Hornchurch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hornchurch |
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 Langtons house and grounds were given to Hornchurch in 1929 |
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 Hornchurch
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| OS grid reference | TQ535865 |
| • Charing Cross | 15.2 mi (24.5 km) WSW |
| London borough | |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | HORNCHURCH |
| Postcode district | RM11, RM12 |
| Dialling code | 01708 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| EU Parliament | London |
| UK Parliament |
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| London Assembly |
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Hornchurch is a lively town in East London, located within the London Borough of Havering. It's about 15 miles east of central London. Hornchurch has many shops and a large area where people live.
Long ago, Hornchurch was a big parish in Essex. It was part of the Royal Liberty of Havering. Over time, it changed from being mostly farms to having different industries. Nearby Romford also grew as a market town. In the 20th century, Hornchurch grew a lot as London expanded. It became an urban district in 1926 and part of Greater London in 1965. Today, it's home to the Queen's Theatre and two colleges.
Contents
History of Hornchurch
What's in a Name?
The name Hornchurch first appeared in English in 1233. It means 'church with horn-like gables'. Gables are the triangular parts of a wall under a sloping roof.
Some people thought the name came from the Hornchurch Priory. This priory used a seal with a bull's head on its documents. But actually, the bull emblem on the church wall came from the name, not the other way around!
Ancient Times
About 450,000 years ago, during the Anglian Ice Age, a huge ice sheet reached Hornchurch. This was the furthest south ice ever reached in Britain!
Scientists have found Stone Age tools and items from the Bronze and Iron Ages here. This shows that people have lived in Hornchurch for a very long time. Roman remains have also been found, suggesting there was a settlement in South Hornchurch.
The Priory and New College
In 1158, King Henry II gave a large piece of land in southern Hornchurch to a hospice in Savoy, France. A priory, which is like a small monastery, was built there. In 1163, St Andrew's Church and nearby land were also given to the priory.
The priory had special religious power in the area. But in 1379, the king took over the property because of political reasons. Later, in 1391, William of Wykeham bought the land. He used it to help start New College, Oxford, a famous university. The priory's old site became Hornchurch Hall.
How Hornchurch Grew
The Hornchurch Marsh was a great place for grazing cattle. Butchers and inn owners from London loved the cattle from here. By the 1800s, Hornchurch was famous for the quality of its meat sent to London's Smithfield Market.
Hornchurch was also known for making leather from the 1200s to the 1500s. The main street was even called Pell Street, which means 'skin' or 'hide', showing how important the leather trade was. There was also a brewery in Hornchurch for many years.
Later, a bicycle factory called Speedwell (later Ormonde) was here from 1879 to 1900. It employed many people. Chemical and plastics factories also opened in the area, creating more jobs.
Becoming a Town
Train stations opened near Hornchurch in 1868 and 1885. At first, they didn't cause much building. But things changed!
In 1886, a group from London bought land to build "cottage homes" for children. These homes opened in 1889. By 1897, Hornchurch was a large village with about 4,200 people.
The real growth began in 1895 when land was sold for the Emerson Park housing estate. More estates followed, and a new train station, Emerson Park railway station, opened in 1909 to serve them.
After World War I, many new houses were built, including council houses. The population of Hornchurch grew very fast between 1921 and 1938. This was because the electric District Railway service started in 1932, making it easy to travel to London. Also, land was cheap.
Big housing projects like the Haynes Park and Elm Park estates were built. Elm Park tube station opened in 1935, and the Elm Park Garden City development planned 7,000 houses! This helped Hornchurch become the busy town it is today.
Hornchurch Airfield and the Military
During both the First World War and Second World War, Hornchurch Airfield was a very important RAF base. It was known as RAF Suttons Farm during the First World War. In the Second World War, it was called RAF Hornchurch and was home to many Spitfire planes.
Today, the airfield land has been turned into a large housing area and Hornchurch Country Park. During the First World War, a large estate called Grey Towers was used as a hospital camp for New Zealand soldiers.
Governance
Hornchurch is part of the Hornchurch and Upminster area for the UK Parliament. This means people here vote for a Member of Parliament (MP) to represent them in the government. Some parts, like Elm Park, are in a different constituency.
The local government for Hornchurch is the Havering London Borough Council. People vote for councillors to represent their local areas, called wards. Hornchurch has several wards, including Elm Park, Emerson Park, and St Andrew's.
Geography
Hornchurch is about 82 feet above sea level. It's located 15.2 miles east-northeast of central London. The old Hornchurch parish was bordered by rivers like the River Ingrebourne and the River Beam. It stretched from Romford in the north to the River Thames in the south.
The town includes areas like Ardleigh Green, Elm Park, and South Hornchurch. Hornchurch is a post town and has the postcode districts RM11 and RM12.
Economy
Hornchurch is known as a local district centre in London. This means it's an important place for shopping and businesses in the area. It has many shops along High Street, North Street, and Station Lane.
Transport
While there isn't a train station right in the middle of Hornchurch, there are five stations nearby!
- Upminster Bridge tube station is on the eastern edge.
- Hornchurch tube station is about half a mile south of the main street.
- Elm Park tube station is a bit further southwest.
- Emerson Park railway station is about half a mile north.
- Harold Wood railway station is in the far north.
These stations connect Hornchurch to the London Underground and London Overground networks. Many London Bus routes also serve Hornchurch, making it easy to get around.
Religion
St Andrew's Church on High Street is the oldest church in Hornchurch. It has been an Anglican church since the Reformation. There are two other Anglican churches built in the 20th century.
Hornchurch also has two Roman Catholic churches: St Mary Mother of God and the Church of the English Martyrs.
Culture
Hornchurch town centre is a hub for culture!
- The Queen's Theatre is a popular place to watch plays and shows. It has about 500 seats.
- The Fairkytes Arts Centre offers different art activities.
- The RAF Hornchurch Heritage Centre is a museum that opened in 2021. It tells the story of the old RAF base.
The Hornchurch Drum & Trumpet Corps is a marching band that started in 1959. They perform all over the country!
The Towers Cinema on Hornchurch High Street opened in 1936. It was later turned into a bingo hall. This building was known for its cool Art Deco style. Sadly, it has now been taken down to build a supermarket.
Hornchurch also has local radio services. Time 107.5 FM covers the area, and Bedrock is a hospital radio service that provides health information and entertainment.
Sport
Hornchurch F.C. is the local football team. If you like field hockey, the Havering Hockey Club plays at Harrow Lodge Park. The The Rom skatepark in Hornchurch is a special place. It's so important that it's a Grade II listed structure, meaning it's protected because of its history and design.
Music
The Havering Music School is located on Wingletye Lane, helping young people learn music. Hornchurch is also home to RAM Records, a well-known drum and bass record label.
Listed Buildings
A listed building is a special building that is protected because of its historical or architectural importance.
- St Andrew's Church in the town centre is a Grade I listed building, which is the highest level of protection.
- Bretons in the south of Hornchurch is a Grade II* listed building, also very important.
