Friday Hill, London facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Friday Hill |
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 Friday Hill
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| London borough | |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LONDON |
| Postcode district | E4 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| EU Parliament | London |
| London Assembly |
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Friday Hill is a neighbourhood located in Chingford, which is part of the London Borough of Waltham Forest in England. It's named after a hill in the area.
This place got its name from a person called John Friday, who owned land here way back in the 1400s. Before that, it was known by a different name: Jackatt Hill. Today, Friday Hill is mostly a residential area with many homes.
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The Story of Friday Hill House
Friday Hill House is a very old building that sits at the top of the hill. It was built in 1839 by an architect named Lewis Vulliamy. This grand house used to be the home of the Heathcote family, who were important landowners in the area. It replaced an even older house that stood on the same spot since 1608!
The house was surrounded by a large farm, covering about 160 acres (which is about 0.65 square kilometres). Louisa Boothby-Heathcote was the last person from the family to live there. After World War II (around 1945), the entire estate was sold to the London County Council. This council then built the many homes that make up the Friday Hill neighbourhood today.
What Friday Hill House is Used For
For many years, starting in the late 1940s, Friday Hill House was a community centre. It was a place where local people could meet and take part in activities.
In 2006, the London Borough of Waltham Forest Council's Adult Education Service took over the house. This meant the community centre had to move to a smaller building nearby. Friday Hill House was used for adult education classes until 2012. After that, the education service moved to other buildings, and the historic Friday Hill House was put up for sale. It is a special building, officially known as a Grade II listed building, which means it's protected because of its historical importance.
Legends and Local Names
There's a fun legend about Friday Hill involving King Charles II. The story says that the King once "knighted" a piece of beef, calling it "Sir Loin", right here at Friday Hill! However, many places claim this story, and it's probably just a legend, not a true event.
Interestingly, a local pub in Friday Hill, now called The Dovecote, used to be named "The Sirloin" because of this very legend. It was also once known as Little Friday Hill House.
Friday Hill in Pop Culture
Did you know that a pop music group called Friday Hill took their name from this area? The members of the group actually grew up right here in Friday Hill!
