Totteridge

A map showing Totteridge parish in 1935.

This area was called Tataridge in the 13th Century. It may have been named after someone called Tata.[4] The ridge is the high ground between the valleys of the Dollis Brook and Folly Brook. Over the centuries the rural qualities of Totteridge have attracted well-to-do families. Cardinal Manning was born at Copped Hall in Totteridge in 1808.[5] With the opening of the Great Northern Railway station in 1872, late-Victorian and Edwardian mansions were built around the old village. In line with overall trends in the late 1930s, following the conversion of the railway station (in operation from 1872 until 1941) into a London Underground station (from 1940) on the Northern line, smaller properties were built within walking distance of the station (Totteridge and Whetstone tube station). In 1968 much of Totteridge was designated a Conservation Area, and no major developments have taken place since then.

Totteridge was a civil parish of Hertfordshire covering an area of 1,604 acres (6.49 km²)[6] and formed part of a thin protrusion into Middlesex. It became part of Barnet Rural District and had a parish council from 1894 to 1914. It then formed part of Barnet Urban District from 1914 to 1965. In 1965, the parish and urban district were abolished by the London Government Act 1963 and the area was transferred from Hertfordshire to Greater London, to become part of the London Borough of Barnet. In 1901 the parish had a population of 844 and by 1951 it had risen to 4,500.[7]

The boundary to the north and east is the Dollis Brook and the boundary to the south is that river's tributary, the Folly Brook. While these rivers define the area covered by the residents' association, the southern part of the area (with postcode N12 rather than N20) is often regarded as being in Woodside Park.

The main road is the A5109, which runs roughly east–west. The western part is called Totteridge Common, the next part is called Totteridge Village, the central part by the village green is called Totteridge Green, and the eastern part is called Totteridge Lane; the Lane continues into Whetstone, terminating at its junction with High Road, Whetstone (the A1000). At the western end of Totteridge Common is a set of traffic lights; the road to the north from these lights, Hendon Wood Lane, is just to the west of the western boundary.

St. Andrew's Church stands on the ancient circle site, with a chapel known to be located here from 1250. The rounded boundaries of the churchyard imply an underlying mote and ancient meeting place. The ancient yew tree in the churchyard is about 2,000 years old (as estimated by Kew garden's experts) and is the oldest tree in London (also included in the book "100 Greatest Trees of London). The Tithe Barn and the adjacent animal Pound, now both part of the Pound House estate, date from 17th and 16th centuries respectively. In 1790-1791, during the church renovation, all church services were conducted in the Tithe Barn. The West End House barn and Laurel Farm barn were built in the 17th century, and have now been converted into private houses. Timber-framed buildings existing from the Tudor era also include Willow House and Rose Cottage.

Totteridge has many spacious detached properties in a green setting that are highly valued; some of them are among the most expensive houses in London. Its past and present residents have included the rich and famous, including Arsène Wenger, Frankie Vaughan, Des O'Connor, Cliff Richard, Mickie Most, Hank Marvin, David Dein, Mike Ashley and many top footballers. More modest housing, much of it semi-detached, predominates at the eastern end of Totteridge.

At the 2001 UK census, the Totteridge electoral ward had a population of 14,449. The ethnicity was 75% white, 2.5% mixed race, 14% Asian, 2.6% black and 5.9% other. The place of birth of residents was 69.3% United Kingdom, 1.8% Republic of Ireland, 4.2% other Western European countries, and 24.7% elsewhere. Religion was recorded as 47.2% Christian, 2.5% Buddhist, 5.6% Hindu, 0.6% Sikh, 16.7% Jewish, and 4.5% Muslim. 12.5% were recorded as having no religion, 1.8% had an alternative religion and 8.7% did not state their religion.[8]

The economic activity of residents aged 16–74 was 38.3% in full-time employment, 9.9% in part-time employment, 14.7% self-employed, 2.3% unemployed, 1.9% students with jobs, 7.6% students without jobs, 11.1% retired, 8.8% looking after home or family, 2% permanently sick or disabled and 3.4% economically inactive for other reasons. The industry of employment of residents was 15.1% retail, 6.9% manufacturing, 3.2% construction, 23.2% real estate, 9.8% health and social work, 8.9% education, 6% transport and communications, 6.9% public administration, 3.5% hotels and restaurants, 8.5% finance, 0.4% agriculture and 7.6% other. Compared with national figures, the ward had a relatively high proportion of workers in finance and real estate. According to Office for National Statistics estimates, during the period of April 2001 to March 2002 the average gross weekly income of households was £880, compared with an average of £660 in South East England. Of the ward's residents aged 16–74, 39.2% had a higher education qualification or the equivalent, compared with 19.9% nationwide.[8]

In the 2011 census, the population of Totteridge ward was 15,159. 66% of the population was white (49% British, 15% Other, 2% Irish), 10% Indian and 8% Other Asian. 40% of the population adhered to Christianity, 17% were irreligious and 16% were Jewish.[9]

Totteridge Millhillians Cricket Club, formed by the merger of Totteridge Cricket Club and Old Millhillians Cricket Club over the winter of 2007/2008, forms a central part of the local community. Located just off Totteridge Green, it fields 4 teams in the Saracens Hertfordshire Cricket League, as well as a Ladies team, a Sunday XI and a Colts section for future players, which consists of the U15 Tornadoes, U13 Warriors and the U11 Sharks.

The area has a number of Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation: Darland's Lake Nature Reserve, Totteridge Green, Totteridge Common, Totteridge Fields, Dollis Brook, Folly Brook and Totteridge Croft Field (or Dell's Down Acre).

• Totteridge and Whetstone tube station

• Mike Ashley (businessman)
• David Dein, Former Vice-Chairman of Arsenal FC, Premier League Ambassador
• Peter Meyer, merchant
• Arsène Wenger, Former Arsenal FC Manager
• Fiammetta Wilson, astronomer

Media related to Totteridge at Wikimedia Commons

• Totteridge Residents' Association