NEW - Sets of Old London Maps on CD-ROM - CLICK HERE

Enfield in 1839

Enfield is in Edmonton hundred ; that part which is called Enfield Highway is 9 miles from Shoreditch Church, on the York and Edinburgh road. Enfield manor-house was the residence of Elizabeth (afterwards queen) for a short time, during the reign of her brother Edward VI ; and she resided at Enfield, at the manor-house or at Elsynge-hall, at several periods during her reign. Of the manor-house one room on the ground-floor remains as in the queen’s time. Elsynge-hall has disappeared, and its exact site is not known. The parish of Enfield has an area of 12,460 acres, with a population, in 1831, of 8,812, about one-third agricultural. The houses constitute two principal groups ; and many of them are well built. The church is an ancient structure, comprehending chancel, nave, and two aisles, with a low embattled tower. There are a chapel-of-ease, lately erected, and several dissenting places of worship. Edward I granted a charter for a market on Monday, and James I for one on Saturday ; but they have long fallen into disuse. There are two yearly fairs. There are in the parish a royal manufactory for firearms (partly carried on here and partly at Waltham Abbey), a manufactory for finishing crape, and two or three other trading establishments. The Lea navigation and the New River pass by or through this parish. Petty sessions and a Court of Requests are held here. The living of Enfield is a vicarage, of the clear yearly value of £1,174, with a glebe-house. There were in the parish, in 1833, two infant schools, with 145 children ; a school of industry, with 45 girls ; seven other day-schools, with 181 children ; five boarding and day schools, with 152 children ; and four Sunday-schools, with 635 children.

Enfield Chase, formerly a large chase or park north-west of the town, extending into several parishes, is now entirely enclosed.