An estate on the verge of a multi-million pound refurbishment is hoping to become the “jewel in the crown” of Enfield.

“What are they doing up there? There is always something going on but it never seems finished” are words often said to Lorraine Cox, manager of Forty Hall.

But now the manager says the estate is at last close to completion after years of refurbishment.

After gaining £1.8 million for the park Heritage Lottery Fund in December 2011, Ms Cox set about restoring the Grade II listed Forty Hall to its original glory.

However, the park was unsuccessful in obtaining a grant for the rest of the park for almost a year.

Ms Cox said: “It has been two major projects separated in two big chunks but everything is coming together.”

With the lake reworked, car park redeveloped and a host of other work to the park, Ms Cox is now hoping to attract more people to “one of the finest places” in the capital.

The park's front entrance has been expanded and Ms Cox hopes to beat last year's visitor total of 50,000.

She said: “It is not often that you get the chance to work on a project that will influence generations to come. The hall is hundreds of years old and has a fantastic history so to be able to shape its future has been amazing.

“There are several local residents who are gathering together to get a petition to send to TfL to get the bus route brought closer to the hall so people can get here more easily and more often.

“People need to see what an amazing place this is and not forget one of the finest places in London.”