The Enfield Society has just published the fourth volume in its series A History of Enfield.
"A Time of Change", covers the period 1939 -1969. It includes chapters on life in Enfield, Edmonton and Southgate during the war, the austerity of the late Forties, the difficult Fifties and the swinging Sixties.
Written by Monica Smith, this hardback book with over 200 illustrations costs £18.50. It is available from Waterstones in Enfield town, online at www.enfieldsociety.org.uk and at Enfield Society meetings at Jubilee Hall. There will also be an opportunity to purchase copies at a special opening of Jubilee Hall, 2 Parsonage Lane, EN2 0AZ on Saturday 14th March between 10am and 1pm, when copies can be signed by the author.
Volumes 2 and 3 of "History of Enfield", written by David Pam, are also still available, but volume 1 is now out of print.
This was, possibly, the time of greatest social change since the Industrial Revolution. World War II did not result in the massive slaughter of troops of the Great War but bombs from enemy aircraft, and later the V1 and V2 rockets, brought the war to the Home Front with the destruction of homes and industry and loss of life. Edmonton was the worst affected part of our area. All citizens were united by a determination to win the war and put up with many changes to their lives such as food rationing, the evacuation of children and overcrowded housing. Conscription of both men and women, too, proved to be a social leveller. The unemploment and poverty of the 1930s was replaced by increased demand for workers, especially in the arms factories of the Lea Valley where women took over many jobs. This encouraged many women to continue to work after the war.
Victory over Germany and Japan in 1945 was joyfully celebrated but the following few years were tough ones with continuing housing, food and fuel shortages. However, the coming of the Welfare State brought benefits to many and the establishment of the National Health Service offered free medical care to all. Secondary education was extended to all children and some working-class ones had the opportunity to study at universities and then to join the professional classes.
Major changes were the reorganisation of local government with the amalgamation of the boroughs of Edmonton, Enfield and Southgate into the London Borough of Enfield in 1965 and the coming of comprehensive education. By 1969 most people had a standard of living far higher than that of the 1930s. Houses were modernised and equipped wiht domestic appliances, medical care and education were free to all and wages sufficient to allow spending on holidays, leisure, good food and clothing. However local industry was already beginning to suffer from competition from Asia and the out look for the coming decade was not so rosy.– Dust jacket
