Intrigued by the blend of history and art? You are standing before Millfield House. It is a Grade II listed building in Edmonton, London. Today, it serves as a vibrant arts center.
Millfield House has a rich past. It goes back to the late 18th century. The house is first mentioned in 1796. At that time, John Wigston of Trent Park owned it. The Imperial Ambassador of Austria later leased it.
In 1828, Robert Mushet of the Royal Mint died at Millfield House. His estate valued the house at £6,300.
A significant change occurred in 1849. The Strand Union Guardians bought Millfield House. They transformed it into a school for London workhouse children. Over the next 40 years, the building expanded. By 1897, it housed 400 children.
The school aimed to be self-sufficient. It had meadows, cultivated land, cows and pigs. Boys learned tailoring, shoe making, and carpentry. Girls were taught housework, needlework, and laundering.
The school closed in 1913. World War I brought a new purpose. Millfield House sheltered Belgian refugees. In 1915, it became St David’s Hospital for epileptics. The Metropolitan Asylums Board managed the hospital.
The London Borough of Enfield acquired Millfield House in 1971. They renovated it. Some workhouse buildings were demolished. However, a lodge and outbuildings remain. These date back to the early 20th century.
In 1979, Millfield House reopened as an arts center. The Millfield Theatre was later added in 1988. The first theatre production was the pantomime “Humpty Dumpty”.
The gardens hold a piece of wartime history. One of Enfield’s few remaining communal air-raid shelters is here. You can access the gardens via the Pymmes Brook Trail. The brook flows through the garden.
Millfield House underwent extensive refurbishment in 2010/11. Actor Rudolph Walker reopened it.
Today, Millfield House hosts various activities. These include classes for adults and children. You can find pilates, chess, youth theatre, and art clubs here.
Millfield Theatre offers a diverse program. Comedy, music, drama, and dance shows are staged throughout the year. The theatre was renamed the Sir Bruce Forsyth Auditorium in 2009. Sir Bruce Forsyth, born in Edmonton, officially reopened the refurbished venue.
Millfield House stands as a testament to community. It has evolved from a private residence. It became a school, a hospital, and now a thriving arts center. Its walls echo with stories of children, refugees, patients and artists. Millfield House continues to inspire creativity and learning.