Enfield local studies and archives exist to identify, acquire and preserve archival materials that document the history of the London Borough of Enfield. We make these records available to the benefit of Enfield's residents and visitors.
Address and contact details
Ridge Avenue Library
Ridge Avenue
Winchmore Hill
N21 2RH
Phone: 020 8132 1226, 020 8379 2724
Email: local.history@enfield.gov.uk
Opening hours
Tuesday to Thursdays, 11am to 3pm by appointment only.
Online catalogue
View our Enfield Local Studies and Archive online catalogue.
Local Studies Centre
There are many types of records here at local studies. We have dedicated staff and volunteers with experience of dealing with local and family history questions. They are here on-hand to help you find the sort or record you may need to answer your questions.
Among our many records we have:
- books on the local history of the area – these include transport history and biographies of famous local people
- journals, pamphlets and ephemera relating to local societies, schools and organisations
- local newspapers dating from 1859
- over 200 maps, including the first 4 editions of Enfield OS maps in 6 inch and 25 inch scale
- trade and street directories
- electoral registers
- over 10,000 photographs of the local area dating back to the 1860s
- auctioneers’ catalogues
- 4 PCs for online family history research
- 2 microfilm readers and 1 microfiche reader
- records about the 3 former local authorities, Edmonton, Enfield and Southgate
- resources for teachers and schools
- records dating from 1271
- original maps dating from 1656
The collection continues to grow thanks to generous donations from members of the public, local organisations and Enfield Council. If you have any local historical records and photos that you are thinking of donating, we would love to hear from you.
If you are researching your family history, you can access the online family history websites Find my Past, The Genealogist, and Ancestry free of charge at the Local Studies Centre. These websites provide:
- census information (including 1911 census)
- indexes to birth, marriage and death records
- parish registers
- military records
- and much more
If you're interested in learning more about Enfield Local Studies and Archive, view Are Archives Important? (PDF, 1547.2 KB).
You can also find out how to research the history of your house.
Information leaflets
Enfield at war school packs
- World War 1 school work pack resource (PDF, 18243.63 KB)
- World War 2 school work pack resource (PDF, 18934.28 KB)
Heritage trails
- Enfield Town WW1 heritage trail (PDF, 2729.05 KB)
- Enfield WW2 heritage trail (PDF, 4803.98 KB)
- Palmers Green to New Southgate WW2 heritage trail (PDF, 6315 KB)
- Edmonton WW2 heritage trail (PDF, 986.02 KB)
- Enfield Loop heritage trail (PDF, 385.38 KB)
- New Southgate heritage trail (PDF, 486.15 KB)
A collection of images from the Enfield archives
Enfield Market Cross, 1902
Crew visit Ripaults to meet the workers, mainly women, who built their tank - January 1943
Edmonton Green, 1897
Enfield marketplace, circa 1935
Workers at the Ferguson television factory
Horses contribute to the war effort in Enfield
Workers laying tram track in Enfield Town, circa 1909
Ponders End
An emergency services crew on Queen Elizabeth Drive
Women munitions workers at the Royal Small Arms Factory
Southbury swimming pool
The Green Edmonton
Tram Terminus Enfield
Winchmore Hill Station, circa 1907
