Ponders End
Encyclopedia
Ponders End is a place in the London Borough of Enfield
, North London
located in an area generally known as the Lea Valley
. It is roughly located in the area either side of Hertford Road (High Street, Ponders End) between The Ride and the Boundary Public House (North to South) and Wharf Road and the Southbury railway station
/Kingsway (East to West).
map of 1822. It was recorded in 1593 as Ponders ende that is "end or quarter of the parish associated with the Ponder family" from the Middle English
ende. John Ponder is mentioned in a document of 1373; the surname is believed to be a " keeper of, or dweller by, a fish-pond or mill-pond ".
corridor and the close proximity of the River Lee Navigation
, industry gradually expanded in the 19th century. The first major firm to arrive was Grout, Baylis & Co established in Norwich
in 1807 who manufactured crape
and opened a dyeing and finishing plant in Ponders End two years later. The material which was used for the 19th century insatiable demand for widows' weeds
. Demand for the material went out of fashion by the late Victorian
times and the factory closed in 1894 to be taken over by the United Flexible Tubing Company. The next significant incomer was the London Jute Works Company who established a factory on the Navigation in a desolate area known locally as Spike Island, in 1866. Many of the new employees came from Dundee
the traditional centre of the jute
industry in Scotland
. The jute works closed in 1882 to be replaced by the Ediswan. Over the years the factory was enlarged, eventually covering 11.5 acres (4.7 ha). The factory employed many people, notably girls, from the area and produced appliances for the shipping
and aviation
industries, mechanical pianos, butter makers. However, electric lamps were the prime product and the factory was coloquially known as The Lamp. To the south of Ponder's End Lock
the White lead
factory was built in 1893. Further south was the Cortecine works that produced floor-cloth and carpet backing. By 1906 over 2000 thousand people were employed in the local factories. Another major industry in the latter years of the 19th century was horticulture
. Tomatoes and cucumbers were the principal produce but flowers and fruit were also grown in the many orchards and greenhouses to the north of the locality. During World War I
, a huge munitions factory, the Ponders End Shell Works was built in Wharf Road. The factory building was sold after the war. Further factories were built in the 1930s alongside the newly built Great Cambridge Road.
Today (2009) little remains of manufacturing and much of the area has given way to warehousing and residential developments. Aesica pharmaceutical manufacturers (formerly Thomas Morson Ltd) closed its plant in 2011. Wright's Flour Mill
, the oldest working industrial building in Enfield
remains, with present day buildings dating back to the 18th century.
On 7 August 2011 Ponders End was the scene of copy-cat riots which spread from Tottenham
to neighbouring districts.
was inspired to write his (2005) album Mu by his experiences in the Lea Valley
and Ponders End.
Ponders End Allotments Club is a track from the (1975) Chas and Dave
album One Fing 'n' Annuver.
which form the Edmonton parliamentary constituency
. The MP
for constituency is Andy Love
, Labour Co-op
who polled 21,665 votes (53.7%) at the General Election
held on 6 May 2010.
London Borough of Enfield
The London Borough of Enfield is the most northerly London borough and forms part of Outer London. It borders the London Boroughs of Barnet, Haringey and Waltham Forest...
, North London
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
located in an area generally known as the Lea Valley
Lea Valley
The Lea Valley, the valley of the River Lea, has been used as a transport corridor, a source of sand and gravel, an industrial area, a water supply for London, and a recreational area...
. It is roughly located in the area either side of Hertford Road (High Street, Ponders End) between The Ride and the Boundary Public House (North to South) and Wharf Road and the Southbury railway station
Southbury railway station
Southbury railway station is in the London Borough of Enfield in North London, and is in Travelcard Zone 5, on the Seven Sisters branch of the Lea Valley Lines...
/Kingsway (East to West).
Etymology
Ponders End marked thus on the Ordnance SurveyOrdnance Survey
Ordnance Survey , an executive agency and non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom, is the national mapping agency for Great Britain, producing maps of Great Britain , and one of the world's largest producers of maps.The name reflects its creation together with...
map of 1822. It was recorded in 1593 as Ponders ende that is "end or quarter of the parish associated with the Ponder family" from the Middle English
Middle English
Middle English is the stage in the history of the English language during the High and Late Middle Ages, or roughly during the four centuries between the late 11th and the late 15th century....
ende. John Ponder is mentioned in a document of 1373; the surname is believed to be a " keeper of, or dweller by, a fish-pond or mill-pond ".
History
Due to its location in the Lea ValleyLea Valley
The Lea Valley, the valley of the River Lea, has been used as a transport corridor, a source of sand and gravel, an industrial area, a water supply for London, and a recreational area...
corridor and the close proximity of the River Lee Navigation
River Lee Navigation
The Lee Navigation is a canalised river incorporating the River Lea . Its course runs from Hertford Castle Weir all the way to the River Thames at Bow Creek. The first lock of the navigation is Hertford Lock the last being Bow Locks....
, industry gradually expanded in the 19th century. The first major firm to arrive was Grout, Baylis & Co established in Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
in 1807 who manufactured crape
Crape
Crape is a silk, wool, or polyester fabric of a gauzy texture, having a peculiar crisp or crimpy appearance....
and opened a dyeing and finishing plant in Ponders End two years later. The material which was used for the 19th century insatiable demand for widows' weeds
Mourning
Mourning is, in the simplest sense, synonymous with grief over the death of someone. The word is also used to describe a cultural complex of behaviours in which the bereaved participate or are expected to participate...
. Demand for the material went out of fashion by the late Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
times and the factory closed in 1894 to be taken over by the United Flexible Tubing Company. The next significant incomer was the London Jute Works Company who established a factory on the Navigation in a desolate area known locally as Spike Island, in 1866. Many of the new employees came from Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
the traditional centre of the jute
Jute
Jute is a long, soft, shiny vegetable fibre that can be spun into coarse, strong threads. It is produced from plants in the genus Corchorus, which has been classified in the family Tiliaceae, or more recently in Malvaceae....
industry in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The jute works closed in 1882 to be replaced by the Ediswan. Over the years the factory was enlarged, eventually covering 11.5 acres (4.7 ha). The factory employed many people, notably girls, from the area and produced appliances for the shipping
Shipping
Shipping has multiple meanings. It can be a physical process of transporting commodities and merchandise goods and cargo, by land, air, and sea. It also can describe the movement of objects by ship.Land or "ground" shipping can be by train or by truck...
and aviation
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
industries, mechanical pianos, butter makers. However, electric lamps were the prime product and the factory was coloquially known as The Lamp. To the south of Ponder's End Lock
Ponder's End Lock
Ponder's End Lock is a paired lock on the River Lee Navigation in England and is located near Ponders End, London. It is the last lock upstream that is large enough to take barges of up to 130 tons.- History :...
the White lead
White lead
White lead is the chemical compound 2·Pb2. It was formerly used as an ingredient for lead paint and a cosmetic called Venetian Ceruse, because its opaque quality made it a good pigment. However, it tended to cause lead poisoning, and its use has been banned in most countries.White lead has been...
factory was built in 1893. Further south was the Cortecine works that produced floor-cloth and carpet backing. By 1906 over 2000 thousand people were employed in the local factories. Another major industry in the latter years of the 19th century was horticulture
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
. Tomatoes and cucumbers were the principal produce but flowers and fruit were also grown in the many orchards and greenhouses to the north of the locality. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, a huge munitions factory, the Ponders End Shell Works was built in Wharf Road. The factory building was sold after the war. Further factories were built in the 1930s alongside the newly built Great Cambridge Road.
Today (2009) little remains of manufacturing and much of the area has given way to warehousing and residential developments. Aesica pharmaceutical manufacturers (formerly Thomas Morson Ltd) closed its plant in 2011. Wright's Flour Mill
Wright's Flour Mill
Wright's Flour Mill is located at Wharf Road Ponders End which is part of the London Borough of Enfield. It is Enfield's oldest working industrial building.- History :...
, the oldest working industrial building in Enfield
London Borough of Enfield
The London Borough of Enfield is the most northerly London borough and forms part of Outer London. It borders the London Boroughs of Barnet, Haringey and Waltham Forest...
remains, with present day buildings dating back to the 18th century.
On 7 August 2011 Ponders End was the scene of copy-cat riots which spread from Tottenham
Tottenham
Tottenham is an area of the London Borough of Haringey, England, situated north north east of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:Tottenham is believed to have been named after Tota, a farmer, whose hamlet was mentioned in the Domesday Book; hence Tota's hamlet became Tottenham...
to neighbouring districts.
Popular culture
Musician Jah WobbleJah Wobble
Jah Wobble is an English bass guitarist, singer, poet and composer. He became known to a wider audience as the original bass player in Public Image Ltd in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but left the band after two albums...
was inspired to write his (2005) album Mu by his experiences in the Lea Valley
Lea Valley
The Lea Valley, the valley of the River Lea, has been used as a transport corridor, a source of sand and gravel, an industrial area, a water supply for London, and a recreational area...
and Ponders End.
Ponders End Allotments Club is a track from the (1975) Chas and Dave
Chas and Dave
Chas & Dave are an English pop rock duo, most notable as creators and performers of a musical style labelled "rockney", which mixes "pub singalong, music-hall humour, boogie-woogie piano and pre-Beatles rock 'n' roll"...
album One Fing 'n' Annuver.
Historic buildings
- Wright's Flour MillWright's Flour MillWright's Flour Mill is located at Wharf Road Ponders End which is part of the London Borough of Enfield. It is Enfield's oldest working industrial building.- History :...
The oldest working industrial building in Enfield. - Ponders End Pumping Station. Built in 1899 by the East London Waterworks CompanyEast London Waterworks CompanyThe East London Waterworks Company was one of eight private water companies in London absorbed by the Metropolitan Water Board in 1904.The company was founded by Act of Parliament in 1806, and in 1845 the limits of supply were described as "all those portions of the Metropolis, and its suburbs,...
. In 1995 the half-timberedTimber framingTimber framing , or half-timbering, also called in North America "post-and-beam" construction, is the method of creating structures using heavy squared off and carefully fitted and joined timbers with joints secured by large wooden pegs . It is commonplace in large barns...
building was converted into a public housePublic houseA public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
. The Navigation is now an outlet of the HarvesterHarvester (restaurant)Harvester Restaurants is a popular family farmhouse-style licensed restaurant chain with more than 170 outlets in the United Kingdom.-History:-Courage:...
chain. It is located on the banks of the River Lee Navigation with views towards the grassed embankment of the King George V ReservoirKing George V ReservoirThe King George V Reservoir, also known as King George's Reservoir, is located in the London Borough of Enfield and is part of the Lee Valley Reservoir Chain that supplies London with drinking water...
, and close to Ponder's End LockPonder's End LockPonder's End Lock is a paired lock on the River Lee Navigation in England and is located near Ponders End, London. It is the last lock upstream that is large enough to take barges of up to 130 tons.- History :...
.
Nearest places
- BrimsdownBrimsdownBrimsdown is a place in the London Borough of Enfield, North London generally known as the Lea Valley. The Brimsdown area is roughly located in the area either side of Mollison Avenue, to Bilton Way, just south of Ordnance Road, extending as far south as the Mollison Avenue/Jeffreys Road roundabout...
- Enfield HighwayEnfield HighwayEnfield Highway is an area in the London Borough of Enfield, North London. It is roughly located in the area either side of Hertford Road between Hoe Lane and The Ride.-Etymology:...
- Edmonton, LondonEdmonton, LondonEdmonton is an area in the east of the London Borough of Enfield, England, north-north-east of Charing Cross. It has a long history as a settlement distinct from Enfield.-Location:...
- Enfield TownEnfield TownEnfield Town is the historic town centre of Enfield, formerly in the county of Middlesex and now in the London Borough of Enfield. It is north north-east of Charing Cross...
- Bush Hill ParkBush Hill ParkBush Hill Park is a locality within the London Borough of Enfield. Situated mile south east of Enfield Town and immediately to the west of the branch railway line from Edmonton Green to Enfield Town which forms a boundary between the historic parishes of Enfield and Edmonton. Much of the district...
- ChingfordChingfordChingford is a district of north east London, bordering on Enfield and Edmonton to the west, Woodford to the east, Walthamstow and Stratford to the south and Essex to the north. It is situated northeast of Charing Cross and forms part of the London Borough of Waltham Forest...
Watercourses
- River Lee NavigationRiver Lee NavigationThe Lee Navigation is a canalised river incorporating the River Lea . Its course runs from Hertford Castle Weir all the way to the River Thames at Bow Creek. The first lock of the navigation is Hertford Lock the last being Bow Locks....
- The Overflow Channel is approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) long. Flowing from the River Lee Navigation above Ponders End Lock across South Marsh close to the King George V ReservoirKing George V ReservoirThe King George V Reservoir, also known as King George's Reservoir, is located in the London Borough of Enfield and is part of the Lee Valley Reservoir Chain that supplies London with drinking water...
and following the western perimeter of the William Girling ReservoirWilliam Girling ReservoirThe William Girling Reservoir is located in the London Borough of Enfield and is part of the Lee Valley Reservoir Chain that supplies London with drinking water. It is named after William Girling OBE, a chairman of the Metropolitan Water Board . The reservoir and the nearby King George V Reservoir...
to merge with the River Lee DiversionRiver Lee DiversionThe River Lee Diversion is located in the Lea Valley, close to Enfield Lock and to the north east corner of the King George V Reservoir.- History :...
at EdmontonEdmonton, LondonEdmonton is an area in the east of the London Borough of Enfield, England, north-north-east of Charing Cross. It has a long history as a settlement distinct from Enfield.-Location:...
.
Nearest railway stations
- Angel Road railway stationAngel Road railway stationAngel Road railway station is in the London Borough of Enfield at Edmonton in north east London, and is in Travelcard Zone 4, on the Tottenham Hale branch of the Lea Valley Lines. The station, and all trains serving it, is operated by National Express East Anglia. It is partially located beneath...
- Brimsdown railway stationBrimsdown railway stationBrimsdown railway station is in the London Borough of Enfield in north east London. The station is in Travelcard Zone 5, on the Tottenham Hale branch of the Lea Valley Lines, 17 km north of London Liverpool Street...
- Edmonton Green railway stationEdmonton Green railway stationEdmonton Green railway station is a station in the London Borough of Enfield in north east London on the White Hart Lane branch of the Lea Valley Lines. The station and all trains serving it are operated by National Express East Anglia...
- Ponders End railway stationPonders End railway stationPonders End railway station is in the London Borough of Enfield in north east London at Ponders End, and is in Travelcard Zone 5, on the Tottenham Hale branch of the Lea Valley Lines, north of London Liverpool Street. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by National Express East...
- Southbury railway stationSouthbury railway stationSouthbury railway station is in the London Borough of Enfield in North London, and is in Travelcard Zone 5, on the Seven Sisters branch of the Lea Valley Lines...
Notable people
- John HollowbreadJohn HollowbreadJohn Frederick Hollowbread was a football goalkeeper who played for Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton.-Playing career:...
, footballer - Christopher Hughes, former MastermindMastermind (TV series)Mastermind is a British quiz show, well known for its challenging questions, intimidating setting and air of seriousness.Devised by Bill Wright, the basic format of Mastermind has never changed — four and in later contests five contestants face two rounds, one on a specialised subject of the...
and International MastermindInternational MastermindInternational Mastermind was an international spin-off of the BBC Mastermind quiz show.-History:The 1979 competition was a one-off series hosted by Magnús Magnússon involving the winners of Mastermind from around the world, including UK Mastermind champions David Hunt and Rosemary James, or winners...
winner both in 1983. - Dave PeacockDave PeacockDavid Victor "Dave" Peacock is an English musician and bass guitarist, he was raised in Ponders End and the Freezywater areas of Enfield. Peacock is best known as having been one half of the English musical duo, Chas & Dave from 1975 to 2009....
, musician. - Norman TebbitNorman TebbitNorman Beresford Tebbit, Baron Tebbit, CH, PC , is a British politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he served in the Cabinet from 1981 to 1987 as Secretary of State for Employment...
, politician
Local newspapers
The local newspapers are as of 2011-| Newspaper | Link |
|---|---|
| Enfield Independent | |
| Enfield Advertiser | |
Politics
After boundary changes in 2010 - Ponders End became one of seven wardsWards of the United Kingdom
A ward in the United Kingdom is an electoral district at sub-national level represented by one or more councillors. It is the primary unit of British administrative and electoral geography .-England:...
which form the Edmonton parliamentary constituency
Edmonton (UK Parliament constituency)
Edmonton is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-History:...
. The MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for constituency is Andy Love
Andy Love
Andrew McCulloch Love is a British Labour Co-operative politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Edmonton since 1997, winning in 2010 with 53.7% of the vote.-Early life:...
, Labour Co-op
Labour Co-operative
Labour and Co-operative describes those candidates in British elections standing on behalf of both the Labour Party and the Co-operative Party, based on a national agreement between the two parties....
who polled 21,665 votes (53.7%) at the General Election
United Kingdom general elections
This is a list of United Kingdom general elections since the first in 1802. The members of the 1801–1802 Parliament had been elected to the former Parliament of Great Britain and Parliament of Ireland, before being co-opted to serve in the first Parliament of the United Kingdom, so that Parliament...
held on 6 May 2010.
- Ponders End consists of five polling districts, with six polling stations.
Schools
- Secondary schoolSecondary schoolSecondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
s: No secondary schools in the area. The nearest secondary schools are Bishop Stopfords School and Kingsmead School. It has been proposed that a new academy, Oasis Academy Hadley, planned to be opened by the Oasis TrustOasis TrustOasis Trust is a UK-based Christian registered charity. It was founded by Rev Steve Chalke in August 1985, who had been assistant minister at Tonbridge Baptist Church, Kent, for four years...
on the site of Albany School in Enfield WashEnfield WashEnfield Wash is an area in the London Borough of Enfield, North London. It is approximately located in the area either side of Hertford Road between Turkey Street and Albany Road.- Etymology :...
should move to Ponders End in 2012.
- Primary Schools: Brimsdown Primary School, St Mary's RC Primary School, Alma Primary School, Southbury Primary School, St Matthew's CoE Primary School.
- Special schools: Waverley School.
Higher education
- Middlesex UniversityMiddlesex UniversityMiddlesex University is a university in north London, England. It is located in the historic county boundaries of Middlesex from which it takes its name. It is one of the post-1992 universities and is a member of Million+ working group...
, Enfield Campus (now closed) - The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East LondonThe College of Haringey, Enfield and North East LondonThe College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London is a college of further and higher education, based over two centres in Tottenham and Enfield in North London, England. The college was created on 1 August 2009, as a result of a merger between Enfield College and The College of North East London...
Places of worship
- Church of St Matthew, Church of EnglandChurch of EnglandThe Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
- Church of Mary, Mother of God, Roman Catholic church
- Ponders End MosqueMosqueA mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...