Sitting
on a hill, Chipping Barnet held a weekly market in Regency times as
it had done for hundreds of years. It was greatly famous for the buying
and selling of cattle, which came in great numbers for the sales. The
local church, a chapel of ease to East Barnet, was situated in the middle
of the town, and had a tower with five bells. In Wood Street was an
almshouse called Jesus Hospital for the relief of six poor widows. In
the same street was a brick free school, which was largely maintained
by the Fishmongers' Company of London.
