Winchmore Hill

Winchmore Hill is a district in the London Borough of Enfield in London bounded on the east by Green Lanes (the A105) and on the west by Grovelands Park. Winchmore Hill is 8.9 miles (14.3km) north north-east of Charing Cross.

History

Pre-doomsday, prior to occupation by the Romans, Hertfordshire, Essex and Middlesex were invaded and occupied by the Belgian Catuvellauni tribe. It is believed that this tribe built an ancient hill fort on the mound where Bush Hill Park Golf club HQ now stands.

Related Topics:
Romans - Hertfordshire - Essex - Middlesex - Belgian - Catuvellauni

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The earliest recorded mention of Winchmore Hill is in a deed dated A.D. 1319 in which it is spelt Wynsemerhull. In old english, merhull translates according the Consise Oxford Dictionary of English place names as 'boundary hill'. It might be speculated that the overall title could mean 'wynsige's boundary hill'. By 1395 the name had been altered to Wynsmerhull and by 1565 the village was known as Wynsmorehyll, becoming Winchmore Hill by the time it was mentioned in state papers in 1586.

Related Topics:
1319 - 1395 - 1565 - 1586

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There are many buildings of historical note in Winchmore Hill including the eponymous St Paul's Church, being built as a Waterloo Church on land donated from the Grovelands estate. The church ceiling was the largest unsupported expanse of plasterwork in Europe until its renovation in the 1960s introduced concealed supports. The original wooden clapperboard St Paul's School building can be seen a little further down Church Hill. The remains of the second brick and stone, school building are evident in the walls of the church car park. The current 1960s building is on Ringwood Way off Station Road.

Related Topics:
1960s

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The oldest pub in the district is probably the Green Dragon - now named Jim Thompson's - on Green Lanes. It is reputed to have started in 1726 on the junction of Green Lanes and Green Dragon Lane. Then, highwaymen were hanged near to where they were caught. Apparently, one highwayman was caught and executed on a gallows erected by the Green Dragon's front entrance. These gallows were not pulled down for a number of years, which might have prompted the owner to move the pub to its current location at the bottom of Vicars Moor Lane near the end of the 18th century. The original Green Dragon was pulled down in 1892 and the new one was extensively remodelled in 1935. Victorian County History reveals that by 1752 The Orange Tree, The Green Dragon and The Kings Head were all established, although not in their present form. Reportedly, the Woodman pub at the end of Broadwalk was built in 1727, although there is evidence to suggest it also dates from 1820. Before the building obtained an pub licence in 1868, it was private residence.

Related Topics:
1726 - 1892 - 1935 - 1752 - 1868

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Numerous local buildings that were constructed between 1770 and 1839 remain today. Near the Dog and Duck on Hoppers Road are some old terraced houses built around 1770. Number 106A Vicars Moor Lane is a distictive private residence that retains the facade of a chapel. To the east on the same road are a number of residences that were probably built around the late 18th or early 19th century.

Related Topics:
1770 - 1839

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In 1865 the Great Northern Railway Company obtained permission to build a new line to run from Wood Green to Hertford through Palmers Green and Enfield. However, in 1869 financial constrainsts forced the company to consider Enfield as the most Northern terminus. Palmers Green and Winchmore Hill were to be the intervening rural stations. The intention was to finish the line to Enfield by 1870 but the terrain was more troublesome than expected and five men met their death while laying the track. The branch opened on All-Fools day 1871, and the first passenger train came through Winchmore Hill creating a new suburb of London town. At first only 16 trains a day left Enfield, mostly for Moorgate.

Related Topics:
1865 - 1869 - Palmers Green - 1870 - 1871 - Suburb - Moorgate

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An electric tramway along Green Lanes from Palmers Green was developed in 1907 helping to further develop the area. The tramway is now long gone, but the wide road remains and the 329 bus follows the tram route from Enfield to Turnpike Lane.

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