Archaeological digs in the 1970s revealed that the Romans were among the first to settle in Bush Hill Park, but once they'd packed up their togas and headed home to warmer winters the area remained undeveloped. No houses show up on the
Edmonton enclosure map of 1801 and none were built until the developers finally got a look in late in the 1870s.
Before that, William Mellish, director of the bank of England and MP for Grimsby, had the place pretty much to himself and did what Tory grandees generally do in such circumstances: enclose a large estate, put up a grand house, lay out a sizeable park and retreat from the buzz of the City and the clamour of the great unwashed.
After Mellish closed his account and went off to face the great auditor in the sky the estate passed through various hands before finally succumbing to the spread of suburbia. The arrival of the railway, which fetched up here in 1880, was the catalyst and led to the building of substantial detached houses for the wealthy middle classes.
Further developments ensued on the far side of the railway tracks, where smaller terraced cottages were built for the artisans and railway workers who were employed at Enfield Town Depot.
In the twentieth century the developers steadily acquired more new land, and by the start of the second world war Bush Hill Park was close to its current form. After the war infill replaced bomb damage, and since then some new developments have being added, but the Victorian, Edwardian and 20s/30s properties remain the mainstay of the area's property market.
The railway line which originally separated the middle classes from the humbler folk who lived on the Cardigan Estate is still an important line of demarcation in Bush Hill Park. On the western side, Wellington Road runs north/south and includes some of the finest properties in the area, especially at the top end close to Lincoln Road. Here you'll find large detached 7/8 bedroom houses with large gardens and even larger price tags. Elsewhere, you'll the ubiquitous 3 bed semi, purpose built apartments and some conversions.
The other side of Bush Hill Park has had a more chequered history and is home to the large Ayley Croft council estate, built when the land was compulsorily purchased and redeveloped. The estate is still largely in council hands and the area is consequently not especially sought-after by would be owner occupiers.
However, there are also older terraces built in the first and second decades of the last century which provide good value for money. A two bed house here will cost about £130,000 as compared with £160,000 on the other side of the tracks.
Aside form the internal division defined by the railway track, Bush Hill Park has fairly well established boundaries. To the east the A10 is generally taken as the border with Edmonton; to the west London Road/Village Road forms the boundary with Winchmore Hill. Bury Street West forms the southern border, and Enfield begins beyond Lincoln Road.
Bush Hill Park is largely residential and generally looks to Enfield Town or Winchmore Hill for shops, restaurants and leisure facilities. The park, just north of Lincoln Road (not to be confused with Bush Hill Park golf course in Winchmore Hill) is pleasantly attractive, while and the cricket ground close to Village Road, lends a suitably Edwardian ambience to some of the posher streets close by.
The junior school on Raglan Road is very well thought of and there are quite a few parents who move here for that alone.
Travel facilities include the station at Bush Hill Park (Liverpool Street) and Enfield Town station.
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