Enfield Town is a town in the London Borough of Enfield. It is 10.1 miles (16.2 km) north north-east of Charing Cross.
Historically Enfield was a collection of small communities spread around the royal hunting grounds of Enfield Chase. At the time of the Domesday Book the area was spelt 'Enefelde', and had a priest who almost certainly resided in St. Andrews Church. By 1572 most of the basic street layout had been completed. The village green later became the historic marketplace where the fountain now stands.
In 1840 the first section of the Northern and Eastern Railway was opened from Stratford to Broxbourne with stations at Water Lane (Angel Road) and Ponders End. Further stations were added in 1855 at Enfield Lock and 1884 at Brimsdown. A branch line from Water Lane to Enfield Town was opened in 1849 serving Edmonton Low Level and Enfield Town. A further station was added in 1880 at Bush Hill Park. The direct line from London to Enfield Town was opened in 1872 with stations at Silver Street and Lower Edmonton (now called Edmonton Green). In 1891 a loop from Edmonton serving Southbury (Churchbury) and Turkey Street (Forty Hill) to Cheshunt on the main line was added.
In 1871 the great Northern Railway opened its station on Windmill Hill. This was later replaced in 1910 when the line was extended to Cuffley. This section of railway is now part of the line commonly known as the Hertford Loop.
Enfield Town is famous for having the world's first ever cash machine or ATM, which was installed at the branch of Barclay's Bank on June 27th 1967, and the world's first solid state circuitry colour televisions, which were manufactured by Ferguson at their plant in Enfield.Currently, Enfield Town centre is undergoing major redevelopment work, scheduled for completion by Autumn 2006. A large extension to the existing shopping centre is being built, under the name PalaceXchange.
