GPS Cycle and Walking Routes

Forty Hall Walk

2 miles (3.6 km)

This manor house in Enfield is surrounded by lovely parkland and gardens. It's a fine place for a stroll with good footpaths taking you around the estate which also includes waterside trails along the New River. The house itself is a Grade I listed building dating back to the 1620s. Today it is used as a museum which houses a permanent exhibition telling the story of the house and its estate throughout the ages. After exploring the house you can visit the lake and the noteworthy Cedar of Lebanon, one of the Great Trees of London.
After exploring the hall and gardens the walk then picks up the London Loop and follows it west along the Turkey Brook towards Whitewebbs Park. Here you'll find some nice woodland trails, an ornamental pond and some picturesque small lakes. The route then follows the old course of the New River to return to the hall. You can continue your walking along the man made river to the east of the hall by picking up the New River Path. The Enfield Walk starts from the nearby market town and visits the hall as well Whitewebbs Park and the New River. It's a nice way of visiting the hall by public transport and seeing some of the other highlights of the area.

Postcode

EN2 9HA - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Forty Hall OS Map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Forty Hall Open Street Map - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby

Photos

Forty Hall - geograph.org.uk - 9837

Forty Hall was built from 1629 for Sir Nicholas Rainton, a prominent member of the corporation of the City of London. It is now owned by the London Borough of Enfield, and its grounds make a popular open space. The house was completed in 1632/3 when Sir Nicholas and his family moved in. He was elected Lord Mayor of London in 1832 and was knighted in 1633. In 1634 he was made President of St Bartholomew's Hospital, which position he held until his death at Forty Hall in 1646. In 1640 he refused to lend money to Charles I and also refused to supply details of the wealth of his associates when requested to do so by the Crown. He was subsequently imprisoned, taken to Marshalsea and moved to the Tower of London with four other Alderman. 

Cedar of Lebanon, Forty Hall, Enfield - geograph.org.uk - 708717

Cedar of Lebanon, Forty Hall, Enfield. Large Cedar of Lebanon tree in Forty Hall grounds, which was planted in the mid-17th century. Unfortunately, one of the branches broke off a few months ago in a gale, but fortunately the tree was able to be saved.

Forty Hall, Enfield - geograph.org.uk - 39614

In 1642 Sir Nicholas Rainton turned down the offer of a place on the Committee of Safety on the grounds of "many employments" and retired to Forty Hall. Upon his death his nephew, also Nicholas, inherited the estate, although still a minor. Forty Hall has a beautiful garden with a wonderful display of rhododendrons in the Spring.

Entrance to Garden, Forty Hall, Enfield - geograph.org.uk - 731027

Entrance to Garden area. Behind the gateway into this garden you can see one of the smaller Cedar of Lebanon in this garden with the house just visible behind this tree. On the left are deciduous azaleas and a large wisteria.

Forty Hall Farm, Enfield - geograph.org.uk - 4439715

Forty Hall Farm

Lion Statue, Forty Hall, Enfield - geograph.org.uk - 2049217

Lion Statue in the grounds.

Coronation Garden, Forty Hall, Enfield - geograph.org.uk - 1843431

Coronation Garden in spring time

Walled Garden, Forty Hall, Enfield - geograph.org.uk - 3536894

Walled Garden

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Forty Hall.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>'Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Share>Save to Files')

Memory Map Route

Forty Hall.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>'Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Share>Save to Files)