Forty Hill
Encyclopedia
Forty Hill is a largely residential suburb in the north of the London Borough of Enfield
, England
. To the north is Bulls Cross
, to the south Enfield Town
, to the west Clay Hill
, and to the east Enfield Highway
.
The area includes the historic Forty Hall
, built in the 17th century in the grounds of the former Tudor palace of Elsyng
. In its grounds is the older (16th or early 17th-century) Dower House. Other older buildings nearby include the early 18th century Worcester Lodge and later 18th century Elsynge House and Sparrow Hall, and the 19th century Elms and Clock House. George Birkbeck
(founder of what is now Birkbeck, University of London
) lived at Forty Hill in the 1820s. Jesus Church, near Maiden's Bridge, was built in 1835 and the nearby school in 1851. Goat Lane is named after a pub established before 1794 which was replaced by a large building in mock-Elizabethan style in the 1930s; this has since been converted to flats. Some housing was built during Victorian times but most of the area consists of terraced houses and maisonettes built in the 1930s.
. The area was formerly crossed by the A105 road
, running north from Enfield Town past Forty Hall and Myddelton House to meet the A1010 near Waltham Cross
. This was altered to terminate at the A110 in Enfield Town, and the main route cut to discourage through traffic from using the narrow Maiden's Bridge. There are now no major roads crossing the area, which is by-passed by the A110 to the south and the A10 to the east.
is a manor with gardens, both of which can be explored. It is open all year round. Many events and exhibitions are held here. The London Loop long-distance footpath follows the Turkey Brook
to the north of Forty Hall. Nearby to the north in Bulls Cross
are Myddelton House Gardens (former home of botanist E. A. Bowles
, open at certain times during the year) and Capel Manor
horticultural college
with 74 acre (0.29946764 km²) of grounds open to the public, including a maze and themed gardens. Special events take place here throughout the year. Also nearby are Whitewebbs Park and Clay Hill House.
, which meets the Cuffley Brook
here before flowing east to the Lea
; the valley has cut through the gravels to the underlying London Clay
. To the south and east are the lower and later gravels and 'brickearths' of the Lea Valley. The former course of the New River
runs up the north side of the Turkey Brook valley north and west of the hill, before crossing the valley to run south-east between Forty Hill and Clay Hill, the limit of the higher glacial hills to the west. The New River has since been straightened to flow southwards to the east of Forty Hill, using an aqueduct to cross Turkey Brook near Maidens Bridge.
London Borough of Enfield
The London Borough of Enfield is the most northerly London borough and forms part of Outer London. It borders the London Boroughs of Barnet, Haringey and Waltham Forest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. To the north is Bulls Cross
Bulls Cross, Enfield
Bulls Cross is a hamlet located in the London Borough of Enfield, North London, and is part of London's Metropolitan Green Belt.-Etymology:Bulls Cross is recorded as Bedelscrosse in 1465. Recorded thus in c.1580 and on the Ordnance Survey map of 1822...
, to the south Enfield Town
Enfield Town
Enfield Town is the historic town centre of Enfield, formerly in the county of Middlesex and now in the London Borough of Enfield. It is north north-east of Charing Cross...
, to the west Clay Hill
Clay Hill, London
Clay Hill is a small area of Enfield, London, England. It is located to the north of Enfield Town. Mainly a residential area which almost borders Crews Hill to the north and forms part of London's Green Belt...
, and to the east Enfield Highway
Enfield Highway
Enfield Highway is an area in the London Borough of Enfield, North London. It is roughly located in the area either side of Hertford Road between Hoe Lane and The Ride.-Etymology:...
.
Etymology
Forty Hill was recorded as Fortyehill 1610, Fortie hill 1619, Fortee hill 1686, named from Fortey c.1350, that is ' the island (of higher ground) in marsh ', from Old English forth-ēg with reference to the slightly rising ground above the River Lea marshes.History
There have been houses in the road now known as Forty Hill since at least 1572.The area includes the historic Forty Hall
Forty Hall
Forty Hall is a manor house of the 1620s in Forty Hill in Enfield, north London. The house, a Grade I listed building, is today used as a museum by the London Borough of Enfield. Within the grounds is the site of the former Tudor Elsyng Palace.-Location:...
, built in the 17th century in the grounds of the former Tudor palace of Elsyng
Elsyng palace
Elsyng palace was a Tudor palace, on a site in what are now the grounds of Forty Hall in Enfield. Its exact location was lost for many years until excavations were carried out in the 1960s.-Location:...
. In its grounds is the older (16th or early 17th-century) Dower House. Other older buildings nearby include the early 18th century Worcester Lodge and later 18th century Elsynge House and Sparrow Hall, and the 19th century Elms and Clock House. George Birkbeck
George Birkbeck
George Birkbeck was a British doctor, academic, philanthropist, pioneer in adult education and founder of Birkbeck College.-Biography:...
(founder of what is now Birkbeck, University of London
Birkbeck, University of London
Birkbeck, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It offers many Master's and Bachelor's degree programmes that can be studied either part-time or full-time, though nearly all teaching is...
) lived at Forty Hill in the 1820s. Jesus Church, near Maiden's Bridge, was built in 1835 and the nearby school in 1851. Goat Lane is named after a pub established before 1794 which was replaced by a large building in mock-Elizabethan style in the 1930s; this has since been converted to flats. Some housing was built during Victorian times but most of the area consists of terraced houses and maisonettes built in the 1930s.
Transport
There are many bus services which serve the area. Also nearby is Gordon Hill railway stationGordon Hill railway station
Gordon Hill railway station is in the London Borough of Enfield in north London, in Travelcard Zone 5. It was opened in April 1910. The station and the trains serving it are currently operated by First Capital Connect, on the Hertford Loop Line....
. The area was formerly crossed by the A105 road
A105 road
The A105 road is an A road in London, England. It runs from Canonbury, in between Highbury and Dalston, to Enfield Town. The road is long. Part of the road forms Green Lanes, one of the longest streets in London, while the A105 also serves as the primary access route to the Shopping City shopping...
, running north from Enfield Town past Forty Hall and Myddelton House to meet the A1010 near Waltham Cross
Waltham Cross
Waltham Cross is the most southeasterly town in Hertfordshire, England. It is 12 miles from the City of London and immediately north of the M25 motorway, forming part of the Greater London Urban Area and London commuter belt. Part of Waltham Cross is located within Greater London.-Geography:It is...
. This was altered to terminate at the A110 in Enfield Town, and the main route cut to discourage through traffic from using the narrow Maiden's Bridge. There are now no major roads crossing the area, which is by-passed by the A110 to the south and the A10 to the east.
Places of interest
Forty Hall Manor and Country ParkForty Hall
Forty Hall is a manor house of the 1620s in Forty Hill in Enfield, north London. The house, a Grade I listed building, is today used as a museum by the London Borough of Enfield. Within the grounds is the site of the former Tudor Elsyng Palace.-Location:...
is a manor with gardens, both of which can be explored. It is open all year round. Many events and exhibitions are held here. The London Loop long-distance footpath follows the Turkey Brook
Turkey Brook
Turkey Brook rises near the Fir and Pond Woods Local Nature Reserve near Potters Bar, Hertfordshire.- Etymology :The brook named from the street which is recorded as Tokestreete 1441, Tuckhey strete 1610, Tuckey street 1615, Turkey street 1805, probably 'street of houses associated with a family...
to the north of Forty Hall. Nearby to the north in Bulls Cross
Bulls Cross, Enfield
Bulls Cross is a hamlet located in the London Borough of Enfield, North London, and is part of London's Metropolitan Green Belt.-Etymology:Bulls Cross is recorded as Bedelscrosse in 1465. Recorded thus in c.1580 and on the Ordnance Survey map of 1822...
are Myddelton House Gardens (former home of botanist E. A. Bowles
Edward Augustus Bowles
Edward Augustus Bowles, VMH , known professionally as E. A. Bowles, was a British horticulturalist, plantsman and garden writer. He developed an important garden at Myddelton House, his lifelong home at Bulls Cross in Enfield, Middlesex and his name has been preserved in many varieties of...
, open at certain times during the year) and Capel Manor
Capel Manor College
Capel Manor is a horticultural further education college based in Bulls Cross, Enfield, London, United Kingdom. The college grounds double as a garden open to the public for most of the year, with a variety of events occurring, including Bushcraft, Lambing weekends, Heavy horse shows , Leatherwork...
horticultural college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
with 74 acre (0.29946764 km²) of grounds open to the public, including a maze and themed gardens. Special events take place here throughout the year. Also nearby are Whitewebbs Park and Clay Hill House.
Geology
The hill which gives its name to the district lies to the north of the built-up area and is mainly occupied by Forty Hall and its grounds. It rises to a plateau around 50 metres (164 ft) above sea level composed of the Boyn Hill Gravel, a deposit laid down by a former course of the Thames. To the west and north is the valley of the Turkey BrookTurkey Brook
Turkey Brook rises near the Fir and Pond Woods Local Nature Reserve near Potters Bar, Hertfordshire.- Etymology :The brook named from the street which is recorded as Tokestreete 1441, Tuckhey strete 1610, Tuckey street 1615, Turkey street 1805, probably 'street of houses associated with a family...
, which meets the Cuffley Brook
Cuffley Brook
Cuffley Brook is a tributary of the River Lea in Hertfordshire, England.Cuffley Brook is one of the longest brook tributaries of the Lea, forming from Grimes Brook north west of Cuffley, Northaw Brook south-west of Cuffley, snaking for several miles through the south-east Hertfordshire hills past...
here before flowing east to the Lea
River Lee (England)
The River Lea in England originates in Marsh Farm , Leagrave, Luton in the Chiltern Hills and flows generally southeast, east, and then south to London where it meets the River Thames , the last section being known as Bow Creek.-Etymology:...
; the valley has cut through the gravels to the underlying London Clay
London Clay
The London Clay Formation is a marine geological formation of Ypresian age which crops out in the southeast of England. The London Clay is well known for the fossils it contains. The fossils from the Lower Eocene indicate a moderately warm climate, the flora being tropical or subtropical...
. To the south and east are the lower and later gravels and 'brickearths' of the Lea Valley. The former course of the New River
New River (England)
The New River is an artificial waterway in England, opened in 1613 to supply London with fresh drinking water taken from the River Lea and from Amwell Springs , and other springs and wells along its course....
runs up the north side of the Turkey Brook valley north and west of the hill, before crossing the valley to run south-east between Forty Hill and Clay Hill, the limit of the higher glacial hills to the west. The New River has since been straightened to flow southwards to the east of Forty Hill, using an aqueduct to cross Turkey Brook near Maidens Bridge.