CHURCH YA RD-BO TTOM WOOD 
65 
severity of weather during the last three winters, its impetus 
has increased enormously. Had Churchyard- Bottom Wood 
been subjected to the auctioneer’s hammer at the expiration 
of the time originally granted in which to procure the sub- 
scriptions for its purchase, few of the trees would have been 
standing by this time, and in their place a great many houses. 
Perhaps never since the time of the public acquisition of 
Parliament Hill and Fields has any open space been fought for 
more strenuously. The labour of the Joint Committee appointed 
to help in the work of rescuing the Wood is well known : the 
amount of local interest excited shows how untiring is the 
energy of those influential inhabitants of Hornsey and Highgate. 
It would be ungracious not to refer here to the activity and 
exertion of the late Mr. H. R. Williams, who was indeed a 
pioneer in the cause of open spaces in the north of London. To 
show the position of affairs at a recent date, a paragraph from 
the Hampstead and Highgate Express, December 25, 1897, is here 
quoted in full : — 
“ Last week, at the offices of the District Council, Mr. G. W. NVillcocks, 
C.E., held a public inquiry on behalf of the Local Government Board into the 
application of the Hornsey District Council for permission to borrow ,£10,000 
for the purpose of paying their contribution towards the proposed purchase of 
Churchyard- Bottom Wood. Having heard evidence in support of the proposal, 
Mr. Willcocks promised to report as early as possible to the Local Government 
Board. 
“ At the meeting of the London County Council on Tuesday, the Parks and 
Open Spaces Committee recommended: — ‘That the Council do approve the 
estimate submitted by the Finance Committee, provided that the expenditure is 
within the borrowing powers of the Council for the time being, and do authorise 
the payment of a contribution of £2,500 towards the acquisition of about fifty-two 
acres of land at Highgate, known as Churchyard- Bottom Wood, the land to be 
maintained for public recreation by the Hornsey District Council.’ 
“ Mr. Shaw-Lefevre moved as an amendment that the recommendation should 
be referred back to the committee, with instructions to consider whether the 
proposed contribution should not be increased. He narrated the circumstances 
under which the scheme for the acquisition of the place arose. If this important 
open space was to be secured for the people of London, it was absolutely neces- 
sary that the Council should contribute a larger sum than was proposed. The 
Middlesex County Council had contributed £5,000, the Hornsey Urban District 
Council £10, ooo, the Islington Vestry £2,000, and private donations amounting 
to £5,577 had been received, and, as the amount asked for the land by the 
owners, the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, was a very moderate one, he felt 
justified in asking the Council to increase its proposed contribution. 
“ Dr. Napier seconded the amendment, which was carried by a large 
majority.” 
The above quotation does not call for much comment, and 
all will have learned with pleasurable satisfaction that Mr. Shaw- 
Lefevre’s spirited and successful reversal of the late London 
County Council Parks Committee’s recommendation to sub- 
scribe only the sum of £"2,500 has had the ultimate effect of the 
contribution being raised to £"5,000, and that sum practically 
completes the purchase. 
It has been proposed that part of the Wood, if purchased, 
should be set aside as a bird sanctuary, in which even the more 
