Forty Hall in Enfield opens its doors after £4m revamp
5:24pm Tuesday 3rd July 2012 in Where I Live
By David Hardiman, Reporter
(l-r) Councillor Bambos Charalambous, Mayor of Enfield Kate Anolue and council leader Councillor Doug Taylor formally reopen the building.
Visitors to Forty Hall were given guided tours by costumed characters as the landmark reopened its doors on Sunday following a £4million refurbishment.
Mayor of Enfield Councillor Kate Anolue was on hand to formally reopen the 17th Century manor house after a one-and-a-half year revamp to restore the building to its original designs.
Morris and maypole dancers, music performances, and large-scale period games were among the activities for the event.
The surrounding park is also going through a £2m renovation after winning a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund late last year, with work to reveal the ruins of the Tudor-era Elsyng Palace and the hiring of a conservation officer to teach the history of the site to visitors, in a bid to make the grounds into a major attraction.
The refurbishment involves the rooms returning to their original Jacobean alignments and the 17th and 18th Century interiors brought back. The house also has been made fully accessible for the first time with a lift installed.
The council also wants to encourage youngsters to take up work placements, training and apprenticeships set to be introduced at the landmark.
