Minchenden Oak Garden
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| Minchenden Oak Garden | |
|---|---|
 Entrance, looking out towards Waterfall Road | |
  Location within London | |
| Type | Public park |
| Location | Southgate, London |
| Coordinates | 51°37′27″N 0°07′45″W / 51.6243°N 0.1291°W |
| Created | 12 May 1934 |
| Operated by | London Borough of Enfield |
| Status | Open daily |
Minchenden Oak Garden is a public park in Southgate, London owned by the London Borough of Enfield.
It was formerly part of the estate of Minchenden House, demolished in 1853, and opened as a garden of remembrance in 1934. The park is just 0.17 hectares (2,000 sq yd) in size and is accessed by a gate from Waterfall Road. A key feature of the park is the Minchenden Oak, an 800-year-old tree that is one of the oldest in London. The canopy of the tree was described as the largest in England in 1873.
Minchenden House (also known as Minchington Hall), a large brick structure, was built by John Nicholl in 1741 on part of Sir John Weld's former estate of Arnos Grove.[1][2] Nicholl died shortly after completing the house and it was inherited by his daughter Margaret. She married James Brydges, Marquis of Carnarvon who later became the third Duke of Chandos.[2] Minchenden served as their country house (the main estate being Cannons in Little Stanmore).
Chandos died childless and the estate passed to the Marquis of Buckingham, it was left to deteriorate and the house was demolished in 1853.[2] It was replaced by a smaller building, Minchenden Lodge (which still stands), and the estate, together with that of Beaver Hall, which once extended to 300 acres (120 ha) was rejoined to Arnos Grove.[3][4]
