Aldborough Hatch facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Aldborough Hatch
St Peter's church
Aldborough Hatch
Population	14,544
OS grid reference	TQ455895
London borough	Redbridge
Ceremonial county	Greater London
Region	London
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ILFORD
Postcode district	IG2
Dialling code	020
Police	Metropolitan
Fire	London
Ambulance	London
EU Parliament	London
UK Parliament	Ilford North
London Assembly	Havering and Redbridge
List of places UK England London 51°34′59″N 0°06′04″E / 51.583°N 0.101°E / 51.583; 0.101

Aldborough Hatch is a part of Ilford in east London, England. It's located in the London Borough of Redbridge, about 11.1 miles (17.9 km) east of Charing Cross. This area feels a bit like the countryside, even though it's close to Barkingside and Newbury Park.

Aldborough is also a local government area, called a ward, within the London Borough of Redbridge. In 2011, about 14,544 people lived here.

Discovering Aldborough Hatch's History

What's in a Name? The Story of Aldborough Hatch

The name Aldborough probably comes from the Alborgh or Albourgh family. They owned land here a long time ago, in the 1300s and 1400s. The word 'Hatch' comes from an old English word, hæcc, which meant 'a gate'. This gate used to be an entrance to Hainault Forest. You can see Aldborough Hatch marked on old maps from 1883.

Hainault Forest: A Royal Hunting Ground

Hainault Forest was once a huge royal hunting forest, covering about 3,000 acres. Kings used to hunt deer there for their feasts. However, in the 1800s, people in Parliament thought it was wasted land. They wanted to turn it into farms.

In 1851, a law called the Hainault Forest Inclosure Act was passed. This allowed most of the forest to be cleared for farming. Over 90% of the trees were cut down, including many oak and hornbeam trees. Some of the oak trees were even used to build ships for the Royal Navy. New, straight roads like Hainault Road were built to reach the new farms. However, the land wasn't very good for farming, and some of it has since been used for buildings.

Exploring Aldborough Hatch's Historic Buildings

Some buildings in Aldborough Hatch are officially protected because they are important historical sites. These are called 'listed buildings'.

Statutory Listed Buildings: Important Landmarks

• St. Peter's Church, on Aldborough Road North, was built in 1862. It's a Grade II listed building, recognized for its special architectural and historical interest.
• A Barn at Aldborough House Farm, on Oaks Lane, was built in 1730. It used to be a chapel and is also a Grade II listed building.
• The Newbury Park Station Bus Shelter on Eastern Avenue was built in 1949. It's a unique design and is also Grade II listed.

Locally Listed Buildings: Community Treasures

Many other buildings are important to the local area, even if they aren't nationally listed. These include:

• A Gazebo and wall near the Dick Turpin Inn, from the 1700s.
• The Former school next to St. Peter's Church.
• Parts of a kitchen garden wall from around 1800.
• A large timber barn at Aldborough Hatch Farm, from the 1700s.
• Another Barn (B) at Aldborough Hatch Farm, built around 1850.
• A garden wall behind 1-2 Lake Cottages.
• Whites Farm, built around 1860.
• Hainault Farm, built in 1855.
• Farm buildings near Hainault Works.

Places of Worship in Aldborough Hatch

St. Peter's Church: A Community Hub

When Hainault Forest was cleared, land was set aside for a new church. In 1861, money was given to build a church that would replace an older chapel. Local people also helped raise funds.

The church, named St. Peter, Aldborough Hatch, was designed by Arthur Ashpitel in a style popular in the 1200s. Interestingly, the builders were also taking down Westminster Bridge. Instead of using local bricks, they found it cheaper to bring stone from the old bridge by boat and horse! The church was officially opened on May 6, 1862.

The Church Organ: A Musical Journey

The organ at St. Peter's has an interesting past. It was built by Gray and Davison for a big exhibition in London in 1862. It's said that after the exhibition, it was in a pub in the East End of London! Later, in 1898, a local family, Charles and Bessie Painter, bought it and gave it to the church in memory of their baby son.

For many years, someone had to pump the organ by hand to make it play, until 1951. It was later rebuilt and improved.

Church School and Halls: Learning and Gathering

Aldborough Hatch Church of England School was built in 1867. A stone on the building says that Queen Victoria gave the land and some money for the school. It was built for 160 boys and girls. The school closed in 1912, and the building became the church halls. These halls were expanded in 1958. The local Scout group also has its headquarters here, added in 1979.

The Vicarage: A Home for the Vicar

The first house for the church's vicar (the priest) was built around 1879, next to the churchyard. It had a large garden and a field. This field was often used for fun events like fêtes and garden parties, and even for Scouts and Guides to camp. A new vicarage was built later, with an office for the church.

Other Places of Worship

• South West Essex and Settlement Reform Synagogue is on Oaks Lane and was started in 1956.
• The East London Christian Fellowship Centre is at Whites Farm on Oaks Lane. It's an evangelical Christian church that holds services in English and Chinese.
• The Mata Sahib Kaur Sikh Academy used to be in the old Methodist church on Oaks Lane. It closed in 2016.
• The Newbury Park Islamic Cultural Centre is also on Oaks Lane. It has prayer halls for worshippers.

Getting Around Aldborough Hatch: Transport

Trains: Underground Connections

Newbury Park Underground station is on the western edge of Aldborough Hatch. It's on the Central line , making it easy to get into central London.

Buses: Local Routes

Several bus routes travel along the A12 road, which goes through Aldborough Hatch.

Route Number	Route	Via	Operator
66	Leytonstone to Romford Station	Redbridge Gants Hill Newbury Park	Arriva London
296	Roden Street to Romford Station	Ilford Gants Hill Newbury Park Marks Gate Community Centre	Stagecoach
396	Roden Street to King George Hospital	Ilford Gants Hill Newbury Park	Stagecoach

Aldborough Grange and Estate

Aldborough Grange was once a large mansion. It stood where Applegarth Drive meets Aldborough Road North today, across from St. Peter's Church.

The mansion was taken down in the 1930s, and new houses were built to create the Aldborough Grange Estate. A leaflet from that time advertised these new homes, saying they were just a few minutes' walk from Newbury Park Station. It promised "Open country right at the doors" and "Ilford's great shopping centres close by." Houses started from £695, and you could move in with just a £35 deposit!

Aldborough Hall and Equestrian Centre

Aldborough Hall was built in the 1830s. The Painter family owned it for many years. During World War II, it was used as a place for army officers to stay. After the war, the hall was repaired and improved.

In 1956, the Aldborough Hall Equestrian Centre was started, using some of the old buildings. This is a place where people can learn to ride horses.

Police Box: A Blast from the Past

A special police telephone box, called J47, stood at the entrance to Aldborough Hall from 1936 to 1959.

Farms of Aldborough Hatch

Several farms are located in the Aldborough Hatch area:

Aldborough House Farm

The farmhouse was built in Oaks Lane in 1856. One of its barns is a listed building.

Aldborough Hatch Farm

The farmhouse for Aldborough Hatch farm, also on Oaks Lane, was built in 1854. It later joined with Aldborough House farm.

Aldborough Hall Farm

This farmhouse on Aldborough Road North was built around 1855. It became a popular place for people to come and Pick-Your-Own fruit and vegetables, and it also had a farm shop. The farm even rescued animals, which the public could visit. The farm closed to the public in 2006.

Willow Farm

Willow Farm farmhouse, on Billet Road, was built in the late 1800s. There are plans to build many new homes on this farm.

Whites Farm

Whites Farm farmhouse on Oaks Lane was built in 1860 and has a decorative iron porch. It's a locally listed building. The East London Christian Fellowship Centre is based here.

Hainault Farm

Hainault Farm farmhouse and its buildings were built in 1855 and are locally listed.

Fairlop Waters: Nature and Fun

Fairlop Waters is a large park and leisure centre at the northern tip of Aldborough Hatch. You can get there easily from Fairlop station .

This area used to be Fairlop Airfield during the two world wars. Later, sand and gravel were dug out here. The holes left behind were filled in and turned into the park we see today.

Fairlop Waters has a big 38-acre lake where you can go canoeing, sailing, and windsurfing. There are also islands on the lake that are home to wild birds. For sports fans, there are 9 and 18-hole golf courses, and a special lake for fishing. You can also find a hall for events, a bar, and a restaurant.

Chase Lane: A Historical Path

An old document from 1863 mentions a "Lover's-walk" near Oaks Lane. It's thought that this might be what we now call Chase Lane. This lane runs from Oaks Lane, crosses the London Underground line, and goes towards Horns Road.

Scouting in Aldborough Hatch

Aldborough Hatch has a strong connection to Scouting, going back to the 1930s.

1st Aldborough Hatch (St. Peter's) Scout Group

This Scout group started in the early 1930s but closed during World War II when many young men went to fight. It was restarted in 1946 by Archie Titmarsh, a church leader. He asked the choir boys if they wanted to be Scouts, and they said yes!

2nd Aldborough Hatch Scout Group

Another Scout group existed in the mid-1900s. They met in a "white hut" on Oaks Lane. This hut later became a meeting place for the local Salvation Army. Today, the Newbury Park Islamic Cultural Centre stands on that spot.

A Leader in Scouting: Ron Jeffries

Ron Jeffries was a Cub Scout Leader and then a Scout Leader for the 1st Aldborough Hatch group. He later became the General Editor for The Scout Association, helping to create and publish Scouting magazines and books from 1968 to 1979.

Hargreaves Campsite

Hargreaves campsite, on Hainault Road, opened in the 1950s. It's a place where Scouts can go camping and also has a Scout Shop.

St. Chad's Well: A Healing Spring

St. Chad's Well was a special spring in Billet Road. It was named after St. Chad, who was known for healing wells. People believed the water from this well could help with eye problems. A memorial was placed at the site in 1951.

Dick Turpin Public House: A Local Landmark

The Dick Turpin pub has a long history. The original building was a small pub in some old cottages from the 1500s. Those cottages burned down in 1966. The current pub building opened in 1912. The pub's name was changed in 2006 but was brought back in 2011 after people campaigned for it.

Cuckoo Hall: A Historic House

Cuckoo Hall was a house with a walled garden, dating back to 1777. Most of it was taken down in the early 1800s, but some of the old brick walls and a small garden house (gazebo) still remain.

Solvay Society Brewery: Craft Beer in Aldborough Hatch

The Solvay Society Brewery moved to Aldborough Hall Farm in 2016. This brewery, owned by Roman Hochuli, makes Belgian-style beers with a unique twist. It's called the Cuckoo Brewery because Cuckoo Hall used to be next to the farm.

Education in Aldborough Hatch

William Torbitt Primary School

William Torbitt Primary School is located on the A12 road (Eastern Avenue). The school is named after William Stansfield Torbitt, who was in charge of education for Ilford from 1903 to 1938. The school officially opened on September 9, 1937.

Oaks Park High School

Oaks Park High School on Oaks Lane opened on September 7, 2001. It's a large school for students aged 10 to 19. The school also has a big sixth form for older students. Oaks Park became a special music college in 2006.

Newbury Park Islamic Cultural Centre

This centre, in addition to being a place of worship, also provides education about the religion of Islam.