The demolition and rebuilding of the Sacred Heart church in Mill Hill - A guest blog by Chris The MillHillian

During the early 1990’s Fr Aiden McGing CM became the Parish Priest of the Sacred Heart Church. He had spent most of his priestly life in teaching and this was his first appointment as Parish Priest, this was unusual for a man of his age but he actively settled into the job with much enthusiasm having served as a curate there prior to his appointment. His predecessor, Fr Joe Cunningham asked me in my capacity as Diocesan Building Surveyor to set out a schedule of works with costs to bring the building up to scratch. 

The survey revealed so much that had to be done but the old longstanding problem of subsidence and structural defects presented the main problem that had never been successfully tackled. Engineers were engaged to carry out a full review with Mr Tom Bedford from the parish discussing his various attempts to stabilise the structure in bygone years. 

Having filed the report to Fr Cunningham, it was left to his successor Fr McGing to follow up on this. We had a chance meeting at the back of the church one morning and I was asked about the report. Having explained that a total overhaul would be like taking the wheels off an old car to bolt a new car to it, he asked what I would recommend. I immediately suggested that he formed a building committee to fully interrogate the option to repair or rebuild with full cost analysis for both. 

He quickly followed up on this and decided to let his parishioners decide on whether to replace the Church with explanations of what had prompted this enquiry. He was very surprised to find that the voting was 95 percent in favour of a rebuild. This encouraged him to arrange an architectural competition to choose the most acceptable design out of six requested from different architects. The successful practice was the PRC partnership. The tenders were within budget and the works soon got underway after completion of the planning process and procurement. 

Check out these historic pictures of the demolition and rebuilding

The buildings were completed together with the option to rebuild the church hall in 1996. It weighed heavily on me having a hand in witnessing the church I loved being demolished as it was rightly an impressive landmark on the Broadway. Nearly all my many siblings and relatives were baptised there and received the sacraments. My brother was ordained a Priest there in 1974 and many of the relatives had their funerals there including our beloved Nana (my Grandma) who was the Sacristan. 

The old church was of interest from an architeectural standpoint. The front elevation designed by the Priest Architect Fr Benedict Williamson in 1922 was inspired in its architectural detailing from Egyptian architecture which became fashionable in the 1920’s following the discovery of Tutankhamuns tomb in the valley of the King’s in Egypt. The building was just seventy years old when this redevelopment came about and it needs to be known that the people who voted for a new building did so more our necessity but many favoured the architectural feature of the front facade and reluctantly had to see it go. 

 Investigations revealed that the foundations of the building were eight feet deep which was deep for that time but sadly not deep enough as the London Clay below was forever wet and sticky due to underground streams in the locality. The church was built over an old pond. That coupled with some weaknesses in the structural design with lack of movement joints would require much to correct and none of it visible on completion. 

The roof was also heavily infested by dry rot and the windows were rusting away. The new church and presbytery buildings are all built on deep concrete piled foundations without a crack in sight, so expectations are that these replacement buildings will survive much longer than three score years and ten of the old Church. If anyone is interested in seeing similar examples of the old church in London there are two in Fulham of similar period by the same architect as well as the significant church of St Ignatius in Stamford Hill designed for the Jesuits. When walking in to the church in Stephendale Road Fulham it felt like being back in the familiar surroundings of the Church of Sacred Heart and Mary Immaculate. 

 Chris Fanning the Mill Hiller

Editors Note: You can see old Sacred Heart in all it's former glory in The False Dots video "Sunday in the 70's"

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Guest blogs are always welcome at the Barneteye

McDonalds for Mill Hill Broadway?

The proposed signage changes

Over the last few days, I've been looking with increasing incredulity at the near hysteria on local Mill Hill Facebook pages over a planning request to change the signage on the former Prezzo site, to an illuminated sign for a branch of McDonalds. I find myself in the rather strange position of feeling compelled to write a blog defending McDonalds. This is not because I ever eat the stuff, I don't and I doubt this will be changed by the opening of a McDonalds in Mill Hill, but because of just how ridiculous many of the comments are. There have been claims such as that it will be the end of Mill Hill Broadway, that it will lead to a rise in anti social behaviour and that marauding gangs of drug dealers will set up checkpoints to ensure only scalliwags can enter Mill Hill (actually I made the last one up, but you get my drift). So far there have been 143 comments, 138 objecting and five supporting. 

The site in question

So what will the problems be? I suspect that McDonalds primarily see the outlet as a hub for Deliveroo etc, so we will see even more scooters in and around the spot, which already has rather a lot for the two Pizza outlets. These are annoying and cause nuisance, I would love to see the Council put some sort of restrictions on these, to make them less of a problem, but that is nothing to do with a planning permission for a change of signage. 

It seems to me very likely that the main source of income from the sit in side will be local teenagers, the kids, grandkids, nephews and neices of the very people writing these comments. The sort of kids who currently have nowhere to go in Mill Hill to meet their mates that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. But is this a problem? I run a business that has  lot of teenage customers and to be honest, often they are nicer than some of the adults, who have forgotten that the words 'please' and 'thank you exist. Personally, I have to wonder what sort of person really sees teenagers meeting their mates as a problem, I daresay they've forgotten they were teenagers once.

I daresay that there will be more litter in the Broadway. I'd love to see Barnet Council have the powers to make such outlets clean up the mess they generate, but that is not the job of the planning committee. In fact it is really the job of the parents of the kids to instill in their kids that litter is not acceptable. 

And the positives?

Whilst the food served by McDonalds is hardly healthy, it is cheap and when household budgets are in crisis, maybe it will provide an option to get out of the house and have a coffee with friends for people who simply cannot afford the prices in some more upmarket cafe's on the Broadway.

In truth, I happen to think a lot of people objecting are simply complete snobs, who look down their noses at people they consider less well to do, without realising that largely the customers will be the younger members of their own families. I well recall the excitement when the first McDonalds opened in Golders Green. Then there were queues and traffic chaos, until everyone got over the novelty. 

To summarise, the vast majority of objections have nothing to do with what is actually being applied for. As such they will have no impact on anything. The new restaurant serves a section of the Mill Hill population that is chronically underserved (teenagers and people on low budgets). McDonalds may not be the most tasteful of companies when it comes to signage, but will be no worse than the chicken shop up the road. It will be a big improvement on a derelict looking empty space.

I was thinking about when I personally would ever use such a place. When I used to work in the City, finish late, get stuck on a non moving Thamesllink train and get back home, wanting to grab a bite to eat and a coffee on the way. There will be a fair few commuters, who it will be a quite handy place to warm up, if the bus is running late. There really is nowhere that is cheap and cheerful that you can grab a quick bite on the way home currently.

The truth is that Mill Hill had a cheapo burger joint for decades, first Wimpy, then Jennys. Since that closed a whole section of people in Mill Hill have had nowhere to go. There are many things in Mill Hill that we need to work together to improve. Sadly initiatives like the litter pickers died the death during the pandemic. The most that this campaign against McDonanlds planning application will achieve is to change the signage they put up. The building already has planning permission as a restaurant. McDonalds will still come even if they have to put different signage up. 

The Saturday List #418 - My favourite slightly weird Instagram pictures of Mill Hill

 There are many rather twee pictures of Mill Hill. People love taking pictures of scenes such as the Angel pond with the church behind it. I rather in enjoy rather more left field scenes. Here is my selection

1. You don't need an expensive holiday in France to see the Eiffel Tower, it is on the drinks shelf at the Mill Hill Tandoori!

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A post shared by Roger Tichborne (@rogtex)

2. I am fascinated by insects, this handsome chap was in the back garden

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A post shared by Roger Tichborne (@rogtex)

3. My neighbours old shed. Sadly, the new owner removed this

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A post shared by Roger Tichborne (@rogtex)

4. There are many pictures of St Joe's looking wonderful in the sunshine. I prefer this, partially obscured by low cloud

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A post shared by Roger Tichborne (@rogtex)

5. I always love pictures of the M1 at sunset. This picture captures many of Mill Hill's defining features. The station, the M1 and the Broadwat. I rather like the polythene on the barbed wire

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A post shared by Roger Tichborne (@rogtex)

6. I was really proud of this picture of the fence at Mill Hill Broadway in the snow. A moment in time, so often we simply don't take time to look at things that are quite visiually pleasing. Frsh snow is a fascinating material.

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A post shared by Roger Tichborne (@rogtex)

7. I really love picturs in the mist. They have a sort of unworldly spookiness. This one of a tree in Lyndhurst park is another favourite

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A post shared by Roger Tichborne (@rogtex)

8. When the Covid memorial trees were planted, some amazing mushrooms appeared. Never seen anything like them

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A post shared by Roger Tichborne (@rogtex)

9. I've taken a lot of pictures of my studios (Mill Hill Music Complex) over the years. During lockdown, we cut back on maintenance to preserve cash. In 2022, we started repainting everything. I took this one of the studio 7 door before it was repainted. Those of you who were around in '77 and liked punk and reggae will see the accidental symbolism here

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A post shared by Roger Tichborne (@rogtex)

10. Frost is another thing that fascinates me. I love this picture. It sort of reminds me of the cover of a bad prog rock album from around 1975

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That's all folls

London Symphonies - A postcard from the edge (of London)

 I received an envelope through the letter box last week. It contained four postcards, issued by the London Borough of Barnet Libraries service. Each depicted a scene between 1900 and 1930, of well known landmarks in Mill Hill, London, NW7. The envelope had a note saying "I'm having a clear out, I thought you might have some use for these. Richard". It was from my old friend Richard Wilkinson.

It got me thinking about postcards. When was the last time I sent one? I am not sure but probably some time before 2008, to my mother. She used to love to recieve a postcard. I hated writing them, I never really saw the point. I'd try and find cheeky or funny ones and they'd have a short message saying "Having a great time, wish you were here". When mum passed away, we had hundreds, if not thousands of postcards that she'd kept, all in bags. All went in the bin. We didn't pause to look at them. However Richards present got me thinking. I'm sure that perhaps 99% of them were pictures from Torremolinos with bland messages, what about the odd gem that maybe went in the bin with them? I looked at Richards cards and they were fascinating.

I have no idea what year the Barnet Library service issued them. I'm assuming that they were sold in local libraries, so that visitors could share with all what a wonderful place the London Borough of Barnet was. My mum would berate me when I sent silly cards. She said she wanted to see what the place I was visiting looked like. I used to say "I'll show you the pictures when they are developed (no digital pictures or Instagram in 2008). She'd say "It's not the same, when I see a post card, it's like going on a journey"". She would always send us post cards. They'd have long messages saying about the bars, clubs and sights. She'd use every inch of space and write in small letters, whereas I'd write in the largest letters possible. 

I can recall my Dad telling me about when he arrived in Boston in 1942 with the Australian air force. He'd never seen snow befofe, having been born in the out back of Australia. He went to a gift shop and asked for some pictures to send back to his sisters. All of the postcards had idylic scenes, trees lined with cherry blossom, blue skies, etc. He asked if there were any pictures of Boston, not realising that it was only a frozen hellhole for a few months of the year, the rest of the time it is very nice.

When I was a kid, I used to visit London with my mum quite regularly. You'd see all manner of postcards and tat being sold. I used to wonder why anyone would ever want to send a postcard of London to anyone. It wasn't a sunny seaside scene like the pictures of Majorca that we'd get through the post. It didn't occur to me that for someone livinmg im Majorca, a visit to London might be rather interesting. 

As for postcards of Mill Hill. Such a concept would have seemed completely bonkers to me. I could just about understand someone sending a postcard to their brother in Utah of the Tower of London, but why would anyone want to send a picture of The Old Forge or The Adam and Eve?I mean if you'd come 4,000 miles to visit England, then  the last place you'd want to send a post card from was Mill Hill? Who on earth ends up in Mill Hill, who might want to share a postcard of such a place with anyone?

Of course, I'd made the classic mistake of having the blinkers on. Just because I was born and raised in Mill Hill and all of my siblings knew what Mill Hill looks like, what about my Dad? When the postcards were issued, probably in the 1970's or 80's, his sisters were alive and living in Townesville in Queensland, Australia. None had been to London. None knew what the town their brother had lived in for 40 years looked like. Like my mother, they loved getting cards and a picture is worth a thousand words. My Dad was not alone in living in Mill Hill, having arrived from all manner of places. Highly esteemed scientists from the four corners of the world would turn up to work at the National Institute for Medical Research. Many would drink at the Adam and Eve and the Rising Sun. They might have had tea at the Old Forge tea rooms and worshipped at The Sacred Heart. Theyhad mums, dads, brothers and sisters, who would be fascinated by such cards. 

I wondered what sort of message may be appended "Dear Florence, I have started work at the NIMR in Mill Hill. This card shows our local pub, The Adam and Eve, which we sometimes pop in for a pint on the way home, Mill Hill is a lovely little town on the outskirts of London and we are settling in well" might be the sort of message. Maybe, like my mothers cards, it sat there for forty years, until Florence passed away, when like my mothers cards, it was slung in the bin, without a second glance.

When I look at these vintage cards, I'm fascinated by them. I wonder what other London Boroughs produced and what are the most unlikely cards produced? Perhaps the strangest I've seen is a poscard depicting the 1905 Shenly Hill fire.

Clearly there was a market for such cards, as they were relatively expensive. I suppose that in 1905, it was rare to have such an exciting event locally preserved on film. The decline of the post card seems to have been brought about by the accessibility and cheapness of photography. With Facebook and Instagram, we don't need cards to show mum what Ibiza looks like. Now we spend our life snapping pictures, which we post on line and forget. My kids won't have bags of old postcards to discrd. I wonder when all of the talking dogs and bad meme's will be binned by Facebook etc?

How times change. When I was a teenager, I found the concept of a postcard from London almost absurd. Now I find them fascinating. Sadly my Mum is not around to post a card to, but that's no reason not to send her a card. So which one?

I've decided to choose the Adam and Eve card. Why? Mum loved a visit to the pub. The Adam and Eve has significantly changed since she passed in 2008. So here's my card 

Dear Mum, Hope all is good, wherever you are! Mill Hill has changed a bit. The Ridgeway and the Adam and Eve are almost unercognisable from when you last visited. The Medical Research has been demolished, the pub has been completely refurbished and is unrecognisable from when we last went. It's been cold recently, we are looking forward to summer, when the doggy walks will be more fun

Love Rog.

Environment Monday - In Mill Hill, we already live in a fifteen minute city and it is great

The nutterati have a new bogie subject to rant about. It is the concept of 15 minute cities. One of our favourite local loonies has been ranting about it for a couple of weeks. Rather amusingly, he doesn't seem to realise that in Mill Hill, we already live in a fifteen minute City. Wikipedia defines a fifteen minute city as "The 15-minute city is an urban concept in which most daily necessities and services, such as work, shopping, education, healthcare, and leisure, should be located within an easily reachable 15-minute walk or bike ride from any point in the city."

So how does Mill Hill compare? 

Work - I walk to work every day. My studios are 10 minutes walk from my house. I'd estimate that probably 30% of the people I know these days work locally, or work from home. As Mill Hill is a suburb of London, many work in Central London. They commute on Thameslink, which is an electric mass transport system. Although not astrictly speaking part of the 15 minute City concept, I worked in Central London for many years and with Thameslink was never more than a train ride and a 15 minute walk from work. I think that non polluting mass transport systems should be included as part of the definition.

Shopping - We do 90% of our shopping in Mill Hill. With M&S, Iceland and Tesco's, it is well served. We also have a great butcher in Boucherie Gerard and a brilliant wine shop with Mill Hill Wines. 

Congratulations to @millhillwines for making the list. Well deserved #50bestindependents pic.twitter.com/wXz2CwI9UE

— A Better Mill Hill 🔸🌈🇬🇧🇪🇺 (@ABetterMillHill) February 19, 2023

Sadly, the cheese shop that Matthew Offord promised Mill Hill when he was elected in 2010 has never materialised, which would be a real bonus.

Education - There are some great schools in Mill Hill. My kiods went to St Vincents, which is about 20 minutes walk, but as we have dogs, that was always part of their walkies. It is a beautiful walk. We also have Mill Hill County High as a secondary school. Sadly, my eldest didn't get in as we were 0.98 of a mile from the school, and the limit was 0.75 when she wanted to go, so had to get a bus to Finchley. My middle daughter made it in.

Healthcare -  I belong to Millway Surgery, which is just down the road and most people I are signed up to the practice, which has grown massively since it was based across the road from me in Millway. There is also a dentist on Millway and an oseopath. When I go for specialist cancer treatment, it is at UCH, which is a short journey away on Thameslink. World class centres of excellence are not part of the concept.

Leisure - Mill Hill is well served with restaurants (last August I listed 38 on the Broadway and that doesn't include our El Vaquerra or excellent local chippy, the King Neptune at The Green Man) , parks, and a few decent drinking establishments. We have a biannual music festival and Pubs such as the Adam and Eve have regular music and comedy. I'd love to see a boutique cinema. We also have Powerleague football pitches and Saracens which are at the limit of a quick 15 minute stroll.

Sadly, many of the newer development sites in Barnet are not so well designed and well sited. At the far end of the Inglis Barracks development, there is far less within easy access. I believe Barnet Council is failing miserably to plan proper infrastructure around new developments. If you look at the Watling Estate, build between the wars, when town planning was taken seriously. Tube lines were built, shopping parades, surgeries, dental practices, libraries, churches etc. It is beyond my comprehension why people are ranting about good planning and good civic design. There is a very misinformed campaign to terrify people into beleiving that you won't be allowed out if you live in a fifteen minute city. For some reason, it seems that some people simply can't understand the concept that if you have good services within walking distance, you might just use your car a bit less. The reason I've stayed in Mill Hill is because I'm living the fifteen minute dream already!

The Saturday List #387 - 10 interesting architectural features you've never noticed on Mill Hill Broadway

 Sometimes you walk past things a thousand times, but never look at them. I've lived in Mill Hill all my life, I walk down Mill Hill Broadway every day, but rarely do I raise my eyes above street level. Recently I've become interested in the architectural details on the buildings on the Broadway. The Broadway was largely built between 1908 and 1935 and at the time architects and builders would make an effort to make their buildings attractive and unique. It almost seems strange to think that they'd spend so much time, money and effort on these details that only the pigeons appreciate. I was tempted to include some old pictures, but didn't as I want people to appreciate the craftmanship and not look for passing rellies or old cars in the pictures. Maybe in 50 years, people may do that to these though.

Here is my little gallery of what I think are the best of them. I hope you enjoy this.

1. Lets start with the top of the Broadway on the south side. I love this date marker, giving the year of 1910. I suspect that at the time this building, just down the road from the station was state of the art. Now it is rather quaint

2. Next up is Costa Coffee. I wonder how many of the patrons ever look up at the rather wonderful Brickwork at the top of the building, around the roofing and the porthole window. These features require skilled bricklayers.

3. NExt up we have Boots. This has perhaps my favourite features. If you look above the ugly signage it is rather wonderful with the lead doming and features, rather a shame that it could do with some TLC, but next time you pass, have a look

4. Above Petmania, there is some fancy brickwork and a stone marker with CLM 1934, I'd love to know what that stood for

5. Tesco's Express at street level looks like thousands of other similar branches. I wonder how many have such fancy brickwork above the windows of the upper floor. I love these little details, understated and tasteful

6. Pan Asian restaurant BAW is another one with some rather pleasing fancy brickwork above it, blended with the Mock Tudor style popular in the late 1920's. Again a lot of effort for something most people won't even see

7. HC Med Spa has some nice details in the Brickwork above the upper storey windows. I did a Bricklaying course as a teenager so I appreciate these details.

8. Domino's Pizza used to be a Branch of Lloyds bank and was built in 1925. There is still this artefact

9. One of the most attractive smaller units is Gails bakery. There are several pleasing features to inspect

10. And finally, above Cosways, is Clarence Court. It's worth taking a 113 bus past it just to get a better view of the wonderful edifice. It would be wonderful to see this properly cleaned up.