An Enfield Walk
Route & what to see
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london-footprints.co.uk |
A 3¾ mile circular walk from Enfield Chase Station.
Exit the station and go right
along Windmill Hill.
The original station was built in 1871. It moved east to its
present position in 1910 when neighbouring shops were
constructed. The Magistrates Court was built in 1900.
Detour into Park Avenue to view the Drill Hall Sports Club
Return and continue along Church Street.
Cross the river then follow
the New River footpath to the right.
Town Park to the left was created in 1902 from the grounds of two
estates.
On reaching a bridge do not cross but continue to walk alongside the river within the park. Stay on the path as it goes to the left with sports pitches to the left.
At the gates exit into Essex
Road.
There are villas of the 1870s.
Take the first left along
Raleigh Road.
This was part of Enfield New Town, constructed from 1852. Look
for dated cottages.
At the end go left then re-enter the park on the left through the car park.
Follow the path to the right towards the playground. Bear left past the toilets then right past the cafe.
At the rose garden take the
path to the right. Exit into Cecil Road then go right.
Opposite is the Carnegie library of 1912 by R Collins, built on
the site of Chaseside House. The building has been extended and
and overlooks a refurbished green.
Walk along Sarnesfield Road
alongside this and go left at Church Street.
Little Park Gardens commemorates a house called Little Park,
demolished in 1888. The Trinity Methodist Church was built in
1889, although the interior had to be reconstructed following a
fire in 1919-20.
Right at Gentlemans Row
alongside this keeping right at the green.
This has many attractive, mainly 18th century, houses. Further
along are Victorian buildings.
Take the path to the left and cross the river. First right along Chase Side Place. Recross the river at the Crown & Horseshoes pub and follow the footpath alongside this. At the next bridge go right along Pennyfather Lane.
At the end go left along Holly
Walk
Enfield County School of 1909 has Art Nouveau features.
Go right at Church Walk.
Enfield Grammar School occupies an Elizabethan schoolhouse
with later additions.
View the church, churchyard
and Market Place.
St Andrew's Church is Medieval, reconstructed in the 1820s. It
has some fine memorials and there are interesting tombs in the
churchyard. The Kings Head pub (now closed) was rebuilt in 1899.
A right to hold a market was granted in 1303 and the present
charter dates back to 1613. There was a market house, cross and
stalls and the proceeds provided poor relief. The space was
enlarged with the demolition of the Vine pub, acquired in 1632. A
market Cross was built between 1810-24. This was moved to
Myddelton House when the present octagonal building was erected
(in 1904) to celebrate the coronation of Edward VII. There is
also a water pump.
Go left along The Town.
Pearsons department store was built in 1928 when the manor house
on the site, known as Enfield Palace, was pulled down. The
Elizabethan house was a boarding school from the 17th century
until 1899. After this it housed a post office and then a
constitutional club. Barclays Bank was constructed in 1897. This
replaced The Greyhound which was an inn from the 17th century to
1860 and then a court house. It has a plaque recording the
installation of the first cashpoint machine. The parish beadle's
house and lock up was built in 1830 and became a police station
in 1839. It was later the vestry office. The drinking fountain in
the road was erected in 1884 and restored in 1994.
Left into Silver Street
Parts of the vicarage date back to the 16th century. Opposite is
the Church School of Industry of 1876. The Civic Centre was built
in 1957-61 and enlarged in 1972-5. There is a loop of the New
River in the grounds and a statue of the Enfield Beast. White
Lodge on the left has a blue plaque to Joseph Whitaker, compiler
of Whitaker's Almanac.
Continue along Baker Street.
Enfield Court is now part of the grammar school.
Left along Parsonage Lane.
Opposite Monastery Gardens take the New River Path to the left.
Monastery Gardens was built in the 1920s on the site of the
rectory grounds.
Cross over the bridge back to
the pub. Go ahead then right at Chase Side Place.
On the right is the Cricketers pub.
Continue towards the church.
Charles Lamb lived at numbers 87 & 89. Christ Church U R
Church was built in 1874-7.
Return and continue along the
main road (Chase Side) southwards.
On the right is Gloucester Place (dated 1823). Chase Green was
granted to the villagers when common land was enclosed.
Detour into the riverside park
on the left.
The redundant New River loop was saved in 1890. There is a water
feature with a sundial.
Cross Chase Side to Chase
Green.
This area was created in 1803 and features a war memorial.
Continue along Windmill Hill back to the station.
© london-footprints.co.uk 2012
Resources
Village London by Andrew Duncan
Buildings of England London 4: North by Cherry & Pevsner
St Andrew's Church guidebook (available in the church)
Enfield Town: Village Green to Shopping Precinct by David Pam
published by Edmonton Hundred Historical Society [website]
Town Park info including map on http://www.enfield.gov.uk/461/Town%20Park.htm#P0_0
Local History factsheets [webpage]