Enfield Town: Guide, Hotels, Map & Photos
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GBP 85 - 115 The Royal Chace Hotel
 In beautiful, peaceful grounds, just north of London and less than 3 miles (5 km) from junction 24 of the M25, this 4-star hotel offers free Wi-Fi, fr… MoreGBP 40 - 94 Premier Inn Enfield
 Within easy reach of the M25 motorway, the A10 and the A406 - North Circular Road, this hotel offers great value, with free on-site parking and spacio… MoreGBP 25 - 70 Oak Lodge Hotel
 Just outside Enfield town and a 10-minute drive from the M25, Oak Lodge Hotel has free internet access, free parking and easy access to Central London… MoreGBP 35 - 110 Comfort Hotel Enfield
 The boutique-style Comfort Hotel Enfield is just off the M25 (J24). It is in a quiet residential area and has a restaurant, bar and the Murano Lounge.… More | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Enfield Town: Guide
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.
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 where the fountain now stands.
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, London|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 Enfield Chase railway station|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 line|Hertford Loop.
Enfield Town is famous for having the world's first ever cash machine or automatic teller machine|ATM, which was installed at the branch of Barclays Bank on June 27 1967. 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. Much of the local sporting success has been attributed to the local schools sports program.
Enfield has longstanding links with the Gunpowder Plot, as Guy Fawkes and his team are known to have used a safe house in Whitewebbs Lane, Enfield. He is also thought to have drunk at the King and Tinker pub, known then as The White Hart.
Recent developments
Recent boundary changes in 2004 mean that the Enfield Town area will be split between three Parliamentary constituency|constituencies (see panel) as from the next General Election.
Currently, Enfield Town centre is undergoing major redevelopment work, scheduled for completion by Autumn 2006. A large extension to the existing shopping centre is being built, under the name .
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 (England)|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 the quaint Chase Side village with a collection of specialist shops, restaurants, pubs and bars.
Sport and recreation
Enfield has a List of King George V Playing Fields (Greater London)|King George's Field, named in memory of George V of the United Kingdom|King George V. This includes the Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II athletics stadium, the Enfield Ignatians Rugby Club and numerous football (soccer)|football, Rugby football|rugby and baseball diamonds. The playing fields were used as a Prisoner of War|POW camp for Italian people|Italians during World War II.
Many sports teams and clubs are located in Enfield; Enfield F.C. and the recently established Enfield Town F.C. are the most prominent. Saracens Rugby Football Club used to play in Enfield and still train at Bramley Road sports ground near Cockfosters.
The principal cricket clubs in the area are Enfield CC, Winchmore Hill CC, North Enfield CC, and Holtwhites Trinibus CC, with many others playing cricket in and around the borough such as Edmonton, Enfield Invicta and Middleton House. Many clubs play in either the Middlesex Cricket League or the Hertfordshire League.
Swimming clubs (S.C.) include Edmonton Phoenix S.C., Enfield S.C. and Griffins S.C. of Enfield.
Famous residents
Kevin Campbell (footballer)|Kevin Campbell
Charles Lamb
Isaac D'Israeli
Benjamin Disraeli
Sir Mortimer Wheeler
Boris Karloff
Robin van Persie
Dennis Bergkamp
José Antonio Reyes
Michelle Ryan
Richard Brittain
Ledley King
Norman Lewis
Mike Gatting
Murray Walker
Edward Lyne|Edward Lyne (former England batsman)
Nearby Places
Enfield Chase
Edmonton, London|Edmonton
Winchmore Hill
Oakwood, London
Forty Hill
Clay Hill, London
Crews Hill
See also
This "Travel Guide" section is drawn from the Wikipedia article "Enfield Town". We hope you will edit and improve it. It is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.