Place Name
It has been suggested that the name Highgate derives from a hill-top gateway at the entrance into Hornsey park, which was originally owned by the bishops of London, who as lords of the manor of Hornsey had their hunting estate here. The hunting ground was said to have been surrounded by a high, deer-proof hedge that was entered by the gates. However, another suggestion is that in the mid-14thCentury the sitting bishop imposed a toll on the Great North Road from London to Finchley, hence it is a reference to a toll gate. It was first recorded as Le Heighgate in 1354 and in 1377 as Heghegate morphing into Highate by 1440 from the Middle English words heghe and gate. Highgate Hill was recorded as Highegate Hill in 1565.
