Did you know we have displays in three of the borough’s hub libraries?

Working with Museum Volunteers, local community groups, organisations and residents, these displays aim to showcase even more of the borough’s collection, heritage, and culture.

Keep an eye out for updates on new displays here!

What’s on at Ordnance Unity Centre Library

Ground Floor

New display coming soon!

First Floor

FREE Displays

Albany School, 1939 to 2009

Albany School opened on the 8th June 1939 as a senior elementary school. It became a secondary modern after the 1944 Act. There were originally separate boys’ and girls’ departments. The school became comprehensive and fully co-educational in 1967. The establishment closed on 31st August 2009, but its legacy lives on in the memories of its alumni through Facebook groups and school reunions.

This display showcases just some of the school memorabilia in our collection.

Home Decoration and Wallpaper in Enfield: 18th to 20th century

Domestic decoration, whether in the form of ceramic tiles or decorative brickwork provides a window into the social history of the area. Before the introduction of mass-produced synthetic wall coverings homeowners in Enfield used artisan hand crafted block print wallpaper. The most elaborate and costly designs would use dozens of wood or metal blocks to build up coloured layers in a process that could take weeks. Blocks and stencils would also be used to apply glue onto which dyed wool powder was sprinkled to create ‘Flocked’ wallpaper.

Avon Calling!

Avon Products was founded in New York in 1886 by David Hall McConnell (1858-1937) who while working in the door-to-door book selling business discovered there was a market for perfumes and toiletries. Originally the company was called the California Perfume Company as McConnell’s business partner wrote to him that the state was abundant with flowers.

At first the Avon company used plain glass bottles for perfumes, though limited-edition box sets soon proved popular with collectors. These bottles came in all shapes and sizes and included lamps, clocks, and furniture. Many of the designs mimicked fashions in designs and materials from other areas of the collectible’s markets, figurines such as Ballerinas and Geishas, dog breeds and animals and antiques. Mint condition bottles unopened in their original boxes are the most valued by collectors.

Both the Avon Calling and Home Decoration and Wallpaper in Enfield displays have been curated by Museum Volunteer Piers Masterson