Barnet Council is engaged in a review of all the buildings which it owns, which may result in some of them being sold. Friern Barnet Town Hall is among those buildings.

The town hall is an interesting example of 1930s modernist architecture applied to a public building, and a monument to an age when public buildings were built to the highest standards.

The basement of the building contains something very different from the elegance of the upper levels. As building work began in 1938, discussions were also taking place nationally on ways and means of protecting the population from bombing raids.

Within the basement is a shelter from this period, complete in every respect, including installations to make the shelter proof against gas attack and instructions on how to operate the machinery.

The whole shelter is in perfect working order apparently, and essentially a museum piece, a part of local history from 60 years ago. Surely something for school children to visit? I hope I've said enough to show the importance of the town hall to the quality of the built environment in Friern Barnet. It is a landmark for the area which gives it distinction.

Julian Wootton

Ashurst Road, Friern Barnet

February 14, 2002 13:37