TOPIC:

Middlesex Regiment Memorial Cottage Homes, Bittacy Hill/Mill Hill, Barnet.

Unfortunately, I have not got much on these, which appear to have been demolished in about 1980 (along with an adjacent pair of WWII? cottage homes) to make way for a terrace of five houses (49-57 Curry Rise) at the old Inglis Barracks. As an aside, there is a current planning application with Barnet Council to remove the terrace of five houses!

Mentioned on page 151 of Gildea's book and on the IWM memorials web page (ref.58089).

Finchley Press report of 7th August 1908 refers to two cottages built by public subscription at Mill Hill for deserving men of the D.C.O. (Middlesex Regiment).

1912/13 OS map (published 1920) shows two Soldiers Homes to the north east of Bittacy Farm. By 1973, another pair of Middlesex Regiment cottage homes had been built alongside.

The photograph below is from the 'Die-Hards' Journal 1920.

Regarding the Between Town's Road Cottages



The IWM seem to have considered at least one of them a War Memorial

www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/59837

Quite how the Planning Officer dealing with the student accommodation planning application could have been unaware of their significance is beyond me.

Redvers - the Oxford History Centre photo you posted shows them in their shop phase.

Having discussed the matter with my better half. They did not get taken over as a Vets until the 1980's before that we used to take our pets to Long Lane in Littlemore. Down the left side of the photo you posted of them in their vets phase was the narrow entrance to a large tarmacked car park at the back surrounded by an old stone wall - this was once the generous gardens mentioned in the above article.

A couple more bits and pieces from the Die-Hard Journal.
The one clarifies that the 2nd pair of Middlesex Regiment memorial cottage homes at Bittacy/Mill Hill was built after WWI and, although rather blurred in the sketch, the plaque above the fireplace refers to the 1899-1902 war in South Africa.

In fairness to the planning officer, the developer's heritage consultant (who submitted a detailed report in support of the application) did not work it out either.
There appears to be an anomaly on the relevant OS map. The cottages were clearly in existence by 1907 (as per the postcard) but the building does not appear on the next OS map series. Both the council and developer therefore thought the building was of a later date. That said, I doubt either would have thought the cottages to have any association with those who fell in the war in South Arica.
To date, I have sent about 10 requests to those who administer the Historic Environment Records (HERs) to include various memorial cottage homes within the HER. All have been accepted. This should at least avoid some other local planning authorities, developers and landowners from being unaware of any memorial cottage homes on a particular site.
Whilst 'the horse has bolted' on the Cowley cottage homes, I have asked Oxford City Council's HER administrator if they would still like the details even if only to have a record of what was there.

"the developer's heritage consultant (who submitted a detailed report in support of the application) did not work it out either" but in was not in the interest of his paymaster for them to work it out.

No matter - please follow this link to the The History of Oxford Facebook page:

www.facebook.com/groups/425240434576048/...on_generic&ref=notif

And then follow the link to the web page where you will find this photo: