Fighting for the future of Enfield

The Enfield Society is still going strong as it celebrates 90 years, writes trustee Helen Osman

The Enfield Society’s current management committee

The Enfield Society turns 90 this year – in rude health and still fighting for the future of Enfield.

As we plan for the next ten years to our centenary, we are keen to reach out to more residents across the borough, to help us secure the future of Enfield’s heritage, the towns that make up the borough and the green spaces for future generations.

Originally called The Enfield Preservation Society, it grew out of a residents’ campaign in 1935 to oppose Enfield Urban District Council’s plans to build a new town hall on Chase Green – one of the few surviving green spaces from the ancient hunting ground, close to Enfield Town. Posters were printed and a petition was organised to ‘Save Chase Green!’

Is this starting to sound familiar?

It was decided in March 1936 to establish a formal preservation society as a charity, to continue to protect Chase Green as a village green. The campaign was only ‘won’ when the council bought Fir Tree House in Silver Street and later built the current Enfield Civic Centre on the site.

Through the decades, apart from a pause during the Second World War, The Enfield Preservation Society grew in membership and continued to fight against the destruction of notable landmarks and the natural environment across the borough.

It acquired Jubilee Hall in 1986, thanks to the generosity of Don Gresswell, a local book seller, who helped to revive the society after the war. Don described himself as a “footpath addict”, helping to restore many public rights of way around Whitewebbs and Forty Hall.

Don was awarded an MBE in 1980 “for many years of dynamic conservation work”. Jubilee Hall is now the society’s permanent home and a repository of a vast archive on the rich history of Enfield. Thank you Don!

In 2007, the decision was taken to change the name to The Enfield Society – or TES for short. This arose out of the recognition that the society’s campaigning work was not fully reflected as ‘preservation’ but increasingly concerned with defending our Green Belt and preventing the felling of trees and inappropriate urban development.

“Defend Enfield’s Green Belt Oppose The Grip of Urban Sprawl” was a campaign slogan in 1972 when Wates planned to build 405 houses on 40 acres in Cattlegate Road, Crews Hill. On this occasion the planning application was rejected by the council. The battle to protect Enfield’s towns and countryside is not new!

To commemorate TES90 we undertook a survey of our members. One told us: “This is very important work being responsibly and professionally undertaken by socially conscious people in the

area. The society is a reliable, trustworthy source of information and effectively spearheads campaigns to protect and preserve the area.”

Our members want our campaign priorities to focus on the issues which will shape the borough for future generations protecting the borough from inappropriate development, preserving our Green Belt, and protecting our heritage.

They also want us to reach out more to young people so that we can hand on the baton to future generations, and continue to widen our campaigning in eastern Enfield.

We are all volunteers and, if we are to deliver these objectives as well as all the work undertaken by TES, we need more members. Whether you decide to join so that we can keep you up to date with the momentous threats currently facing our borough, or have specialist skills to help the society, please join us – for an annual fee of just £5.

On our website you can find out more about the society and the diverse range of work we do.

This includes scrutinising Enfield Council’s Local Plan and other planning proposals and encouraging the government to focus on building homes on derelict urban sites, not on Enfield’s countryside (which still remains government policy). The countryside around Enfield belongs to its residents – it is the lungs of Enfield and the lungs of London.

Our heritage team work closely with Historic England, the council and other heritage groups to protect and celebrate what is left of our diverse and very rich local history, while our litter-picking team collected 35 bags on their latest monthly session along the Pymmes Brook, and hundreds of people take part in our walks and talks.

Our activities are open to everyone, and everyone is welcome.

For more information and to join The Enfield Society:
Visit enfieldsociety.org.uk/join

‘My Enfield’ photo competition

As part of The Enfield Society’s 90th anniversary celebrations, we’re running a photographic competition with the theme ‘My Enfield’. We’d love you to take part. Entry is free and open to everyone who lives, works, studies, or visits the London borough of Enfield (but if you’re under 18, you’ll need consent from a parent or guardian).

You are invited to submit photographs (up to a maximum of three) that capture the places, people, buildings, landscapes and stories which make Enfield special.

There are cash prizes to be won, and the top twelve shortlisted photos will be displayed publicly.

For more information and for the full competition rules:
Email [email protected]

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