WEA Barnets Branch tread historic path

Members of WEA Barnets Branch joined fellow walkers recently to complete the sixteen-mile Barnet Boundary walk which marks the first official record of the geographical boundary surrounding the area in north London.

Barnet and District Local History Society organised the walk to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of the Barnet boundary first being written down in the year 1005. The description of the boundary in Old English, entitled 'These are the boundaries of the old fort', was re-discovered only in the 1990s by Professor Simon Keynes of Cambridge University, whilst researching documents relating to St Albans abbey.

Barnets Branch members David Tyler and Brian Strong were among the walkers and can be seen, pictured here, taking a break after completing the long walk. Both men entered into the spirit of the event, sporting traditional, hand-crafted headwear, embroidered with 'WEA' to help promote their local WEA Branch.

David Tyler (right) and Brian Strong representing the WEA on a 16 mile walk along the 1000 year old Barnet Boundary on 2 May 2005.

David has been a student and WEA volunteer, involved with the Branch since 1975, and was recently elected Branch Secretary, whilst Brian is a relative newcomer having started his first class in 1990. Brian has joined the history class in the last three years, but has been involved in Industrial Archaeology classes for over ten years - he has a recent Masters degree in London History and is active in the Greater London Industrial Archaeology Society.

A copy of an extract of the original document in Old English, discovered by Professor Simon Keynes of Cambridge University.

If you are interested in finding out more about your local WEA Branch or joining a class in London please contact:

Liz Carlin
WEA London Region
4 Luke Street
London
EC2A 4XW
Tel: 020 7613 7550
Fax: 020 7383 5668
Email: lcarlin@wea.org.uk