Avenue House facts for kids
Avenue House (also called Stephens House) is a large Victorian mansion in Finchley, London. It was built in 1859. In 1874, a famous ink maker named Henry Charles Stephens bought the house. He was also a philanthropist, meaning he liked to help others. He made the house and its gardens bigger and better.
When Henry Charles Stephens passed away in 1918, he left the house and its ten acres of land to the public. He wanted everyone to be able to use and enjoy the beautiful grounds. Today, a charity called 'The Avenue House Estate' owns the house. The London Borough of Barnet is its main trustee. Since 2014, the estate has been known as Stephens House and Gardens.
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Discovering the House's Past
The house was built in 1859 by Reverend Edward Cooper. His family had owned the land since the 1730s. The house gets its name from "The Avenue," a path behind it. This path used to connect an old manor house to the church of St Mary-at-Finchley.
In 1874, Henry Charles Stephens, the famous ink maker, bought the house. He bought more land next to it, making the estate ten acres in total. He hired a well-known garden designer, Robert Marnock, to create the beautiful gardens. Stephens also planted many rare trees, which are still part of the gardens today.
When Stephens died in 1918, he left the house and grounds to the local council. He wanted them to be open for everyone to enjoy. From 1919 to 1925, the house was used as a military hospital for the RAF. The gardens then opened to the public on May 3, 1928. The house was also used as a public library for many years. During the Second World War, its basement became an air-raid shelter.
In 1989, a fire damaged the east side of the house. But it was carefully repaired and looks just as it did before. Today, the house is a place for meetings and events. The gardens and arboretum (a collection of trees) are still open to everyone for free. An independent charity, the Avenue House Estate Trust, now manages the house and gardens.
Exploring the Gardens
The grounds of Avenue House are now called Stephens House and Gardens. They cover ten acres and have many rare trees and shrubs. You can find a children's playground, a pond, a walled garden, and a café there.
In 2011, the Avenue House Estate Trust (AHET) started looking for money to restore the gardens. They applied for a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. In 2013, they received over £200,000 to plan the restoration.
In 2014, AHET received a large grant of £2.1 million. This money helped improve the café and playground. It also helped create a new education centre and spaces for volunteers. The main goal was to bring the gardens back to their original beautiful condition.
Work on the gardens began in 2015 and finished by late 2017. Many old or sick trees in the arboretum were removed, and new ones were planted. The pond was cleaned, and new drainage systems were added. The children's playground was made bigger and better. The old stable and garage buildings were updated. They now hold a visitor centre, public toilets, and a café. The Stephens Collection museum is also in the visitor centre.
The Bothy: A Unique Walled Garden
The Bothy is a special walled garden shaped like a small castle. It was built in the late 1870s. It is one of the oldest concrete buildings in England that isn't from Roman times.
In 1997, a project began to restore The Bothy. The goal was to turn it into an arts centre and garden. Local people helped raise money for this project. The Heritage Lottery Fund also provided money, totaling £418,000.
After some challenges, The Bothy is now a training centre for a psychotherapy charity called Terapia. It partially opened in October 2017. The walled garden of The Bothy is looked after by volunteers. It is open to visitors every Friday and on the first Sunday of each month. Sometimes, there are arts events and play readings in the summer.
The Stephens Collection
The visitor centre at Avenue House is home to The Stephens Collection. This is a small museum and archive. It shows items related to the Stephens Ink company and the Stephens family. It also has information about local history. Entry to the collection is free.
Spike Milligan Statue
Spike Milligan was a famous comedian who lived near Avenue House for many years. He was the first president of the Finchley Society. After he passed away in 2002, the Finchley Society raised money for a statue of him.
The bronze statue shows Spike sitting on a bench. It was created by local sculptor John Somerville. The statue was unveiled on September 4, 2014. Many famous people attended the ceremony, including Roy Hudd, Michael Parkinson, and Maureen Lipman.
See also
- Nature reserves in Barnet
