By the end or the 19th Century Britain’s Industrial revolution was transforming the country. Enfield played an important role in this revolution with good road and rail links to London. Factories, mills, pumping stations, gas works, electrical industries and armaments industries all thrived in Enfield. This course will explore some of these industries and their impact upon Enfield and the London Markets.
Fridays – 11th September to 16th October – (6 Sessions)
10 am – 12 pm Enfield Baptist Church
Tutor – George O’Reilly – Cost £108
Course Outline
By the second half of the nineteenth century Britain’s industrial revolution was transforming the country. Powered by coal and steam, the nation’s factories, mills, foundries and potteries had made Britain the ‘workshop of the world.’
While the industrial revolution had begun in the towns and cities of the north and the midlands, London had an important role to play also, as did Enfield. Enfield did not have coal mines or steel works but it was situated in the Lea Valley, with access to the River Lea and the River Thames, with good road and rail connections and with London close by as a market for goods.
Enfield had many other features of an industrial centre, especially in the north and east of the borough, and these will be the subject of our course – factories, mills, pumping stations, gas works, brick making fields, an armaments industry and later, extensive technology and electrical industries, and a power station. And Enfield’s market garden industries also played an important part in feeding a rapidly growing population.
Classes are interactive with plenty of discussion and question and answer. Reading and research beyond the classroom are encouraged and can be shared in classes.
Booking opens 01/08/2026
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