Inventory Site Record

Bush Hill Park Golf Course is situated on part of what was formerly Old Park, a Royal property pre-dating Enfield Chase. In 1660, Charles II granted the estate to General George Monck, Duke of Albemarle, in recognition of his support. The estate passed through many owners in succeeding years and was eventually sold in 1871 and broken up for building. Part of the estate became Bush Hill Park Golf Course in 1921, Old Park mansion becoming the golf clubhouse. Enfield UDC purchased adjacent land for a public park, which is divided from the golf course by the New River Loop.

Previous / Other name:

Old Park (part of Enfield Old Park Estate)

Site location:

Bush Hill/Old Park Avenue, Winchmore Hill

Postcode:

N21

What 3 Words:

kind.rates.police

Type of site:

Private Open Land

Borough:

Enfield

Open to public?

By appointment only

Opening times:

private, although public footpath, Carr's Lane, runs through site affording views

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Events:

Public transport:

Rail: Grange Park/Bush Hill Park. Bus: W9

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Research updated:

01/02/2011

Last minor changes:

19/07/2023

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.bhpgc.com

Bush Hill Park Golf Course is situated on part of what was formerly Old Park, a Royal property pre-dating Enfield Chase and the Domesday survey of 1086, where evidence of early settlement has been found, including a Roman coffin (which is now housed at Forty Hall). In 1660, on his restoration to the throne, Charles II granted the Old Park Estate to General George Monck, Duke of Albemarle, in recognition of his support. Since that time the then-225 hectare estate passed through many owners, sometimes expanding in size, sometimes diminishing. In the C19th land at Bush Hill was owned by William Mellish (d.1838), a Tory MP for Grimsby and later Middlesex who was Director of the Bank of England. He is buried at All Saints Edmonton (q.v.).

The Bush Hill estate was sold in 1871 and broken up for building, the development of the area particularly accelerating as a result of the Great Eastern Railway opening Bush Hill Park station in 1880; by the mid 1930s the area was fully built up. Part of the estate became Bush Hill Park Golf Course in 1921 and Old Park mansion is now the golf clubhouse, the oldest part of which dates from c.1705, with later additions and extensions carried out in 1838, 1873 and the C20th. In the C19th the house had belonged to a local antiquarian, Edward Ford, co-author of a history of Enfield and who had a collection of mediaeval fragments here including two C15th corbel heads, which he installed on the clock turret of the C18th stables. Enfield Urban District Council purchased c.11 hectares in order to create a recreation ground, now Town Park (q.v.). The New River Loop passes through the site and divides the Golf Course land from Town Park. A public footpath, Carr's Lane, runs through the site which is otherwise private for club users only. It can be seen across the New River Loop which forms the boundary with Town Park although this affords no view of the old mansion.

Sources consulted:

Arthur Mee, 'The King's England: London North of the Thames except the City and Westminster', (Hodder & Stoughton 1972); Victoria County History; Bridget Cherry & Nikolaus Pevsner, The Buildings of England: London 4: North (Penguin, 1998); Andrew Duncan 'Walking Village London' (New Holland, 1997); Revd George Hodson (Church History) and Edward Ford (General History), 'A History of Enfield in the County of Middlesex including its Royal and Ancient Manors, the Chase and the Duchy of Lancaster, with Notices of its Worthies, and its Natural History, Etc. Also an account of The Church and the Charities, and a History of the New River' (Enfield Press, printed by J H Meyers, 1873); David Pam 'The Story of Enfield Chase', (Enfield Preservation Society, 1984)

Grid ref:

TQ322956 (532310,195760)

Size in hectares:

50.63

Site ownership:

Bush Hill Park Golf Club

Site management:

Bush Hill Park Golf Club

Date(s):

C17th onwards; Golf Course 1921

Designer(s):

Listed structures:

(LBII: Entrance Lodge to Bush Hill Park Golf Club - since burnt down). SAM: Earthworks at Old Park. Locally listed: Bush Hill Golf Clubhouse; stable building south-west of Clubhouse

On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens:

No

Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965:

No

Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931:

No

Local Authority Data

The information below is taken from the relevant Local Authority's planning legislation, which was correct at the time of research but may have been amended in the interim. Please check with the Local Authority for latest planning information.

On Local List:

No

In Conservation Area:

No

Tree Preservation Order:

Not known

Nature Conservation Area:

Yes - Borough Importance

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

Yes

Special Policy Area:

No

Other LA designation:

None