This article by Stephen Gilburt was first published by The Enfield Society in newsletter 237, Spring 2025. Note, however, that updated images, contemporary with the publication, have been used in many instances compared to the paper version.
To the north of Church Street, Enfield is an attractive network of footpaths extending from Gentleman’s Row to Silver Street. This is part of the Enfield Town Conservation Area. There are several terraces of 19th century cottages, although some were demolished in the 1960s for a ring road around Enfield Town which was proposed by Enfield Council. This was rejected by the government Minister of Housing in 1967, after a campaign led by the Enfield Preservation Society (now The Enfield Society). Some of the buildings in this area, including St Andrew’s Church, Enfield Grammar School and White Lodge, have already been included in previous newsletters, (see Nos 189 Spring 2013, 191 and 192 Autumn and Winter 2013 and 226 Summer 2022 respectively.)
1. 13 and 15 Holly Walk are a pair of 19th century two storey cottages with sash windows.
2. Enfield County School, Holly Walk was built by Middlesex County Council in 1909 to a design by H. G. Crothall. It was constructed of brick and stone with Art Nouveau copper domes on the corner turrets. Built as a technical institution, it very soon became a girls grammar school. It has been extended and since 1967 has been the upper school of a comprehensive.
3. The 18th century Uvedale Cottage, 1 Holly Walk is Listed Grade II. It is two storeys high with sash windows and external shutters, white painted brickwork and a high pitched tiled roof.
4. Uvedale House, Church Walk is listed Grade II. It is a two-storey white painted brick, early 16th century Tudor cottage, with dormer windows in the roof. In the late 17th century it was occupied by Dr. Robert Uvedale, the botanist and classical scholar who was headmaster of Enfield Grammar School between 1664 and 1676. After resigning he started his own private boarding school in Enfield Manor House on the far side of Enfield Market Place.
5. In the 18th century a Georgian façade was constructed. This 1880 photograph shows Uvedale House adjoining the 1590s Enfield Grammar School building. The façade was re-Tudorised in the early 20th century. Square oriel windows were inserted on the first floor and wide casement windows on the ground floor.
6. This early 19th century white painted structure with massive crenellations (now obscured under a mass of ivy) is in Church Lane. It was built by the Enfield Vestry to house the parish fire engine. The wide arch enabled the manual engine to be moved in and out. The present smaller door was inserted in 1882 when the building became a mortuary. This use continued for about 50 years, after which it was converted into offices.
The adjoining wrought iron railings and gate leading into the churchyard came from Fir Tree House. They were installed at the suggestion of the Enfield Preservation Society (now The Enfield Society).
7. (Left) These early 19th century cottages in Church Lane were photographed in the late 1960s, shortly before their removal for the Council’s proposed ring road scheme. (Right) the street in March 2025.
8. St Andrew’s Church vicarage, 36 Silver Street, is listed Grade II. The oldest parts are two, originally timber-framed, wings which belonged to a 16th century hall house. It was altered in 1801 and partly clad in brick in 1848. Kitchens and offices were added. It was further altered in 1950 when the front was let as offices.
9. The 18th century two-storey west elevation of the vicarage, with attics and sash windows, was built of stock brick with red brick quoins and dressings. The projecting centre has a Dutch-style gable.
10. This view of Silver Street, looking south towards The Town in about 1905, shows the vicarage on the right and the Enfield Church School of Industry on the left.
11. The Enfield Church School of Industry opened in 1806 in the Old Coffee House on the west side of the churchyard between the Grammar School and the King’s Head. It was founded by Mrs Frances Porter, wife of the vicar of St Andrews Church from 1801 to 1822, the Reverend Harry Porter. This Church of England institution provided a basic education for girls, mainly in domestic subjects, as many would go on to become servants. There were initially 20 pupils aged from nine upwards, although the numbers had risen to 45 by 1846. (The Edmonton Girls Charity School was a similar institution—see newsletter 195 Autumn 2014).
In 1876 the school moved to a new building, with places for 100 girls, at 45 Silver Street by the junction with Churchbury Lane. It has a red brick façade with stone dressings. The school closed in 1909 but its funds were directed to an educational charity which provided financial assistance for girls in further and higher education.
The building then housed Enfield Preparatory School for boys, until that moved to London Road. Until 1984 it was used as offices and printing works for Enfield Gazette. It has since been restored for use as offices and is known as Nicon House.
12. Fir Tree House was in Silver Street by the junction with Churchbury Lane. It was built after the First World War and replaced a Georgian House. It was pulled down for an extension to the Civic Centre which was completed in 1975.
13. 60 Silver Street (on the right) dates from the late 18th century. It is listed Grade II as a pair with 58 Silver Street. Both are three storeys high with a sunken basement for use by the servants. They were built of stock brick with stone coped parapets and gauged flat brick arches above sash windows. The single storey extensions to both houses have a doorcase with a patterned radial fanlight under a round arch.
14. The late 18th century 90 Silver Street is listed Grade II. It is two storeys high with an attic and three dormer windows in the sloping mansard roof. It is built of yellow brick and has a wood modillion cornice and parapet. Six steps lead up to the open pedimented Doric doorcase and a plain fanlight set in a moulded architrave.
For more information see Treasures of Enfield: Discovering the Buildings of a London Borough, edited by Valerie Carter EPS 2000, Enfield Past by Graham Dalling 1999, The Enfield Book by Graham Dalling 2007, A History of the Enfield Church School of Industry by Graham Dalling 1989, The Buildings of England London 4: North by Bridget Cherry and Nikolaus Pevsner 1998 and Enfield Town-Village Green to Shopping Precinct by David Pam, Edmonton Hundred Historical Society Occasional Paper No. 66.
Photo credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 (right), 8, 11 and 13: Andrew Lack/Enfield Society
12: Enfield Society Archive
5 & 10: Enfield Local Studies Library & Archive
9 & 14: Stephen Gilburt