Enfield Caribbean Association has contributed a number of materials to the Enfield Local Studies Centre and Archives based at the Ridge Avenue Library in Winchmore Hill. ECA chair Oveta McInnis personally presented the items to John Clark, Local Studies Officer and Archivist. ECA has given a copy of our books Windrush Voices and Windrush Wonders, together with copies of the Windrush Voices podcasts, film documentary produced by ECA, together with brochures from past activities including Black History Month events to Enfield Archives.

According to Clark, “Enfield local studies and archives exist to identify, acquire and preserve archival materials that document the history of the London Borough of Enfield. We make these records available to the benefit of Enfield's residents and visitors.”

Clark welcomed ECA’s contribution to the archives and indicated that there is a lack of black and minority ethnic archive materials at the centre, despite Enfield’s diverse ethnic population.

Oveta McInnis said, “Black and other people of colour have made a massive contribution to all aspects of life in Enfield, London and the whole UK. It is important that their contribution is documented and noted. One way of achieving this is by African and Caribbean groups in the borough and elsewhere, contributing materials to their local history societies or archives. This is just a small step to ensure future generations understand and learn about the contributions of the current generation.“

Enfield has had a long and interesting history. In Roman times there was Ermine Street, a road running from London to Lincoln which passed through both Enfield and Edmonton. The Normans in their Domesday Survey of 1086 mentioned both Enfield and Edmonton.

Enfield Local Studies Centre and Archives is based at Ridge Avenue Library, Winchmore Hill, Enfield, London N21 2RH. Phone 0208 132 1226