William Franks (died July 1797) was a landowner in East Barnet, Hadley Wood and Cheshunt, and the owner of a large estate in the former Enfield Chace.
William Franks (died July 1797) was a landowner in East Barnet, Hadley Wood and Cheshunt, and the owner of a large estate in the former Enfield Chace.
Franks was the son of William Franks (died 1790) who was important in the development of what is now known as Fitzrovia in central London and was responsible for the construction of large parts of Percy Street, Rathbone Street and Charlotte Street. William's mother was Mary Franks née Pepys (died 1805). [4]
In 1786, Franks bought Mount Pleasant (later known as Belmont) from Sir William Henry Ashhurst. [5] In 1790, he bought Beech Hill Park, the former home of Francis Russell, and sold Mount Pleasant to William Wroughton. [6]
In 1780, Franks married Jane Gaussen [6] in Leyton, Essex. [7] Their children included:
Franks died at Bristol Wells in July 1797. [6] He is buried at St John the Baptist church, Kentish Town, and a memorial to him and his wife exists in the church. [4] After his death, his freehold and leasehold property was auctioned in 1798. Advertising for the sale described the properties as being in "Enfield Chace, East Barnet, on Barnet Common, and on Cheshunt Common". [17] Beech Hill Park was described as a "capital residence" and an "elegant spacious modern-built mansion". [17] It was conveyed to Archibald Paris on 12 April 1800 [6] but a Mrs Franks [18] remained in residence until at least 1802 and Paris did not move in until 1805. [19]
Chipping Barnet or High Barnet is a suburban market town in north London, forming part of the London Borough of Barnet, England. It is a suburban development built around a 12th-century settlement, and is located 10 1⁄2 miles (17 km) north-northwest of Charing Cross, 3 miles (4.8 km) east from Borehamwood, 5.2 miles (8.4 km) west from Enfield and 3.2 miles (5.1 km) south from Potters Bar. Its population, including its localities East Barnet, New Barnet, Hadley Wood, Monken Hadley, Cockfosters and Arkley, was 47,359 as of 2011.
Monken Hadley is a place in the London Borough of Barnet. An ancient country village north of Barnet, it is now a suburban development on the very edge of Greater London 11 miles (18 km) north north-west of Charing Cross, while retaining much of its rural character.
Enfield Highway is an area in the London Borough of Enfield, north London. It is roughly located in the area either side of Hertford Road between Hoe Lane and The Ride.
Hadley Wood is a suburb in the north of Greater London, close to the border with Hertfordshire. It is located in the London Borough of Enfield, about 11 miles (17.7 km) north north-west of Charing Cross and is situated close to Barnet.
The High Sheriff of Hertfordshire was an ancient Sheriff title originating in the time of the Angles, not long after the invasion of the Kingdom of England, which was in existence for around a thousand years. On 1 April 1974, under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, the title of Sheriff of Hertfordshire was retitled High Sheriff of Hertfordshire. The High Shrievalties are the oldest secular titles under the Crown in England and Wales, their purpose being to represent the monarch at a local level, historically in the shires.
Ossulston House is a Grade II listed building opposite Joslin's Pond in Hadley Green Road, Hadley, to the north of Chipping Barnet. It is one of what was an almost complete line of houses between Chipping Barnet and Monken Hadley along the east side of Hadley Green which were built in the 18th and 19th centuries as wealthy merchants from London populated the area.
Charles Herbert Cottrell was an Englishman who travelled to Siberia in 1840-41, produced an account of the experience, and translated plays and non-fiction works from German to English. At home, he qualified as a barrister and was a magistrate of Hertfordshire and Wiltshire.
Charles Jack was an Irish farmer and landowner who was primarily responsible for the construction of Hadley Wood from the late 1880s, and the building of Hadley Wood railway station.
Beech Hill Park is a Grade II listed building off Beech Hill in Hadley Wood, North London, that is used today as the club house of Hadley Wood Golf Course. It was built in 1781 for Francis Russell, secretary and surveyor to the Duchy of Lancaster, on land he received when Enfield Chase was broken up. It was later in the ownership of Charles Jack, a property developer who was primarily responsible for the development of Hadley Wood.
St Mary the Virgin is the parish church of Monken Hadley. It is located in the Diocese of London.
Ludgrove Hall is a house in Games Road, Cockfosters, north London, on the edge of Monken Hadley Common. It was originally a private home but then became Ludgrove School and has now been converted to flats. Additional buildings have since been constructed in the grounds.
John Richard Thackeray was an English churchman and member of the literary Thackeray family.
Frederick Charles Cass (1824-1896) was the rector of the parish of Monken Hadley in north London. His father, also Frederick Cass, owned the relevant advowson giving the right to make such appointments. He was the author of works of local history relating to South Mimms, Monken Hadley and East Barnet.
Frederick Cass DL was High Sheriff of Hertfordshire, 1844–45. He was resident at Beaulieu Lodge, Winchmore Hill, Edmonton, and later Little Grove, East Barnet.
Belmont, originally known as Mount Pleasant, was a house in East Barnet, London, near Cockfosters, that dated back to the sixteenth century. By the end of the nineteenth century it had become Heddon Court and was the home of a preparatory school for boys. The school closed in 1933 and the house was demolished. The site is now occupied by suburban housing.
George William Potter was a builder, estate agent and surveyor in Hampstead, London, whose firm contributed to the modern development of Hampstead and Hampstead Garden Suburb. As a builder, he constructed the houses in Gayton Crescent and Gayton Road. Late in life he wrote two books of recollections of the history of Hampstead.
Peter Gaussen (1723–1788) was Governor of the Bank of England from 1777 to 1779.
William Westbrooke Richardson was High Sheriff of Sussex in 1770.
Rhoda Wyburn was an English milliner who with her sister Emily ran a successful business in Regent Street that enabled them to buy Hadley Manor near Chipping Barnet in north London. The sisters were committed Methodists who donated funds to establish Methodist churches in north London and elsewhere.
Folly Farm, originally Folly House, on the southern edge of Monken Hadley Common, was a farm that dated from 1686 and became a popular recreation site in the early 20th century. The site is now occupied by the Jewish Community Secondary School.