Colney Hatch, Middlesex

Not to be confused with Coney Hatch, Hertfordshire

Colney Hatch
Middlesex
Footpath between houses, Colney Hatch
Location
Grid reference:	TQ278918
Location:	51°36’38"N, 0°9’21"W
Data
Post town:	London
Postcode:	N11, N10
Dialling code:	020
Local Government
Council:	Barnet
Parliamentary constituency:	Chipping Barnet

Colney Hatch is a small village district at the edge of Friern Barnet, centred on the northern end of Colney Hatch Lane (B550), which connects Friern Barnet with Muswell Hill, crossing the A406 North Circular Road. The area is predominantly residential with a mixture of Victorian and Edwardian houses and much more recent development.

Name

The name Colney Hatch was originally that of a hamlet in the parish of Friern (once spelt Fryern) Barnet, first recorded in the early 15th century.

The name 'Hatch' may derive from hitch-gate, often found on the borders of forests to prevent cattle straying. Colney Hatch at one time marked the southern boundary of the royal hunting ground Enfield Chase.

History

Middlesex County Lunatic Asylum

The area became well known from the mid-19th century following the building of Colney Hatch Lunatic Asylum on Friern Barnet Road, opened in 1851. It gained such notoriety that the name "Colney Hatch" appeared in various terms of abuse associated with the concept of madness. The asylum eventually became known as Friern Hospital and was closed down in 1993. The extensive grounds on which Friern Hospital and Halliwick Hospital (its sister institution for day patients) stood have since been redeveloped as two housing estates, Princess Park Manor and Friern Village.

Nearby is New Southgate railway station, originally called Colney Hatch but renamed several times from the mid-19th century onwards, taking its present name on the electrification of the line in 1976.

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