Blackheath
Village hall
Not really, but there is the Age Exchange centre on the High Street that acts as a sort of village hall for old people. The former parish hall is now the Mary Evans Picture Library. 4/10
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Cricket pitch
Blackheath CC plays a few miles down the road in Charlton. Locals brag that Blackheath is where golf was introduced to England, with the formation of the Royal Blackheath Golf Club in 1608. 1/10
Village green
The heath is far too large to be a proper communal space (although there is a bandstand). However, it was a rallying point for the Peasants’ Revolt (1381) and Jack Cade’s Rebellion (1450). 4/10
Local pub
Abutting the heath 100 yards out of town is the splendid Princess of Wales (1a Montpelier Row, SE3, 020 8297 5911). There are claims that the world’s first rugby union club was founded here in 1858. 8/10
Feature continues
Post office
A perfect example of the genre, located right opposite the village library, just as it should be. 10/10
Church
The imposing All Saints (1857-67) is the only building located on the heath itself. It stands on its own at the edge of the heath and makes no attempt to relate to nearby buildings. 9/10
Local bobby
We didn’t see one, but the Met tells us that the officer in charge of Blackheath is Sergeant James Yaxley, who operates out of Lewisham nick, where he is in rather greater demand. 5/10
Annual fête
Blackheath Fair was a biannual event that in 1837 featured an appearance by Spring Heeled Jack who tore the blouse off one Polly Adams. These days there’s less blouse-tearing when it takes place in May. 7/10
Village idiot
A chap stands at the crossing by the greengrocers every Saturday, holding a sign that says ‘Stop Killing the World’, which is good advice if annoyingly imprecise. 2/10
Village people
Blackheath is surely the only place in London where the tea hut on the station platform has pavement seating and plays classical music to customers. This is a place that works hard at being posh. 7/10
Local's verdict
‘We have a butcher, a post office and a bakery, as well as curtain-twitchers. You suddenly feel compelled to talk to your neighbours or join the Neighbourhood Watch – things you’ve watched your mum do for years but never thought you’d emulate.’ Anna Vickerstaff, Blackheath resident
Total 57/100
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18 comments
How horrible of you to call Lenny the village idiot. He is well known and liked in Enfield. He'll talk to you about anything and has a wicked sense of humour. Good luck with the record Lenny!!!
Lenny is by all means NOT an idiot - he is our friend! He has been around since my sister was my age (12) and she is now 21. I hope he is around for many more years!
And Enfield is the best so don't try and beat us the rest of you - or ELSE!!! dum dum DUM!
Also don't forget the great free New River Festival on the 7th July on the banks of the Enfield Town New River loop (opposite Central Library).
Great arts event for all to enjoy.
It's great to hear you all like the Enfield Autumn Show so much.
Just to let you all know it will be on again on 8-9 September 2007. We've got even more great live music and spectacular events planned.
If you are interested in participating in the event (with a stand etc) email me on evan.kypreos@enfield.gov.uk putting Timeout - EAS in the subject bar.
Thanks
Lenny is not an idiot! His knowledge for music and T.V from the 60's & 70's is second to none! He even knows of the new music and how poor it is compared to the old! He knows everything thats going on in the town and probably knows more about the history of Enfield Town than any other person living there. A charismatic and witty guy he is, you'd love his jokes!
If you're looking for a decent bar in the area- FORM opposite the town station is surely the best??- Fab cocktails, good music and pretty special decor. highly recommendable.
Has Time Out got an agenda in voting George Galloway 'village idiot'? I suppose the more than 15,000 people who voted him in as their MP are also idiots? I think you should have left politics out of this - most people share Mr Galloway's views on the important issues such as Iraq and Tony Blair (just look at the polls).
Lenny is the eyes and ears of Enfield and always knows 'whats going down' before it appears in the local papers. His knowlege of punk music is second to none and is very articulate and witty. The only idiot is the talentless hack calling Lenny one.
Glad to see Enfield is finally getting some recognition, after years of dismissal and merciless heckling at the hands of Guardian journalists and Radio 4 commentators ('Enfield is the only place in Britain where stone cladding adds value to your house')
How could you not have found out about the Enfield Town Show?! It's fabulous! And Lenny is not an idiot.
Where is dear old Muswell Hill? It is surely the quintessential London village with fine locals, a cricket pitch, a handful of little churches, woodland areas, a high street geared towards sole traders (mainly), and one of the village church halls has a local Am Dram Society! Go there and watch a naff old play and have old biddies serve you tea and biscuits in the interval. Muswell Hill has a butcher, a baker, and no candlestick maker. visit the village with the mossy well and all within zone 3! blimey!
Enfield is a great place to live. But no fete, eh? Then what about the Enfield Autumn Show in the Town park, Sept. each year, this year 9-10 Sept. A super day out. (And Lenny is by no means an idiot. That was mean of you!)
How can you have missed out Ealing's Brentham Estate? It's a perfect example of a garden suburb! I grew up there and returned recently (15 years later) to find it as beautiful as I remembered.
Disappointed with result as in the past it was top village in your mag. We still have the arts club running and a writers' group. Can I just post these two links to the events in the area? www.walthamstowfestival.com
www.e17arttrail.co.uk
Please advertise them, in this current climate we need good vibes. Simone, a resident since 2002
What about Hampstead Garden Suburb? That's an area of london which was practically designed to be a village!
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