The London Borough of Redbridge was formed in 1965 from the old boroughs of Ilford and of Wanstead and Woodford, places named in records from the 1060s and the Domesday Book. Its history includes fords and bridges over the River Roding, Valentines Mansion (built in 1696), barges reaching Ilford Bridge from 1737, the railway doubling Woodford's population, the Central line arriving in 1947, and the Plessey electronics company, which had 15,000 workers in 1955.
Oldest first
Newest first
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Anglo-Saxons and Vikings
410 – 1066
1062
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Wudeford
Woodford's name is first recorded in 1062 as Wudeford. The ford was where a minor Roman road from London crossed the River Roding.
From the records: “Woodford appears in the 1086 Domesday Book as Wdefort, although its earliest recorded use is earlier in 1062 as Wudeford.”
1065
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Wenstede
Wanstead's name is first recorded in a charter of 1065 as Wenstede. The name is probably Saxon.
From the records: “The place name is probably of Saxon origin and is first recorded in a charter of 1065 as Wenstede.”
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Middle Ages
1066 – 1485
1086
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Ilefort in the Domesday Book
Ilford is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Ilefort, meaning 'ford over the Hyle'. Hyle is an old Celtic name for the River Roding that means 'trickling stream'. Woodford is in the same book as Wdefort.
From the records: “The name is first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Ilefort and means "ford over the Hyle". "Hyle" is an old Celtic name for the River Roding that means "trickling stream".”
1100s
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A church at Woodford
From Saxon times up to the 1500s, the parish of Woodford was controlled by the Abbot of Waltham. The first known mention of a church in Woodford dates from the 1100s.
From the records: “The parish was controlled from Saxon times up to the 16th century by the Abbot of Waltham and the first known reference to a church in Woodford dates from the 12th century.”
Late 1100s
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Part of Barking
By the late 1100s the manor of Barking was served by two ancient parishes, Barking and Dagenham. Ilford was part of the parish of Barking.
From the records: “By the late 1100s (the parishes of England were, with a few exceptions, fixed for around 700 years from the late 12th century onwards) the huge manor of Barking was served by two ancient parishes, Barking (including Ilford) and Dagenham.”
1238
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A bridge for the ford
By 1238 the ford across the River Roding at Woodford had been replaced with a bridge. By 1805 part of the district was called Woodford Bridge.
From the records: “The ford refers to where a minor Roman road from London crossed the River Roding, which was replaced with a bridge by 1238; this led to the renaming of part of the district as Woodford Bridge by 1805.”
1400s
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Near the royal forest
Epping Forest, where members of the royal family traditionally hunted, made Woodford attractive to Londoners. From the 1400s wealthy Londoners started to build mansions there.
From the records: “The easy access to Epping Forest, a large forest near London where members of the royal family traditionally hunted has made it attractive to Londoners since the 15th century, when wealthy Londoners started to build mansions there.”
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Tudors and Stuarts
1485 – 1714
1540
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The abbey's lands are passed on
After Waltham Abbey was dissolved in 1540, its lands passed to people who were not monks or priests.
From the records: “After the dissolution of Waltham Abbey in 1540, the monastic lands passed to laymen.”
1600s
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The Valentines Park Field Maple
A field maple tree was planted in the 1600s in what is now Valentines Park. It is one of the Great Trees of London.
From the records: “It is also home to the Valentines Park Field Maple, planted in the 17th century and one of the Great Trees of London.”
1653
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A village of 50 houses
By 1653 Ilford was a compact village of 50 houses, mostly north and south of today's Broadway. The area was distinctly rural.
From the records: “By 1653, Ilford was a compact village of 50 houses, mostly sited north and south of the current Broadway and the area was distinctly rural.”
1696
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Valentines Mansion
Valentines Mansion was built in 1696 for Lady Tillotson, the widow of John Tillotson, Archbishop of Canterbury. Its grounds later became Valentines Park.
From the records: “Valentines Mansion was built in 1696 for Lady Tillotson, the widow of John Tillotson, Archbishop of Canterbury.”
About 1700
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A place for the well-off
From about 1700, Wanstead became a home for well-off people who had business in London. It has been called the 'Geographical and social high point of East London'.
From the records: “From about 1700 onwards, it became a place of residence for affluent people who had business in London; this wealth, together with its elevated position, has led to it being called the "Geographical and social high point of East London".”
Early 1700s
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The Naked Beauty
Hurst House on Salway Hill, Woodford, is also known as 'The Naked Beauty'. Its central block was finished in the early 1700s and its side wings were added later in the same century. It was restored in the 1930s, then damaged by fire a few years later.
From the records: “An example of the kind of grand house typical of pre-19th century Woodford is Hurst House, also known as 'The Naked Beauty', which stands on Salway Hill, now part of Woodford High Road.”
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Georgians
1714 – 1837
1716
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The George
There has been a pub called The George in Wanstead since at least 1716. Today's building is from 1903.
From the records: “Although current building is from 1903, The George has been a pub on the site since at least 1716.”
1721
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Mending the road
In 1721 the Middlesex and Essex Turnpike Trust took on the repair of Woodford's 'upper road', which was less used than the 'lower road', and extended it to Whitechapel.
From the records: “The 'upper road', being less used than the 'lower road' was probably in a worse condition, and the Middlesex and Essex Turnpike Trust undertook its repair and overhaul in 1721, and extended it to Whitechapel.”
1737
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Barges on the Roding
From 1737 the River Roding was made navigable for barges as far as Ilford Bridge.
From the records: “The River Roding was made navigable for barges as far as Ilford Bridge from 1737.”
About 1760–1780
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A ship owner at Valentines
For twenty years until around 1780, Valentines Mansion was the family home of Sir Charles Raymond. He was a ship owner with interests in the East India Company, and later became a banker.
From the records: “For twenty years until around 1780 it was the family home of Sir Charles Raymond who had considerable interests in the East India Company as a ship owner and later became a banker.”
1790
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St Mary the Virgin
The church of St Mary the Virgin in Wanstead was completed in 1790.
From the records: “The church of St Mary the Virgin, Wanstead was completed in 1790.”
1801–1841
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Ilford grows
In 1801 Ilford had 1,724 people. By 1841 it had 3,742.
From the records: “In 1801 the population of Ilford was 1,724 and by 1841 it had grown to 3,742.”
1828
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Woodford New Road
In 1828 the Turnpike Trust built the Woodford New Road from Walthamstow to Woodford Wells. Soon after, it was joined to the new Epping New Road.
From the records: “In 1828, the Trust built the 'Woodford New Road' from Walthamstow to Woodford Wells, and was soon after connected to the newly built Epping New Road.”
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Victorians
1837 – 1901
1845–1855
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The Commercial Travellers Schools
The Royal Commercial Travellers Schools were in Wanstead from their foundation in 1845 by John Robert Cuffley until they moved to Pinner in 1855.
From the records: “The Royal Commercial Travellers Schools were sited in Wanstead from their foundation in 1845 by John Robert Cuffley until their move to Pinner in 1855.”
1862
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The Merchant Navy School
The Royal Merchant Navy School was founded in St George in the East, London, in 1827. In 1862 it moved to Hermon Hill, Wanstead.
From the records: “The Royal Merchant Navy School was founded in St George in the East, London in 1827 before moving to Hermon Hill, Wanstead in 1862.”
1874
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Three new churches
Woodford doubled its population in the middle and later 1800s because the railway arrived. Three churches were built there in 1874: a Congregational church, a Methodist church and the Church of All Saints.
From the records: “In fact Woodford doubled its population in the middle and later decades of the 19th century due to the arrival of the railway.”
1888
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Ilford on its own
In 1888 Ilford and its eastern neighbour, Chadwell, were split from Barking and formed a separate Ilford parish. In 1894 it became an urban district.
From the records: “In 1888, Ilford and the neighbouring ward of Chadwell to its east were split from Barking and together formed a separate Ilford civil parish.”
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The World Wars
1901 – 1945
1906
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The last family at Valentines
Valentines Mansion stayed a family house until its last inhabitant, Sarah Ingleby, died on 3 January 1906.
From the records: “The house remained a family house until Sarah Ingleby, its last inhabitant, died on 3 January 1906.”
1919
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Plessey comes to Ilford
The radio, electronics and telecommunications company Plessey was founded in Marylebone in 1917. It moved to Ilford early in 1919 and became one of the largest makers in its field. In 1955 it had 15,000 workers in Ilford and nearby.
From the records: “The radio, electronics and telecommunications company Plessey, founded in 1917 in Marylebone, moved to Cottenham Road in Ilford early in 1919 and then to Vicarage Lane where it became one of the largest manufacturers in its field.”
1921
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The bridge that gave a name
Redbridge is named after a bridge over the River Roding. The bridge was knocked down in 1921.
From the records: “The name comes from a bridge over the River Roding which was demolished in 1921.”
1921–1926
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The Becontree Estate
The London County Council started building the Becontree Estate in 1921. 2,500 of its houses were in Ilford, and by 1926 they had added 11,600 people to Ilford's population.
From the records: “It had a population of 41,244 in 1901 and occupied an area of 8,496 acres (34 km2). 2,500 houses of the vast Becontree Estate, built by the London County Council from 1921, were within the boundaries of Ilford; the addition caused a rise in population of 11,600 by 1926.”
1922
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Cricket in Valentines Park
County cricket was first played at Valentines Park in Ilford in 1922. A pavilion was finished a year later, after Mrs Ingleby, who owned 136 acres of land around it, gave the ground to Ilford Cricket Club.
From the records: “County Cricket was first played at Valentines Park in Ilford in 1922 and a pavilion was completed a year later after Mrs Ingleby, who owned 136 acres of land surrounding it, donated the venue to Ilford CC.”
1926
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The Borough of Ilford
Ilford became the Municipal Borough of Ilford in 1926.
From the records: “It was incorporated as the Municipal Borough of Ilford in 1926.”
1930s
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Houses, houses, houses
Woodford finished becoming a suburb between the two World Wars. In the 1930s, an average of 1,600 houses a year were built there.
From the records: “Woodford completed its suburbanisation in the period between the two World Wars of the 20th century.”
1934
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Wanstead and Woodford join
In 1934 Wanstead and Woodford were joined into the Wanstead and Woodford Urban District. It became a municipal borough in 1937.
From the records: “Wanstead Urban District and the neighbouring Woodford Urban District were merged into the Wanstead and Woodford Urban District in 1934, which was raised to the status of a municipal borough in 1937.”
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Modern times
Since 1945
1947
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The Central line arrives
London Underground Central line trains began running to stations in the area in 1947, when Redbridge station opened. The Central line secured Woodford's place in the commuter belt. Ilford's population peaked in 1951 at 184,706.
From the records: “The Central line service of the London Underground to new and former main-line stations in the area began in 1947 and the population of the Municipal Borough of Ilford peaked in 1951 at 184,706, declining to 178,024 in 1961 before being absorbed into Redbridge and Greater London in 1965.”
1950s
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Jukeboxes on the High Road
In the 1950s BAL-AMi jukeboxes were made at 290–296 High Road, Ilford.
From the records: “BAL-AMi Jukeboxes were manufactured at 290–296 High Road, Ilford, during the 1950s, which also served as the headquarters of the Balfour (Marine) Engineering company.”
1965
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Redbridge is born
The London Borough of Redbridge was formed in 1965. It joined Ilford with Wanstead and Woodford, plus parts of Dagenham and Chigwell, so that all of Hainault was in one borough.
From the records: “The London Borough of Redbridge is a London borough established in 1965.”
1966
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Cricket on a Sunday
The first county cricket match ever played on a Sunday was at Valentines Park on 15 May 1966, between Essex and Somerset. 6,000 people came to watch.
From the records: “The first ever county match to be played on a Sunday was played there on 15 May 1966 between Essex and Somerset, with 6,000 spectators attending.”
1975
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The Kenneth More Theatre
The Kenneth More Theatre in Oakfield Road, Ilford, was officially opened in January 1975.
From the records: “Kenneth More Theatre in Oakfield Road, Ilford opened in 1975.”
1975
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Hospital radio
Redbridge's first hospital radio service began in 1975 at Goodmayes Hospital. In 1993 it started serving King George Hospital too, and in 2004 it changed its name to The Jumbo Sound.
From the records: “The first Hospital Radio service In Redbridge was founded in 1975 as Goodmayes Hospital Radio Association with studios located within the old Goodmayes Hospital building.”
2000
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Redbridge Museum
Redbridge Museum opened in 2000. It is on the second floor of Redbridge Central Library in Clements Road, Ilford.
From the records: “Redbridge Museum, which opened in 2000, is situated on the second floor of Redbridge Central Library, Clements Road, Ilford, along with the Redbridge Heritage Centre.”
2019
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One of the best parks
Valentines Park was renovated in 2007–2008. In 2019 it was voted one of the ten best parks in Britain.
From the records: “During 2007–2008 Valentines Park underwent an extensive renovation financed by the Heritage Lottery Fund and by the owners, Redbridge London Borough Council.”