Enfield Wash

Enfield Wash
Enfield Wash
 Enfield Wash shown within Greater London
OS grid referenceTQ355985
London borough Enfield
Ceremonial county Greater London
RegionLondon
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post town ENFIELD
Postcode district EN3
Dialling code 020
Police Metropolitan
Fire London
Ambulance London
EU Parliament London
UK ParliamentEnfield North
London Assembly Enfield and Haringey
List of places
UK
England
London

Coordinates: 51°40′08″N 0°02′23″W / 51.6688°N 0.0396°W / 51.6688; -0.0396

Enfield Wash is an area in the London Borough of Enfield, North London. It is approximately located in the area either side of Hertford Road between Ordnance Road/Turkey Street and Bell Lane/Hoe Lane.[1]

History

Enfield Wash was where Elizabeth Canning (later married name Treat; 17 September 1734 – June 1773), an English maidservant claimed to have been kidnapped, held in a hayloft for almost a month and threatened with prostitution. These events became one of the most celebrated English criminal mysteries of the 18th century, and a cause célèbre at the time. Magistrate and author Henry Fielding was consulted on the matter. Mother Well’s house was opposite the Sun and Woolpack public house, formerly the Sun and Punchbowl. The United society, the first friendly society, began to meet in the Sun and Woolpack inn, Enfield Wash, in 1794.[2]

The road crosses Turkey Brook at the Woolpack Bridge, where there was a footbridge from the 17th century, but it was not until 1821 that a proper bridge for carts was provided by the Turnpike Trust that managed Enfield Highway. The road at Enfield Wash, and the settlement, was known as '‘Horsepoolstones’ until the 18th century. Turkey Brook was also known as Maiden Brook and sometimes Wash Brook.

According to legend, Bell Lane is haunted by a phantom coach. It is reputed to appear on moonless nights before Christmas, and to travel several feet above the road.[3]

Etymology

Enfield Wash was first recorded in 1675 and on the Ordnance Survey map of 1822, from Old English (ga)wæsc 'a place that floods': historically there was probably a ford here where Ermine Street crossed Turkey Brook.[4]

Transport and locale

Nearest places

Nearest railway stations

Parks and open spaces

On what had been College Farm, Albany Park, Enfield, the park was created circa 1902, probably so named to commemorate Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, the youngest son of Queen Victoria, who died in 1884.[4]

The London Outer Orbital Path (Section 17) follows the course of Turkey Brook which flows west-east through the park.[5]

Schools

Albany School, which was in Bell Lane, adjacent to Albany Park, was opened as a coeducational secondary modern school in 1939, and was converted to a comprehensive school in 1974.[6] It closed in 2009 and a new academy, Oasis Academy Hadley, was opened by the Oasis Trust on the site. However, the academy reloacted to Ponders End in 2013.[7]

Politics

Enfield Wash is part of the Enfield North parliamentary constituency. The current MP is the Labour politician Joan Ryan.

References

  1. http://www.enfield.gov.uk/362/Turkey%20Street.pdf Local Government Boundaries Map
  2. "'Enfield: Social life', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 5: Hendon, Kingsbury, Great Stanmore, Little Stanmore, Edmonton Enfield, Monken Hadley, South Mimms, Tottenham (1976), pp. 239-241.". Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  3. Ash, Russell (1973). Folklore, Myths and Legends of Britain. Reader's Digest Association Limited. p. 215. ISBN 9780340165973.
  4. 1 2 Mills. A. D. Oxford Dictionary of London Place Names (2001) pp3,77 ISBN 0-19-860957-4
  5. The London loop long distance footpath 22 October 2008
  6. T F T Baker, R B Pugh (Editors), A P Baggs, Diane K Bolton, Eileen P Scarff, G C Tyack (1976). "'Enfield: Education', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 5: Hendon, Kingsbury, Great Stanmore, Little Stanmore, Edmonton Enfield, Monken Hadley, South Mimms, Tottenham (1976), pp. 253-257.". British History Online. University of London & History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 2009-02-26.
  7. Oasis Academy in NE Enfield Retrieved 5 February 2009 Archived 22 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
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