Perhaps you have heard of a borough in London that borders Hertfordshire to the north. This is the London Borough of Enfield. It is the northernmost borough. Today we will discover some facts about it.
The London Borough of Enfield was recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086. It appeared as Enefelde. Over time, the name evolved. It was Einefeld in 1214, Enfeld in 1293, and finally Enfild in 1564. The name means open land of a man called Eana or where lambs are reared. This comes from the Old English feld. The feld refers to an area cleared of trees within woodland. This woodland would later become Enfield Chase.
In Roman times, Enfield was connected to Londinium. Ermine Street was the great Roman road. Artefacts found in the early 1900s show Roman settlements. These settlements were in Edmonton and Bush Hill Park.
In 790, King Offa of Mercia gave lands in Edmonton to St Albans Abbey. The area became strategically important. East Anglia was being taken over by the Danes. Strongholds were built in the 890s. These were built by men loyal to King Alfred the Great. Their goal was to keep the Danes east of the River Lea.
After the Norman Conquest, both Enfield and Edmonton were mentioned in the Domesday Book. Both had churches. Enfield had 400 inhabitants. Edmonton had 300. Enfield is described as having a parc. This parc was a heavily forested area for hunting. It was key to Enfield’s existence in the Middle Ages. Wealthy Londoners came to Enfield. They came first to hunt and then to build houses. These houses were in the green wooded surroundings.
In 1303, Edward I granted Enfield a charter. This charter allowed a weekly market. The market has continued to this day. The old market cross was removed in the early 20th century. It was removed to make way for a monument. This monument commemorated the coronation of King Edward VII. The horticulturalist E. A. Bowles preserved it. He put it in his garden at nearby Myddelton House. It remains there today.
Enfield Grammar School stands next to the Enfield Town Market Place and St. Andrew’s Church. The school has been extended several times since 1586. A new hall and further additions were completed shortly before World War II.
Nearby was the palace of Edward VI. Elizabeth I lived there while a princess. She lived there during the final illness of Henry VIII. Edward was taken there to join her. Edward Seymour could break the news to Edward. He formally announced the death of their royal father in the presence chamber. Edward knelt to make formal obeisance to the boy as King. Elizabeth later held court there when she was queen.
Enfield has a history of armaments manufacture. The Lee-Enfield .303 rifle was standard issue for the British Army until 1957. Other firearms were also manufactured there.
The Barclays Bank branch in Enfield was the first place in the world to have an ATM. It was officially opened in June 1967. This historical event was marked by a silver plaque on the wall of the bank. Later, an English Heritage Blue plaque was added.
The London Borough of Enfield motto is By Industry Ever Stronger. Enfield has been shaped by centuries of history and innovation. From its Roman roots to its modern identity, it remains a vital part of London.