to form a portion of the nave and a new embattled tower was built, now a conspicuous landmark for many miles round.  The present N. aisle is entirely new.  The nave is clerestoried, with eight bays; most of the windows are of stained glass.  The Ravenscroft mortuary chapel, adjoining the S. transept, contains many monuments, the most conspicuous being the altar-tomb and recumbent effigy in marble to Thomas Ravenscroft (d. 1630), which was formerly in the chancel.  Other memorials are to James Ravenscroft (d. 1680) who founded and endowed the almshouses in Wood Street near by, called Jesus’ Hospital, and to John Ravenscroft (d. 1681).  Note (1) the beautifully carved font screen, pinnacled and crocketted; (2) the pulpit, adorned with carved figures of men famous in English Church history; (3) the four ancient ledgers of stone, two in the chapel and two in the tower-basement, all inscribed to members of the Ravenscroft family.  The church was formerly a chapel-of-ease to that at East Barnet.  A Roman Catholic church, dedicated to SS.  Mary the Immaculate and Gregory the Great, stands in Union Street:  it was built in 1850.

On Barnet Common there was formerly a medicinal spring known widely as “Barnet Wells”; its chalybeate waters are referred to in Pepys’ Diary, and more fully praised in The Perfect Diurnall (1652) and The Barnet Well Water (1800).  These waters were in such repute that one John Owen, an alderman of London, provided L1 to be spent yearly in keeping the well in fit condition.  Barnet Fair, which is held annually early in September, is attended by cattle dealers from all parts of England and Scotland, and by showmen and adventurers of all kinds.  It is certainly one of the most famous horse fairs in the country.  The ordinary cattle market is held each Wednesday.

BATTLE OF BARNET.—­Of this engagement, so familiar by name, very little is known accurately.  Early in the spring of 1471, Edward IV., assisted in his schemes by the Duke of Burgundy, quitted Flanders, whither he had fled when the Earl of Warwick landed in the S. of England with reinforcements from Louis XI.; touched, after a difficult passage, at Cromer, where he heard of the resistance organised by Warwick, and finally landed at Ravenspurgh on the Humber.  Having been joined by further followers at Nottingham he entered London on Holy Thursday, the Lancastrians offering little resistance.  Warwick collected his forces, and the two armies met on Easter Sunday on Gladmore Common or Gledsmuir Heath, to the N.W. of what is now Hadley Wood.  The engagement was desperately contested for five or six hours, with such varying success that some accounts relate how messengers rode to London during the day with the news that Edward was losing the battle.  This, as it proved, was not the case.  Chauncy repeats the old tradition that a fog gathered over the battle-field, that the Lancastrians slew one another in the mist and confusion, and that this led to the death of Warwick.  It is supposed that the “King Maker” fell close to the spot now marked by Hadley High Stone.  This obelisk was erected a little distance off in 1740; but was removed nearer to what is now thought the right position.  Montacute, brother to Warwick, was slain at the same spot.