Whetstone
Location
OS grid reference:	TQ265935
Latitude:	51.626048°
Longitude:	-0.171554°
Administration
London borough:	Barnet
County level:	Greater London
Region:	London
Constituent country:	England
Sovereign state:	United Kingdom
Other
Ceremonial county:	Greater London
Historic county:	Middlesex (1965)
Services
Police force:	Metropolitan Police
Fire brigade:	London Fire Brigade
Ambulance service:	London Ambulance
Post office and telephone
Post town:	LONDON
Postal district:	N20
Dialling code:	020
Politics
UK Parliament:	Chipping Barnet
London Assembly:	Barnet and Camden
European Parliament:	London
London | List of places in London

Whetstone is a place in the London Borough of Barnet, bearing the postcode N20. It is to the east of Totteridge, and these areas are often lumped together as Totteridge & Whetstone. This combined area is the 63rd richest area in the UK - an acclamation which can be credited to Totteridge Lane, a long road home to many multi-millionaires, some previous residents being celebrities such as Samantha Fox. Image File history File links Greater_london_outline_map_bw. ... Image File history File links Red_pog. ... The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using latitude or longitude. ... Latitude, usually denoted symbolically by the Greek letter φ, gives the location of a place on Earth north or south of the Equator. ... Longitude, sometimes denoted by the Greek letter λ (lambda),[1][2] describes the location of a place on Earth east or west of a north-south line called the Prime Meridian. ... The administrative area of Greater London contains thirty-two London boroughs. ... The London Borough of Barnet is a London borough in North London and forms part of Outer London. ... Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties are a level of subnational division of England used for the purposes of local government. ... Greater London is the top level administrative subdivision covering London, England. ... The region, also known as Government Office Region, is currently the highest tier of local government subnational entity of England in the United Kingdom. ... Greater London is the top level administrative subdivision covering London, England. ... Constituent country is an official term used to describe three of the four principal component parts of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK): England; Scotland; Wales. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2005 est. ... This is an alphabetical list of the sovereign states of the world, including both de jure and de facto independent states. ... The Ceremonial counties of England are areas of England that are appointed a Lord-Lieutenant, and are defined by the government with reference to the metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England. ... Greater London is the top level administrative subdivision covering London, England. ... The historic counties of England are ancient subdivisions of England. ... Middlesex is one of the 39 historic counties of England and the second smallest (after Rutland). ... There are a number of policing agencies in the United Kingdom. ... The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) is the Home Office police force responsible for Greater London, with the exception of the square mile of the City of London. ... Fire brigades in the United Kingdom are organised on a territorial basis. ... The London Fire Brigade (LFB) provides fire fighting and rescue services in London, UK. It is the third largest fire department in the world with nearly 7000 staff. ... This is a list of ambulance services in the United Kingdom: Ambulance services in England, after July 1, 2006 are A few deviations from the above have been made for operational reasons. ... The London Ambulance Service (LAS) is the largest ambulance service in the world that does not directly charge its patients for its services. ... A post town is a required part of all UK postal addresses. ... UK postal codes are known as postcodes. ... London N20 is a London postal district that covers the Totteridge, Whetstone and Oakleigh Park areas of the London Borough of Barnet in North London. ... The UK telephone numbering plan, also known as the National Numbering Plan, is regulated by the Office of Communications (Ofcom), which replaced the Office of Telecommunications (Oftel) in 2003. ... 020 is the STD code for Greater London in the United Kingdom. ... The United Kingdom House of Commons is made up of Members of Parliament (MPs). ... Chipping Barnet is a parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdoms House of Commons. ... Greater London is divided into a number of constituencies for London Assembly elections. ... Barnet and Camden is a constituency represented in the London Assembly. ... Sign in the entrance of the European Parliament building in Brussels, written in all the official languages used in the European Union as of July 2006 The European Parliament building in Strasbourg The debating chamber, or hemicycle, in Strasbourg The European Parliament building in Brussels The European Parliament (formerly European... London is a constituency of the European Parliament. ... London (pronounced ) is the capital city of the United Kingdom and the largest city of England (strangely, England has no constitutional existence within the United Kingdom, and therefore cannot be said to have a capital). ... This is a partial list of places in London, England. ... The London Borough of Barnet is a London borough in North London and forms part of Outer London. ... London N20 is a London postal district that covers the Totteridge, Whetstone and Oakleigh Park areas of the London Borough of Barnet in North London. ... Totteridge is a place in the London Borough of Barnet. ... This article is about the English model and singer; for the American erotic actress, see Samantha Fox (porn star). ...

The whetstone

It is thought that Whetstone was named after the whetstone used to sharpen knives and other tools, a chunk of which is located on the High Road, on the pavement outside the Griffin pub (see picture). Legend has it that it was used by soldiers about to fight in the Battle of Barnet. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 205 KB) The whetstone in High Road Whetstone. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 205 KB) The whetstone in High Road Whetstone. ... A whetstone is a stone used for sharpening knives and other cutting tools and is usually made out of ceramic or a hard mineral such as quartz or novaculite. ... The Battle of Barnet, which took place on April 14, 1471, was a decisive battle of the Wars of the Roses, near the town of Barnet, 10 miles north of London. ...

The High Road, the main road in the area, is the A1000 and part of the traditional Great North Road from London to Edinburgh. The A1000 is a main road in the United Kingdom, running north from Highgate, North London for approximately 20 miles to Welwyn where it joins the M1 motorway. ... Sign at Junction 1 of the A1(M) at South Mimms in Hertfordshire The A1, at 409 miles (658 km) long, is the longest numbered British road. ... Edinburgh (pronounced ; Scottish Gaelic: ) is the capital of Scotland and its second-largest city. ...

History

Whetstone originated in mediaeval times. It was an important staging post for stagecoaches going north from London. There has been an inn on the site of the present Griffin pub for centuries, though the present building dates from 1928. The buildings to the left of the pub (viewed from the High Road) are late 15th century. 1928 (MCMXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ...

There were early 19th century buildings opposite the Griffin pub [1] on the corner of Totteridge Lane, but they were demolished in 2001 and replaced by a new Boots the Chemist. Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Boots is the dominant pharmacist chain in the United Kingdom, with outlets in most high streets throughout the country. ...

Churchill and Hess

Whetstone may have been the venue for a secret meeting between Winston Churchill and Adolf Hitler's deputy Rudolf Hess during World War II. A local newspaper ^[1] unearthed a letter in Barnet Council's planning archives which states that Hess was brought to Tower House, 17 Oakleigh Park North, for interrogation after he made his infamous trip to Scotland in 1941. ‹ The template below has been proposed for deletion. ... Hitler redirects here. ... Rudolf Hess Not to be confused with Rudolf Hoess. ... Combatants Major Allied powers: United Kingdom Soviet Union United States Republic of China and others Major Axis powers: Nazi Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Harry Truman Chiang Kai-Shek Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tojo Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead... Motto: (Latin for No one provokes me with impunity)1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots 2 Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification    - by Kenneth I... This article is about the year. ...

The letter mentioning Hess dates from January 23, 1987, and was written by the owner of Tower House, a Mr W Jones, to inform his neighbours of his plans to demolish the building and erect luxury apartments on the site. It reads "We purchased 'Tower House' in 1953 and have operated from here ever since. It was built many years ago as a private house. In 1939 it was a boys' boarding school. During the war it was at different times a blood transfusion centre, a fire service station (hence the corrugated iron sheds) and a prisoner of war cage (Hess was brought here for interrogation after he flew to Scotland). After that it was unoccupied and derelict until we took it over." January 23 is the 23rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Many historians are sceptical, and it was said that Churchill and Hess never met, but others say that knowing Churchill's temperament, he might have been fascinated and intrigued to meet Hess. It has been said that there would have been far more suitable venues.

Nearest places:

• Totteridge
• Woodside Park
• Brunswick Park
• Oakleigh Park
• Osidge
• Friern Barnet
• North Finchley
• Southgate
• Cockfosters

Nearest station: Totteridge is a place in the London Borough of Barnet. ... Woodside Park is a place in the London Borough of Barnet, in postal area N12. ... It has been suggested that Colney Hatch be merged into this article or section. ... Oakleigh Park is a place in the London Borough of Barnet, bearing the postcode N20. ... Osidge is a district in the London Borough of Barnet, just west of Southgate. ... Friern Barnet is a place in the London Borough of Barnet. ... North Finchley is a place in the London Borough of Barnet. ... Southgate is an area in the London Borough of Enfield. ... Cockfosters is a place in London, in the London Borough of Barnet. ...

• Oakleigh Park railway station

Nearest tube station: Oakleigh Park railway station is in the London Borough of Barnet in north London, and is in Travelcard Zone 4. ...

• Totteridge and Whetstone tube station

Totteridge and Whetstone tube station is the penultimate station on the High Barnet branch of Northern Line of the London Underground. ...

References

1. ^ Barnet Times 17th November 2003

External links

• Whetstone Pub Guide - Full Guide to Bars, Pubs and Clubs in Whetstone.