Broomfield House is a listed building of historical interest located in Broomfield Park, Palmers Green, Enfield, London. Built during the 16th century, [1] it was damaged by fires in 1984, 1993, 1994 and 2019. [2] Various programmes of restoration have been proposed for the building - none have made progress as at January 2024.
Broomfield House was sold to London merchant Joseph Jackson in 1624 after several previous occupants. During the 150 years that the Jackson family were in possession of the house, the house was internally remodelled to a considerable extent. The grand staircase was built and murals were painted by Gerard Lanscroon, and the surrounding Broomfield Park was created.[ citation needed ] In 1773 the house was acquired by William Tash on his marriage to Mary Jackson who was heir to the house and estate. [3]
During the late 18th century to early 19th century the once U-shaped building was altered into a rectangular shape, enclosing the once east-facing courtyard. After a period where the house was let to tenants, the house and 54 acres (220,000 m2) of land were sold for development to Southgate Urban District Council, who opened the park to the public in 1903. [4] [5]
Between 1907 and 1910 the building housed Southgate County School, with Southgate's first maternity centre opening there in 1917. The building was classified as Grade II* in 1950 because of its history and architectural uniqueness.
In 1984 a fire broke out in the building which damaged the roof and the top floor. The cause was deemed to be electrical. A temporary roof was erected to ensure further damage was kept to a minimum, though a permanent roof was not rebuilt as the house was no longer in use. Further fires in 1993-1994 made the building in its current state unusable and unsafe. Though the council wanted to demolish the building, heritage groups persuaded the council to obtain a report looking into the possibility of restoration. The report concluded that restoration should be undertaken, and the building was made safe.
On Tuesday 9 April 2019 early morning park visitors called the Fire Brigade to a large fire at the house; further extensive damage was sustained. [2] The building remains enclosed by scaffolding until details of the full restoration and its future use by the community can be agreed upon. [6]
In 2003 Broomfield House was featured on the BBC television series Restoration [7] as a nominee for the south-east segment of the show, alongside Wilton's Music Hall in London and Darnley Mausoleum in Kent; [8] Broomfield House lost out to Wilton's Music Hall.
On 25 November 2009 a new proposal was initiated, when the Mayor of London's office made up to £500,000 available for preparatory and public consultation work to make the house into sheltered housing accommodation. Concerns were raised by some local people about the proposals which the Enfield Council was to address as part of its public consultation. An unknown proportion of the £500,000 was used to create extensive evaluations of environmental issues, planning ideas and future strategies. However, further funding was later withdrawn and the project was abandoned. [9]
Palmers Green is a suburban area and electoral ward in North London, England, within the London Borough of Enfield. It is located within the N13 postcode district, around 8 miles (13 km) north of Charing Cross. It is home to the largest population of Greek Cypriots outside Cyprus and is often nicknamed "Little Cyprus" or "Palmers Greek".
Southgate is a suburban area of North London, England, in the London Borough of Enfield, 8 miles (13 km) north of Charing Cross.
The London Borough of Enfield is a London borough in North London. It borders the London boroughs of Barnet to the west, Haringey to the south, and Waltham Forest to the southeast. To the north are the districts of Hertsmere, Welwyn Hatfield and Broxbourne, and to the east is Epping Forest District in Essex. The local authority is Enfield London Borough Council. Enfield's population is estimated to be 333,794; the main towns in the borough are Edmonton, Enfield, Southgate and Palmers Green. Enfield is the northernmost London borough.
Enfield Chase is an area of Enfield that is named for a former royal hunting ground. It comprises the majority of the open countryside within the London Borough of Enfield, and land north of the M25 within Hertfordshire. At the time of a survey by Francis Russell in 1776-7, the Chase extended from Monken Hadley in the west to Bulls Cross in the east, and from Potters Bar to Southgate.
Grovelands Park is a public park in Southgate and Winchmore Hill, London, that originated as a private estate. The park is Grade II* listed on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.
Edmonton is a constituency in Greater London, created in 1918 and represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by Kate Osamor, who was elected for the Labour Co-operative party but has since lost the Labour whip. Edmonton is a North London constituency based around district of Edmonton in the London Borough of Enfield.
Edmonton is a town in north London, England within the London Borough of Enfield, a local government district of Greater London. The northern part of the town is known as Lower Edmonton or Edmonton Green, and the southern part as Upper Edmonton. Situated 8.4 miles (13.5 km) north-northeast of Charing Cross, it borders Enfield to the north, Chingford to the east, and Tottenham to the south, with Palmers Green and Winchmore Hill to the west. The population of Edmonton was 82,472 as of 2011.
New Southgate is a residential suburb straddling three Outer London Boroughs: a small part of the east of Barnet, a south-west corner of Enfield and in loosest definitions, based on nearest railway stations, a small northern corner of Haringey in North London, England where estates merge into Bounds Green.
Southgate was a local government district of Middlesex from 1881 to 1965. It was part of the London postal district and Metropolitan Police District.
The London Borough of Enfield is the northernmost of the Outer London boroughs. The borough lies within the Metropolitan Green Belt, and several of its 123 or more parks and open spaces are part of it. The ancient Enfield Chase, remnants of which still exist, occupied much of the area. In addition to many playgrounds and sports facilities, the main areas of public open space are:
Arnos Grove is an area of north London, England, within the London Borough of Enfield. It is centred 7.5 miles (12 km) north of Charing Cross. It is adjacent to New Southgate. The natural grove, larger than today, was for many centuries the largest woodland in the chapelry of Southgate in the parish of Edmonton. It became inter-related with Arnos Park when its owner was permitted to enclose much of its area through the widespread legal practice of inclosure of the common land to create the former park, the heart of which is now public parkland.
Laurel Park School, formerly Broomfield School, is a comprehensive secondary school located in Arnos Grove, Enfield, Greater London, which resulted from a merger of Arnos School and Minchenden School. The school is entirely located on the old Arnos School site.
Pymmes Park is located in Edmonton, London and is bordered by the North Circular Road.
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.
Broomfield Park is a 21 hectare public park in Palmers Green in the London Borough of Enfield. It is a Site of Local Importance for Nature Conservation and is registered by English Heritage in the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens for its special historic interest
Thomas Melville was a Scottish Presbyterian resident in London who was a member of Southgate Urban District Council and chairman of the council during the First World War.
Oakwood Park is a public park in Oakwood, in the London Borough of Enfield, on land that was formerly part of Enfield Chase. It opened in 1929 and comprises 64 acres of land. It is notable for its commemorative avenue of poplar trees, an avenue of scarlet oaks planted by mayors of Enfield, and an ice well that was built by Samuel Sugden, on whose estate of Oak Lodge the park was largely built and after which it was named.
William Tash was a landowner in the parish of Edmonton, in the English county of Middlesex, now in Greater London. Educated at Eton College, he married into the Jackson family, thus acquiring Broomfield House and its estate. He held numerous other pieces of land in the parish, and in 1804 was its second largest landowner with 582 acres. He was also lord of the manor of Bowes and Dernsford, and a trustee of the Weld Chapel where he played a significant role in the dispute about the transfer of the living there in 1813. He is remembered in a monument that was transferred to Christ Church when the Weld Chapel was demolished.
Minchington Hall, Mincington Hall, or Minchenden House was a country house and estate in Southgate, then in the county of Middlesex in England, and now in Greater London. It was on Southgate Green and the south side of Waterfall Road, and adjoined Arnolds slightly further east, which was originally less significant than Minchington. The estate was merged into Arnos Grove in 1853 and the house demolished.
51°37′03″N0°07′02″W / 51.6176°N 0.1172°W
