Benjamin Kelsey on the local sights which will be open for all to enjoy during the annual festival later this month

Inside the Parish Church of St Andrew in Enfield Town

People from Enfield and elsewhere will have a chance this month to visit some of the borough’s hidden gems as part of Open House Festival’s annual showcase of the best of London’s architecture.

The festival takes place across all 32 London boroughs, plus the City of London, with open days, workshops and tours planned for visitors keen to explore the city’s remarkable urban heritage, homes and landscapes.

Some of the sights to enjoy in Enfield include an 800-year-old church, a Modernist house, a botanical garden – plus a guided tour of one neighbourhood’s suburban landscape.

Parish Church of St Andrew, Enfield Town

In the heart of Enfield sits St Andrew’s, a mediaeval town church that has existed for over 800 years, as a cornerstone of the borough’s history. The Grade 2-listed building is constructed of flint rubble, brick and ragstone and features an eight-bell peal dating back to 1680 that still rings weekly.

Located in Enfield Market Place, the site first had a church built on it in 1190, with the current structure still showing evidence of history dating back to the 13th Century. Another notable detail is the church organ, with a fine 1750s wooden organ case.

St Andrew’s can be viewed during two drop-in days on Saturday 13th and Wednesday 17th September.

Alpha House, Winchmore Hill

Remodelled property Alpha House is open for viewings on 13 to 15, and 21 September for visitors to see a perfect example of modernism. This 1970s home was revamped with a side extension and a double height atrium into a fully extended live-work space featuring both original and new materials.

The building is sustained by low-energy lighting and includes other notable characteristics such as underfloor heating and triple glazing to enhance comfort. Toca-Teri Okoro Architects moved the entrance and staircase to improve visibility and arrival experience while also fitting a glazed landing with bamboo landscaping to ensure privacy.

Alpha House can be viewed during four drop-in days on Saturday 13^th, Sunday 14^th, Monday 15^th, and Sunday 21^st September.

Myddelton House Gardens, Bulls Cross

Those who enjoy beautiful outdoor spaces can visit Myddelton House Gardens – including a rare chance to see inside the home of renowned 20^th Century gardener Edward Augustus Bowles.

The wider eight-acre grounds host a treasure trove of flowers, shrubs and trees. Visitors can discover the Victorian Glasshouse, organised into four climatic zones, in which fruits are growing as well as exotic plants, ranging from cacti to air plants.

The 19^th Century Myddelton House building itself was restored by the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2011 to tell the story of the Bowles family who lived there.

Myddelton House Gardens is hosting an open day on Saturday, 20^th September.

St Mary Magdalene Church, Windmill Hill

Fans of Victorian Gothic architecture are in for a treat at St Magdalene Church. Commissioned as a monument to eminent banker and City of London MP Philip Twells, the foundation stone was laid in 1881 and the church was constructed of Kentish ragstone, with Bath stone courses and quoins.

It features paintings by Victorian artists Buckridge and Westlake, who painted the chancel in 1897. These paintings were restored in 2012.

The building is also elaborately adorned with an ornate interior, consisting of wagon-roofed nave and aisles, white walls contrasted with dark wood and stained-glass windows.

A guided tour of St Mary Magdalene Church is taking place at 11.30am on Saturday, 13^th September, followed by a free recital.

‘Leafy Southgate’ Tour

Learn more about Southgate with a guided tour of the area, uncovering how suburban streets were shaped by the private estates on which they were built. Led by Ross MacFarlane, a participant of Open City’s Golden Key Academy, this walk will use Southgate as an example to open wider questions on how ideas on health and nature have evolved.

The tour takes place at 2pm on Sunday 21^st September but must be booked in advance.

For more information about Open House Festival:
Visit programme.openhouse.org.uk

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