Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Greensgate 1574 HendonSurv

• Grinsgate (Wood) 1754 R c.1840 TA

• (to) grendeles gatan 972–8 BCS1290

Etymology

Barnet Gate was earlier Greensgate 1574 HendonSurv, Grinsgate (Wood )1754 R, c. 1840TA , and is to be identified with the (to ) grendeles gatan of 972–8 (BCS 1290), v. infra 220. 'Grendel 's gate.' For other examples of Grendel, the man-eating monster of the Beowulf story, cf. Grimsbury (PN D 489), Gransmore (PN Ess 422) and grendlesmere (BCS 677) in Wiltshire (PN W 481). The place is on the county border adjoining High Barnet parish, Herts.