Enfield Council has been awarded more than half a million pounds of lottery money to pay for the first phase of its project to "unlock Broomfield Park for the community", which includes "memorializing" Broomfield House.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded to Enfield Council the sum required for the "development project" stage of its bid to "memorialize" Broomfield House, which has been in a ruined conditions since the 1980s. The award of £532,490 will help the council progress their plans to apply for a full National Lottery grant of £3,672,231 at a later date. The project will include developing a plan for dismantling the derelict, burnt-out shell of Broomfield House and "reconnecting the House and Park through memorialization, interpretation, and landscaping", which will include restoration of the Baroque water garden.
The project has been developed in collaboration with the Friends of Broomfield Park, Broomfield House Trust, Enfield Society, Southgate District Civic Voice and councillors who helped steer and shape the application.
Unlocking Broomfield Park for the Community
Applicant: London Borough Of Enfield
Project Description: A landscape and nature project to repair and conserve key features of Grade II listed ‘Baroque’ Broomfield Park in Palmers Green, Enfield. The remains of Grade II* listed Broomfield House and the lakes would be conserved, reintroducing the historic garden boundary in the original Baroque style. The project would also offer a programme of heritage and nature-themed health and wellbeing activities, and a hoarding project to involve young people in decisions about the park.
Decision: Award development grant of £532,490 (88%) and potential delivery grant of £3,672,231 (89%)
Source: Announcement on the National Lottery Heritage Fund website.
Enfield Council’s cabinet member for open spaces, culture and local economy, Cllr Chinelo Anyanwu, said: “Enfield Council is committed to nurturing our arts, heritage and creative sectors to connect people through culture.
“During the development phase of this project, the Council will work with the local community to produce a shared vision for the memorialization of Broomfield House and its integration back into the historic park.
“For too many years, the shell of the House has stood with little purpose and no connection to the people who use the park. This project will finally address the issue of the House and reinvigorate the area while acknowledging its importance to the people of Enfield.”
Local people will be encouraged to get involved in a range of activities including heritage and nature themed health and wellbeing schemes; a community archaeology dig; a mural hoardings project and engagement with young people in decisions about the park.
Stuart McLeod, Director of England - London and South at the National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “We believe that investing in heritage means investing in the community it belongs to. It has the power to make our communities better places to live, bringing a sense of pride of place and this project in Enfield is no exception. It will not only see this Grade II listed park brought back to life but also engage with its community in new ways. We look forward to working with the team to progress their plans to apply for a full grant at a later date.”
Colin Younger, chair of the Broomfield House Trust, told the Enfield Dispatch: "It is very good news. It will break a logjam we have been stuck with for many years. We are sad it has not been possible to restore or renovate the house but that was clearly not going to be fundable."
Links
What next for Broomfield House and Park? (Palmers Green Community 18 September 2023)
