Way back when, Enfield was a market town in the county of Middlesex. People shot deer, grew turnips, and built big houses. Then, in 1965, as part of the London Government Act, Enfield was merged with Southgate and Edmonton to form the London Borough of Enfield. Poof! It became part of Greater London—a new county created to handle London’s sprawl.
But here’s the irony: Greater London is a county in name only. It doesn’t have a county council or a Lord Lieutenant that goes “Tally-ho!” over the hills. It’s more of a ceremonial rectangle. Meanwhile, Middlesex—the dead county—still exists as a ceremonial county for things like Lieutenancy and shrievalty. Yes, really. Middlesex is dead, long live Middlesex.
What to Tell Your Confused Friend from Australia
If you want to be technically correct (and slightly pedantic), say: “Enfield is in the ceremonial county of Greater London, but historically it’s in Middlesex.” If you want to be charmingly vague, say: “It’s kind of a London borough, but feels like Hertfordshire’s awkward cousin.” Either way, you’ll sound smarter than me in that pub.
Enfield - London borough map – Maproom
I’d also add a wink and a shrug—because honestly, who decided that a place can be in two counties at once? The same people who gave us roundabouts, I bet. (And yes, the postal address for Enfield still says “Middx” on many a Royal Mail letter, just to confuse generation Z.)
