Whetstone
Early-attested site in the Parish of Friern Barnet
Historical Forms
- Wheston 1417 Cl 1486–93 ECP 1496 Pat
- Whetestonesstret 1437 Ct
- Whetstone 1492 1516 FF 1535 VE
- Westone 1535 FF
- Whetston Strete 1571 FF
- Whetston al. Fryern t.Eliz ChancP
Etymology
Whetstone is Wheston 1417 Cl, 1486–93 ECP, 1496 Pat, Whetestonesstret 1437Ct , Whetstone 1492 ib., 1516 FF, 1535 VE, Westone 1535 FF, Whetston Strete 1571FF , Whetston al. Fryern t. Eliz ChancP. 'At the whetstone,' from OE hwetstān . Cf. Wheston (Db), Whetston 1271 FF, Whetstone (Lei), Whetestan t. Hy 2 (1318) Ch. Tradition holds that there was once a large stone here, on which the soldiers sharpened their weapons before the battle of Barnet in 1471. Partly in Finchley.