Enfield Manor House

Has been described as a Possible Fortified Manor House

There are no visible remains

NameEnfield Manor House
Alternative NamesEnefeld
Historic CountryLondon and Middlesex
Modern AuthorityLondon Borough of Enfield
1974 AuthorityGreater London
Civil ParishEnfield

The moat, at Oldbury, enclosed a rectangular area of about 160 yards long, 30 yards wide and 2 yards deep. The other 3 arms, still visible in 1902, were about 130 yards by only 12 yards wide. In the northwest corner of the enclosed area there was a small mound which could have marked the site of either a wood or masonry tower protecting the entrance or a mill. A coin of Edward I (1272-1307) was dug up in 1872. In 1347 Humphrey de Bohum received a licence to fortify his Manor House at Enfield. As this is the closest moated site to Enfield Town (as far as is known) it is suggested that it may mark the original site of the Manor House of Enfield. No substantial stonework has been found, so perhaps the fortification was never carried out. (Jones) There is no trace of a moat. The site has been entirely re-developed. An Enclosure map of 1803 shows the moat to be complete and water filled (F1 JRL 06-NOV-75). (PastScape)

Gatehouse Comments

An alternative 'traditional' site Camelot (aka Camlet) moat at TQ28809818 has been dismissed as a homestead moat. There were several manors in Enfield parish. The suggestion that 'fortification was never carried out' is one based on misconceptions as to the nature of licences to crenellate, which were NOT permissions to fortify houses but, as usually stated in the patent letter, as freedom to put crenellations on houses. Many such houses were mainly of timber.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceTQ333963
Latitude51.6504096984863
Longitude-0.0733399987220764
Eastings533390
Northings196360
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

No photos available. If you can provide pictures please contact Castlefacts

Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant.

Calculate Print

Books

  • Emery, Anthony, 2006, Greater Medieval Houses of England and Wales Vol. 3 Southern England (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) p. 439
  • Baker, T.F.T. (ed), 1976, 'Enfield: Manors' VCH Middlesex Vol. 5 p. 224-9 online transcription
  • Whitaker, C.W., 1911, An illustrated historical, statistical and topographical account of the Urban District of Enfield p. 35, 174
  • Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol. 3 Part 2 p. 415 online copy

Journals

  • Jones, I.K., 1976, Enfield Archaeological Society Bulletin Vol. 61 p. 4-5

Primary Sources

  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1903, Calendar of Patent Rolls Edward III (1345-48) Vol. 7 p. 450 online copy