sir HARDY AMIES

Sir Edwin Hardy Amies, KCVO, known as Hardy Amies, was an English fashion designer, founder of the ‘Hardy Amies’ label and best known for his official title as dressmaker for Queen Elizabeth II, from her accession to the throne 1952 until his retirement in 1989.

Even before the designer’s clothing success, he cemented his place in history as a knighted World War II Officer recognized for his cunning work as Head of the Belgian Special Operations Executive (Section T) being Named Officier de l’Ordre de la Couronne. Upon completing his war efforts, the ambitious Brit decided to utilize his nimble hands and creative wit to launch his own fashion house, operating from No.14 Savile Row, Mayfair. Hardy Amies quickly became a favourite among gentlemen who appreciated his well-honed eye for superior quality and smart minimalism.

His family moved to Dagenham Parish just after the First World War when he was 10-years-old, as his father joined the London County Council to oversee the building of the Becontree Estate – then the largest public housing project in the world. Originally moved to Gale Street Farm in Barking, and later settled at The White House – an 18th century farmhouse on 884 Green Lane that has recently been redeveloped into a thriving Community Arts facility.

(In an extract from Sir Alf Ramsey’s biography, it states that Hardy would regularly ride his bicycle to Chadwell Heath Station, when he first arrived in the area, to catch the train for school).

CHADWELL HEATH Anti-aircraft Gun Site

The Chadwell Heath Anti-aircraft Gun Site is located on an area of relatively high ground on Whalebone Lane North, overlooking the Thames Valley. Many defensive structures were built but never used. The Chadwell Heath site was one of the few that was used in enemy action, and played a considerable part in the defence of London during World War II.

The industries and docks on the Thames were targets for the Germans, and the Chadwell Heath gun site was said to have been in action for 76 consecutive nights during the Blitz to repel a series of air raids.

Traces of the concrete emplacements remain today. It is a Grade II listed building, and the only remaining eight gun site of London's air defence network from World War II. Its future is currently being discussed by Barking & Dagenham Council, the Crown Estate and Historic England. A feasibility report, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, was completed in 2015 to explore options and investigate the potential of the site.

ATOMIC COMICS

Atomic Comics is an independent comic book store on the High Road, Chadwell Heath.

Family-run business opened in 1990.

American Comics Specialist.

LONDON BOROUGH OF BARKING & DAGENHAM

Formerly in Essex, Chadwell Heath became part of Greater London in 1965.

Chadwell Heath is split between two London Boroughs (Redbridge and Barking & Dagenham, three wards (Chadwell, Chadwell Heath and Whalebone) and soon three constituencies (Ilford South, Dagenham & Rainham and Romford).

The Barking & Dagenham Coat of Arms was granted in 1965, portraying:

• two lions (representing the Cecil and Monteagle families) holding torches (representing the then two chief industries - gas and electricity)

• water (representing the North Bank of the River Thames)

• a sword and keys (representing St. Peter and St. Paul)

• crossed crosiers and a lily (representing the Abbey of Barking)

• a well smack (representing the Barking fishing industry)

• a cog wheel (representing industry)

• the Sun (representing progress)

• the Barking Curfew Tower.

Motto: ‘DEI GRATIA PROBEMUR REBUS’ (By the grace of God let us be judged by our deeds).

BECONTREE ESTATE RAILWAY

The Becontree Estate Railway was a temporary railway system, using standard gauge steam locomotives, once built in the area between Chadwell Heath and the River Thames to facilitate the construction of what became known as the Becontree Estate. It was estimated that over 4 million tons of materials were delivered to the site.

Between 1921 and 1932, the London County Council developed a public housing estate on the land between Barking and Dagenham; when completed it consisted of 27,000 dwellings. With a population of over 100,000, it was the largest public housing development in the world. The name Becontree was not used for a settlement at that time, but the estate was named after the ancient Becontree Hundred, which historically covered the area. The site occupied 3,000 acres of farmland and market gardens, and was entirely rural in character.

The surrounding area originally had a restricted transport network; although three railway lines crossed from west to east, the limited road system consisted of country lanes (except in the Seven Kings estate areas, there were no other roads in the district prior to the construction). Experience in trench warfare in Belgium and France during World War I had shown that temporary railway systems were efficient in bringing and removing materials in difficult terrain.

CJ Wills & Sons Ltd established the temporary railway, connecting with existing goods sidings at Goodmayes on the Great Eastern Railway main line. Running east to near Chadwell Heath, it then turned broadly south through the future Becontree Estate, to a 500 feet jetty on the Thames, a little to the west of the area known as Horse Shoe Corner.

Wills & Sons acquired a fleet of thirteen industrial locomotives for the work (all industrial type saddle tank locomotives, some of purchased brand new), and a number of wagons for the internal conveyance of materials from the gravel pits and from the jetty; materials arriving via the main line railway were conveyed in the carriers' wagons, but these could not be detained on the Estate network unless a demurrage charge was paid. Adjacent to Wills depot at Chadwell Heath, there was a four-track engine shed, capable of accommodating all the locomotives.

The line ran fairly parallel, eastwards, to Chadwell Heath Station, crossing the area now occupied by the Station Car Park and turning south to cross Chitty's Lane (now known as Station Road) on a skew, and heading almost due south. Its alignment can be seen on Valence Avenue – the railway came first, and the new road was formed as an early dual carriageway, straddling the railway line that was positioned centrally.

FRANK BRUNO

Franklin Roy Bruno, MBE, was a British professional boxer who competed from 1982 to 1996. Became a popular British celebrity post-retirement.

Won the WBC heavyweight title from Oliver McCall at Wembley Stadium in 1995. Faced multiple top-rated heavyweights throughout his career, including two fights against Mike Tyson in 1989 and 1996, and a domestic clash against Lennox Lewis in 1993.

Known for his exceptional punching power. Scored 38 knockouts in 40 wins (a 95% knockout-to-win ratio). Overall knockout percentage was 84.44%.

(Lived in Chadwell Heath).

J. Burns

J. Burns of Wangye Works was a large factory in Chadwell Heath that created vulcanized fibre.

Entrances were located on Overton Drive and Chadwell Heath High Road.

Demolished in the early 1990s for housing development, and a new street called Burns Avenue was created.

london BUSES - Routes 62, 86, 173, 362 & 368

Routes 62, 86, 173, 362 and 368 are well-known local bus routes that connect Chadwell Heath to other parts of East London and West Essex.

Chadwell

The name Chadwell was actually first recorded in 1254 as Chaudewell, deriving from the Old English phrase ceald wella or cald wielle meaning cold spring or stream, and applied to the hamlet along the London-Colchester road, on the boundary between the ancient Barking (later Ilford) and Dagenham parishes.

The main part of the original settlement was on the Ilford side, known as Chadwell Street or Chadwell Strete (strete having the older meaning of a hamlet).

East of the street lay Blackheath Common, on the Dagenham side, which in the 17th century became known as Chadwell Heath. This area, on the southern fringes of Hainault Forest, once had a reputation as a rendezvous point for highwaymen and robbers. Its older name is recorded as Blackhethe in 1440; hethe of Middle English referring to the dark-coloured heathland.

As the settlements merged the ‘Chadwell Street’ name was lost in favour of ‘Chadwell Heath’ encompassing the entire area.

Chadwell arms

The Chadwell Arms is a former Public House on Chadwell Heath High Road.

Built in the 1800s.

It was demolished in 2018 for a housing development.

COAL TAX POST & OBELISK

Coal has been taxed in London since the Middle Ages, yet the Great Fire of London spurred a new era of coal taxes. The revenue gained helped rebuild lost landmarks such as St. Paul's Cathedral.

Parliament sought to maximise the benefits of increased coal and wine taxes in order to build more structures such as Holborn Viaduct, Blackfriars Bridge and the London Coal Exchange.

The 1845 Coal Duties Act widened the taxable perimeter to a radius of 20 miles from the General Post Office in London. There are around 200 coal posts encircling London and the contiguous counties. Chadwell Heath has a post (where the High Road meets London Road, at the Barking & Dagenham/Havering border) and an obelisk on the Railway Embankment (approximately 280m east of Whalebone Bridge).

COOPERS ARMS

The Coopers Arms is a former Public House on Chadwell Heath High Road.

Built in the 1800s.

It closed in 2016 and may soon be redeveloped.

TONY COTTEE

Anthony Richard Cottee was an English professional footballer, best known for playing as a striker for West Ham United, Everton and Leicester City. One of the most prolific goalscorers in English football during the 1980s and 1990s.

Capped 7 times by the England national team.

Played in Everton's 1989 FA Cup Final defeat to Liverpool, and won the League Cup with Leicester City in 2000.

Reached No.14 in an official poll to decide the 50 Greatest West Ham United Players.

(Studied at The Warren School, Chadwell Heath).

DAIRY CREST

Dairy Crest was a major dairy plant based in Chadwell Heath. Built in 1980 on Selinas Lane, just east of Chadwell Heath Station. Worked with many dairy farmers in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Kent.

Once housed a highly utilised, state of the art flavoured milk packaging facility, and processed more than 400 million litres of milk per year.

Sold to Müller in 2015, closed in 2017 and demolished in 2019.

michelle dockery

Michelle Suzanne Dockery is an English film and television actress and singer. Widely known for her leading performance as Lady Mary Crawley in the TV series ‘Downton Abbey’ (2010–2015), for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and three consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards in the category of Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

Received a fourth Emmy nomination for her leading role in the TV series ‘Godless’ (2017).

Earned an Olivier Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the 2009 play ‘Burnt by the Sun’.

(Grew up on St Chad’s Gardens, Chadwell Heath. Studied at Chadwell Heath Academy).

ELIZABETH lINE

The Elizabeth Line is a 73-mile railway line connecting East London to West London. A number of improvements are being delivered at Chadwell Heath station in preparation for the new Elizabeth line service.

By refurbishing the ticket hall, platform buildings and waiting room, Chadwell Heath Station has become brighter and more accessible, with new toilets and ticket office windows. The ticket gates have also been relocated to help make staff more visible. New digital screens in the ticket hall have made customer information easier to see.

Platform redecoration has been completed, with new platform shelters and a community bookcase added. Remaining parts of the canopy on Platforms 2 & 3 have been redecorated.

Longer platforms for the new Class 345 trains are due to be completed by Summer 2020. The Chadwell Heath South Residents’ Association have commissioned two new clocks, in the style of the Magneta Time Company’s 1940s designs, to be positioned on Platforms 3 & 4 to commemorate the opening of the Elizabeth Line.

EMBASSY CINEMA

The Embassy Cinema is a former cinema on the High Road, Chadwell Heath. Designed in an Art Deco style, with 2,250 seats in the stalls and circle, by Harry Weston in 1934.

Incorporated film screenings, theatre productions and performances from live orchestras. Featured a tea-lounge and an artistic café, as well as stage facilities with four dressing rooms and a scene dock. Once housed a Compton organ. Upstairs ballroom allowed for dance classes and soirées.

A major Restoration Project for the Embassy Cinema is currently being led by the Chadwell Heath South Residents’ Association.

E. Ruffell Wholesale & Retail Fish Merchants

E. Ruffell was a Chadwell Heath fishmonger on the High Road, established in the 1930s by Eric Ruffell. Held the Royal Warrant as supplier to HM The Queen by appointment.

Famously continued to price fish in pounds, shillings and pence for some time after decimalisation.

Shop demolished in the 1980s during commercial redevelopment.

Essex Water Softeners & The Motor Gear and Engineering Company

Essex Water Softeners and The Motor Gear and Engineering Company were run by the same management team, located on what is now Grove Farm Retail Park, Chadwell Heath.

Essex Water was established in 1935, and housed in a striking Art Deco building.

Essex Water had an industrial water-softening plant and created domestic water softeners, whilst The Motor Gear and Engineering Company specialised in gear cutting and pneumatic tools.

Eventually closed and demolished for retail and commercial opportunities.

forest bounds stone

The Forest Bounds Stone is a boundary marker of Hainault Forest, on Whalebone Lane North in Chadwell Heath. It is Grade II listed.

Hainault Forest was originally part of the Forest of Waltham and the Forest of Essex, which at one time embraced the whole County. The boundaries varied but eventually became properly defined in 1301. Fines for breaches of the forest laws were a good source of revenue for the Crown. King Charles I, after abolishing Parliament, expanded the forest boundaries in order to increase this revenue. The laws caused a great deal of unrest to ordinary people and landowners. After the reintroduction of Parliament in 1640 (known as the Long Parliament), the King agreed to the resetting of the old boundaries. A Commission was set up in 1641, and witnesses were questioned to decipher the earlier boundaries which had existed some twenty years before in the reign of King James.

The new restricted boundaries were established with the old Roman road from Stratford (Bow) to Romford forming the southern boundary, the River Lea forming the western boundary and various hedges and purlieu banks forming the northern boundary. As no obvious natural indicators existed to the east, stones were erected to mark the eastern side.

The Forest Bounds Stone is not mentioned in the ‘Perambulation of the Forest of Waltham’ (1641), but is marked on ‘Chapman & André’s Map of Essex (1777) and on Carey's Map of 1786.

Fuller’s United Electric Works

Fuller’s United Electric Works was a factory located on Woodland Works near Chadwell Heath Lane.

Whilst working for his father at John C. Fuller and Son, Leonard Fuller invented the "Block Accumulator", a more reliable form of accumulator than the plate accumulator, which was especially valued for use by railways.

In 1919, John C. Fuller and Son, Fuller Accumulator Co, Fuller's Wire and Cable Co, and Fuller's Carbon and Electrical Co were merged to form Fuller's United Electric Works Ltd, making primary batteries and accumulators of all types, from hand lamps for miners and large units for town lighting, to electric cables and carbons, all at the Chadwell Heath site where a purpose-designed factory had been built.

Fuller’s United Electric Works closed in 1924.

HENRY GILLARD GLINDONI

Henry Gillard Glindoni was an English painter noted for his depiction of period costumery in historical and genre scenes.

He was obliged to take care of himself from the age of 14, which he did by taking various acting and painting jobs. Drawn into the world of theatre and became a scenery painter, further augmenting his finances by sketching the actors with whom he came in contact. Also tried his hand at porcelain painting. Encouraged to study art, he attended Maurice's Working Men's College and the Castle Street School of Art.

Glindoni's speciality was that of 17th and 18th century costume.

At the turn of the 19th century Glindoni moved to Chadwell Heath. In 1901 he was living at The Studio, 132 Mill Lane, later buying a property on Whalebone Lane with his family.

Frequently exhibited between 1872 to 1904, at the Royal Academy, Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers, Old Water Colour Society, the Society of British Artists in London, and the Royal Society of Artists in Birmingham. Accepted as a full member of the Royal Society of British Artists in 1879 and an associate of the Royal Society of Painters in Water Colours in 1883. His work may be seen at Valence House Museum.

(Moved to Chadwell Heath after 1891, and lived in a cottage on the corner of Mill Lane and Whalebone Lane North).

GRAHAM GOOCH

Graham Alan Gooch, OBE, DL, was an English first-class cricketer who captained Essex and England. One of the most successful international batsmen of his generation.

Became the most prolific run scorer of all time, with 67,057 runs across first-class and limited-overs games. His List A cricket tally of 22,211 runs is also a record. One of only 25 players to have scored over 100 first-class centuries.

Scored 154 runs against the West Indies at Headingley Cricket Ground in 1991; regarded as one of the greatest centuries of all time by many critics and former players.

(Lived in Chadwell Heath).

GREAT EASTERN RAILWAY

The Great Eastern Railway (GER) was a pre-grouping British railway company that operated between 1862 - 1922.

The main line linked London Liverpool Street to Norwich, passing through Chadwell Heath.

EVA HART

Eva Miriam Hart, MBE, was a survivor of the RMS Titanic disaster on 15th April 1912.

In early 1912, her father decided to take his family and emigrate to Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he planned to open a pharmacy. Eva Hart was seven-years old when she and her parents (Benjamin Hart and Esther Hart) boarded the Titanic as second-class passengers on 10th April 1912 at Southampton. They had originally been booked on a ship called the Philadelphia but the coal strike at Southampton that Spring kept it from sailing and many of her passengers were transferred to the Titanic. Almost instantly, her mother felt uneasy about the Titanic and feared that some catastrophe would happen. To call a ship unsinkable was, in her mind, flying in the face of God. With such fear, she slept only during the day and stayed awake in their cabin at night fully dressed.

Eva was sleeping when the Titanic struck the iceberg at 23:40 on 14th April. Her mother was awake at the time, and felt "a slight bump”. She immediately asked her husband to investigate this, and he left the cabin. Upon his return, Benjamin alerted Esther and Eva to the collision, and after wrapping her in a blanket, he carried Eva to the boat deck. He placed his wife and daughter in Lifeboat No. #14 and told Eva to “be a good girl and hold Mummy's hand”. It was the last thing he ever said to her and the last time she ever saw him.

"I saw that ship sink," she said in a 1993 interview. "I never closed my eyes. I didn't sleep at all. I saw it, I heard it, and nobody could possibly forget it. I can remember the colours, the sounds, everything. The worst thing I can remember are the screams. It seemed as if once everybody had gone, drowned, finished, the whole world was standing still. There was nothing, just this deathly, terrible silence in the dark night with the stars overhead. The band played one version of 'Nearer My God to Thee' of which there are three and the one they played was the one that was played in church. I never closed my eyes at all – I saw that ship sink. And I saw that ship break in half."

Eva and her mother were picked up by the rescue ship RMS Carpathia and arrived in New York City on 18th April. Her father perished and his body, if recovered, was never identified. On the night of the sinking, a letter written by Eva and her mother Esther, to Eva's grandmother in Chadwell Heath, only survived because it had been placed in her father Benjamin’s jacket – which was given to her to keep her warm on the lifeboat. The letter is reported to be the last written communication from the RMS Titanic, and sold at auction for £119,000.

The 1997 Academy Award-winning film 'Titanic’, directed by James Cameron, features a scene where a father says to his daughter "You hold Mommy's hand and be a good little girl"; this is allegedly a reference to Benjamin Hart’s similar fateful words.

Soon after arriving in America, Eva and her mother returned to the UK. Eva lived much of her adult life in 2A Japan Road, Chadwell Heath, situated at the main entrance to St. Chad’s Park. She worked several jobs throughout her life; a Welfare Officer at the Sterling Factory in Dagenham, a professional singer for a period in Australia, a Conservative Party organiser, and also served as a magistrate. As a volunteer in World War II, she organised entertainment for the troops and distributed emergency supplies to people after bombings in London. In 1974, Eva Hart was appointed MBE for political and public service.

(Lived at 2A Japan Road in Chadwell Heath. A local Wetherspoons Pub on the High Road is named ‘The Eva Hart’ in her honour).

Sir james harvey

Sir James Harvey was elected Lord Mayor of London in 1581.

English merchant, Alderman of the City of London in 1571, High Sheriff of London in 1573, and Master of the Ironmongers Company in 1572, 1576, 1580 and 1582.

Married Agnes Gent, daughter of Count Sebastian Gent of Antwerp. Father of Sir Sebastian Harvey.

(Purchased Wangey House, Chadwell Heath, in 1571).

HAVERING sTONE

The Havering Stone is a boundary marker of the Liberty of Havering-atte-Bower, erected in 1642 on the border of Chadwell Heath and Romford (where the High Road meets London Road). It is Grade II listed.

The boundaries varied but eventually became properly defined in 1301. Fines for breaches of the forest laws were a good source of revenue for the Crown. King Charles I, after abolishing Parliament, expanded the forest boundaries in order to increase this revenue. The laws caused a great deal of unrest to ordinary people and landowners. After the reintroduction of Parliament in 1640 (known as the Long Parliament), the King agreed to the resetting of the old boundaries. A Commission was set up in 1641, and witnesses were questioned to decipher the earlier boundaries which had existed some twenty years before in the reign of King James.

The new restricted boundaries were established with the old Roman road from Stratford (Bow) to Romford forming the southern boundary, the River Lea forming the western boundary and various hedges and purlieu banks forming the northern boundary. As no obvious natural indicators existed to the east, stones were erected to mark the eastern side.

HEATH HOUSE

Heath House was the manor of Archer Moss Snr and his family of millers.

The land extended onto Back Lane (which was known as Post Office Lane in the late 19th century).

It formerly looked across to the heath and the three mills.

Demolished in 1931, the site of the house and grounds is now occupied by Chadwell Heath’s main shopping centre ‘Tudor Parade’.

HEMMINGS BAKERY

Hemmings Bakery was an enormous bakery on Overton Drive, just north of Chadwell Heath Station. Built in the late 1930s on the site of Wangey Hall Farm.

The building was derelict by the 1970s and was later demolished for housing.

HIGHWAYMEN & FOOTPADS

Chadwell Heath was once a regular rendezvous point for highwaymen and footpads. Robberies were rife on the roads leading to London during the turnpike age.

In the Court of Quarter Sessions 1642-1643, the inhabitants of Chadwell Heath petitioned for a watch-house to be erected.

Ilford Isolation Hospital and Sanatorium

The Ilford Isolation Hospital and Sanatorium was opened in 1898 by the Urban District Council. It treated patients with infectious diseases, including tuberculosis. The site covered approximately 100 acres in Chadwell Heath.

The staff consisted of a Matron, four staff nurses and twelve probationers. There was no resident Medical Officer, even though the Hospital had 100 beds. Members of the staff made up a Volunteer Fire Brigade.

During the 1930s, Ilford Borough Council built more wards in a cruciform configuration, with 5 cubicles on each wing and a central space used as a Duty Room. This room had windows in its four walls so that the nurse could look down all four wards from where she sat. The Duty Room also contained a ward kitchen and a sterilizing room.

In 1948, the Hospital and Sanatorium joined the NHS with 51 beds under the control of the Ilford and Barking Group Hospital Management Committee (part of the North East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board).

By 1955, the Hospital had 172 beds (103 for infectious diseases patients and 69 for tuberculosis), and a resident staff of 60. In addition to a small dispensary and an even smaller Pathology Laboratory, there was a newly equipped Medical Records Office, with records dating back to 1898.

In 1958, the Hospital Management Committee decided to establish a Geriatric Unit at the Hospital. In 1959, a Recreation Hall was built at the cost of £7,500 and a consultant geriatrician was appointed.

In 1960, it was renamed Chadwell Heath Hospital. By this time it had 145 beds for infectious diseases, geriatric and ENT patients in its widely scattered buildings. An X-ray Department was installed and provided a special investigation service for the Leg Unit at Barking Hospital. The children's ward, for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, now also admitted adult patients for these operations from King George Hospital.

By 1969, the Hospital was mainly dealing with geriatric patients. It had 162 beds.

This decreased to 156 beds by 1983. In 1990, when it had 133 beds, it was a hospital for geriatric and chronically ill long-stay patients, with a special unit for those with multiple sclerosis.

The Hospital closed in 2001 when Meadow Court, a purpose-built nursing home, opened on the Goodmayes Hospital site. The Hospital was then demolished and replaced by a small housing estate which was completed in 2006.

Ilford & West Essex Model Railway Club

The Ilford & West Essex Model Railway Club (I&WEMRC) was formed in 1930, and is one of the oldest model railway clubs in the UK.

It was established after Ronnie Riddle advertised for like-minded railway modellers to meet and share their experiences; the West Essex Model Railway Club and the Ilford & District Railway Club thus amalgamated. Ronnie Riddle was the club's founding Secretary and became Life President, as the club continued to grow in strength.

After the Second World War, the club established its headquarters in Hearne Road, Romford. However, in the mid-1950s a site was found adjacent to Chadwell Heath Station, which to this day provides the club with its headquarters.

The site consists of the main club house, numerous railway layouts, a club library, and the grounds which contain the 7 1⁄4" Gauge Miniature Railway (with a mixture of steam, electric and petrol locomotives) and a workshop. One of I&WEMRC’s famous locomotives is based on the LSWR Urie 4-6-0 N15 class that subsequently became part of the King Arthur class (named Excalibur).

The aim of the Railway Club has always been to promote and encourage the hobby of railway modelling, by enabling enthusiasts to meet, build and exhibit their layouts and models, and take part in any other railway and transport related activities, both within the club and through other railway clubs, societies and organisations.

Every year I&WEMRC holds a two-day model railway exhibition to showcase the richness and variety of the hobby to the public.

“K” Division

In 1840, sixty of the best men the Metropolitan Police possessed were marched out to undertake the patrol of the Outer District of “K” Division. This area included Chadwell Heath, and was under the jurisdiction of a single inspector operating from Great Ilford.

The Chadwell Heath area, still very rural, was allocated a single sergeant and three constables. As the original station possessed no charging facilities of its own, all prisoners were walked or carried to Ilford to face all charges and subsequent court appearances.

KAADMAN

The Kaadman was a symbol for Chadwell Heath dating from the Dark Ages.

smart lethieullier

Smart Lethieullier, one of the greatest antiquaries of the 18th century, descended from the Huguenots of the Spanish Netherlands. Grandson of Sir John Lethieullier.

Wrote the first detailed English account of the Bayeux Tapestry in 1732–33, when living in Paris.

Served as High Sheriff of Essex in 1758.

(Inherited Wangey House, Chadwell Heath, from father, John Lethieullier, in 1737).

JASON LEONARD

Jason Leonard, OBE, was an English rugby union player. The most-capped England player of all-time (114 caps); held the world record for international appearances for a national team until 2005.

Played in England teams which won the 2003 Rugby World Cup and four Grand Slams (1991, 1992, 1995 and 2003). Part of three British & Irish Lions tours, which included the 1997 test series win in South Africa.

Made 290 appearances for Harlequins.

Earned an MBE for services to rugby in 2002, which became an OBE after England's Rugby World Cup success. Inducted to the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2014.

President of the RFU from 2015-2016, and currently a board member for both the Six Nations and the British & Irish Lions.

(Studied at The Warren School, Chadwell Heath).

MARKS STONEs

The Marks Stones are a boundary marker of Hainault Forest, erected in 1642 on Whalebone Lane North in Chadwell Heath. It is Grade II listed.

Hainault Forest was originally part of the Forest of Waltham and the Forest of Essex, which at one time embraced the whole County. The boundaries varied but eventually became properly defined in 1301. Fines for breaches of the forest laws were a good source of revenue for the Crown. King Charles I, after abolishing Parliament, expanded the forest boundaries in order to increase this revenue. The laws caused a great deal of unrest to ordinary people and landowners. After the reintroduction of Parliament in 1640 (known as the Long Parliament), the King agreed to the resetting of the old boundaries. A Commission was set up in 1641, and witnesses were questioned to decipher the earlier boundaries which had existed some twenty years before in the reign of King James.

The new restricted boundaries were established with the old Roman road from Stratford (Bow) to Romford forming the southern boundary, the River Lea forming the western boundary and various hedges and purlieu banks forming the northern boundary. As no obvious natural indicators existed to the east, stones were erected to mark the eastern side.

There are two stones here; one inscribed 'Marks Stone' and the other inscribed 'Marks Stone Sept 1642'. One stone is broken and in safekeeping, the other remains in its original position.

The stones are to be repaired. A feasibility report, with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund in 2015, explored the potential of the site. The site’s use and maintenance is currently being discussed by Barking & Dagenham Council, the Crown Estate and Historic England.

MAYFAIR CINEMA

The Mayfair Cinema was a former cinema on Whalebone Lane South, Chadwell Heath. Designed in an Art Deco style, with 1,872 seats in the stalls and circle in addition to five boxes, by Leslie H. Kemp and Frederick E. Tasker in 1933.

It had a café and full stage facilities with five dressing rooms. An unusual feature for a British cinema was the open air swimming pool and terraces at the rear of the building.

Closed in 1972 and demolished thereafter. A supermarket and offices were built on the site.

MOBY ADVENTURE GOLF

Moby Adventure Golf is the UK’s largest Adventure Golf Course. It was established in 2014 and is located at Whalebone Lane North, Chadwell Heath.

The 18-hole golf course features a 60-metre lagoon, an 8-metre waterfall, a cave, a 24ft-long pirate ship, Captain Ahab and the legendary sperm whale Moby Dick.

DUDLEY MOORE

Dudley Stuart John Moore, CBE, was an English actor, comedian, musician and composer. First came to prominence in the UK as a leading figure in the British satire boom of the 1960s.

One of the four writer-performers in the comedy revue ‘Beyond the Fringe’.

His solo career as a comedy film actor was heightened by the success of hit Hollywood films ‘Foul Play’ (1978), ‘10’ (1979) and ‘Arthur’ (1981). For ‘Arthur’, nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor and won a Golden Globe Award. Received a second Golden Globe for his performance in ‘Micki & Maude’ (1984).

(Raised in Dagenham. Regularly seen in town, as mother lived on Baron Road, close to Chadwell Heath Station).

JACKIE OLIVER

Keith Jack Oliver was a British Formula One driver.

Won the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 1969, with Jacky Ickx, in the Ford GT40. It was the fourth consecutive win at Le Mans for Ford.

Founded the Arrows Grand Prix International racing team in 1978.

(Born in Chadwell Heath in 1942).

OMNIBUS NO.25

The Omnibus (Route No.25) was a 1920s method of transport that passed through Chadwell Heath. A terminus was once at The White Horse.

JIM PETERS

Jim Peters was an English long-distance runner. Broke the world record for the men's marathon four times in the 1950s. Became the first runner to complete a marathon in under 2 hours and 20 minutes.

Gained worldwide notoriety during the 1954 Commonwealth Games in Vancouver, Canada, after reaching the stadium in first place (17 minutes ahead of the next runner and 10 minutes ahead of the record), repeatedly collapsing, refusing to give up, but ultimately unable to finish. A special medal, with the inscription “To a most gallant marathon runner”, was later sent to him from Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

(Lived in Chadwell Heath during the 1950s. Received a warm homecoming reception in Chadwell Heath upon returning from the 1954 Commonwealth Games).

Chadwell Heath POLICE Station

In 1889, a new site for Chadwell Heath police station was acquired on the High Road (at the corner of Station Road) for £400 and construction commenced. The new station was designed by the incumbent Chief Police Architect John Dixon-Butler, cost £2,159.5.7d and opened to the public on 12th December 1892.

Although this building was considerably smaller than the structure that remains today (the Eva Hart pub), it was far larger than its predecessor on Romford Road and offered two cells and a two-stall stable.

In spite of extensive rebuilding of the High Road site over the years, effectively doubling the building's original size, in 1962 a further site for a new Chadwell Heath police station was acquired on the corner of Wangey Road and Cedar Park Gardens.

The new station, on 14 Wangey Road, opened in 1969. This change involved the alteration of station area boundaries which had last been set in 1933. It also resulted in the Chadwell Heath section no longer serving as the gateway to the east. Romford, previously an Essex County Constabulary police station, took over that role and removed the significance of the coal tax posts in this area.

Chadwell Heath police station operated until 2014.

Chadwell Heath Railway Station

Chadwell Heath railway station opened on 11th January 1864 by the Eastern Counties Railway. It is on the Great Eastern Main Line in Chadwell Heath.

The station has four platforms. It is 9 miles 79 chains (16.1 km) down the line from London Liverpool Street and is situated between Goodmayes and Romford. Its three-letter station code is CTH and it is in Travelcard Zone 5.

It is currently managed by TfL Rail.

LONDON BOROUGH OF REDBRIDGE

Formerly in Essex, Chadwell Heath became part of Greater London in 1965.

Chadwell Heath is split between two London Boroughs (Redbridge and Barking & Dagenham, three wards (Chadwell, Chadwell Heath and Whalebone) and soon three constituencies (Ilford South, Dagenham & Rainham and Romford).

The Redbridge Coat of Arms was granted in 1966, based on those for Ilford, Wanstead and Woodford, portraying:

• a fructed oak tree (representing the Fairlop Oak in Hainault Forest)

• four leopards (derived from the arms of King Harold)

• three martlets (derived from the arms of Edward the Confessor)

• water (representing the River Roding)

• a buck and a chaplet of oak leaves (representing Epping Forest and Hainault Forest)

• a cross fleury (derived from the arms of both Waltham Abbey and Westminster Abbey - local landowners)

• a Benedictine Abbess holding a book (representing Adeliza, Abbess of Barking Abbey, founder of Ilford Chapel and Ilford Hospital c.1145)

• a forester of Hainault holding a bow

Motto: ‘IN UNITY PROGRESS’.

RM6 Postcode

Royal Mail includes Chadwell Heath as part of the RM6 postcode district of the town of Romford.

However, Chadwell Heath does not form part of the London Borough of Havering.

roMAN ROAD

The Romans cut their way through woodland in Chadwell Heath to build their great road from London to Colchester.

The Roman Road is an archaeological priority area.

royal hunting grounds

At the beginning of the Tudor period, Hainault Forest belonged to Barking Abbey. Timber was a vital material for building homes and ships, as well as being a major source of fuel. The abbess had rights in Hainault Forest and in turn was responsible for mending the pale (fence) which divided the land from the royal demesne of Havering.

Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries by King Henry VIII, Hainault Forest passed into royal ownership and became hunting grounds. Much of this land in the Chadwell Heath area is still owned by the Crown.

Saint Chad

Chad of Mercia was a prominent 7th century Anglo-Saxon churchman. Abbot of several monasteries, Bishop of the Northumbrians and Bishop of the Mercians and Lindsey People.

Later canonised as a Saint, featured strongly in the work of St. Bede the Venerable, and credited (together with his brother St. Cedd) for introducing Christianity to the Mercian kingdom.

ST. CHAD’S bowling club

St. Chad's Bowling Club was founded in 1956 in St. Chad’s Park.

The club owns one bowling green, consisting of 6 rinks, and a clubhouse.

ST. CHAD’S CHURCH

St Chad's Church is a Church of England parish church for the area of Chadwell Heath. It opened to the public on 2nd March 1886 and was founded as a chapel of ease.

A red-brick building with stone dressings and a crenellated tower. The clock tower was built to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria, and was a gift from T.H. Sale of the Bengal Engineers.

ST. CHAD’S PARK

St. Chad’s Park is the oldest park in the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham. It is a Victorian-styled park.

The origins of the park date from 1831, when 4 acres of Hainault Forest were given to the Parish Council as allotments for the poor; a further 3 acres were set aside for public use in 1866 as part compensation to the parish when the Heath was enclosed. In 1928, the Council added 34 acres, formerly part of Blackbush Farm.

In the 1930s, the northern section was laid out as public open space, with the southern section containing four tennis courts, a cricket field, a bowling green, formal planting and paths. A new children’s playground and a golf course were added in 1955, whilst another new bowling green was inaugurated in May 1956. St. Chad’s Pavilion, located in the centre of the park, has been regularly used by the town’s local cricket and football teams over the years.

Other features include: two football pitches, a basketball court, an outdoor gymnasium, ornamental gardens, a wildlife conservation area, a quiet seating area and a dogs-free zone.

The main entrance is from Japan Road, leading to Chadwell Heath High Road. Other entrances lead to Alexandra Road/West Road, Chadville Gardens and Park Lane.

A Park Ranger manages the premises once a week. The ‘Friends of St. Chad’s Park’ work to maintain and improve the park’s features and facilities, and organise events.

ST. CHAD’S WELL

St. Chad’s Well is a holy well associated with St. Chad, on Billet Road in Chadwell Heath.

Water from the sacred spring was originally thought to have medicinal properties. In the book ‘A History of the Mineral Waters and Medicinal Springs of the County of Essex’ (1910) by Miller Christy and May Thresh, it was reported that the well was at one time “much resorted to by persons of weak eyesight, for the special properties of the water were supposed to be beneficial to the eyes”. The water certainly came from Thames terrace gravel at its junction with the London Clay.

Photographs from the early 20th century show the well protected by an alcove of brickwork which may have been built in the 18th century.

Unfortunately, all trace of St. Chad’s Well was swept away during 20th century road widening. A replica of St. Chad’s Well has been built by local scouts in the grounds of St. Chad’s Parish Church on St. Chad’s Road. However, a brick pillar, with a bronze plaque, marks the spot where the original well was located. The plaque reads as follows:

“ST. CHAD’S WELL - THE SITE OF ST. CHAD’S WELL FROM WHICH THE NAME CHADWELL HEATH IS DERIVED. THIS TABLET, WAS PLACED HERE BY THE ILFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS OF ILFORD, TO COMMEMORATE THE FESTIVAL OF BRITAIN, 1951.”

JOHN WILLIAM SAYER

Lance Corporal John William Sayer was cited for having a great impact in holding back the German offensive at Le Verguier during World War I (1918). Received a Victoria Cross posthumously for his significant actions.

(Lived at Iron Yard Cottages, Chadwell Heath, next to the Greyhound Pub during his childhood. His family later lived and worked at Wangey Hall Farm, Chadwell Heath).

SHIP CARBON COMPANY

The Ship Carbon Company of Chadwell Heath, on Grove Road, collected soot from the funnels on a large number of vessels using London docks wishing to maintain their steaming performance.

Also produced carbon rods, mainly for cinema projectors. Real projectors were used to test the rods before despatch. This section of the company gradually declined however due to the digitisation of British cinemas.

Eventually closed and demolished for housing.

TRAMS AND TROLLEYBUSES - Routes 663 & 693

Trams and trolleybuses were electric buses that drew power from overhead wires (generally suspended from roadside posts) using spring-loaded trolley poles. At its peak, the London network was the largest in the world.

Chadwell Heath had a major terminus at Station Road and Wangey Road servicing two major routes (663: Aldgate to Chadwell Heath and 693: Barking to Chadwell Heath).

TUDOR PARADE

Built on the south side of the High Road in 1938, Tudor Parade is the foremost shopping district in Chadwell Heath.

WANGEY HOUSE

Wangey House (or Wangye House in Old English) was situated in Chadwell Heath, on the borders of Dagenham and Ilford, at the site of Chadwell Heath Station. Its origins are obscure, but thought to date from the 1300s, when it was referred to as Wanghou. It appears to have been conveyed to Barking Abbey in 1366, becoming part of the Abbey’s demesne and subject to the Manor of Barking. The rent from Wangey formed part of the income of the Cellaress of Barking Abbey.

Wangey Hall Farm existed in Chitty’s Lane (now Station Road) in 1777. Chadwell Heath Cricket Club was founded in 1903 and originally played matches here. The farm was occupied in the early 20th century by the family of John William Sayer. It was demolished c.1936-38 to make way for Hemmings Bakery.

Famous occupants of Wangey House include Sir James Harvey, Sir John Lethieullier, Smart Lethieullier and Samuel Pedley. The Tudor manor house was originally thatched and moated, with a two-storey rectangular brick extension added in the 18th century. The construction of the stretch of Eastern Counties Railway line between Ilford and Romford, in 1838-39, caused the breaking up of estate lands and demolition of the Tudor part of the house.

Chadwell Heath Station opened in January 1864, and the Georgian wing of Wangey House was then occupied by the stationmaster and his family. In 1879, more of Wangey House was demolished to allow the railway to be widened to four tracks. The last remaining portion of the 18th century extension, with 16th century chimneys and tower, survived until its demolition in 1937.

Warren stone

The Warren Stone is a boundary marker of Hainault Forest, erected in 1642 on Whalebone Lane North in Chadwell Heath. It is Grade II listed.

Hainault Forest was originally part of the Forest of Waltham and the Forest of Essex, which at one time embraced the whole County. The boundaries varied but eventually became properly defined in 1301. Fines for breaches of the forest laws were a good source of revenue for the Crown. King Charles I, after abolishing Parliament, expanded the forest boundaries in order to increase this revenue. The laws caused a great deal of unrest to ordinary people and landowners. After the reintroduction of Parliament in 1640 (known as the Long Parliament), the King agreed to the resetting of the old boundaries. A Commission was set up in 1641, and witnesses were questioned to decipher the earlier boundaries which had existed some twenty years before in the reign of King James.

The new restricted boundaries were established with the old Roman road from Stratford (Bow) to Romford forming the southern boundary, the River Lea forming the western boundary and various hedges and purlieu banks forming the northern boundary. As no obvious natural indicators existed to the east, stones were erected to mark the eastern side.

Originally in a field 200 yards east of the Marks Stones. In 1894, the stone was discovered broken and was re-erected by the Essex County Council and the Essex Field Club in 1909.

A feasibility report, with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund in 2015, explored the potential of the site. The site’s use and maintenance is currently being discussed by Barking & Dagenham Council, the Crown Estate and Historic England.

WEST HAM UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB

West Ham United’s Training Ground has been housed at Chadwell Heath for more than 50 years. Many famous international football players have been developed at Chadwell Heath including Bobby Moore OBE, Sir Geoff Hurst MBE, Martin Peters MBE, Sir Trevor Brooking and Frank Lampard.

In 2019, West Ham United opened a new facility at Chadwell Heath known as ‘The Academy of Football’ - an upgrade of an enhanced indoor pitch and a completely new interior construction containing state-of-the-art medical, fitness, analysis and education facilities, along with a new parents and spectators viewing gallery, and a coaches’ office offering panoramic views of both the outdoor and indoor pitches.

“Chadwell Heath holds such an important and special place in the heart of West Ham United. There is such a rich history here to cherish, which the young players can feel as they walk through the door. It is an inspirational location but we also we have to keep moving forwards and ensuring that the environment is also modern and leading the way in terms of the facilities we offer, not only for the players who are here now, but also those we want to attract in the future.” - David Sullivan & David Gold, Joint-Chairmen of West Ham United Football Club.

WHALEBONES

Whalebone Ward of the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, Whalebone Lane (the artery road that connects Becontree Heath with Chadwell Heath leading up towards Hainault), Whalebone House, Whalebone Farm, Whalebone School, the Moby Dick Public House and the Moby Golf Course are all connected by a famous tale – the whalebones of Chadwell Heath. There appears to be a long history of whalebones in the area, (the earliest reference to them is 1641) with many stories of whales being washed up at Dagenham Breach, Barking Creek and on the Thames.

One particular whale lived long in popular memory amongst residents of Chadwell Heath. In 1658, whalebones were discovered and believed to be from the lower jaw of a Common Greenland Whale, also known as a Bowhead Whale, which is a member of the Baleen Whale group. Though the exact origin of the bones is unknown to this day, author Daniel Defoe claimed in the early 18th century that one of two massive jaw bones had been washed up at Dagenham Breach on the night before Oliver Cromwell died, after a great storm had raged on the Thames on 3rd September. The bones were erected over a tollgate and an octagonal toll house, forming an arch at the crossroads between Chadwell Heath High Road and Whalebone Lane.

Local historians believe that there were actually several sets of bones, all of them playing a key part in defining the identity of the area. Today, lampposts have been placed along the Barking & Dagenham side of Chadwell Heath High Road fittingly forming arches in the shape of the famous whalebones.

WHALEBONE HOUSE

Whalebone House was a manor, with Tudor origins, near Whalebone Lane in Chadwell Heath. The house had a bell-turret and was surrounded by high railings with a gated entrance.

The house was believed to be haunted.

Having changed location several times over the years, Chadwell Heath’s famous whalebones were moved to the gates of Whalebone House in 1930.

Sadly, the building was destroyed in April 1941 due bombings during World War II. The whalebones were then taken to the Valence House Museum, where they stood in the front entrance to the museum for a few decades until they began to deteriorate. In 1994, they were safely housed in the museum’s cellar where the cool and damp air helps to preserve them from acid erosion.

The White Horse

The White Horse Public House is a 400-year old former coaching inn, on the London-Colchester Roman Road. The pub was conveniently placed as a coach terminus, bringing extra trade from passengers. The entrance was once opposite St. Chad's Church, but switched back-to-front due to road widening issues. The route was an important and much used thoroughfare for many centuries.

In 1599, famous Shakespearean actor William Kempe, commonly referred to as Will Kemp, performed a Morris dance from London to Norwich over the course of nine days, as a sort of publicity stunt and a way of raising money by betting on himself. In his pamphlet, Nine Days Wonder, Kemp describes the journey of around 100 miles passing through Chadwell Heath along the way. Although an odd thing to do, it was fitting – Kemp was very famous for performing jigs, physical comedy incorporating dance, which were performed after plays.

Several royal personages have passed through the area. Elizabeth I (1533-1603) travelled from London along the great Essex road during her Progresses, when she would descend on the homes of the local nobility and take advantage of their hospitality. In 1639, Mary de Medici, the Queen Mother of France, passed by in her coach on route from Harwich to London. She was visiting her daughter, Henrietta Maria, wife of Charles I. Princess Charlotte also travelled this way when she came to England to marry George III in September 1761. The royal coach was sent to meet her at Romford; she had stopped there for refreshment, and the house where she stayed was named Queen’s House after her visit. In 1821, the melancholic procession bearing the body of Charlotte of Brunswick came through on its way to Germany. She was the estranged wife of the Prince of Wales (who became George IV). Samuel Johnson, the great literary figure, also reportedly took this route on his way to Harwich in 1762.

The public house was well-known for its stables, livestock, terrace, beautiful garden and sundial. As its reputation grew, more passing trade was attracted in an era where many Londoners lived in rented accommodation with no garden.

The White Horse closed in August 2017, but there are plans underway for the pub to be restored and reopened with new flats surrounding the premises.

WIGGINS TEAPE

Wiggins Teape was a speciality paper manufacturer and merchant. Their factory in Chadwell Heath specialised in envelope manufacture and stationery.

The company made distinctive contributions to the war effort. At Chadwell Heath, products like shell containers and petrol tanks were made.

WINDMILLS - lONG SALLY, LITTLE JENNY & MISS BENTLEY

By 1841, there were six windmills in the parish of Dagenham; three post mills were in close proximity at Chadwell Heath. The oldest mill, Long Sally, had a very tall roundhouse at its base, possibly with three floors. First mentioned in 1770, it is uncertain how the sails were set being so high off the ground. It stood near the second mill Little Jenny, mentioned in 1785. Henry Moss was the miller at Bentley Mill, South Weald, and his youngest son, Archer Moss, became a miller at Chadwell Heath. A third mill brought from Bentley Heath, South Weald, arrived in c.1820 and it became known as Miss Bentley. The three post mills formed a triangle close to the eastern entrance of St. Chad's Park.

By 1839, all were owned by Archer Moss (1798-1895) and he employed nine men. Archer was a Dagenham churchwarden and resided at Heath House. A stain glass window depicting St. Chad and St. Alban was later installed in his memory at St. Chad's Church.

Archer Moss Jnr. converted one of the mills to steam power after his father died; following this alteration, the three mills were often referred to as the high, middle and steam mills.

Long Sally was once struck by lightning and one of the sails caught alight, but swift action by Herbert Moss, son of Archer Jnr., stopped the flames from spreading. This mill was eventually taken down in 1893, although the roundhouse stood for a while afterwards. Little Jenny was dismantled between 1903-1904, and Miss Bentley was demolished by 1906.

MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT

Mary Wollstonecraft was a philosopher, writer and pioneering advocate of women’s rights. Best known for her book ‘A Vindication of the Rights of Woman’; first published in 1792, it was a ground-breaking work of literature.

Regarded as one of the founding feminist philosophers, and feminists often cite both her life and her works as important influences.

Mother of Mary Shelley; author of the famous Gothic novel ‘Frankenstein’.

(Moved to a farm near the Whalebone junction, in Chadwell Heath, with her family in 1764).

WORLD WAR II

Chadwell Heath suffered several bomb hits during World War II.

A large parachute mine exploded causing extensive residential damage in Bennett Road and destroying Whalebone Junior School, whilst a second mine failed to explode and its parachute became entangled in horse-chestnut trees near Chadwell Heath railway station. It did not explode because it was cradled in very soft soil as the result of digging near Hemmings Bakery. It was found by Walter Wiffen, a train guard from Cedar Park Gardens, on his way to work at the station early the next morning. He reported it at the police station, which is now the Eva Hart pub, and oversaw the evacuation of Cedar Park Gardens to the bomb shelter on the corner of Wangey Road and the High Road.

Whalebone House was destroyed and Platform 1 of Chadwell Heath Station was severely damaged by bombs dropped in April 1941.

On 22nd June 1944, a V2 rocket landed on Blackbush Avenue killing several people and blowing out windows for half a mile around. Later, the local Council replaced the windows with much more modern frames, and the results provided an incongruous look to the older house designs.

Further destruction included the bombing of two houses in Woodlands Avenue and a house in Birchdale Gardens, as well as damage to the roof of the Embassy Cinema (still visible today) and houses that had just been repaired after the landmine that had destroyed Whalebone Junior School.

Many Chadwell Heath residents participated in the 'Dig for Victory' campaign set-up during World War II, encouraging people to grow their own food in times of harsh rationing. The allotment on the corner of Wangey Road and Cedar Park Gardens had a small vegetable patch, and food was regularly donated by residents to tram and trolleybus drivers at the nearby terminus.