Nostalgic memories of Enfield's local history
Share your own memories of Enfield and read what others have said
For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.
Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.
Add a Memory!
It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the 'Add Your Memory' buttons to begin
Displaying Memories 31 - 40 of 53 in total
Can anyone help with memories of Brigadier Hill. There was Farrants the grocers, a Tudor Cafe, that sold orange ice lolles, which were mostly ice, a bakers, a church hall, a large stable yard, with straw and horses. St Michaels School, with a coal fire, near the teachers desk. A horse trough at the bottom of the hill, opposite the Rose & Crown. My dad had a cycle shop about 1930 on the corner opposite the cafe, ...see more
There used to be a big sign outside the pool which displayed the temperature of the water that day. When it was our day for swimming, one of us was sent down from George Spicers school to see what the day's torture would be. The threshhold was 58 degrees F - if above, we all trooped down there. I remember a number of times the runner came back with the news it was 57! Funny that.
I also have good memories of "dag jumping" and catching tadpoles in the brook at Hilly Fields and Fourteen Arches. The wonderful smell of of the grass as we played "roly poly" down the hills and over the bumps. Games of pretend on the band stand and ice cream from Gaylors next to the Rose and Crown. Collecting conkers and colourful leaves for school. (Chase Side Elementary and later Chace Girls) We ...see more
My former surname was Lovelock, I attended Chace Girls' School in Rosemary Avenue and I used to go through Hilly Fields on my way home from school to Crews Hill where I lived. Yes, I too remember the talent competiton held in the bandstand especially as I had a friend who was in the choir with me at St. John's Church, Clay Hill. She always walked off with the prize after a beautiful rendition of The Holy City. Her ...see more
Swimming at the open air pool was so compulsory at George Spicer and then Kingsmead schools but then we grew a little and in the holidays worked at Pearsons and danced at the Court above Burtons in the market square. Those days it was safe to walk home at night and everyone seemed to know everyone, the town seemed so small and people were actually nice to each other. We started off in Graeme Road and moved to ...see more
White Webbs was a place that all my family including aunts, uncles and cousins went to for picnics and a game of cricket. The women would play against the men and all us children would hope they would let us have a go at batting as we didn't like fielding. One of the things that all us children would do is catch tiddlers in the brook. We had a handkerchief and two of us would hold two corners each and drag it under ...see more
I believe this is a photograph of me, James Ernest Thomas Massey, being pushed in my pram by my father Ernest James Massey, and mother Rosina Massey, towards our home above Dolcis shoe shoe at 5 Burleigh Way, Enfield Middlesex, sometime in the first year of my life. God Rest their souls.
My dad met my mum at the Open Air Pool in the 1930s - so they had a lot to answer for in my family!
During the late 1960s I went to Kingsmead School (next door to the pool) and during spring/summer games lessons we were "forced" to go swimming!
I also remember the sign on the outside of the building telling what temperature the water was - I personally think they lied through their teeth as it ...see more
I worked as a carpenter on the construction of the Civic Centre for Allen Fairhead &Sons whose H.Q. was in Enfield Town just down the road from Lyons Corner House opposite the gas company. I got married during this period and was working seven days a week as I needed the cash, I cleared seventeen pound a week! The layout for the flower box on the right side of the building (not shown in photo)was a ...see more
The Ballad of King James 1st and the Tinkler. And now to be brief, let's pass over the rest, Who seldom or never were given to jest, And come to King Jamie, the first of our throne, A pleasanter monarch sure never was known. As he was a hunting the swift fallow deer, He dropped all his nobles, and when he got clear, In hope of some pastime, away he did ride, Till he came to an ale-house hard by ...see more
