- Chadwell Heath
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Coordinates: 51°34′33″N 0°08′38″E / 51.5757°N 0.144°E
Chadwell Heath 
Chadwell Heath
Chadwell Heath shown within Greater LondonOS grid reference TQ485885 London borough Barking & Dagenham Redbridge Ceremonial county Greater London Region London Country England Sovereign state United Kingdom Post town ROMFORD Postcode district RM6 Dialling code 020 Police Metropolitan Fire London Ambulance London EU Parliament London UK Parliament Dagenham and Rainham Ilford South London Assembly City and East Havering and Redbridge List of places: UK • England • London Chadwell Heath is a place in the London Borough of Redbridge and the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, both in Greater London.[1] It is 12 miles (19 km) north-east of Charing Cross.
Contents
Toponymy
The name 'Chadwell' is first recorded in 1254 as Chaudewell and means 'the cold spring'.[2] The name was first applied to a settlement on the Barking side of the ancient Barking/Dagenham boundary and it was also known as Chadwell Street;[3] 'Street' having the older meaning of a hamlet.[2] In the 17th century the Blackheath Common in Dagenham parish was renamed Chadwell Heath.[3]
History
Chadwell Heath formed a hamlet in the ancient parish of Dagenham.[3] The London to Colchester Roman road caused some early 'ribbon' development while much of the rest of the parish remained rural. The railway was constructed through the area from Romford and Ilford and in 1864 Chadwell Heath railway station was opened.[3] Suburban growth commenced in 1900 and proceeded rapidly until World War I; increasing after the war.[3] It was the 'end of the line' for both the London tram system and later the electric trolley bus service from Aldgate. The trolley buses turned around at Station Road and Wangye Road.
Mary Wollstonecraft (born 1759), mother of 'Frankenstein' author Mary Wollstonecraft Shelly, lived briefly at a farm near Whalebone Lane until the family moved to Barking. Mary Wollstonecraft senior wrote 'Vindication of the Rights of Women' in 1792 and was a notable critic of Edmund Burke.
Artist Henry Gillard Glindoni (1852-1913) moved to Chadwell Heath around 1891 and lived in a new villa on the corner of Mill Lane and Whalebone Lane North. This building is still there and his north-facing studio adjacent to the house is now a small shop. He painted local scenes and some of his work can still be seen in Valence House Museum.
The area suffered several bomb hits during World War Two. A large parachute mine also exploded causing extensive residential damage while a second failed to explode and its parachute became entangled in trees near Chadwell Heath station. A heavy anti-aircraft battery was located east of Whalebone Lane North and traces of the concrete emplacements remain today.
A survivor of the RMS Titanic, Miss Eva Hart MBE, was a resident of Japan Road, Chadwell Heath, for many years until her death in 1996. Miss Hart had been a magistrate who dealt with alcohol licence applications. When the former police station was converted into a public house by Wetherspoon's it was named after her and remains so today. It contains several photographs of young Eva and her family. Immediately following the tragedy Miss Hart and her mother lived with her grandmother in Whalebone Grove. Apart from a short stay in Australia she was a life-long Chadwell Heath resident.
Actress and singer Millicent Martin was born in Mill Lane in 1934 and went to school in Romford. She became famous for appearances in 'That Was The Week That Was' and 'Sunday Night at the London Palladium' on UK TV in the 1960s. Most recently she has played Daphne's mum in the US series 'Frasier'.
Comedian, actor and musician Dudley Moore used to refer to his mother's Baron Road home as 'Chadwell Heath' in television interviews but technically it was in Dagenham. He and his red Ferrari car were familiar sights in the area during the 1970s. He returned for his mother's funeral in 1981.
Author Michael J Merry lived in Chadwell Heath between 1940 and 1958. Singer and actor David Essex lived on the Marks Gate estate for 15 years.
Actress Michele Dockery was educated at the Chadwell Heath Foundation School. She is best known for stage appearances and for roles in Downton Abbey and The Hogfather.
Fishmonger Eric Ruffell formerly ran a shop in High Road, Chadwell Heath. For many years he held the Royal Warrant as supplier to HM The Queen by appointment. The shop was demolished during commercial redevelopment in the 1980s.
Geography
It has easy rail access to Liverpool Street Station in the City of London. The London Borough of Havering is to the east.[1] The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham have two local wards named 'Chadwell Heath' and 'Whalebone', and the London Borough of Redbridge has one named Chadwell. Chadwell Heath is therefore split between the two Boroughs and three wards. Many major buildings, such as the local school and former police station (now the popular pub, the Eva Hart) actually lie in the London Borough of Redbridge. Royal Mail includes Chadwell Heath as part of a postcode district (RM6) of the Romford post town,[4] however the town of Romford is in Havering. Until the local government reorganisation of 1965 Chadwell Heath was in the county of Essex. It ceased to be Essex in that year and became part of two London boroughs in the Greater London Council area. It lost Essex from its address in the 1970s. Despite this many residents still fondly refer to the area as 'Essex' rather than 'East London'.
Economy
Hemmings once had an enormous bakery building on land just north of Chadwell Heath station. This building was derelict by the 1970s and was later demolished for housing. For many years Bergermaster Paints maintained a large factory in Freshwater Road. Grove Road was also an industrial area with Wiggins Teape and Morganite Carbons Ltd among companies based there. These sites were sold in the 1990s and have also been redeveloped for housing. A teddy bear factory in the same area was the site of the alleged murder of Terry 'Teddy Bear' Eve and others in the 1970s. The esoteric publishing company founded by phrenologist L.N. Fowler had a shop and offices in the High Road in the 1970s and 1980s. This is now a fish and chip shop. Dairy Crest have an enormous creamery/dairy on Selinas Lane, which supplies all of London.[citation needed] Sunlight laundry are also a major employer as are Sainsbury's, Tesco and local shops.
Transport
Chadwell heath is served by London Buses services and National Rail from Chadwell Heath railway station. London Buses routes that serve Chadwell Heath are the 62 from Marks Gate 'Billet Road' to Barking 'Gascoigne Estate'; 86 from Romford Station to Stratford Station; 173 from King Gearge Hospital 'Goodmayes' to Beckton Station; 362 from King George Hospital 'Goodmayes' to Grange Hill Station; 368 from Chadwell Heath 'Police Station' to Barking 'Harts Lane' and night bus N86 from Stratford Station to Harold Hill 'Dagnam Park Square'.[5]
Local News Coverage
Archant, a leading local newspaper group covers the area in its 'Ilford Recorder', 'Romford Recorder' and 'Barking & Dagenham Post' newspapers. There is also the Yellow Advertiser. As well as a local radio station Time 107.5, that covers Havering, Barking & Dagenham and Redbridge.
Religion
There is a Church of England place of worship on St Chad's Road, next to the White Horse public House. A Roman Catholic Church, St Bede's, is on Canon Avenue, and forms part of the overall ground for St Bede's Roman Catholic primary school (main entrance on Bishops Avenue). A baptist Church which is found in the town centre on the High Road opposite Sainsbury's. Other churches include the URC (United Reformed Church), and the Brethren Assembly in Wangey Road.
Culture
Chadwell Heath was known for a strong community spirit, with a thriving white working class community, that consisted of English and Irish residents; many of whom worked for the number of factories that were in the area in the 1970/80s - located, roughly where Smyth's toyshop and Halfords now are. Many Dagenham residents moved to Chadwell Heath to become owner occupiers.
The Hinds Head pub on the corner of Station Road / Burnside Road closed in 2009. According to CAMRA, pubs are closing due to changing demographics, the smoking ban, supermarket subsidised alcohol and direct taxation on beers and spirts.
The area enjoys a number of gastro and general pubs. The Harvester Greyhound, the Moby Dick, the Rendezvous, the Eva Hart, The Coopers Arms, the White Horse, and the Tolgate.
There are two working men's / private members clubs in the area. One on Grove Road (the Grove Social Club), and adjacent to Sainsbury's there is the Cedar Club.
Allotments
The area has two allotments. One adjacent to St Chad's Park on Alexandra Road, and another on Chadwell Heath Lane. There is also a plot in Little Heath next to the Eastern Avenue / A12.
Sports
West Ham United's training ground is located in the area. Similar to many parts of East London and Essex, the area has a large "Hammers" following, and is home to a number of supporters of the Dagenham and Redbridge.
A number of famous sports people hail from the area. Former England rugby union legend Jason Leonard is from Chadwell Heath, and attended the town's Warren Comprehensive School. Former England and West Ham United player Tony Cottee and former WBO world boxing champion Colin MacMillan also attended Warren Comprehensive School. West Brom defender Nicky Shorey also went to the Chadwell Heath Foundation School.[citation needed] Boxer Frank Bruno, Cricketer Graham Gooch and Darts player Bobby George lived here, as well as footballer Mark Lazaridos (Leyton Orient). Former F1 driver Keith Jack Oliver was born here in 14 August 1942. Jim Peters, the marathon runner who gained worldwide fame when he collapsed and was unable to finish the marathon in the 1954 Empire Games in Vancouver, Canada, lived in Chadwell Heath during the 1950s.
There are two lawn bowls clubs in the area, 'Barley Bowls' and 'St Chad's Bowls Club'.
The area is home to a private lawn tennis club 'Mike Ellames' on the corner of the A12 and Hainault Road.
References
- ^ a b Barking & Dagenham London Borough Council - Borough, Chadwell Heath ward and Chadwell ward maps
- ^ a b Mills, A.D. (2001). Dictionary of London Place Names. Oxford.
- ^ a b c d e W.R. Powell (1966). "Dagenham: Introduction and manors, A History of the County of Essex: Volume 5". http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=42731.
- ^ Royal Mail, Address Management Guide, (2004)
- ^ Transport for London - Buses from Chadwell Heath
London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Districts Barking · Becontree · Becontree Heath · Castle Green · Chadwell Heath · Creekmouth · Dagenham · Dagenham Dock · Marks Gate · Rush Green
Attractions Barking Abbey · Barking Market · Eastbury Manor House (NT) · Valence House Museum · The Broadway · Victoria RoadParks and open spaces Barking Park · Central Park · Eastbrookend Country Park · Mayesbrook Park · Parsloes Park · Valence ParkConstituencies Tube and rail stations Other topics London Borough of Redbridge Districts Aldborough Hatch · Aldersbrook · Barkingside · Chadwell Heath · Clayhall · Cranbrook · Fairlop · Fullwell Cross · Gants Hill · Goodmayes · Hainault · Ilford · Little Heath · Loxford · Newbury Park · Redbridge · Seven Kings · Snaresbrook · South Woodford · Wanstead · Woodford · Woodford Bridge · Woodford Green · Woodford Wells
Attractions Cricklefield Stadium · Kenneth More Theatre · Redbridge MuseumConstituencies Parks and open spaces Clayhall Park · Goodmayes Park · Hainault Forest Country Park · Fairlop Waters · Goodmayes Park · Seven Kings Park · Roding Valley Park · Seven Kings Park · South Park, Ilford · Valentines Park · Wanstead Flats · Wanstead ParkTube and rail stations Other topics People · Public art · SchoolsCategories:- Districts of London
- Districts of Redbridge
- Districts of Barking and Dagenham
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