The Spatial Morphology of Community in Chipping Barnet c.1800–2015: An Historical Dialogue of Tangible and Intangible Heritages

This article presents a case study of the London suburb Chipping Barnet to show how spatial-morphological approach tangible heritage challenges its archetypal image as an affluent commuter by highlighting resilience generative patterning social space that has weathered successive phases change. We argue enduring definition local centre explains it been possible preserve something less tangible—namely identity suburban community. Barnet’s street network constitutes community through combination local- and wider-scale affiliations have sustained diverse localised socio-economic activity over extended period time. Noting histories often go further than sociological studies in emphasising importance built environment for indexing effects change on everyday life, we draw range archive sources including analysis historical maps using syntax techniques, reveal dialogue both intangible heritages are formative