Woodford Urban District facts for kids

Woodford was a special area in Essex, England, that managed its own local affairs for many years. It was a bit like a small town or district that had its own local government. Today, Woodford is a lively part of Greater London, located in the northwest of the London Borough of Redbridge.

What Was Woodford?

From 1873 to 1934, Woodford was known as a "local government district." This means it had its own group of people who made decisions about things like local services and rules for the area. It covered the same place we now know as Woodford in London.

How Woodford Got Its Own Government

The story of Woodford's local government began in 1873. At that time, the area was mostly known as the parish of Woodford St Mary. The people there decided to use a law called the Local Government Act 1858. This law allowed communities to set up their own "local board" to manage things. Woodford's board had nine members who helped run the district.

Later, in 1894, another important law came along: the Local Government Act 1894. This law changed Woodford's local board into an "urban district council." An urban district council was a more formal group that had even more power to make decisions for the area. It was like a small, local parliament for Woodford.

What Did the Council Do?

The urban district council was in charge of many important things for the people living in Woodford. They would have looked after local roads, lighting, and perhaps even early forms of sanitation. These councils helped make sure that towns and districts had the services they needed to grow and be good places to live.

Joining Up with Wanstead

Woodford remained an urban district until 1934. In that year, it joined together with a nearby area called Wanstead Urban District. When they merged, they formed a bigger area known as the Wanstead and Woodford Urban District. This was a common way for smaller local areas to combine and become stronger, more efficient units of local government.

Woodford Today

Today, Woodford is no longer a separate urban district. It is now part of the London Borough of Redbridge, which is one of the many boroughs that make up Greater London. Even though its government structure has changed, Woodford remains a vibrant community. For example, St Mary's church, which was part of the original parish, is still a very active church today.