Monkenhurst

Monkenhurst was built in 1880 design by Peter Dollar and enlarged in 1915. in reference to the Battle of Barnet, a key battle in the conflict that took place nearby. In the 1920s the house was the home of the mining engineer and metallurgist Savannah Johnson Speak (1868–1929) and in the 1950s it was the residence of the radiologist Steven Carstairs (1919–1998). In 1973, the house along with other property totalling about two acres, was acquired by Highshore Properties, who, it was reported in Estates Gazette, intended to sell Monkenhurst and build houses and bungalows on the rest of the site. In 1974 Monkenhurst was acquired by the comedian Spike Milligan who spent £10,000 restoring it. He…