Enfield Chase Station Partners (led by Dave Cockle) and John Cole, both of the Enfield Society, have managed a project to create a series of new artworks at Enfield Chase station. The project was made possible thanks to a grant from the Department for Transport as part of the Your Station, Your Community Improvement Fund, delivered locally by Great Northern.
We would like to thank artists Kremena Dimitrova and Shaypress and Hive Curates for creating the call-out to local artists.
The artworks were official unveiled on Saturday 28th September before an invited audience which included the Mayor of Enfield.
The Mural
The Charter of the Forest: There is a Magical Place for the Lure of History Kremena Dimitrova.
This whimsical mural was co-created by Enfield based illustrator-as-historian, Kremena Dimitrova, through arts-based workshops, face-to-face discussions, and a questionnaire. Communities were asked to share and draw favourite memories about Enfield Chase Station, Enfield Town, and its people. The stories and visuals informed the co-creation of walkable poems and a contemporary, yet nostalgic, magical canvas of multilayered tales weaving excerpts from Charles Lamb’s poetry, Michael Drayton’s Poly-Olbion, and The Ballad of King James and the Tinker. From princesses, fairies, and ancient trees to First Wave Feminism, the mural presents a theatrical stage for exploring the history of Enfield Chase, inviting visitors and locals alike to enter a journey through time and reminisce about how the past has shaped the present.
This mural exists because of the support of many people and organisations. We would like to especially mention the help and input from Enfield Archives, commuters and staff at Enfield Chase Station, the pupils and teachers at Chase Side Primary School, Enfield Libraries and MHA Enfield and Knit and Natter and those communities who answered our questionnaire.
Three modern digital pieces by Shaypress “Windows into the Past”
One piece can be found on platform 1 and two pieces on Platform 2. The artist, Shaypress, writes:
The theme of windows ties together all three artworks. I was drawn to this visual device because, much like art itself, windows offer us a view into another time and another world.
The carriage features three windows that show a nostalgic summertime scene (below, right): a mother, with bucket and spade in hand, greeting a smiling train conductor while the children smile and laugh, as children do. This scene recalls the sense of adventure and community, capturing the spirit of British summertime travel, serviced by Great Northern in the 1950s.
My design was inspired by my visit to the London Transport Museum in Central London, where I explored the vibrant colours and vintage designs of historical trains. I also drew from archival photographs and records of Enfield Chase to create an authentic depiction.
The other panels feature windows with a more local focus: the “Rendlesham Viaduct” (known locally as 14 arches, below middle) and the Jephcott bridge in Chase Green Gardens by River View and Gentlemen’s Row (below, left), and the Enfield war memorial. Barney the Cat sits proudly in view, embodying Enfield’s identity, bridging together the past with the present.
Your comments
Your comments and questions about the artworks at Enfield Chase Station are are very welcome. Please contact: John Cole at j.cole@enfieldsociety.org.uk