Chingford

Chingford
Chingford Mount
Chingford Chingford shown within Greater London
OS grid reference	TQ395945
• Charing Cross	10 mi (16 km) SW
London borough	Waltham Forest
Ceremonial county	Greater London
Region	London
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	LONDON
Postcode district	E4
Dialling code	020
Police	Metropolitan
Fire	London
Ambulance	London
EU Parliament	London
UK Parliament	Chingford and Woodford Green
London Assembly	North East

Chingford is a district in North East London, located in the London Borough of Waltham Forest ^[1] and is situated 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Charing Cross. Historically a rural Essex parish, it gained urban district status in 1894, and between 1938 and 1965 formed the core of the Municipal Borough of Chingford. Chingford is close to the Essex border of Epping Forest District.^[2][3]

It borders Sewardstone to the north, Woodford Green and Buckhurst Hill to the east and Walthamstow to the south. To the west lie William Girling and King George V reservoirs, known together as the Chingford Reservoirs, and the River Lea. Across these, Chingford is linked with Ponders End through the A110 Lea Valley Road, whilst South Chingford is linked with Edmonton through the A406 Lea Valley Viaduct. To the north and east lies Epping Forest, the most part of which is in Essex but is maintained by the City of London Corporation.^[4]

Toponymy

The River Ching runs through the area, and the town of Chingford is close to a number of fords of that river. However, old maps and descriptions give a name for the settlement long before the river has a name and it is likely that the name of the river as "Ching" arose long after the settlement was named. The area of Chingford is referenced in the Doomsday book as "Cingefort" from 1066AD^[5]. It is thought that, similarly to how Kingston upon Thames appears in Domesday Book of 1086AD as Chingestone and Chingetun(e), with ching being old English for king, that Chingford could refer to the King's river, and Kings Ford. This idea is compounded by links to royalty using the area for hunting in centuries gone by, with Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge^[6] still standing in North Chingford.^[7] Furthermore, there is evidence of King Harold Harefoot having lived in Chingford and the environs in the 11th Century, a date which ties in with the Old English use of "Ching" for King. Another suggested explanation by place name genealogists is that the settlement's name has its origin as "Shingly Ford"—that is, a ford over a waterway containing shingles^[8]. However, the genealogists assertion is likely to be incorrect, as the usage of the placename name "Cingefort" in the Doomsday book predates the coining of the word "Shingle." The earliest known usage of the Middle English word shingle is 1200AD and the word was not used to describe loose stones on a waterway until three centuries later in the 1500s.^[9].

Landmarks

Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge

One notable local landmark is Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge.^[10] Originally called the Great Standing, it was built for King Henry VIII in 1543, and was used as a grandstand to watch the hunting of deer, although it has been heavily altered over time. The building is located on Chingford Plain within Epping Forest and is open to the public. The lodge is preserved under the Epping Forest Preservation Act.^[11]

Originally a barn built in the mid-19th century, Butler's Retreat, a Grade II listed building, is one of the few remaining Victorian retreats within the forest. The building is adjacent to the Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge and takes its name from the 1891 occupier John Butler. Retreats originally served non-alcoholic refreshments as part of the Temperance movement. After closing in 2009 the building was refurbished by the City of London Corporation and re-opened as a cafe in 2012.^[12]

All Saints Church, Old Church Road, E4

All Saints' Church in Chingford Mount (known locally as the Old Church) dates back to the 12th century. Directly opposite the church is Chingford Mount Cemetery, best known today as the burial place of the Kray family.^[13]

Friday Hill House

Friday Hill House, Simmons Lane, off Friday Hill, dating from 1839, was a manor house built and owned by Robert Boothby Heathcote, who was both the lord of the manor and rector of the local church. It was he who paid for the building of the church of St Peter and St Paul in Chingford. He is buried in the Boothby family vault in All Saints' Churchyard (Chingford Old Church), Old Church Road. The vault was purchased by Robert Boothby (died 1733), who lived in the previous manor house. The present building has been used as a further education centre, but was put up for sale in 2012.^[14][15]

Pimp Hall Dovecote is situated in a green area at the bottom of Friday Hill and can be viewed by entering the Pimp Hall Nature Reserve. The dovecote, which had nesting space for 250 birds, belonged to Pimp Hall (originally Pympe's Hall), one of three manor houses around Chingford. In 1838 the estate was taken over and became part of the Chingford Earls estate. The farmhouse associated with it survived until just before World War II. This dovecote is depicted in the Millennium Heritage Mosaic on the front of Chingford Assembly Hall. It is the fourth item down on the left-hand-side of the mosaic, also see the Key. There is a local legend telling how on one occasion Charles II was out hunting in Epping Forest and was caught in a snowstorm. He took shelter in Pimp Hall and was so delighted with the food offered him that he jocularly drew his sword and knighted the joint of beef declaring that it was now Sir Loin. Either this story caused the nearby pub on Friday Hill to be called "The Sirloin" or vice versa.

Pole Hill Obelisk

A granite obelisk at Pole Hill was erected in 1824 under the direction of the Astronomer Royal, the Rev. John Pond M.A., to mark true north for the telescopes of the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, south of the Thames. It was placed on high ground along the line of the Greenwich Meridian, but when this was recalibrated later in the 19th century, the obelisk was deemed to have been erected 19 feet (5.8 m) west of the revised meridian line. Today, an adjoining triangulation pillar marks the modern line.

Chingford Old Town Hall building, The Ridgeway

Chingford Old Town Hall, dating from 1929, is on The Ridgeway in Chingford. It has more recently been known as the Chingford Municipal Offices. The site has been sold to property developers and the town hall building subsequently put up for sale itself.^[16][17]

Governance

Chingford is within the Chingford and Woodford Green UK Parliament constituency, which consists of the six Chingford wards in the Borough of Waltham Forest and two wards in the Borough of Redbridge. Iain Duncan Smith has been the sitting MP since 1992.^[18]

Former MPs include Norman Tebbit, Leah Manning, Stan Newens, and Winston Churchill (when Chingford was in the Epping constituency).

Chingford is part of the London Borough of Waltham Forest, which also includes the east London districts of Walthamstow, Leyton, and Leytonstone. Chingford consists of six council wards, namely:

• Chingford Green
• Endlebury
• Valley
• Larkswood
• Hatch Lane
• Hale End and Highams Park

Each ward is represented by three councillors; at present all of the councillors represent the Conservative Party except for two Labour ones in Valley and Hale End and Highams Park. The London Borough of Waltham Forest is presently controlled by the Labour party.

Chingford falls within the North East constituency of the London Assembly, which is currently represented by Jennette Arnold of the Labour party.

When Chingford was a municipal borough, before 1965, its politics were dominated by the Chingford Ratepayers' Association, which was nominally independent, but against whom the Conservative Party did not field candidates.

Demography

As of the 2011 census, 86% of the population of Chingford Green ward, which covers the north of the area, was white (77% British, 7% Other, 2% Irish).^[19] Endlebury ward, covering southern areas and Chingford Mount, was 78% white (68% British, 8% Other, 2% Irish). 7% was black (3% African, 3% Caribbean, 1% Other).^[20]

Housing

The location of one of the interwar London County Council cottage estates.

Local sport teams

• In 1724 (exact date unknown), a Chingford cricket team played in an important match against Edwin Stead's XI. The venue is unknown; if it was played in Chingford it is the earliest known reference to cricket being played in the county of Essex and it is certainly the earliest reference to a team from Essex. The match was highly controversial as the Chingford team refused to play to a finish when Stead's XI had the advantage. A court case followed and, as in a similar case in 1718, the match was ordered to be played out, presumably so that all wagers could be fulfilled. Lord Chief Justice Pratt presided over the case and he "referr'd the said Cause back to Dartford Heath, to be played on where they left off, and a Rule of Court was made accordingly". The game was completed in September 1726. The final result is not on record, and there is no confirmation that Stead's team held their advantage and won.^[21]
• Chingford's oldest football club is, Egbertian FC,^[22] formerly Old Egbertian FC, which was started by former pupils of St Egbert's College, Chingford. The club was formed in 1928 and is affiliated to the Amateur Football Alliance (AFA). The club plays in the Amateur Football Combination.
• Ridgeway Rovers Youth Football Club is a local club in Chingford East London. Notable former players include David Beckham, Andros Townsend, and Harry Kane.^[23]
• Chingford Athletic Football Club was formed as recently as the summer of 2007 and this season will have 3 teams, 2 playing Saturdays in the recently formed Essex Alliance league and one Sunday team in the Essex Corinthian league. The club are unable to get a ground in Chingford so currently play their games at Leyton Sixth Form College, Essex Road. After being promoted in the 2013/14 season and winning the league cup the club went one better in the 2014/15 season winning the Premier Division and the league cup. The 2015/16 season sees the Reserves being reformed due to demand plus the addition of a Sunday side.
• Chingford Rugby Club was also founded in 1928, and its ground is at Waltham Way, Chingford.^[24]
• Chingford Cricket Club is located on Forest Side, but the entrance to the ground is on Kimberley Way. It is believed to have been founded in 1884.^[25] The club plays in The Shepherd Neame Essex League^[26] and the 1st team were promoted to the Premier League for the 2013 season.

King Georges Reservoir home to the Sailing Club

• King George Sailing Club was founded in the 1970s to provide dinghy sailing and windsurfing on the largest and best sailing water in the north and east of London. The club enjoys facilities both on and off the water and has an active membership engaged in racing, learning to sail, casual sailing, and windsurfing. In recognition of its good facilities and encouragement of youth sailing, the Royal Yachting Association has awarded the club Volvo Champion Club status.^[27]

Transport

Chingford Station

Chingford is served by Chingford railway station which is the terminus of a branch line from Liverpool Street station in the City of London. There is also a station at Highams Park. Chingford lost its rail link to Stratford with the removal of the 500 m length of track known as the Hall Farm Curve in 1970, and there have been campaigns for its reinstatement.

Bus routes link Chingford to Walthamstow, Loughton, Leytonstone, Stratford, Ilford, Potters Bar and Harlow. The town is also served by the N26 night bus from Trafalgar Square.

Education

Chingford secondary schools include:

• Chingford Foundation School
• Heathcote School
• Normanhurst School
• Rush Croft Foundation School

Notable people

• Dame Louisa Aldrich-Blake, noted surgeon and pioneer in medical education for women, was born in Chingford
• Edward ('Eddie') Brett, from boy band the Loveable Rogues, who were signed to Syco Music, grew up and still currently lives in Chingford.
• The Kray twins, who dominated the London gangland scene during the 1960s, are buried in Chingford Mount cemetery.^[13]
• The author and games designer Joe Dever was born in Chingford in 1956.
• The footballer David Beckham OBE^[28] grew up in Chingford, David having been born at Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone on 2 May 1975.^[29] He was educated at the Chingford Foundation School and also Chase Lane Primary School^[30] and played football for Ridgeway Rovers F.C.,^[31][32] a local side.
• Apple Chief Design Officer Jonathan Ive KBE was raised in Chingford.^[33]
• Chingford is home to former England, Tottenham Hotspur, and Manchester United player Teddy Sheringham.^[34]
• Chingford is home to singer and ex-glamour model Samantha Fox.
• Some members of the group Blazin' Squad live in Chingford. The group grew up in Chingford and attended Highams Park School.^[35]
• Leslie Phillips, comedy star of the Carry On Films, lived in Chingford.^[36]
• Alan Davies, stand-up comedian and regular guest on quiz show QI, grew up in Chingford.^[37]
• Russell Lissack from Bloc Party grew up in Chingford.^[38][39]
• Winston Churchill was MP for Epping, a defunct constituency that included Chingford, from October 1924 to July 1945.^[40]
• Charles Alcock, founding father of The Football Association and creator of the FA Cup, moved to Chingford with his family when he was young.^[41]
• Paul Di'Anno, former lead singer of heavy metal band Iron Maiden, was born and grew up in Chingford.^[42]
• John Lloyd (graphic designer), co-founder of the international design consultancy, Lloyd Northover, grew up in Chingford and lived there from 1948 to 1970.
• Giles Watling, actor, was born in Chingford.
• Durrty Goodz, a well-known grime artist, is from Chingford.
• Neil Hubbard, rock guitarist.
• Michael Nyman, composer of minimalist music, notably film scores, grew up in Chingford.^[43]
• Graeme Norgate, composer of Video Game Music, was born and grew up in Chingford
• Steve Hillage, guitarist, is from Chingford.
• John Sitton, former Chelsea footballer and Leyton Orient manager, lives in Chingford.
• Andros Townsend, Crystal Palace and England midfielder, is from Chingford and attended Rush Croft Sports College.
• Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur and England striker, is from Chingford and attended Chingford Foundation School.
• Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji, composer and pianist, was born in Chingford.
• Dwight Gayle, current Newcastle United striker, is from Chingford.
• Jason Hadjioannou, technology developer and entrepreneur, is from Chingford.
• Peter Greenaway, film director, grew up in Chingford.
• Prof Alan Mozley, zoologist, born in Chingford
• Winner of Love Island 2016 Nathan Massey, grew up and currently still lives in Chingford

References

Bibliography

• Maun, Ian (2009). From Commons to Lord's, Volume One: 1700 to 1750. Roger Heavens. ISBN 978 1 900592 52 9.

External links

• London's Railways
• Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge
• The Chingford War Memorial Project
• Archival material relating to Chingford listed at the UK National Register of Archives
• Images of Chingford at the English Heritage Archive
• Chingford Parish (St Peter & St Paul Church; Chingford Old Church)
• St Edmund's Parish Church, Chingford
• St Anne's Parish Church, Chingford
• Leach, John (2007). "From Lads to Lord's; The History of Cricket: 1300 – 1787". Stumpsite. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011.

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