Waltham Cross

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Waltham Cross
static_

population = 10,000
shire_district= Broxbourne
shire_county = Hertfordshire
region= East of England
constituency_westminster= Broxbourne
post_town= WALTHAM CROSS
postcode_district= EN8
postcode_area=EN
dial_code= 01992
os_grid_reference= TL359005
latitude=51.68682
longitude=-0.03547

Waltham Cross is the most south-easterly town in Hertfordshire, England, bordered by Greater London to the south and northerly rural Essex to the east. It is located at UK gbmapping|TL359005, just south of Cheshunt, west of Waltham Abbey and north of Enfield (with the southern section of the town crossing the Greater London boundary and the M25 motorway at Freezywater). Even though it is located just outside of Greater London itself, the town is still a part of the Greater London Urban Area.

The town centre is a bustling pedestrianised shopping district attracting shoppers to the mix of chain stores and independent shops, supermarkets, banks, a covered shopping mall and the department store Fishpools which has been in the town since 1899. A general market is held on Wednesdays and Fridays, plus occasional French and farmers' markets.

The Showground site which adjoins Waltham Town Lock has been chosen to host the relocated Broxbourne White Water Canoe Centre for the 2012 Olympics. [ [http://www.leavalleywalk.org.uk/feed/ Olympic site moved to Waltham lock] Retrieved May 14 2008]

In the heart of the town centre is one of the three surviving medieval Eleanor Crosses, a striking memorial commemorating the over-night resting place of Queen Eleanor’s coffin on its processional journey to Westminster Abbey in 1290. The memorial is now surrounded by a European-style piazza with space for street entertainment and events.

There is a large bus station, a result of Waltham Cross being on the border of Travelcard Zone 6 where London Buses terminate and link with services for Hertfordshire and Essex. The area is served by two train stations on different lines. Waltham Cross railway station links directly with London Liverpool Street the journey taking approximately 25 minutes or 12 minutes to Tottenham Hale. Theobalds Grove railway station also links with London Liverpool street via Seven Sisters station.

A large printing works has been developed for News International at the Park Plaza site and will soon be responsible for pressing copies of newspapers such as "The Sun" and "The Times", adjacent to the A10 and Junction 25 of the M25 motorway.

Victorian novelist Anthony Trollope lived at Waltham Cross for 12 years between 1859 and 1871 where he wrote twenty-six of his novels and entertained his illustrious London friends. His home was demolished in 1936 and on the general site now stands the 'Moon and Cross', a J D Wetherspoon public house, decorated with a literary theme. Celebrities Cliff Richard, Victoria Beckham and English singer-songwriter and musician Russ Ballard are also from the area.

Nearest places

* Freezywater
* Enfield Lock
* Lee Valley Park
* Waltham Abbey
* Cheshunt
* Goffs Oak

Transport

Buses

Waltham Cross Bus Station serves as the main terminus and starting point for buses in the immediate locality, with important links to North London, Hertford, Waltham Abbey, Loughton, Cheshunt and Potters Bar.

Rail

Nearest railway stations:
*Theobalds Grove railway station
*Waltham Cross railway station

External links

* [http://www.leevalley-online.co.uk/towns/wcross/index.htm Waltham Cross Town Guide]
* [http://www.lowewood.com/WalthamX/ Local history]

References