Bulls Cross

Bulls Cross is a road and hamlet in the London Borough of Enfield, north London, and is part of London's Metropolitan Green Belt. It is to the west of the A10 Great Cambridge Road and south from the M25 motorway. Crews Hill is to the west, Bury Green (near Cheshunt) to the north, and Bullsmoor to the east. Bulls Cross is in the historic county of Middlesex.

Bulls Cross
Cottages at Bulls Cross
Bulls Cross Location within Greater London
OS grid reference	TQ342994
London borough	Enfield
Ceremonial county	Greater London
Region	London
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ENFIELD
Postcode district	EN2, EN3
Post town	WALTHAM CROSS
Postcode district	EN7
Dialling code	01992, 020
Police	Metropolitan
Fire	London
Ambulance	London
UK Parliament	Enfield North
London Assembly	Enfield and Haringey

Etymology

Bulls Cross is recorded as Bedelscrosse in 1465.[1] Recorded thus in c.1580 and on the Ordnance Survey map of 1822. The hamlet was also recorded in 1540 as Bullyscrosse meaning 'crossroads associated with the family called Bolle or Bull (who are mentioned in legal documents from the 13th century).[2]

Tottenham Hotspur

In 2009 football club Tottenham Hotspur announced plans for a training centre to be built in the area.[3] It was opened in September 2012.[4]

Geography

Bulls Cross is in the north of the borough. It is bordered by Bullsmoor Lane and Whitewebbs Lane to the north, Forty Hall to the south. and the New River to the east and Whitewebbs Park to the west.

Demography

Bulls Cross is part of the large Chase ward, which also covers Botany Bay, Clay Hill and Crews Hill. The 2011 census showed that 77% of the ward's population was white (64% British, 11% Other, 2% Irish). 5% was Black African and 3% Black Caribbean.[5]

Places of interest

Myddelton House and gardens

Capel Manor stable block. The weather vane depicts a Clydesdale horse

• Capel Manor. Now the home of the Capel Manor College with extensive model gardens which are open to the public. Built in red brick, the 18th-century house was remodelled in 1908 in late 17th-century style for James Warren, a wealthy tea planter. Behind the house, an orange brick group of late 19th-century stables and coachhouse with clocktower.[6] The stables are the home to the Clydesdale working horses which are used on the estate.[7]
• Myddelton House. Since 1972 the headquarters of Lee Valley Regional Park Authority (LVRPA).[1] The house was built in 1818 by George Ferry & John Wallen for H. C. Bowles.[6] The plantsman E.A. Bowles created Myddelton House gardens in c.1900 which are open to the public.[8] The grounds contain the original Market Cross of Enfield Town, which is subject to a Grade II preservation order. There is also a modern museum with artefacts and displays relating to the life and work of E.A. Bowles.
• Pied Bull. The small, rendered, timber-framed public house existed here in 1752.[1] Standing with a group of cottages close to the junction with Bullsmore Lane.

Notable people

• Bernard Bosanquet, cricketer
• E.A. Bowles, horticulturist and plantsman
• Frances Perry, horticulturist, gardening writer and presenter

References

1. British history online Retrieved 18 April 2008
2. Mills A. D. Oxford Dictionary of London Place Names (2001) p34 ISBN 0-19-860957-4 Retrieved 23 October 2008
3. Spurs training centre Retrieved 15 September 2009
4. Players see progress at new Training Centre Retrieved 16 September 2011
5. http://www.ukcensusdata.com/chase-e05000195
6. Cherry, B,& Pevsner,N, Buildings of England London4: North (1998) p450 ISBN 0-14-071049-3 Retrieved 17 April 2008
7. Capel Manor Gardens Retrieved 8 July 2011
8. E. A. Bowles Retrieved 18 April 2008