Park of the week

208. Forty Hall Estate

The estate is in Enfield. The Grade 1 listed Manor House was built in the mid-17th century for Nicholas Rainton, a former Lord Mayor of London and a city merchant trading in textiles from Italy. It was refurbished in 2012. A circular pond was first created in the grounds at some time in the 17th century. In 1951 the Estate was purchased by Enfield UDC who subsequently opened the grounds to the public and in 1962 began restoring the Hall and outbuildings. 

The house is used as a museum with a permanent exhibition telling the story of the house and estate through the ages.

I stopped inside to take the photograph above, of the original fireplace and screen, hand painted to mimic walnut, marble and tortoiseshell, as was the fashion at the time. The photo is at an angle (I’ve done my best to straighten it) because as I was taking it I realised that Jack had given me the slip. I was terrified that he’d disappear into the grounds and rushed around the route we had to take the rest of the exhibition, upstairs, around corners, until I found Jack in the gift shop. Nobody had bought him and I treated myself to a lovely necklace with the outline of a fox, as compensation for yet another breadcrumb in the bra cup of life.

The house is surrounded by ornamental grounds and parkland, which contains the archaeological remains of the Royal Palace of Elsyng. This was built in 1492 for the then speaker of the House of Commons, and it included a suit of six rooms reserved for hosting King Henry VIII. The site is of national importance and has been designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument. 

The estate, of around 260 acres, makes up part of the London Metropolitan Green Belt. An avenue of trees runs down the hill from the house into the valley of the Turkey Brook, also known locally as Maidens Brook. The northern and much of the southern boundary are marked by the former course of the New River.

There are a car park, café, toilets and a playground. I hadn’t mentioned this last item to Jack and after his panic-inducing disappearance I wasn’t in the mood for the crowds and the staring so I got him an ice cream from a van and we went home.

Judith Field

Forty Hall Estate, Forty Hill, Enfield EN2 9HA