A woman wants to put up a memorial at the oldest house in Hendon so her historical ancestors will be remembered forever.

Dr Valerie Dunlop has asked Barnet Council to erect a memorial at Church Farmhouse in Greyhound Hill where the Dunlop family lived from 1869 to 1943. 

Andrew Dunlop came from Ayrshire to live in the house and worked the farm, mainly producing hay which was used by residents, businesses and horses.

Mr Dunlop would direct his employees in the yard and his wife Mary Glen would feed them all.

The family also kept horses, sheep, cows and chicken and soon Mr Dunlop became well known for his farming and business skills, judging cows at the County Shows across England.

In 1877 he was elected as a Waywarden of Hendon, responsible for the maintenance of the highways and control of sewage, and in 1895 he became the first chairman of Hendon Urban District Council.

At 72, he became a Justice of the Peace and served at the Edgware Petty Sessions and the Occasional Courts of Hendon.

Dr Valerie Dunlop, a descendent of the family, said: “The people who lived in that house were extremely significant in the development of Hendon.

“The house is now up for sale, and the tombstones have pretty much all gone apart from one but 15 family members are buried there.

“I think it’s right that they’re remembered and so I’d like a modest seat to the Dunlop family in what used to be the garden of Church Farm, or a plaque on the building. I am more than willing to pay for it.

"People who are so significant in the history of Hendon should remain known in the district and a memorial will help with this.”

Church Farmhouse became a museum after the war until it was closed in March this year when the council withdrew funding for it.

Leader of the council, Councillor Richard Cornelius, said he cannot see a reason why the memorial cannot be put up.