Enfield Town
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Enfield Town is a town in the London Borough of Enfield. It is 10.1 miles (16.2 km) north north-east of Charing Cross.
Contents |
[edit] History
Historically Enfield was a collection of small communities spread around the royal hunting grounds of Enfield Chase. At the time of the Domesday Book the area was spelt 'Enefelde', and had a priest who almost certainly resided in St. Andrews Church. By 1572 most of the basic street layout had been completed. The village green later became the historic marketplace between the church and where the fountain now stands. A market is still operated in this area, which is owned by the parish charity.
During the Elizabethan period the royal Palace of Enfield stood on the site of the present-day Palace Shopping Centre; nothing of this now remains, exscept for a carved stone fireplace presently located in one of the houses of Gentleman's Row, a street of fine 16th-18th century houses adjacent to Enfield Town centre.
The New River, built to supply water to London from Hertfordshire, runs immediately behind the town centre through the Town Park.
In 1840 the first section of the Northern and Eastern Railway was opened from Stratford to Broxbourne with stations at Water Lane (Angel Road) and Ponders End. Further stations were added in 1855 at Enfield Lock (Royal Small Arms Factory) and 1884 at Brimsdown. A branch line from Water Lane to Enfield Town was opened in 1849 serving Edmonton Low Level and Enfield Town. A further station was added in 1880 at Bush Hill Park. The direct line from London to Enfield Town was opened in 1872 with stations at Silver Street and Lower Edmonton (now called Edmonton Green). In 1891 a loop from Edmonton serving Southbury (Churchbury) and Turkey Street (Forty Hill) to Cheshunt on the main line was added.
In 1871 the great Northern Railway opened its station on Windmill Hill. This was later replaced in 1910 when the line was extended to Cuffley. This section of railway is now part of the line commonly known as the Hertford Loop.
Enfield Town is famous for having the world's first ever cash machine or ATM, which was installed at the branch of Barclays Bank on June 27, 1967 and opened by Reg Varney. The world's first solid state circuitry colour televisions were manufactured by Ferguson at their plant (now closed) in Enfield.
Enfield has a proud history in sport - Enfield F.C. were from the 1960s to the 1980s one of the best known and most successful non-League clubs, and the various cricket clubs in the Borough have had great success over the years.
The town also houses the borough's Civic Centre, the headquarters of the borough administration at which Council and committee meetings are also held.
[edit] Recent developments
Recent boundary changes in 2004 mean that the Enfield Town area will be split between three Parliamentary constituencies (see panel) as from the next General Election.
Enfield Town centre has recently undergone major redevelopment work, completed in Autumn 2006. A large extension to the existing shopping centre was built, under the name PalaceXchange. Many branches of chain stores already existing in Enfield Town centre were relocated to the new extension, and there are some completely new stores.
Much of the economic activity of Enfield currently centres around the A10 road which has a wealth of retail facilities (of the shed type) and a very large multiplex cinema, built on the site of the old baths, which draws film goers from miles around.
A disused section of the New River runs through the centre of Enfield Town, where it is called the New River Loop. Water levels are still maintained in it, and it survives as an important local amenity.
To the north western fringes of the Town, as it is known to locals, lies Chase Side village.
[edit] Local Youth Organisations
The Scout Association has several Groups that operate in the area. See the Enfield District Scouts website. The District Scouts also have a marching band, the Enfield District Scout Band. See the band's website for more details.
[edit] Nearby Places
- Enfield Chase
- Edmonton
- Winchmore Hill
- World's End (Enfield)
- Oakwood, London
- Forty Hill
- Clay Hill, London
- Crews Hill
