Arnos Grove
Template:Infobox London place Arnos Grove is an area in the south west corner of the London Borough of Enfield, England.
The area sits close to Enfield's borders with 2 other boroughs: Barnet and Haringey. Arnos Grove is also sometimes known as New Southgate.
History
Until the 1930s Arnos Grove was largely undeveloped and rural, and not considered to be an area. Instead, it was considered to be part of Southgate, although in the late 19th century the area of Colney Hatch (which later became known as New Southgate) started nearby.
The area was originally part of the Arnos Grove Estate, whose last long-term occupants were the Walkers of Southgate before the estate passed into less secure hands and was eventually sold to the Southgate Council, who created Arnos Park in 1928, and property developers.
Until recently Arnos Grove and the areas around it were rural land. Southgate and South Street (which was later absorbed into Southgate by a ribbon development along what is now Southgate High Street) were the first nearby settlements, both to the north of Arnos Grove. In 1851, a year after the opening of a station on the Great Northern Railway's main line from London to Peterborough, Colney Hatch, the location of the famous Colney Hatch Lunatic Asylum, was established to the west. However, the name Colney Hatch was inexorably linked to the mental asylum and the residents of the village that had grown around the station, who had been trying to get 'Colney Hatch' dropped from the name of the station virtually since it was opened, finally got their way in 1923, when it was renamed 'New Southgate and Friern Barnet'. The 'Friern Barnet' part of the name was dropped when the line was electrified in 1976, and the area has been known since as 'New Southgate'.
On the 19th September 1932 Arnos Grove tube station was opened, as part of the expansion of the London Underground Piccadilly Line to Cockfosters. In the few years that followed Arnos Grove went from a rural area to being fully developed. The main public facilities at Arnos Grove were built in the 1930s. These facilities include Arnos Pool and Bowes Road Library, which are currently undergoing major refurbishment. The library and swimming pool, along with Arnos Park, the wealth of facilities at Arnos Grove tube station (such as Ash House, the six sidings, and three tracks through the station with four platforms) and the proximity of Arnos Grove to the North Circular, which had been built in 1929, made Arnos Grove a desirable area to live in. Most houses in Arnos Grove were built in the 1930s and are situated north of Arnos Park and around Bowes Road.
The expansion of Arnos Grove was aided by the destruction of parts of New Southgate, where several bombs fell during World War II. There is now an almost continuous line of shops between Arnos Grove and New Southgate, via Bestyle Circus, making the areas closely linked. Today, three bus routes (two day - the 232 and 251 - and one night - the N91) link Arnos Grove and New Southgate stations. Both areas have been helped by the redevelopment of Colney Hatch Lunatic Asylum into Princess Park Manor, an 'exclusive residential development' containing 'luxury apartments' and a health and fitness complex, where several celebrities live.
Today Arnos Grove is still growing, with local and regional shop brands opening new premises regularly along the Arnos Grove stretch of Bowes Road. The local facilities are also currently under refurbishment, with Arnos Grove tube station having been refurbished in 2005 and Arnos Pool and Bowes Road Library currently under refurbishment.
Arnos Park
One of the main features of Arnos Grove is Arnos Park (43 acres or 17ha in size). Arnos Park is a remnant of the Arnos Grove Estate, and was opened in 1928 after having been purchased by Southgate Council. The Pymmes Brook flows throughout the length of the park. Arnos Park is well known for the diversity of its woodland - the Wild Service Tree is a particularly rare species that can be found in the park. However, although Arnos Park contains diverse woodland, it is mostly grassy fields. A large brick viaduct carries the Piccadilly line beyond Arnos Grove tube station towards Southgate through the western end of the park. The park contains a large playground for children as well as several tennis courts. The Pymmes Brook trail passes through the park. Also, evidence of the abandoned New River loop can be found within the trees in the north side of the park.
Public Facilities
- Arnos Grove tube station
- Arnos Park
- Arnos Pool
- Bowes Road Library
- Bowes Road NHS Clinic
Transport
Recently, public transport in Arnos Grove has been greatly improved - Arnos Grove tube station received major refurbishments in 2005, and the area has seen a large increase in the number of bus routes over the last few years, with the newest routes being the 298 (extended from Southgate) and the 382 (new bus route). This has caused a large change in the number and location of bus stops in 2006, with the most-used bus stop being split into two stops and many new bus stops being built. The new bus stops, however, were not built in pairs (one either side of the road), as has been the tradition with bus stops in London. Instead, the stops have been staggered cleverly, with Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church and the Arnos Pool/Bowes Road Library complex gaining bus stops.
One of the most famous transport problems associated with Arnos Grove is the long-delayed improvements to the A406 road (North Circular) between Palmers Green and Bounds Green. Arnos Grove is near this section of the A406 road. The junction most commonly associated with Arnos Grove is a crossroads between Bowes Road, Wilmer Way and Telford Road. This is one of the few junctions on the A406 road that the A406 road does not run straight through or under, hence the need for improvements. Originally, when the A406 road was under the control of the Highways Agency, a number of underpasses, like those at the Great Cambridge Roundabout and Edmonton sections were planned. However, before these plans were carried out, TfL gained control of the A406 road. TfL have scrapped the idea of underpasses, favouring alternative ideas, such as improving junctions.
The following London Bus routes serve the Arnos Grove area:
- 34
- 184
- 232
- 251 (Terminates at Arnos Grove)
- 298 (Terminates at Arnos Grove)
- 382
- N91 (Night bus)
The area is also served by the following stations:
Places of Worship
- Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church
Schools
- Broomfield School (Secondary)
- Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Primary School