HISTORY OF ENFIELD. "I know each lane, and every alley green, THE parish of Enfield is situated about nine miles from London * and is bounded by Edmonton, East Barnet, Hadley, South Mimms, Northaw, and Cheshunt, and by the River Lea, which separates it from Waltham, in Essex. It contains 12653'096 acres, of which 223 are public roads, 122'5 water, and about 100 railways. It extends from east to west about 81⁄2 miles, and 34 from north to south by the main road, but between 5 and 6 in other places. Few districts in the vicinity of London. retain so much of rural and sequestered character, owing no doubt in part to its formerly tedious and circuitous means of access. *The old mile-stone,-opposite the Market-house,-was inscribed, "9 miles and a-half and 32 poles, from Shoreditch Church." Since the opening of two new lines of railway however, this isolation cannot much longer continue. The beauty and variety of the scenery, the upland Chase, still so nobly timbered, and the more cultivated lowlands, watered for many a mile by the windings of the New River and the Lea; and the long-sustained character of the parish for health and longevity (rating the second in England) are drawing the attention of the country-loving public, to this picturesque and interesting neighbourhood. From the more elevated situations, extensive prospects may be obtained in all directions over the adjoining counties; from Camlet-moat, and from the Ridgewayroad, across the broad expanse of the Chase; far down into Hertfordshire, from the wood at Forty Hall; and away into the heart of Buckinghamshire, from above Potter's-bar; and the long range of Epping and Hainault forests from everywhere. The bridle-road across Hadley-common, perhaps the last remains of genuine forest scenery in Middlesex, leads to the highest ground in the parish, whence looking south, distant gleams of the Thames and the white sails. of its shipping may be seen in the far horizon. Norden (MS. Harl. 370) describes it as "a parish standing on the edge of the Chace, of such extent that if it were measured by the ring it would be found at least 20 miles. in extent, some time parcell of the Duke of Lancaster's lands-now Queen Elizabeth's. The Chace, called Enfield Chace, taketh its name of this place." To this he uncivilly adds, "It is called of some Enfen, and so "recorded in regarde of the fenny scytuation of some 66 parte thereof, upon the marshes or meerish ground, "which, though now brought to be good meadow and "profitable pasture, it hath in time past been fenny." This statement, however, is not supported by any authority. The termination "field," is the past participle of the verb fællan, to fell, and opposed to woodland, as land where the trees have been cleared. Domesday Book calls it Enefelde, and the variations in subsequent records are very trifling,-Endfield, Enfeld, Enefield, and Enfield, and less frequently Envild. This place formerly conferred the title of Baron, on the Earl of Rochfort, whose ancestor, the first Earl, married Joan, daughter of Sir Henry Wroth, of Durants, and was created Baron of Enfield by William III. in 1695. It now gives the title of Viscount to the Earl of Strafford, whose son and heir is M.P. for Middlesex. The parish is included within the "Hundred" of Edmonton, a division which originated in the old military constitution, the name being given to a district which chose one hundred men for counsel and defence, though it is stated by Tacitus that the number did not always correspond with the name. The meetings of the hundred were held monthly, "quum aut inchoatur luna aut "impletur." Every free member of the community above twelve years old was bound to enrol himself in a hundred, which should be surety for him, and in case of an accusation, should bring him to justice. The leader of the men of the hundred was called the "comes stabuli," since degenerated into that subordinate police officer the constable. The administration of justice was also in the hundred, the finding a verdict being entrusted to a committee of twelve of the principal thanes. The decision of twothirds of this jury was a valid one, those outvoted being subject to a pecuniary mulct. |