Did you know that...
The name Shenley comes from the Anglo-Saxon “Scenlai” or “Senlai” and it means “bright opening in a forest”. In the medieval period, this WD7 area was one of the isolated settlements in the Hertfordshire woods. Shenley became a desirable place in the 14th century. Several wealthy London residents built country estates here. The village formed around these estates and the homes of those providing services to the estate owners. In 1657, parish registers mention bakers, tailors, shoemakers, millers, and blacksmiths living in the area. The area was rich in clay which allowed the production of tiles and bricks. Despite the fact that most residents were tradesmen, this was one of the most expensive North London areas in the 19th century.
An aerodrome was established during World War I on the Porters’ site. Middlesex County Council bought land from Mr. Raphael in 1924 and opened the Shenley Hospital. King George V and Queen Mary attended the opening ceremony in 1934. It served as a military hospital during World War II. In the 1950s, a walled garden was added. Patients used the garden to grow fruits and vegetables. The hospital closed in 1998. Shenley Park housing estate was developed on the site of the former hospital. The walled garden is now open to the public.
Shenley Training Center is the training grounds of the Premier League football club Arsenal. The training facility was established in 1999. It’s the home ground of Arsenal’s Under 18 club. Denis Compton Oval is a local cricket ground. It bears the name of cricketer and footballer Denis Compton. Famous cricketer W.G. Grace designed the pavilion. The ground hosted first-class matches and Women’s Test games. Shenley Hall is a 19th-century grade II listed building. It has served as a filming location for 1960 The Avengers TV series.