Stone worktops in Edgware

Edgware was a market town on the road to St Albans long before it was a suburb, but Barnet Council's history notes that its population actually fell in the 19th century. That changed when the underground was extended from Golders Green in August 1924. The date plaques on the Station Road parades tell the story: 1923, 1925, and 1928 on the Quadrant. Estates followed, including Edgware Manor and the 1933 Old Rectory Gardens with its suntrap windows.

In the north-west corner of Edgware, the Broadfields Estate was built by John Laing in stages through the 1930s, 1960s and 1970s. These are family houses with gardens, and many have had their kitchens extended or opened up since. That makes them good candidates for an L-shaped run with a peninsula, or an island if there is room.

Edgware is mostly in the London Borough of Barnet, but parts of it count as Harrow, and both boroughs have a ward called Edgware. The postcode doesn't settle it either: HA8 reaches into Burnt Oak, Canons Park and beyond. For a worktop replacement this makes no difference, as no permission is needed. For an extension, check which council covers your address.

Just south of Edgware, the Watling Estate at Burnt Oak is one of Barnet's conservation areas: around 4,000 homes, most of them houses, built as a planned estate. If you live there, internal kitchen works aren't affected by the conservation area, but changes to the outside of the house can be, so check with the council before altering windows or doors at the same time.