Largely residential and situated in the Brimsdown area, Enfield Wash is a spacious and airy red brick neighbourhood. It benefits from numerous places to eat, drink, and work through the central cluster of shops along Hertford road. There is also a large green space to the north east which the Turkey Brook runs alongside. To the east, lies Brimsdown Industrial Estate, offering residents a vast array of employment and leisure opportunities just a few minutes away.

This area was historically a part of the parish of Enfield, which mainly consisted of outer-city farmland. Most residents worked the land, growing salads for the London market, with a small amount of fruit-growing. During the Industrial Revolution, market gardens began to become more popular throughout the area, with tomatoes and cucumbers becoming the main crops grown in greenhouses covering hundreds of acres. Suburban housing continued to expand, and by 1920, most of the farming culture in this area disappeared, with residents working mostly in local factories.

This neighbourhood area was the birthplace of James and John Chambers, early settlers of South Australia in 1836. They worked as pastoralists and aided early explorers in their expeditions across the land. Historians have had great difficulty differentiating the lives and activities of James and John Chambers, as they both signed their names ‘J. Chambers’ and were involved in similar activities.

The main downside to this neighbourhood is that it is poorly connected, and the trains that go into Central London are frequently delayed. Residents stated that they felt they rarely needed to go into the centre, however, due to the abundance of shops and other amenities nearby. Others stated that they “remain optimistic” with regard to the number of transport improvements which are currently underway in the area.

There are plans to expand the rail network in this area via Crossrail 2, which will alleviate the congested train line space and create faster, more reliable rail transport both into the city and to the other areas. The council has identified this area as a focal point for growth, and aims to invest in making this neighbourhood a key employment centre in the London-Stansted corridor. As a result private developers are currently taking significant interest in the area. The largest of which is the Elements development by Countryside Properties which will comprise 993 new homes, transforming the existing 1960’s Alma Estate.