Enfield Old Park - Enclosure and After

Enclosure and After

At the Restoration the Park remained in Monck's family, who began to sell parts of it. However the nature of the Park was to change as a consequence of the 1777 Enclosure Act, which divided Enfield Chase amongst several parishes and owners, including the then owner of the Park, Samuel Clayton. This necessitated the establishment of a number of new roads (including the present Green Dragon Lane) and gateways. Over the next century much of the land changed hands and although the area was essentially agricultural, building began in many parts of the Old Park Estate. In 1893/95, two golf clubs (Enfield Golf Club and Bush Hill Golf Club) undertook long leases on parts of the Old Park, and they continue to operate there to the present day.

The advent of the railway to the area (both Grange Park station and Enfield Chase station are situated within the original boundaries of the Old Park) meant that the land became valuable for domestic housing, and between 1910 and 1936 most of the present suburb of Grange Park was constructed.

The Park is still remembered in several road names, notably Old Park Ridings, Old Park Road and Old Park Avenue. Enfield Town Park is however the only public remnant of the open space that was once Enfield Old Park.