Avenue House Grounds facts for kids
Avenue House Grounds, also known as Stephens House and Gardens, is a beautiful ten-acre park in Church End, Finchley in the London Borough of Barnet. It's a special natural area, important for its wildlife and plants.
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A Look Back at Stephens House and Gardens
The main building, Avenue House, is a grand Victorian home built in 1859. The land it sits on has a very long history. Long ago, in 1243, a group called the Knights Templar owned 40 acres here. Later, from 1312 until 1539, it belonged to another group, the Knights Hospitaller.
The Stephens Family's Legacy
In 1874, a wealthy ink maker named Henry Charles Stephens bought the house and its land. He was also a local MP, meaning he helped represent the area in government. Henry Stephens lived here with his family until he passed away in 1918.
Henry Stephens made the house bigger and added a stables building. He hired a famous gardener, Robert Marnock, to design the beautiful grounds. These grounds included a special walled garden and a building for staff called The Bothy.
When Henry Stephens died, he left the house and grounds to the local council. He wanted to make sure that the park would always be open for everyone to enjoy. Today, you can learn more about him at The Stephens Collection, a small museum inside Avenue House.
Exploring the Gardens
The gardens first opened to the public in 1928. They are now a lovely public park with wide lawns, tall trees, and pretty bushes. You can also find a charming ornamental pond with a fountain and a fun playground for children.
The Unique Bothy
The Bothy building was built around the late 1870s. It looks a bit like a small castle! What's really interesting is that it's one of the first buildings in England made from concrete, apart from Roman structures. It's now a protected building. Volunteers take care of The Bothy garden, and it's open for visitors to see once a month during the summer.
Wildlife in the Park
The park is a great place for spotting birds. You might see great spotted woodpeckers, greenfinches, great tits, and robins. If you look closely in the pond, you might even spot some Frogs!
The Spike Milligan Statue
For over ten years, a local group worked hard to raise money for a statue of Spike Milligan. He was a very famous comedian and writer who used to live in the area. The statue was made by local artist John Somerville.
The bronze statue shows Spike Milligan sitting on a bench. It was placed near the stables building in the park. The statue was officially revealed on September 4, 2014. Many famous people attended the ceremony, including Roy Hudd, Michael Parkinson, Maureen Lipman, Terry Gilliam, Kathy Lette, Denis Norden, and Lynsey de Paul.
