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Enfield Lock (lock)
Encyclopedia
Enfield Lock is a lock
on the River Lee Navigation
, in the London Borough of Enfield
. It gives its name to the surrounding area of Enfield Lock
. The lock is situated close to the former Royal Small Arms Factory
now known as Enfield Island Village
. It is the first of the smaller locks upstream to Hertford
which were built to allow barges up to a maximum 100 tons.
lok.
A lock on this site has been extant since 1725. The present day structure was re-built in 1922. At the lock are red brick cottages and a Lee Conservancy Board toll office
of 1889. Below the lock, a water maintenance depot, with clock turret on the cruciform
planned office building of 1907.
Enfield Lock railway station
is close by.
The area is served by the 491 and 121 London bus routes.
Lock (water transport)
A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. The distinguishing feature of a lock is a fixed chamber in which the water level can be varied; whereas in a caisson lock, a boat lift, or on a canal inclined plane, it is...
on the River Lee Navigation
River Lee Navigation
The Lee Navigation is a canalised river incorporating the River Lea . Its course runs from Hertford Castle Weir all the way to the River Thames at Bow Creek. The first lock of the navigation is Hertford Lock the last being Bow Locks....
, in the London Borough of Enfield
London Borough of Enfield
The London Borough of Enfield is the most northerly London borough and forms part of Outer London. It borders the London Boroughs of Barnet, Haringey and Waltham Forest...
. It gives its name to the surrounding area of Enfield Lock
Enfield Lock
Enfield Lock is an area in the London Borough of Enfield, North London. It is approximately located east of the Hertford Road between Turkey Street and the Holmesdale Tunnel overpass, to the River Lee Navigation, including the Enfield Island Village. The locality gains its name from the lock on the...
. The lock is situated close to the former Royal Small Arms Factory
Royal Small Arms Factory
The Royal Small Arms Factory was a UK government-owned rifle factory in the London Borough of Enfield in an area generally known as the Lea Valley. The factory produced British military rifles, muskets and swords from 1816...
now known as Enfield Island Village
Enfield Island Village
Enfield Island Village is a modern village in the outskirts of the London Borough of Enfield, North London, home to a large housing development. Before 1998, Enfield Island Village formed part of the Epping Forest district of Essex, but was transferred to the borough of Enfield in Greater London...
. It is the first of the smaller locks upstream to Hertford
Hertford
Hertford is the county town of Hertfordshire, England, and is also a civil parish in the East Hertfordshire district of the county. Forming a civil parish, the 2001 census put the population of Hertford at about 24,180. Recent estimates are that it is now around 28,000...
which were built to allow barges up to a maximum 100 tons.
Etymology
Enfield Lock is recorded thus in 1710, earlier as Norhtlok 1355, The Locke 1657, 'the (northern) lock or river barrier (near Enfield)', from Middle EnglishMiddle English
Middle English is the stage in the history of the English language during the High and Late Middle Ages, or roughly during the four centuries between the late 11th and the late 15th century....
lok.
History
Toll point
In the United Kingdom a toll point or toll island is a place on a canal where a fee was collected as boats carrying cargo passed. These were sited at strategic points such as the stop lock at the transition from one canal company to another where water transfer was a concern, or at busy locks where...
of 1889. Below the lock, a water maintenance depot, with clock turret on the cruciform
Cruciform
Cruciform means having the shape of a cross or Christian cross.- Cruciform architectural plan :This is a common description of Christian churches. In Early Christian, Byzantine and other Eastern Orthodox forms of church architecture this is more likely to mean a tetraconch plan, a Greek cross,...
planned office building of 1907.
Public access
The lock is located adjacent to Ordnance Road.Enfield Lock railway station
Enfield Lock railway station
Enfield Lock railway station is in the London Borough of Enfield in north east London, and is in Travelcard Zone 6, on the Tottenham Hale branch of the Lea Valley Lines, on the West Anglian Railway...
is close by.
The area is served by the 491 and 121 London bus routes.