car park for the college that was directly behing the cock pub. At the bottom of the car park (point of the streetmap arrow) there was swampy area which had a ditch - although I am not certain if it formed a moat. Jeez... I hadn't thought of this place for years and I am not certain if had any historical detail as I only worked at the place as kitchen go-fer whilst studying!

if my memory provides any more detail I will post again!

TJ Jan 3, 2008 11:46:37

Replying to Sifaka

Hi I'm from the Barnet Times, the local paper. Could you call me please Sifaka on 020 8359 5935? I'd like to know a bit more about the mysterious moat/ditch.
Thanks,
Tom

New Barnet/Cockfosters — mysterious ditch/moat?